IMO, he serves the same roll on this team that Gonchar did on the 08 and 09 teams. He plays an effective, albeit vanilla game. Nothing wrong with that in the playoffs. No team has ever had 6 Prongers on the backend for a playoff run.
- Rawdog9755

The idea of 6 Pronger clones on the back lines sounds like a mutant Terminator film. If I was a forward for the opposing team I would dump and NOT chase.

I've never been as high on Martin as other folks have been. I get all the stats, metrics, etc.. Very good player. No argument there. This one is all about a feel for me.

There is just something missing about that guy. A passiveness to him that just doesn't translate well to playoff hockey. He's not a foxhole kinda guy.

When the going gets tough and you need your d-men to get nasty in a series, he just isn't that guy to me.

I'm all for moving him if we could get a nice package back. One NHL-ready forward and a high pick would suffice.

Problem is the D would have a vet-young guy imbalance. Only vets left would be Scuds and Letang. So, if they moved him, they'd almost certainly have to sign another veteran D-man.

So not as simple as some think moving him.

I'll say this... if they are going to trade him, better do it soon so you can fill in the hole with a vet that is at least serviceable.
- 87_71_11_29

HA, the crap that has been sucking the fun out of blogging since 2013!

He's been pretty good, just nobody has figured it out until now.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...rgeting-Pouliot/134/61045
- Ryan_Wilson

I stand corrected. He also mentions his numbers imply he could be a 2nd liner. If thats the case I'd increase my offer

HA, the crap that has been sucking the fun out of blogging since 2013!
- nbartley9

Charts with zig zaggy lines are fun bro.

I think they are certainly near the top of their list. I will be floored if Kulemin isn''t signed. Pouliot may come pricy and they may walk away.
- Ryan_Wilson

Sign Kulemin, Moss. There just isn't enough cap space left after resigning Sutter and Despres to acquire a 3rd FA player. That's where the $2 mill difference in cap space from the expected $71 mill to $69 really hurts the Pens. Even if they saved a few hundred thousand on Sutter and Despres signings, that still isn't enough for another 4th liner.

Something like this leaves you with a mill or so to spend at the deadline to fill in holes.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Patric Hornqvist ($4.250m)
Beau Bennett ($0.900m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($3.500m)
Nick Spaling ($1.750m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.500m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Jayson Megna ($0.874m) / Craig Adams ($0.700m) / David Moss ($2.000m)
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7.250m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Olli Maatta ($0.894m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) / Simon Despres ($1.250m)
Derrick Pouliot ($0.863m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,106,625; BONUSES: $425,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $893,375

Bennett sid Hornqvist
Kuni geno kuli
Pouliot sutter dupes
Megna spaling moss
Adams

Letang maatta
Despres martin
Scuds Burtuzzo
Samuelsson

Hiller
Johnson

Leaves us with 901k cap space

The idea of 6 Pronger clones on the back lines sounds like a mutant Terminator film. If I was a forward for the opposing team I would dump and NOT chase.
- powerhouse

I just get wary of all the talk to "toughen up/grit/sandpaper/blah/blah/blah". Not saying some of it isnt warranted, but its like some people expect a whole team of Pronger/Scott Stevens defensemen and Tocchet/Lucic forwards.

IMO, he serves the same roll on this team that Gonchar did on the 08 and 09 teams. He plays an effective, albeit vanilla game. Nothing wrong with that in the playoffs. No team has ever had 6 Prongers on the backend for a playoff run.
- Rawdog9755

I think Gonchar was a better player than Martin. He was a borderline great PP point man.

Bennett sid Hornqvist
Kuni geno kuli
Pouliot sutter dupes
Megna spaling moss
Adams

Letang maatta
Despres martin
Scuds Burtuzzo
Samuelsson

Hiller
Johnson

Leaves us with 901k cap space
- nh4442

Where is Hemsky? Did you seriously just make a lineup sans Hemsky when he is available as a UFA? Dont even have to make ridiculous trade offers involving EDM anymore.

I just get wary of all the talk to "toughen up/grit/sandpaper/blah/blah/blah". Not saying some of it isnt warranted, but its like some people expect a whole team of Pronger/Scott Stevens defensemen and Tocchet/Lucic forwards.
- Rawdog9755

I agree with you on the grit being overstated at times. Guilty as charged.

Problem is..we have very little of it. See playoffs....

Where is Hemsky? Did you seriously just make a lineup sans Hemsky when he is available as a UFA? Dont even have to make ridiculous trade offers involving EDM anymore.
- Rawdog9755

It pains me to say it but there isn't cap room unless martin is moved.. but if he is moved he's replaced by enrohff at the same price...


Trust me the last couple of days I have been trying to make it work.. I want him next to sid.. A Hornqvist sid hemsky line would be siiiiicccckkkk

It pains me to say it but there isn't cap room unless martin is moved.. but if he is moved he's replaced by enrohff at the same price...


Trust me the last couple of days I have been trying to make it work.. I want him next to sid.. A Hornqvist sid hemsky line would be siiiiicccckkkk
- nh4442

Or we somehow find a buyer for Skuds

I think Gonchar was a better player than Martin. He was a borderline great PP point man.
- 87_71_11_29

Martin is much better in his own end and no slouch on the PP either. He is certainly no Gonch on the PP, but I would argue his skillset is better for what we need than any other option we have currently. Remember Gonch looked good largely under MT's system. Martin has looked good in DB's system that seemed more often than not to make defensemen look bad. I really fear if Martin goes it will be a grass isnt greener situation.

Bennett sid Hornqvist
Kuni geno kuli
Pouliot sutter dupes
Megna spaling moss
Adams

Letang maatta
Despres martin
Scuds Burtuzzo
Samuelsson

Hiller
Johnson

Leaves us with 901k cap space
- nh4442

Gritty!

I just hope we get grittier...with more character.
- stackthepads

Wonder if Tocchet pleads for his man Downie.

Or we somehow find a buyer for Skuds
- Guile

Tried it that way too... sutter would have to take less and we couldn't get moss and a guy like Harry z or payerl would play 4th line.. which I'm fine with...

I agree with you on the grit being overstated at times. Guilty as charged.

Problem is..we have very little of it. See playoffs....
- 87_71_11_29

Agreed. We can use a guy or two who play with more of an edge. The reason I wouldnt target a UFA Dman of that ilk is because I think we already have one in house in Despres. He plays with more of an edge than people give him credit for because the focus is typically on his skating/skill/offensive upside. He is the kind of guy who IMO could be a pain to play against in the playoffs not unlike Subban was v Boston and NYR.

Gritty!
- nbartley9

Balanced lines wins championships.. not goonery!!

Agreed. We can use a guy or two who play with more of an edge. The reason I wouldnt target a UFA Dman of that ilk is because I think we already have one in house in Despres. He plays with more of an edge than people give him credit for because the focus is typically on his skating/skill/offensive upside. He is the kind of guy who IMO could be a pain to play against in the playoffs not unlike Subban was v Boston and NYR.
- Rawdog9755

Just out of curiosity who would you have in mind?

Watch us snag Michalek for like 3.5

Just out of curiosity who would you have in mind?
- nbartley9

Straka

Balanced lines wins championships.. not goonery!!
- nh4442

Guerin-Gritty
Talbot-Gritty
Cooke-God
Duper-Gritty
TK-Gritty
Adams-Gritty (also could play then)
Staal-Gritty

Not sure which one of those guys you are referring to as a goon.

We need guys with balls, not goons; well maybe a few goons.

Agreed. We can use a guy or two who play with more of an edge. The reason I wouldnt target a UFA Dman of that ilk is because I think we already have one in house in Despres. He plays with more of an edge than people give him credit for because the focus is typically on his skating/skill/offensive upside. He is the kind of guy who IMO could be a pain to play against in the playoffs not unlike Subban was v Boston and NYR.
- Rawdog9755

Agreed, he dropped the gloves in the baby Pens last playoff series and had a nice scrap. This was after he laid about 3-4 hip checks that the Ice Caps did not appreciate. Something that is very underrated in his game that I love.

Guerin-Gritty
Talbot-Gritty
Cooke-God
Duper-Gritty
TK-Gritty
Adams-Gritty (also could play then)
Staal-Gritty

Not sure which one of those guys you are referring to as a goon.

We need guys with balls, not goons; well maybe a few goons.
- nbartley9

Feds-beautiful rosie cheeks

Just out of curiosity who would you have in mind?
- nbartley9

TBH, none of the UFA's this year really do it for me. Going the trade route---Id look no further than Columbus. Its pretty obvious they are doing the same thing we are now starting to do and I would love any of---Dubinksy, Hartnell, Horton. Obviously this completely ignores the cap. However, when you start to look at Sutter possibly approaching 3.5-4mil, Dubinsky as the 3c for 4.2 seems like a good deal. Will prob get flamed for suggesting Dubi lol.