Big no-no trading Pouliot for 2 bottom 6 players. I think Washington has learned that the hard way.

Big no-no trading Pouliot for 2 bottom 6 players. I think Washington has learned that the hard way.
- znagle

Absolutely. IMO he's untouchable. Sky's the limit there.

In 2025, Scott f'n Harrington will be the greatest defenseman that's ever lived! We would be idiots to trade him.

So good... Burger King will put his face on pucks and give them away in happy meals.

Now if he could just crack the lineup.
- stowerkraut

Ehhh he's looked the shakiest out of all of them. He will be a great dman with some more AHL/NHL time under his belt.

Has anyone done any research regarding Jagr's cap hit moving from 3.5 to 5.5? NHLNumbers.com has it at 5.5 but HB's Cap Central has it at 3.5... so confused??

Not by himself. But guys like Bolland and Shawn Thornton were bottom-6 guys who played huge roles in their teams' most recent Cups. But the addition of guys like them is what allows you to succeed in the playoffs. So if you think you have a need for a good bottom-6 guy who can chip in some scoring in tight-knit games, you want want to go for him as those are the kinds of players who help you win over 4 rounds.
- jmatchett383

Ususally, cost effective, bottom 6 guys who contribute above their means in the playoffs are home grown guys. You rarely see those types of guys available at the trade deadline.

Not by himself. But guys like Bolland and Shawn Thornton were bottom-6 guys who played huge roles in their teams' most recent Cups. But the addition of guys like them is what allows you to succeed in the playoffs. So if you think you have a need for a good bottom-6 guy who can chip in some scoring in tight-knit games, you want want to go for him as those are the kinds of players who help you win over 4 rounds.
- jmatchett383

I bring it up regularly, but Penguin fans forget that Bylsma double-shifted Crosby, Malkin and Staal on the 4th line through the heart of the 2009 playoffs, due in part to them carrying 7 defensemen because of Gonchar. Most nights it was one of those centers playing with Satan and Dupuis.

Why not go back to that model? Make it work by just rolling 4 lines. Sid and Geno would still get their 20 minutes, but it would make it harder to matchup with them because they'd be double shifting.

Make a minor trade for a guy like Glencross, and they could roll out: Perron/Crosby/Hornqvist, Kunitz/Malkin/Comeau, Glencross/Sutter/Bennett, Spaling/87-71-16/Downie.

Ususally, cost effective, bottom 6 guys who contribute above their means in the playoffs are home grown guys. You rarely see those types of guys available at the trade deadline.
- cap1681

True. But still, let's say a guy like Dave Bolland wasn't signed to a ridiculous deal and was available as an impending UFA. Would you trade a "blue chip" guy for him?

Ehhh he's looked the shakiest out of all of them. He will be a great dman with some more AHL/NHL time under his belt.
- znagle

I suppose I can wait till Scott is ready to make a cup run then.

True. But still, let's say a guy like Dave Bolland wasn't signed to a ridiculous deal and was available as an impending UFA. Would you trade a "blue chip" guy for him?
- jmatchett383

The trick is to draft a guy like Bolland and have him on your team on an entry level contract and then having a guy ready to step in when he walks as a UFA. Chicago are masters at that.

I'm sure Higgins/Hansen would be available if the Pens would be willing to move Harrington/Dumoulin. The nucks have too many tweeners and need D depth.

Ryan Wilson: Penguins Are Top Heavy Again
Penguins Are Top Heavy Again
- Ryan_Wilson

But I like top heavy............women.

Injuries and poor execution so far.

The trick is to draft a guy like Bolland and have him on your team on an entry level contract and then having a guy ready to step in when he walks as a UFA. Chicago are masters at that.
- RAGSareDANGERus

They sure are. They chopped their SC team in half and then won another 3 years later.

Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Comeau
Spaling-Sutter-Bennet
Downie-Goc-Farnham/Rust

Give me this come playoff time and I think we should be good. Like mentioned before, Dupuis coming back would provide a huge boost. Fresh legs, Dupuis 2nd-3rd line depending on where MJ likes him (probably 3rd) now that's depth.

I bring it up regularly, but Penguin fans forget that Bylsma double-shifted Crosby, Malkin and Staal on the 4th line through the heart of the 2009 playoffs, due in part to them carrying 7 defensemen because of Gonchar. Most nights it was one of those centers playing with Satan and Dupuis.

Why not go back to that model? Make it work by just rolling 4 lines. Sid and Geno would still get their 20 minutes, but it would make it harder to matchup with them because they'd be double shifting.

Make a minor trade for a guy like Glencross, and they could roll out: Perron/Crosby/Hornqvist, Kunitz/Malkin/Comeau, Glencross/Sutter/Bennett, Spaling/87-71-16/Downie.
- hardnosed

That's a solid point. I feel like HCMJ has a few times this season with Geno (maybe that was punishment for smashing Adams face).

Hopefully that's part of his "not showing his hand" in the regular season.

I'm sure Higgins/Hansen would be available if the Pens would be willing to move Harrington/Dumoulin. The nucks have too many tweeners and need D depth.
- belcherbd

Where do we sign?

Just a heads-up: Penguins fans, be scared.

The Flyers are playing the Islanders right now. Well, the Flyers are in Long Island, and there's a hockey game. I can't really say the Flyers are "playing hockey" though.

The only conclusion is that they're resting up for Pittsburgh. And, um....screw it, you guys will kill us.

Then tell me how you make the cap space for Jagr. I'm all ears. Because I thought we covered that weeks ago.
- jmatchett383

Martin gets traded for picks or scuds for a 7th... pens have cap room with all the injury. Dupuis ain't coming back...

Just a heads-up: Penguins fans, be scared.

The Flyers are playing the Islanders right now. Well, the Flyers are in Long Island, and there's a hockey game. I can't really say the Flyers are "playing hockey" though.

The only conclusion is that they're resting up for Pittsburgh. And, um....screw it, you guys will kill us.
- jmatchett383

We can't count you guys out. You're in our division and we like losing to everyone in the division

Martin gets traded for picks or scuds for a 7th... pens have cap room with all the injury. Dupuis ain't coming back...
- nh4442

That cap went towards Perron and there is no way we get rid of Martin. We would have to then play a rookie and if someone went down we would have to play another rookie.

I would much rather have to play a rookie only when someone goes down. They aren't ready

Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Comeau
Spaling-Sutter-Bennet
Downie-Goc-Farnham/Rust

Give me this come playoff time and I think we should be good. Like mentioned before, Dupuis coming back would provide a huge boost. Fresh legs, Dupuis 2nd-3rd line depending on where MJ likes him (probably 3rd) now that's depth.
- znagle

Farnham is a liability amd should not be in during playoffs.. atleast downie can chip in offensively if not taking a stupid penalty..

Martin gets traded for picks or scuds for a 7th... pens have cap room with all the injury. Dupuis ain't coming back...
- nh4442

Martin traded for picks...so you're already writing this year off as a wash?

No one's taking Scuderi with 1 year left. Next year, maybe.

You're already dipping into Dupuis' money, and you're still up against the cap.

That cap went towards Perron and there is no way we get rid of Martin. We would have to then play a rookie and if someone went down we would have to play another rookie.
- znagle

I need capgeek but even with perron moving scuds or martin will work. Also JR has said/ plus we see it that pouliot doumolin and harrington are all NHL ready

These last few games have given me a lot to worry about, not because they are losses but because they are all too familiar to what we've seen in the playoffs recently. The same superstar-laden line-up that continuously fail to man-up for big games. I'm not sure how much of this can truly be pinned on the injuries. I admit they are to key guys but how likely is it that we have a fully healthy lineup in the playoffs?

I'm so far beyond the "one more trade will make the difference" mentality. I want to see the 3rd/4th line hit people with a purpose, the 3rd line show up offensively and the 1st and 2nd lines show some tenacity and actually score! I think that's a fairly basic model.

Farnham is a liability amd should not be in during playoffs.. atleast downie can chip in offensively if not taking a stupid penalty..
- nh4442

Farnham has drawn much more penalties that he has taken and also provides energy. He gets in after the puck and will challenge anyone on the boards, as well as a fight.

I'm sure Higgins/Hansen would be available if the Pens would be willing to move Harrington/Dumoulin. The nucks have too many tweeners and need D depth.
- belcherbd

I could see maybe Hansen, as he is a bottom 6 guy who has some skill. Would rather trade Dumoulin. Only problem i see would be the cap.

Dumoulin and a 4th for Hansen.