So far we are looking at:

14-87-9
BB-71-PH
Spaling-Sutter-Downie
Comeau-Goc-Adams

Not bad IMO, I think you move Martin, and either bring in a top 6 or Kap makes it. Drop Dupes to the 3rd, Downie to the 4th and its a pretty solid roster.
- sammy87

The 3rd line looks strong right now. Good for us

I hope Beau Bennett can get his spot on top 6 from day one. We need him to be good.

Sutter re-signed. 2 years. $3.3 AAV.

Works for me. Bridge contract for Despres, Spaling and now him. Gives them all opportunities to prove themselves further with better linemates or advanced roles. Im okay with this.
- HopintheCordoba

Spot on on my prediction...not that it was hard to figure out

Happy we kept him instead of trading for picks.

Sou sim! Aqui no rio eu e mais 2 amigos gostamos bastante de hockey, mas fora eles dois também to pra achar alguém que goste ou conheça as regras pelo menos hahahaha
- Conse

Nice! If you could only find 2 friends who like hockey in Rio (big) imagine here in Aracaju?lol Are your friends Penguins fans as well?

Edit: Btw, Vasco da Gama all the way!

Can't imagine anyone's upset at the Sutter deal except for one specific person. I thought Sutter was a lock for at least 3.5 if not 4 mil. Not only is 3.3 reasonable and doesn't put us in immediate cap danger, but it also makes him an extremely tradable asset. Lets see what Old Man Ruth has up his sleeve. Sutter still may not begin the season in Pitt....

Can't imagine anyone's upset at the Sutter deal except for one specific person. I thought Sutter was a lock for at least 3.5 if not 4 mil. Not only is 3.3 reasonable and doesn't put us in immediate cap danger, but it also makes him an extremely tradable asset. Lets see what Old Man Ruth has up his sleeve. Sutter still may not begin the season in Pitt....
- Victoro311

Now that we have a roster set you wanna f' this all up?? lol I hope we keep him. This 3rd line should improve tremendously.

I love Martin but makes too much sense trading him to let Despres and Dumoulin develop. (I'm assuming Scuderi is untradeable but..)

What up Latin American brother (or kind of, at least). I get to call San Juan, Puerto Rico my home town
- Victoro311

When I think about Puerto Rico I see baseball, basketball, latin music and pretty women. Am I right?lol

Can't imagine anyone's upset at the Sutter deal except for one specific person. I thought Sutter was a lock for at least 3.5 if not 4 mil. Not only is 3.3 reasonable and doesn't put us in immediate cap danger, but it also makes him an extremely tradable asset. Lets see what Old Man Ruth has up his sleeve. Sutter still may not begin the season in Pitt....
- Victoro311

Well a two year deal at $3.3 is better trade value than if he is a RFA or only signed for 1 season...

Rutherford is sitting on his front porch right now looking through a big binder with all player names deciding who hes going to trade.

Now that we have a roster set you wanna f' this all up?? lol I hope we keep him. This 3rd line should improve tremendously.

I love Martin but makes too much sense trading him to let Despres and Dumoulin develop. (I'm assuming Scuderi is untradeable but..)
- Barnaby36

The question is...do you trade Martin or one of the young D? I wonder what Despres' trade value is...could he fetch a guy like Nino/Etem/Connolly ?

I don't mind that deal for Sutter.
- Ben37

Neither do I.

The C position is obvious excellent at the top but the bottom pairing is pretty solid as well with Sutter and Goc.

The question is...do you trade Martin or one of the young D? I wonder what Despres' trade value is...could he fetch a guy like Nino/Etem/Connolly ?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yeah but.....Martin will be gone anyway, Despress is the most ready prospect. I don't think I would move him at this point. I move Martin or Doumilin. Preferably Martin, he wants out and wont be worth resigning at 7+ next year.

Yeah but.....Martin will be gone anyway, Despress is the most ready prospect. I don't think I would move him at this point. I move Martin or Doumilin. Preferably Martin, he wants out and wont be worth resigning at 7+ next year.
- sammy87

I'd ship Martin to Philly if we could get one of their young forwards. They desperately need a true top pairing D.

Who do you think we could get from Philly?

You know it's the slow point of the offseason when the official Penguins twitter account is posting about Letang getting a haircut. The puck-bunnies are going to be disappointed.
- cap1681

In related news, Capitals have signed Letang's old haircut.

When I think about Puerto Rico I see baseball, basketball, latin music and pretty women. Am I right?lol
- Barnaby36

Pretty on point there, but you forgot boxing.

I'd ship Martin to Philly if we could get one of their young forwards. They desperately need a true top pairing D.

Who do you think we could get from Philly?
- Barnaby36

Ugg. Unfortunately they do have an opening. I don't even like thinking about a Flyer on our roster. Giving them Martin would sting too...

At any rate..there forward prospects suck. And I dont think we are getting Schenn, Cotourier, or Simmonds..which would mean someone like Matt Read? I dunno...that wouldnt make sense for us.

Ugg. Unfortunately they do have an opening. I don't even like thinking about a Flyer on our roster. Giving them Martin would sting too...

At any rate..there forward prospects suck. And I dont think we are getting Schenn, Cotourier, or Simmonds..which would mean someone like Matt Read? I dunno...that wouldnt make sense for us.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier are off limits IMO....

Matt Read is a third liner with some 2nd line potential....B.Schenn would be cool. Off course we'd have to add to the deal.

Now that we have a roster set you wanna f' this all up?? lol I hope we keep him. This 3rd line should improve tremendously.

I love Martin but makes too much sense trading him to let Despres and Dumoulin develop. (I'm assuming Scuderi is untradeable but..)
- Barnaby36

I agree with the 3rd line analysis. I think Sutter and Spaling are going to compliment each other extremely well, and I don't think you can go wrong with whoever you put at right wing. Throw in Downie and make it a beautiful agitating, shut down third line. Plug in Megna and you'll have a well above league average scoring 3rd line me thinks.

That being said, the fact is that we're still a trade away. Although 900k isn't the danger zone, its not really good enough. Old Man Ruth is going to have to make a decision over what's more important to a cup run: Sutter despite our depth at his position, or Martin who's our true veterain leader on the blue line and looks like he could be the closest thing we have to Letang's ideal partner despite the fact that he'll walk next year. Its a tough decision and I'm just gonna have to trust JR on this one.

I agree with the 3rd line analysis. I think Sutter and Spaling are going to compliment each other extremely well, and I don't think you can go wrong with whoever you put at right wing. Throw in Downie and make it a beautiful agitating, shut down third line. Plug in Megna and you'll have a well above league average scoring 3rd line me thinks.

That being said, the fact is that we're still a trade away. Although 900k isn't the danger zone, its not really good enough. Old Man Ruth is going to have to make a decision over what's more important to a cup run: Sutter despite our depth at his position, or Martin who's our true veterain leader on the blue line and looks like he could be the closest thing we have to Letang's ideal partner despite the fact that he'll walk next year. Its a tough decision and I'm just gonna have to trust JR on this one.
- Victoro311

He's very important to our team...plus I don't believe that he wants to get out of Pittsburgh that badly.

See what Bennett and Kapanen can do for us and go from there..

He's very important to our team...plus I don't believe that he wants to get out of Pittsburgh that badly.

See what Bennett and Kapanen can do for us and go from there..
- Barnaby36

I'd amend that statement by saying lets see what Kapanen can do and go from there. If Bennett can't play in the top 6 this year we are truly and thoroughly (frank)ed and trades will have to be made.

Our overall depth is better but our toughness, not so much.

Our overall depth is better but our toughness, not so much.
- powerhouse

Horny > Neal on mental toughness and getting to the net
Downie > anyone we had last year as far as nastiness, reputation, bit dirty
Spal bigger body at least

That's a start. But, I tend to agree w/you.

Hopefully that will be addressed via trade at some point.

I agree with the 3rd line analysis. I think Sutter and Spaling are going to compliment each other extremely well, and I don't think you can go wrong with whoever you put at right wing. Throw in Downie and make it a beautiful agitating, shut down third line. Plug in Megna and you'll have a well above league average scoring 3rd line me thinks.

That being said, the fact is that we're still a trade away. Although 900k isn't the danger zone, its not really good enough. Old Man Ruth is going to have to make a decision over what's more important to a cup run: Sutter despite our depth at his position, or Martin who's our true veterain leader on the blue line and looks like he could be the closest thing we have to Letang's ideal partner despite the fact that he'll walk next year. Its a tough decision and I'm just gonna have to trust JR on this one.
- Victoro311

I think this is their team. Go into the season with this and adjust from there.

Doesn't make sense to make moves until Mattaa and Poul come back. See how Duper is doing. See how the new guys fit in.

I think this is their team. Go into the season with this and adjust from there.
- 87_71_11_29

Absolutely. All the hypotheticals can end now.

I also don't see much potential for trades, in season and at the deadline, unless massive injuries bring cap space. I also think they're done mortgaging draft picks for rentals for a while.

Absolutely. All the hypotheticals can end now.

I also don't see much potential for trades, in season and at the deadline, unless massive injuries bring cap space. I also think they're done mortgaging draft picks for rentals for a while.
- hardnosed

Sutter and Martin are two pretty solid trade assets actually...

Horny > Neal on mental toughness and getting to the net
Downie > anyone we had last year as far as nastiness, reputation, bit dirty
Spal bigger body at least

That's a start. But, I tend to agree w/you.

Hopefully that will be addressed via trade at some point.
- 87_71_11_29

Plus comeau throws more than his fair share of checks. Kunitz and dupera and even goc are fairly gritty. Defense is where we lack grit. I think we are pretty well balanced with overall as an aggressive team...it wont be our MO but we aren't overly soft either.

Edit - bortuzzo is going to have a huge role this year. He's my ddark horse for breakout player this year.....

OK and pouliot. Pouliot will get playing time and be just as food as maatta last year...book it!

I agree with the 3rd line analysis. I think Sutter and Spaling are going to compliment each other extremely well, and I don't think you can go wrong with whoever you put at right wing. Throw in Downie and make it a beautiful agitating, shut down third line. Plug in Megna and you'll have a well above league average scoring 3rd line me thinks.

That being said, the fact is that we're still a trade away. Although 900k isn't the danger zone, its not really good enough. Old Man Ruth is going to have to make a decision over what's more important to a cup run: Sutter despite our depth at his position, or Martin who's our true veterain leader on the blue line and looks like he could be the closest thing we have to Letang's ideal partner despite the fact that he'll walk next year. Its a tough decision and I'm just gonna have to trust JR on this one.
- Victoro311

Old man Ruth... Its growing on me...

I agree with you. Many of you think we should wait and see...which is fine, I think that's a solid strategy at this point. But this is not a cup team, IMO. Bottom 6 has improved slightly. I say slightly because if Downie plays like he did last year, sutter plays like the regular season, and Spaling plays like his metrics suggest....we really haven't improved much. We are all just hoping we get the best version of everyone.

My point is, sure wait and see, but we need an unexpected emergence (Bennett or kapenen) or one trade/ upgrade in the top 6,imo