Question is: would you rather have K.Letang or B.Ryan @ $7.25M for the next 7 years?

I sure as hell prefer to have Letang for that price.

I'm not sure you know what you're talking about. Both guys out mentioned suck and I'm pretty sure the puck doesn't touch their sticks let alone go from there sticks straight into the net.
PS Megna was sent down a week ago.
- usethe1-2-2

So if adams plays i have a new gm and coaching staff that are employed by an nhl team that agree with me. carcillo scored an overtime game winner last year in the playoffs and megna can very well be called up but im the one that doesnt know what im talking about. ps id rather play adams sparingly in the reg season and save him for the playoffs.

Hey if anyone is interested in doing another Pittsburgh Hockeybuzzers fantasy league let me know, Ill be setting it up this yr. Just send me a PM. Hopefully we can get 10 to 12 teams and do a draft monday or tuesday night...
- nh4442

I won't be setting one up this year so give nh a message to help him get it off the ground.

So if adams plays i have a new gm and coaching staff that are employed by an nhl team that agree with me. carcillo scored an overtime game winner last year in the playoffs and megna can very well be called up but im the one that doesnt know what im talking about. ps id rather play adams sparingly in the reg season and save him for the playoffs.
- Grinder47

This is like top notch superb trolling.

Okposo would be ideal. He's like Hornqvist but I think tougher. He replaces Kunitz when his contract is up. I like grabner, but Kapanen seems to be like a grabner type player.
- SnippinBarDown

Okposo would take much more than just martin though.

I've repeatedly said two things about Chris Kunitz: that he's got a below average cap hit for his production, and that I'm disgusted by the way he watched from ten feet away as Sid was pummeled by Jack Johnson and Brandon Dubinsky, especially while wearing an A.
- Johnny Wrath

Bingo. Spot on. That turned me against him as well. P*ssy move on his part.

For all of the trade Martin talk....

If the Pens traded Martin today, would you truly feel good about going into the playoffs with the following on D?

Letang-Erhoff
Maatta-Scuds
Borts-Despres

Wouldnt the above make you want to acquire a veteran D at the deadline? So, why not just keep the one you have now (who you have at a good cap hit) and try to win a Cup with him now? Why the incessant need to "get something for him"?

Get a top 6 winger at the deadline, perhaps another 3/4 line guy with some size, and you have a cup team right there.

I'm perfectly fine if they play it out with Martin and let him walk.

For all of the trade Martin talk....

If the Pens traded Martin today, would you truly feel good about going into the playoffs with the following on D?

Letang-Erhoff
Maatta-Scuds
Borts-Despres

Wouldnt the above make you want to acquire a veteran D at the deadline? So, why not just keep the one you have now (who you have at a good cap hit) and try to win a Cup with him now? Why the incessant need to "get something for him"?

Get a top 6 winger at the deadline, perhaps another 3/4 line guy with some size, and you have a cup team right there.

I'm perfectly fine if they play it out with Martin and let him walk.
- 87_71_11_29

Assuming he plays, then yes, but you can't count out the probability of Harrington or Pouliot for that matter, coming up and making a large impact on this team. Harrington and Maatta were a pairing in London, a very good one at that, their instant chemistry could help overcome the loss.

I wouldn't mind seeing a defense that had Ehrhoff-Letang, Maatta-Harrington/Pouliot, Despres-Botuzzo/Pouliot. While not a lot of NHL experience, that is a ton of talent and legit two way talent, not just Krug's running around.

This is like top notch superb trolling.
- usethe1-2-2

+1

Question is: would you rather have K.Letang or B.Ryan @ $7.25M for the next 7 years?

I sure as hell prefer to have Letang for that price.
- Barnaby36

X2, Pens don't need the top level wingers for 87 and 71. They need good ones, but someone like PH fits the bill just fine. Kunitz has done great, but after this season I think it will be 3rd line duty for him to finish his contract. Either way the Pens need a 7mil Dman on the blueline to balance the team out, Letang and Ehroff will be awesome for the next several seasons. Use Martins cap to fill the top 6 void.

Assuming he plays, then yes, but you can't count out the probability of Harrington or Pouliot for that matter, coming up and making a large impact on this team. Harrington and Maatta were a pairing in London, a very good one at that, their instant chemistry could help overcome the loss.

I wouldn't mind seeing a defense that had Ehrhoff-Letang, Maatta-Harrington/Pouliot, Despres-Botuzzo/Pouliot. While not a lot of NHL experience, that is a ton of talent and legit two way talent, not just Krug's running around.
- usethe1-2-2

Even if Harrington or Pouliot show well this year, I still think if they moved Paul Mart, they would be lacking experience on that back end. Especially if Scuderi isn't in the lineup.

You aren't winning a Cup with Maata, Despres, and Pouliot as 3 of the top 6. Too much inexperience.

I've wanted Brouwer for a few years now since he was in Chi for just the reason you mentioned. Problem is those type of players are hard to come by. Guys that are big/skilled are locked up quickly.
- kgrpitt

Hey, just checking back in. Ward is a UFA next year but is getting up there in age. Could be available at the deadline if the Caps aren't doing well and shouldn't cost much.
With Heatley going to Anaheim, that might make Smith-Pelley available--he was impressive during a few games in the playoffs and is a young stud. I'm a Crosby Fan and would love to see him protected.

Yeah, the Pens need someone like that but I don't think they will be able to get that kind of player. Even if such a player were to become available it wouldn't be for long and they do not have the cap space.

There are several things they might be able to do about this with their current personnel:
1. Occasionally swap dirtier wingers like Downie and Comeau with Crosby's linemates. Don't do it often but every once in awhile to give opponents something to think about. Also occasionally have Crosby play on the fourth line.
2. Occasionally play Malkin on Crosby's line, sometimes as center. This has sometimes worked in the past because Malkin requires a lot of attention from opponents too. He is also bigger than Crosby and has the ability to lay out opponents with hits but usually doesn't.
3. Retaliate by using a similar technique against the opponent's star players. Unfortunately with the Rangers last season this was Lundqvist. Deliberately running down a goalie (a la the Flyers, especially Hartnell) is a good way to both start lots of fights and put our own goalie at risk. Even then, for it to look like a legitimate play the Pens needed to get the puck closer to him which they couldn't in the latter half of that series. Speaking generally against skaters instead of goalies, the Pens have a few players now who might be able to do this.
- PghPens668771

cheery even showed clips of Mario taking a lot of abuse and said he's concerned that the Pens did very little to protect him and seem to be making the same mistake now. That was a different era but same problem. Getting such a player on Sid's wing should be a priority IMO. Ward is a UFA next year. I also suggest that Smith-Pelley might be made available in Anaheim.

I've been saying the same thing for a couple of years now. It should be GMJR's first priority. I really don't care what it takes as far as picks or players, just get it done. It's time.
- madmike71

Yeah, Grapes agrees; says the same thing happened to Mario. Ward's a UFA next year. Smith-Pelley might be available from the Ducks and he's young.

Assuming they can get Bennett signed next summer, they've got their top 5 organizational wingers (Hornqvist, Kunitz, Dupuis, Kapanen and Bennett) together for the next three seasons.
- hardnosed

There is no chance that Bennett plays the equivalent of one season over the next three seasons. To me his presence does nothing more than mess with chemistry putting him on the top lines only to have shuffle the lines after he eventually injures himself after a short time.

Hey, just checking back in. Ward is a UFA next year but is getting up there in age. Could be available at the deadline if the Caps aren't doing well and shouldn't cost much.
With Heatley going to Anaheim, that might make Smith-Pelley available--he was impressive during a few games in the playoffs and is a young stud. I'm a Crosby Fan and would love to see him protected.
- haymac

Smith Pelley is interesting. I must say I don't know much about him outside a few games I've seen him play.