Any news on the Sutter front? I find it very weird that we have yet to sign a guy who didn't file for arbitration. I really really really want to know what his cap hit is going to be and for how long so I can decide if I'm in the trade Flats camp or not.
- Victoro311

This might be a question more for Ryan... but since Sutter didn't file for arbitration, what is the deadline to sign him now? Is it the start of training camp, before the preseason, regular season... or just whenever the (frank) we feel like it as long as he fits under the cap?

Haha check it out he changed the scale now.
- Yeah Boyes

That is a much better representation

Hornqvist will have more goals than Neal this year. On the pens PP and playing with Sid or geno, he will have 80+ points. Book it Dan-o

Any of you guys or gals meet up before a game? I haven't been there since '98. Would be pretty solid to put a face to some of the commenters on here.
- Topshelf Mountain

I'll buy you a beer. Let me know when you're coming in

This might be a question more for Ryan... but since Sutter didn't file for arbitration, what is the deadline to sign him now? Is it the start of training camp, before the preseason, regular season... or just whenever the (frank) we feel like it as long as he fits under the cap?
- Guile

Deadline is December 1st. If a RFA is not signed by then, they cannot play at all in the season.

I love the idea of someone finally being a net presence for the Penguins. It's been too long without.

I think the fans reactions to the trade showed the truth behind what people thought of the trade. People who like and understand hockey because it is hockey were happy Neal was gone. Puck bunnies were upset that the Penguins traded their "Boo" or "Bae" or whatever stupid other saying the Swag generation has.
- Ben37

I'm not going to lie I was shocked at the trade and was underwhelmed by the return originally. As it sank in and I thought about it I liked it more and more. I hold Spalling in higher regards then our blogger does so I am looking forward to watching these 2 integrated into the line up. YOLO!

Deadline is December 1st. If a RFA is not signed by then, they cannot play at all in the season.
- cap1681

Alright, thanks. So at this point, without arbitration hes locked into a staring contest over his price.
I say the Pens hold all the leverage to get him under 3 mil.

Now, any word on Spaling lately? He is the backup is we do not keep Sutter... Goc takes the 3rd line, Spaling for the 4th I believe is the assumption?

Hornqvist will have more goals than Neal this year. On the pens PP and playing with Sid or geno, he will have 80+ points. Book it Dan-o
- drummer829

More goals than Neal is real possibility solely because of the quality of center that he'll play with. If he scores 80+ I will tweet at Old Man Ruth and apologize for all of my previous obscene tweets during the draft. Honestly, not sure how he hasn't blocked me yet. Luongo blocked me for less...

From the reports coming out of prospect camp, I believe more and more that Oskar Sundqvist is the 3rd line center of the future for the Penguins.

Alright, thanks. So at this point, without arbitration hes locked into a staring contest over his price.
I say the Pens hold all the leverage to get him under 3 mil.

Now, any word on Spaling lately? He is the backup is we do not keep Sutter... Goc takes the 3rd line, Spaling for the 4th I believe is the assumption?
- Guile

Spaling went to arbitration. The hearings start next week.

More goals than Neal is real possibility solely because of the quality of center that he'll play with. If he scores 80+ I will tweet at Old Man Ruth and apologize for all of my previous obscene tweets during the draft. Honestly, not sure how he hasn't blocked me yet. Luongo blocked me for less...
- Victoro311

Don't you dare apologize! Treat him like poop so he keeps trying to do better each year. You let him relax, and we will have a sucky draft.

Spaling went to arbitration. The hearings start next week.
- cap1681

Well damn, that completely was missed by me. The Subban arbitration distracted me.

Don't you dare apologize! Treat him like poop so he keeps trying to do better each year. You let him relax, and we will have a sucky draft.
- Guile

I hounded him over Ho-Sang for hours leading up to the draft and ripped on him for the Neal trade and not taking Ho-Sang. Then he had a killer free agency and atoned for his mistakes. I think I really got through to him.

As a Preds Sth you are going to love this guy. Total team player. Committed to winning and will make his living in the crease getting pummeled and come up smiling.
IMHO this is the kind of player you need. And when Horny is not on the ice, Spalling will pick up where he left off going to the crease and deflecting shots. Spalling is getting better as he gets older.

I'm thinking, for our RFAs

Spaling - 2 year, 4M total

Despres will get a bridge contract. 3 years, 5.25M

Sutter will get a 3 years, 9M

That will leave the Pens with a little under 600k in cap space. I still think there will be another trade this offseason, whether it's just dumping salary or looking for a big piece.

I hounded him over Ho-Sang for hours leading up to the draft and ripped on him for the Neal trade and not taking Ho-Sang. Then he had a killer free agency and atoned for his mistakes. I think I really got through to him.
- Victoro311

Ho-Sang would have gotten no complaints, but when talent falls that far to us, (frank) Ho-Sang.

Neal trade... well, if Sutter resigns (sorry Bartley), I don't see them keeping Spaling at roughly 1.8-2 mil. We can get about the same talent for a winger for 1 mil, we already have! So that makes it Neal for Horn straight up, and that I don't like. It goes back to the point many of us hit on, should have gotten a 2nd or 3rd round pick instead of Spaling.

Alright, thanks. So at this point, without arbitration hes locked into a staring contest over his price.
I say the Pens hold all the leverage to get him under 3 mil.

Now, any word on Spaling lately? He is the backup is we do not keep Sutter... Goc takes the 3rd line, Spaling for the 4th I believe is the assumption?
- Guile

I would think Spaling is going to play wing regardless of who the center is. You have several options from WBS to play 4th line center, Jason Megna and Anton Zlobin should be given the chance to play their way onto the team.

Count me in the group for the greasy playoff type goals.

I'll buy you a beer. Let me know when you're coming in
- dbell646

F yeah! December for sure, leaning towards the Lightning game on 15th, though Colorado a few days after...then there's Calgary on the 12th which guarantees a few goals.

It would be cool to meet up with some of ya'll though. The remaining family in Pitt is slightly old and not the type of crowd my son and I are looking for before and after a game.

Ho-Sang would have gotten no complaints, but when talent falls that far to us, (frank) Ho-Sang.

Neal trade... well, if Sutter resigns (sorry Bartley), I don't see them keeping Spaling at roughly 1.8-2 mil. We can get about the same talent for a winger for 1 mil, we already have! So that makes it Neal for Horn straight up, and that I don't like. It goes back to the point many of us hit on, should have gotten a 2nd or 3rd round pick instead of Spaling.
- Guile

You say this now, but he's an Islander now. I think you'll be saying (frank) Ho-Sang a lot more in the next few years, but in a very different tone. He will prove all of his doubters wrong. Would have looked absolutely electric on Crosby's wing.

As a Preds Sth you are going to love this guy. Total team player. Committed to winning and will make his living in the crease getting pummeled and come up smiling.
IMHO this is the kind of player you need. And when Horny is not on the ice, Spalling will pick up where he left off going to the crease and deflecting shots. Spalling is getting better as he gets older.
- wrister

That's actually quite reassuring with Spaling. I've always loved hornqvist and his game, but didn't watch the preds enough to see spaling. Hopefully he continues to get better with the pens

As a Preds Sth you are going to love this guy. Total team player. Committed to winning and will make his living in the crease getting pummeled and come up smiling.
IMHO this is the kind of player you need. And when Horny is not on the ice, Spalling will pick up where he left off going to the crease and deflecting shots. Spalling is getting better as he gets older.
- wrister

Completely agree. When the Hossa deal happened I told my then-wife and son about the sneaky throw-in player (Dupuis) and how they are often the more valuable piece over time. I like the Spaling type guys and I'm looking forward to watching him. Just need to get him signed first.

You say this now, but he's an Islander now. I think you'll be saying (frank) Ho-Sang a lot more in the next few years, but in a very different tone. He will prove all of his doubters wrong. Would have looked absolutely electric on Crosby's wing.
- Victoro311

I am not downplaying the potential he has at all... but are you telling me you STILL would have taken him in the draft this year after Kapanen fell that far?

You say this now, but he's an Islander now. I think you'll be saying (frank) Ho-Sang a lot more in the next few years, but in a very different tone. He will prove all of his doubters wrong. Would have looked absolutely electric on Crosby's wing.
- Victoro311

With him I feel it could go that way, or it could turn into another e. Kane fiasco. I'm super happy with Kapanen, especially with many people saying how he has stood out at the prospect camp

I am not downplaying the potential he has at all... but are you telling me you STILL would have taken him in the draft this year after Kapanen fell that far?
- Guile

Considering we backed ourselves into a corner by either trading all of our 1sts or using them on more D guys, I had a boom or bust mentality going into the draft. Ho-Sang was my boy.

Spaling is a hitter as well, plays an aggressive game. I think Spaling-Sutter-Downie line would be pretty awesome... Maybe have a little scoring touch, not too much though.

I still like the chances that Downie plays on the first line. I think he would make some room for Sid and Kunitz. Let's be realistic, Sid doesn't need a winger, he is good enough with just Kunitz, but he does need someone there to keep people off his back so he can skate and play unmolested.

I think this lineup has definite potential. It has all the right pieces on paper. Now, if HCMJ's style is easy to learn, the youngsters might be able to make the transition easier. We will see.

How many forwards are in WBS that are NHL ready? Who do we call up in case of injury?