Rutherford said MAF was his boy and he'd keep him in Pitt. A little early to extend him now. If he falters in the playoffs, Pens fans are gonna go nuts.
- tangent_man

They're not going to be able to find a better goalie than MAF anywhere else. Four years isn't that long anyway and $5.75m cap hit is good value, IMO.

They'll never win a Cup with him.
- PLindbergh31

Ya know what's funny, he was actually better in the 2008 playoffs than when they won the Cup. .933 sv% vs. .908

I feel like this is a perfect time to try and insert Akeson in Raffl's stead, no?
- Pixote Andolini

Probably. But $5.75 mill is going to look real cap friendly in 4 years.
- BINGO!

Not if theres ANY drop off in his game.

I feel like this is a perfect time to try and insert Akeson in Raffl's stead, no?
- Pixote Andolini

Nope. Doesn't do dirty stuff good

- PLindbergh31

Not if theres ANY drop off in his game.
- PhillySportsGuy

there is absolutely ZERO reason for this deal to occur now. none. whatsoever.

- KGBflyers10

how'd that alpaca learn to talk?

They're not going to be able to find a better goalie than MAF anywhere else. Four years isn't that long anyway and $5.75m cap hit is good value, IMO.
- NickTheKid87

Not a horrible deal, but they really boxed themselves in by having no contingency plan when Fleury reached FA. They Flyered themselves by not developing any young goaltenders over the last few years.

Probably. But $5.75 mill is going to look real cap friendly in 4 years.
- BINGO!

The money's actually not that bad. It was going to get done no matter what.

there is absolutely ZERO reason for this deal to occur now. none. whatsoever.
- stayinthefnnet

Yeah. I would have let things go to FA and see what others would have offered him. Teams aren't paying big bucks for goalies in FA anymore.

Not a horrible deal, but they really boxed themselves in by having no contingency plan when Fleury reached FA. They Flyered themselves by not developing any young goaltenders over the last few years.
- PhillySportsGuy

How many teams do have good young goalies in the pipeline though? Goalies are so hard to predict. What's the plan after Lundqvist in NYR for example? He's older than Fleury but signed for longer.

If Fleury poops the bed in the playoffs again there's going to be some unhappy campers on the bad side of the state

Yeah. I would have let things go to FA and see what others would have offered him. Teams aren't paying big bucks for goalies in FA anymore.
- PhillySportsGuy

you wait until after playoffs.

if he has a meltdown again. you give him a hug and move on.

if he plays well, and god willing you win the cup with him, yes he likely commands much more, but then even so. you either overpay a bit, or lose him. either way you just won the cup.

even if he doesnt lead the team to a cup, but still has a respectable post season, if it costs you a tad more in the deal, its worth it to have the peace of mind if youre truly committed to hitching your wagon to him.

im not even arguing the merits of whether he should or shouldnt be resigned. i dont think that can fairly be answered just yet. however, feeling compelled to go out and extend this now is inexplicable to me.

How many teams do have good young goalies in the pipeline though? Goalies are so hard to predict. What's the plan after Lundqvist in NYR for example? He's older than Fleury but signed for longer.
- NickTheKid87

but ya know he's actually pretty good

I feel like this is a perfect time to try and insert Akeson in Raffl's stead, no?
- Pixote Andolini

He made his NHL debut on a line with Giroux and Voracek and scored on his first shift.

At any rate, unless things change at tomorrow's morning skate, looks like Jones went from waivers and impending AHL re-assignment to being back on the 4th line and in the lineup. That would make Akeson a healthy scratch again.

No question: He is deep in the doghouse. It's gotten to the point where the club ought to just waive him (there is a slight risk he'd be claimed) and send him to the AHL.

If Fleury poops the bed in the playoffs again there's going to be some unhappy campers on the bad side of the state
- BulliesPhan87

If MAF poops the bed, they'll just fire Bylsma.

How many teams do have good young goalies in the pipeline though? Goalies are so hard to predict. What's the plan after Lundqvist in NYR for example? He's older than Fleury but signed for longer.
- NickTheKid87

im not ready to torch the world based purely on the fact that he is going to be in the fold long term. A large part of me wishes he wasnt, and the team would just go the route of paying someone 3 and change per for average tending. a guy like khudobin or cam talbot. but even so. i do think in 2 years time, that money isnt overly excessive.

however, i still just see absolutely no reason whatsoever this should be done before the offseason.

If MAF poops the bed, they'll just fire Bylsma.
- PLindbergh31

it's probably just a sign and trade, for Rutherford's real go to guy Cam Ward

He made his NHL debut on a line with Giroux and Voracek and scored on his first shift.

At any rate, unless things change at tomorrow's morning skate, looks like Jones went from waivers and impending AHL re-assignment to being back on the 4th line and in the lineup. That would make Akeson a healthy scratch again.

No question: He is deep in the doghouse. It's gotten to the point where the club ought to just waive him (there is a slight risk he'd be claimed) and send him to the AHL.
- bmeltzer

So a career minor league player in VDV is going to play on the top line, and Bellamare's wingers are going to be Rinaldo and Jones?

So a career minor league player in VDV is going to play on the top line, and Bellamare's wingers are going to be Rinaldo and Jones?
- PLindbergh31

are we starting the fire Berube train yet?

How many teams do have good young goalies in the pipeline though? Goalies are so hard to predict. What's the plan after Lundqvist in NYR for example? He's older than Fleury but signed for longer.
- NickTheKid87

Lundqvist is one of the top 3 goalies in hockey. Fleury has been average for a number of years now. Pens knew this day was coming. They could have looked to make a move and acquire a young goalie as well.

im not ready to torch the world based purely on the fact that he is going to be in the fold long term. A large part of me wishes he wasnt, and the team would just go the route of paying someone 3 and change per for average tending. a guy like khudobin or cam talbot. but even so. i do think in 2 years time, that money isnt overly excessive.

however, i still just see absolutely no reason whatsoever this should be done before the offseason.
- stayinthefnnet

Fleury has been steady for the Pens since 2006-07. That's hard to come by. In that period, the Flyers have had Antero Niittymaki, Martin Biron, Ray Emery, Brian Boucher, Michael Leighton, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ilya Bryzgalov and Steve Mason as starters. Plus the Pens won a Cup. Consider yourself lucky.

He made his NHL debut on a line with Giroux and Voracek and scored on his first shift.

At any rate, unless things change at tomorrow's morning skate, looks like Jones went from waivers and impending AHL re-assignment to being back on the 4th line and in the lineup. That would make Akeson a healthy scratch again.

No question: He is deep in the doghouse. It's gotten to the point where the club ought to just waive him (there is a slight risk he'd be claimed) and send him to the AHL.
- bmeltzer

Waive him. Even if he's picked up, maybe then he'll get a real chance. Maybe even become Patrick Sharpe II.

Lundqvist is one of the top 3 goalies in hockey. Fleury has been average for a number of years now. Pens knew this day was coming. They could have looked to make a move and acquire a young goalie as well.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's true but a player of Fleury's caliber, even as an average starter, is hard to come by for that kind of price. Unless he falls apart this year (which doesn't seem likely) or next, it's a solid investment. Maybe they'll draft a goalie or two in the meantime.