Like I said yesterday, Kulemin woulda been a good gamble at the right price, but the X-factor was the asking price and term, and 4x4 is too much for a gamble, and yes, he is a gamble. Good job JR, wait till the deadline, or maybe a couple weeks when a guy like Setoguchi is getting desprete and signs for <1.5Mil... this years Mason Raymond?

Islanders are good again.
- Ryan_Wilson

I thought the same. They'll be very good.

So Giroux got arrested. Kulemin and Grabo signed with the Isles for 4 years a piece. Kulemin got $16.5M over 4. I would've liked him but not for that price.


Having said that, the Islanders aren't going to be looking at salary floor for long. They'll be out of any possible Scuderi movement.

I'm really pissed we lost the chance to get Kulemin AND Grabovski.

What now? The only way I see us getting a good Top 6 is through trades.

Winnipeg....I'm looking at Wheeler, Kane and Ladd.
- Orpik44

At that price though? I'm not mad at all.

Trade is looking more likely and if Paul Martin isn't happy then we have a big trade piece. We have assets as well so a trade isn't out of the question.

So Giroux got arrested. Kulemin and Grabo signed with the Isles for 4 years a piece. Kulemin got $16.5M over 4. I would've liked him but not for that price.


Having said that, the Islanders aren't going to be looking at salary floor for long. They'll be out of any possible Scuderi movement.

- HopintheCordoba

They have 14M in cap space with 22 players on the roster. But need better D-men. It's still possible.

They have 14M in cap space with 22 players on the roster. But need better D-men. It's still possible.
- cap1681

Key word is "better".

I'll say this, now that their roster got some help, maybe the Isle will be acceptable to Scuds. He's killing our roster.

Byslma coached the defense as an assistant at WBS the first year AG was in WBS.

So, Bylsma is Gogo's position coach for a year, then his head coach both at WBS and the NHL during Gogo's second professional season, then for the entirety of the next year, and the first 60 games of the next before Gogo got traded. But Byslma had no hand in developing him?

So basically, the Penguins have employed young defensemen like Maatta, Niskanen, Letang, Goligoski, etc. over Bylsma's tenure, but for whatever reason he's not allowed to get credit for developing them because reasons.
- hardnosed

Niskanen's improvement this year was more about opportunity than development. He seems to be a solid 4/5 defenseman with a very good shot. Bylsma and Rierden found themselves in a situation where they had to use him in an expanded role and it was holy cow this guy has some talent we need to play him more.
As with Niskanen, Letang was already in the NHL when Bylsma took over and I can't think of too many people on here who are pleased with his development.

They have 14M in cap space with 22 players on the roster. But need better D-men. It's still possible.
- cap1681

Is it really that much? I would've thought those deals cut into that more. You may be right. But the issue is that word "better"

I've been pleasantly surprised with how well Rutherford has done this off season. But I have a hard time believing one of the reasons he was brought in was to finally get some type of long term solution for Sids wing. Its just ridiculous to have Dupuis slotted there.

Ehroff gifted us a year at 4 mil making Martin expendable. Even though he only has one year left there has to be some teams looking for a solid D man. Please take this opportunity to FINALLY address this need Rutherford. You will go down as a god if you found some type of long term solution to bring Sid to the next level.

Package whatever you have to within reason and make it happen!!!

Did you see that Kuli and Grab were stolen away from us...

That made me laugh, apparently we are playing franchise mode with salary cap turned off

If they let Kulemin get away something else must be up... Vrbata?

Per TIOPS from twitter:

heatley would accept a 1 yr 2 mill deal talking to Pens, Devils and Jets

Trade Malkin then we don't have to worry who's playing on his wing. It'll be someone else's problem.

Martin and Sutter for JVR and a 2nd in 15 3rd in 16?

As long as Halak can hold it together between the pipes yes they are.
- Reverend Killtaker

If he doesn't Chad Johnson will.

If they let Kulemin get away something else must be up... Vrbata?
- kfinl170

Honestly we cant make a play on anyone unless we unload one of Scuds/Martin/Sutter/Dupuis. So if we dont make a trade we are bargain shopping for a leftover UFA that will take a cheap 1 year prove it contract.

I'd say Vrbata has a good enough record to get good money, as far as UFA's go im hoping for Seto, would def prefer a trade though

Martin and Sutter for JVR and a 2nd in 15 3rd in 16?
- usethe1-2-2

We'd be out both the 2nd and 3rd in next year's deep draft then.

Per TIOPS from twitter:

heatley would accept a 1 yr 2 mill deal talking to Pens, Devils and Jets
- errey12

I would most certainly bring him in with that kind of contract. That's a no brainer

Per TIOPS from twitter:

heatley would accept a 1 yr 2 mill deal talking to Pens, Devils and Jets
- errey12

Always hated Heatley, but i'd take that

That was another thing that was wrongly reported. Despres did not come into camp out of shape last season like Rossi reported, he was sick and was given time off early on to get healthier.

I understand he isn't the perfect prospect, but he is a guy you work with and groom. Let him make his mistakes but let him learn from them and you don't learn from the press box every other game.
- usethe1-2-2

If you look at the possession numbers on Extra Skater, he was second behind Niskanen in many catagories. The talent is definitely there, and I am looking forward to seeing him play this year.

We'd be out both the 2nd and 3rd in next year's deep draft then.
- errey12

We would get a 2nd and 3rd in return is what I meant to say so it would be:
Martin, Sutter - Toronto

JVR, 2nd 15, 3rd 16, - Pitt

Honestly we cant make a play on anyone unless we unload one of Scuds/Martin/Sutter/Dupuis. So if we dont make a trade we are bargain shopping for a leftover UFA that will take a cheap 1 year prove it contract.

I'd say Vrbata has a good enough record to get good money, as far as UFA's go im hoping for Seto, would def prefer a trade though
- Le-Morte-dJames

Technically we could, teams can go 10% over the cap during the offseason

Byslma coached the defense as an assistant at WBS the first year AG was in WBS.

So, Bylsma is Gogo's position coach for a year, then his head coach both at WBS and the NHL during Gogo's second professional season, then for the entirety of the next year, and the first 60 games of the next before Gogo got traded. But Byslma had no hand in developing him?

So basically, the Penguins have employed young defensemen like Maatta, Niskanen, Letang, Goligoski, etc. over Bylsma's tenure, but for whatever reason he's not allowed to get credit for developing them because reasons.
- hardnosed

I remember pens fans being giddy that Goli was gone. He was terrible defensively. Trading that guy for Neal and Nisky made Shero an instant legend.

Letang has gotten worst defensively too. He went from being a fairly disciplined player to a train wreck making horrible decisions.

One last thing, go look at Despres's advanced numbers. They are fairly decent. Certainly better than some of the garbage that has played in front of him over the last couple of years.

We would get a 2nd and 3rd in return is what I meant to say so it would be:
Martin, Sutter - Toronto

JVR, 2nd 15, 3rd 16, - Pitt
- usethe1-2-2

Much better. I thought you were being a bit too generous. But Toronto would never go for it.

Much better. I thought you were being a bit too generous. But Toronto would never go for it.
- errey12

Not after the Robidas signing no