Spaling is better than any player that was in the bottom 6 last season. But keep telling yourselves that he is a weak spot. We could have Tanner Glass again.

spling hasnt played with malkin or croby yet, whom specialize in making top 6 tweeners into legit top 6. maybe thats the pixi dust he needs to not be invisible.
- ChrisMS

Dan Bylsma is gone and therefore cannot project himself onto role players, throwing them bones that he himself never got. 87 and 71 shouldn't be used to see how many goals Nick Spaling can score.

Hold on. Is Kapanen eligible to go to the AHL? Also I thought he was in the suiss league
- drummer829

Yes he can play in the AHL. He came from the league in Finland (or Sweden), regardless the only league that has the transfer agreement restricting young players from playing in the AHL is the CHL. Any players drafted out of the CHL cannot play in the AHL as long as they are still young enough to play in the CHL, it just protects the CHL from having every decent 18+ year old being sent to the AHL and ruining the level of play in the CHL. NHL or bust.

9/25/14



F Sutter



Cant wait to see Downie play tonight.

Dan Bylsma is gone and therefore cannot project himself onto role players, throwing them bones that he himself never got. 87 and 71 shouldn't be used to see how many goals Nick Spaling can score.
- Johnny Wrath

Thanks Doc. I guess they should be used to see how many goals okposo should score. or kane. or ryan. wait... pens dont seem to have star top six talent oozing out their pores! Pens could try Beau... until he breaks again. Could try Kapanan, who looks overwhelmed. Could try Downie... until he is suspended. If Malkin and Crosby can turn Spaling into a 50-60 point guy then good for the pens.

9/25/14



F Sutter



Cant wait to see Downie play tonight.
- nbartley9

Sutter disapproves of your hatred

spling hasnt played with malkin or croby yet, whom specialize in making top 6 tweeners into legit top 6. maybe thats the pixi dust he needs to not be invisible.
- ChrisMS

And I keep trying to hit this point home but some folks don't get it...

When you pay BIG MONEY for Crosby and Malkin..."whom specialize in making top 6 tweeners into legit top 6"...you better get used to the idea of TWEENERS.

Aside from the Scuderi and Fleury contracts...which seem to be the most debatable in terms of value per dollar...most people think the high end guys are worth the money (Crosby, Malkin, Letang). 25.5M tied up in those 3 means...get used to TWEENERS.

And I keep trying to hit this point home but some folks don't get it...

When you pay BIG MONEY for Crosby and Malkin..."whom specialize in making top 6 tweeners into legit top 6"...you better get used to the idea of TWEENERS.

Aside from the Scuderi and Fleury contracts...which seem to be the most debatable in terms of value per dollar...most people think the high end guys are worth the money (Crosby, Malkin, Letang). 25.5M tied up in those 3 means...get used to TWEENERS.
- icedog97

I refuse to 'get used to' mismanagement of assets. Paying two top end players what the market dictates (and they didn't take absolute top dollar at the time) doesn't eliminate the opportunity to acquire adequate talent.

not worried about spaling. he's a third line player and if he's not doing anything wrong, he's doing alright in my eyes. if he steps up and makes a big play, great, but if not, as long as I'm not noticing him for something negative, I'm pleased

I refuse to 'get used to' mismanagement of assets. Paying two top end players what the market dictates (and they didn't take absolute top dollar at the time) doesn't eliminate the opportunity to acquire adequate talent.
- Johnny Wrath

Right. It is paying 5 mill for average goaltending and 3.whatever for Scuderi that really hurts.

Right. It is paying 5 mill for average goaltending and 3.whatever for Scuderi that really hurts.
- usethe1-2-2

Agree. There shouldnt be an argument about not being able to put star wingers with Sid and Geno because of the cap. $5M for Fleury. $3.3 for Sutter. $5M for Martin. $4M for Scuderi. It's simply about priorities.

not worried about spaling. he's a third line player and if he's not doing anything wrong, he's doing alright in my eyes. if he steps up and makes a big play, great, but if not, as long as I'm not noticing him for something negative, I'm pleased
- neilsonnn18

Then you likely wont win a Cup. THink about 2009 3rd line..

Staal, Cooke, Kennedy.

Big plays at various moments from all of those guys.

Right. It is paying 5 mill for average goaltending and 3.whatever for Scuderi that really hurts.
- usethe1-2-2

Fleury - 5M for a non-premier goaltender
Dupuis - 3.75M for a 3rd line RW
Scuderi - 3.375 for the purposes of nostalgia
Letang - 7.250 for a #3D

Staying with Fleury has cost the Penguins a few playoff series. Lack of depth poisons every well, but not as severely as a goalie who is very good at broadcasting how rattled he is to the other team. Neglecting to trade Letang will probably cost Pittsburgh a few more close playoff series wins. Alas.

Had a dream we sent Scuderi to the Isles. Was so upset when I woke up and realized it wasn't real life.

Had a dream we sent Scuderi to the Isles. Was so upset when I woke up and realized it wasn't real life.
- kfinl170

If Scuderi was a goalie Pittsburgh could pull that off.

Fleury - 5M for a non-premier goaltender
Dupuis - 3.75M for a 3rd line RW
Scuderi - 3.375 for the purposes of nostalgia
Letang - 7.250 for a #3D

Staying with Fleury has cost the Penguins a few playoff series. Lack of depth poisons every well, but not as severely as a goalie who is very good at broadcasting how rattled he is to the other team. Neglecting to trade Letang will probably cost Pittsburgh a few more close playoff series wins. Alas.
- Johnny Wrath

I think the Letang contract will finally be looked at as a positive in this new system. We will actually get to see why he makes that much. He won't be held back.
Duper might be overpaid, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as Fleury and Scuds. Those two are anchors right now.

If Scuderi was a goalie Pittsburgh could pull that off.
- Johnny Wrath

Why?? The Isles are set at goalie. Halak and Johnson will be a good duo

I think the Letang contract will finally be looked at as a positive in this new system. We will actually get to see why he makes that much. He won't be held back.
Duper might be overpaid, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as Fleury and Scuds. Those two are anchors right now.
- usethe1-2-2

Yeah, have no problem with Dupuis. Before last years injury, he had missed 2 games in the prior 4 years, and was producing at a pretty high clip points wise. With his work ethic, i wouldn't be surprised to see him back to his normal self by the 2nd or 3rd week of the season. He may be a 3rd liner, but our all world center wants him on his line, and when that 1st line of Crosby-Kunitz-Dupuis is clicking, it's the best line in hockey.

Yeah, have no problem with Dupuis. Before last years injury, he had missed 2 games in the prior 4 years, and was producing at a pretty high clip points wise. With his work ethic, i wouldn't be surprised to see him back to his normal self by the 2nd or 3rd week of the season. He may be a 3rd liner, but our all world center wants him on his line, and when that 1st line of Crosby-Kunitz-Dupuis is clicking, it's the best line in hockey.
- cap1681

I wouldn't mind seeing duper with geno or sid. Frankly any combo of Duper and Kunitz at top 6 left wing and Bennett/Hornqvist at the right wing is fine by me.

Spaling is better than any player that was in the bottom 6 last season. But keep telling yourselves that he is a weak spot. We could have Tanner Glass again.
- Ben37

You are 100% right, good assessment.

9/25/14



F Sutter

I think the Letang contract will finally be looked at as a positive in this new system. We will actually get to see why he makes that much. He won't be held back.
Duper might be overpaid, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as Fleury and Scuds. Those two are anchors right now.
- usethe1-2-2

The goaltending percentage of the cap should be around 7%. Fleury is accounting for about 8.9%.

I don't like Kunitz's contract even as it is at market norms. My dislike has more to do with his abandonment of station over the last few years as Sid was pushed around.

Letang is injury-prone, undisciplined, unable to run a PP, and suffers from diminishing returns in the playoffs. He's a #3 D so far as a match-up is concerned, not that Pittsburgh did that kind of thing over the past few seasons. He is nonessential to winning playoff rounds. There was no reason to sign him long-term; it's too bad the Shero regime wasn't relieved of duty after the Iginla Penguins struggled to compete with the Islanders.

You are 100% right, good assessment.

9/25/14



F Sutter
- nbartley9

What are you going to do with yourself if Sutter has a great year?

What are you going to do with yourself if Sutter has a great year?
- Victoro311

Promote Sutter's trade value.

Fleury - 5M for a non-premier goaltender
Dupuis - 3.75M for a 3rd line RW
Scuderi - 3.375 for the purposes of nostalgia
Letang - 7.250 for a #3D

Staying with Fleury has cost the Penguins a few playoff series. Lack of depth poisons every well, but not as severely as a goalie who is very good at broadcasting how rattled he is to the other team. Neglecting to trade Letang will probably cost Pittsburgh a few more close playoff series wins. Alas.
- Johnny Wrath

Dupuis is being...at worst...repaid for being underpaid for 2-3 years...but if he stays healthy he'll earn his keep

I refuse to 'get used to' mismanagement of assets. Paying two top end players what the market dictates (and they didn't take absolute top dollar at the time) doesn't eliminate the opportunity to acquire adequate talent.
- Johnny Wrath

EVERY SINGLE TEAM that does not win the cup...uh...29 of them I think...will look like they have this same 'mismanagement of assets' somewhere on their roster.

It is an almost unavoidable issue with a salary cap and free agency...and player contributions that change continuously...