Posted this late last night...any thoughts?

What if we traded Dumoulin + for Sekera and then traded Martin (or scuds) to clear major cap space. Lots of moving parts, but then we have endless options.

Personally if that were the case, I would consider Bortuzzo, Spaling, Scuderi, whatever we got for Martin, or even Sutter would be guys we could deal at that point.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

No, why would you trade a young 220 pound 6'4" defenseman for a UFA that we don't need. Everyone that is in such a hurry to trade Dumoulin needs to watch him play live in an environment conducive to him being able to show off what skills he actually has. The guy is almost as good a skater as Letang with tons of offensive upside, whatever Despres did over the summer to get meaner, Dumoulin needs to do it this summer, thats the only thing he lacks in his game. Trade that for a UFA euro d on a last place team after developing Dumoulin for 4 years is stupidity.

Saad rfa next yr... trade proposals. . And go!

Wow, you're loaded with the dopey comments today. As long as Mario owns the team they won't fall far. Pre 2005, do you mean the 3-4 years we lost on purpose because thats the only way to build a decent team, or do you mean the Lemiuex led 90's teams in which some years versions are considered top 5-6 teams ever assembled? They will never be the Leafs
- Dcoms

I mean that, prior to the Crosby years, we never had a top-flight rivalry with you guys on our end. I thought that was pretty self-explanatory.

It has nothing to do with how well the team has performed. It has everything to do with our disdain for certain individuals on the team. Once those players move on, the rivalry will die down again on our end. Again, I thought that was self-explanatory.

Edit: Ask 28 other fan bases if they'd rather have McDonagh or Letang, as I suppose that's my other "dopey" comment today.

Have to really enjoy these two games tonight and tomorrow because that 5 days without a game is going to suck. If these 2 games go like the last 2 games, then that 5 day break is going to be absolutely brutal in here.

Saad rfa next yr... trade proposals. . And go!
- nh4442

For Saad? A.. um... because Chicago can't afford him, Pittsburgh can't really offer any salary back in a trade. They could simply sign him to an offer sheet and handcuff the Hawks. I'm not so sure the maneuver is worth it when it comes to Brandon Saad. I'd rather take a shot at Brock Nelson.

The Pens should have offer sheeted PK Subban. That would have been classic.

Have to really enjoy these two games tonight and tomorrow because that 5 days without a game is going to suck. If these 2 games go like the last 2 games, then that 5 day break is going to be absolutely brutal in here.
- PensFan1103

Don't worry, I'm sure you guys will enjoy beating the snot out of the Flyers tonight. Softest team in the NHL with a broken-down backup in net. Served right up for you guys.

I miss Zaw's. Oh, and Lulu's Noodles.
- Johnny Wrath

Lulu's is delicious, I miss that place every time i'm away from the burgh

I'll take Klein as my 5th defenseman over uh scuderi? Or is scuderi your 4th defenseman?
- RAGSareDANGERus

Yeah and if the rangers had any other goalie in the league they would be right around carolina record wise. Scuderi is the 6th defenseman because of his contract, they aren't going to pay him to sit in the press box, not that much money. But it doesn't matter who is injured Scuderi is in the 6th spot and the young d's right of passage will be getting saddled with him, how will they respond, in Despres' case he responded well. In fact moving forward Despres should play with Letang and Ehrhoff should play with Martin. The bottom pair should be Harrington and Dumoulin and they should play sheltered minutes. Try that for 6 games and watch things improve.

Don't worry, I'm sure you guys will enjoy beating the snot out of the Flyers tonight. Softest team in the NHL with a broken-down backup in net. Served right up for you guys.
- jmatchett383

That's how it should go, but man the Pens have sucked against the division this season. Not to mention, just like Steelers/Ravens games, I don't count out anything happening in Pens/Flyers games regardless of where either is in the standings. Pens should come out and stomp on the Flyers while they are currently down, but I would not be surprised if this is the kind of game the Flyers need to get their mojo going. They should be pissed off after last night and they hate Crosby and the Pens, so it's certainly possible.

Saad rfa next yr... trade proposals. . And go!
- nh4442

Haha. Yeah, that ain't happending. Would love it, but Chicago unloads many, many others prior to letting Saad walk for a few draft picks.

Still, I think if well take a step back & look at the players signed next season plus pending RFA's, we'll see a heck of a better group than we've had in the past few seasons & Cap space to add to it.

Top-6F: Crosby, Malkin, Hornquvist, Perron, Bennett
Tweener-F: Kunitz, Dupuis
Bottom-6F: Sutter, Spaling
?????-F: Sundquvist, Rust, Megna

To-4D: Letang, Maatta
Tweener-D: Despres
Bottom-6D: Scuderi, Bortuzzo
?????-D: Harrington, Dumoulin, Pouliot

G: Fleury

At a $73M Cap the Pens have about ~12M in space to add a Top-4 D (Ehrhoff or similar UFA Dman), a lower tier Top-6 F (Tulusty, Frolik, Comeau, etc...), and depth on the 3rd and 4th lines (Goc/Downie-types for ~$1M/yr). Best offseason posistion the Pens have had in quite a while.

A #1 defenseman, a 3rd line center, and a good prospect for a 33 y/o borderline 1st/2nd pairing defenseman who's a UFA next summer, a 4th liner, and a pick???
- cap1681

I was thinking more like...

Slightly overrated #2 defenseman, overrated and overpaid 3rd line center who is soft as they come, decent prospect for a 33 yr old respected d-hammer, 3rd liner PF with room for growth w/good cap hit, a 2nd pick in a super deep draft, AND EXTRA CAP SPACE TO DO OTHER THINGS.

You forgot the cap space savings..... Bieska + Kassian $6.6 mill. Letang and Sutter around $10.5? Bout $4 mill to do other things.

EDIT: Bieksa isn't a UFA until 2016.

I mean that, prior to the Crosby years, we never had a top-flight rivalry with you guys on our end. I thought that was pretty self-explanatory.

It has nothing to do with how well the team has performed. It has everything to do with our disdain for certain individuals on the team. Once those players move on, the rivalry will die down again on our end. Again, I thought that was self-explanatory.

Edit: Ask 28 other fan bases if they'd rather have McDonagh or Letang, as I suppose that's my other "dopey" comment today.
- jmatchett383

You don't consider 2000 playoffs a rivalry series??????

Saad rfa next yr... trade proposals. . And go!
- nh4442

No trade to be had there. But I think he merits the highest offer sheet that warrants a 2nd rd pick for compensation in the offseason. Ultimately Chicago probably matches that, but that would be worth a shot to me.

Pretty sure pens fans called the cops on Staal for him "breaking crosbys spine"
- RAGSareDANGERus

I think your whole name is- rags fans are dangerous when they think too hard their skulls explode

Yeah and if the rangers had any other goalie in the league they would be right around carolina record wise. Scuderi is the 6th defenseman because of his contract, they aren't going to pay him to sit in the press box, not that much money. But it doesn't matter who is injured Scuderi is in the 6th spot and the young d's right of passage will be getting saddled with him, how will they respond, in Despres' case he responded well. In fact moving forward Despres should play with Letang and Ehrhoff should play with Martin. The bottom pair should be Harrington and Dumoulin and they should play sheltered minutes. Try that for 6 games and watch things improve.
- Dcoms

To what exactly would you attribute Cam Talbot's 2.15 GAA and 92.6% save percentage in his 11 games this year? Is Cam Talbot really a better goalie than all but 6 full-time NHL starters, or is it possible that the Rangers have a top-end defense?

Oh, sorry, using logic and reason and I'm a Flyers fan. I must not be making sense.

I was thinking more like...

Slightly overrated #2 defenseman, overrated and overpaid 3rd line center who is soft as they come, decent prospect for a 33 yr old respected d-hammer, 3rd liner PF with room for growth w/good cap hit, a 2nd pick in a super deep draft, AND EXTRA CAP SPACE TO DO OTHER THINGS.

You forgot the cap space savings.....

EDIT: Bieksa isn't a UFA until 2016.
- 87_71_11_29

Wow, there aren't even words for this....just wow.

That's how it should go, but man the Pens have sucked against the division this season. Not to mention, just like Steelers/Ravens games, I don't count out anything happening in Pens/Flyers games regardless of where either is in the standings. Pens should come out and stomp on the Flyers while they are currently down, but I would not be surprised if this is the kind of game the Flyers need to get their mojo going. They should be pissed off after last night and they hate Crosby and the Pens, so it's certainly possible.
- PensFan1103

If the Flyers are going to make a big late season push, it begins tonight. Pittsburgh on the schedule is the perfect tonic for ailing Flyers.

You don't consider 2000 playoffs a rivalry series??????
- nbartley9

Not more than any other playoff series. That series had 1 memorable goal, that's it. We had bigger playoff rivals in Buffalo and Toronto back then. Even Ottawa in the early 2000's. You guys were just another team we got matched up against twice in 10 years.

Wow, there aren't even words for this....just wow.
- PensFan1103

Lol ok dude.

Another cat who loves a team full of soft, overrated p*ssies on his team and has no clue on what wins in the playoffs. I bet you were a Neal guy too?

Enjoy all the skill from Oct-April. Don't come on here and complain when they're bounced again in April and get pushed all over the ice.

To what exactly would you attribute Cam Talbot's 2.15 GAA and 92.6% save percentage in his 11 games this year? Is Cam Talbot really a better goalie than all but 6 full-time NHL starters, or is it possible that the Rangers have a top-end defense?

Oh, sorry, using logic and reason and I'm a Flyers fan. I must not be making sense.
- jmatchett383

Pens fans like to think that the Rangers are nothing more than Hank and a bunch of 1990s-Sabres style plugs. Rangers fans like to think that think they totally meant to draft Hank in the 7th round as part of a master strategy.

To what exactly would you attribute Cam Talbot's 2.15 GAA and 92.6% save percentage in his 11 games this year? Is Cam Talbot really a better goalie than all but 6 full-time NHL starters, or is it possible that the Rangers have a top-end defense?

Oh, sorry, using logic and reason and I'm a Flyers fan. I must not be making sense.
- jmatchett383

I think it's a combination of both. Talbot has potential to be an everyday starter, and possibly a good one.

Lol ok dude.

Another cat who loves a team full of soft, overrated p*ssies on his team and has no clue on what wins in the playoffs. I bet you were a Neal guy too?

Enjoy all the skill from Oct-April. Don't come on here and complain when they're bounced again in April and get pushed all over the ice.
- 87_71_11_29

Lol ok dude.

Another cat who loves a team full of soft, overrated p*ssies on his team and has no clue on what wins in the playoffs. I bet you were a Neal guy too?

Enjoy all the skill from Oct-April. Don't come on here and complain when they're bounced again in April and get pushed all over the ice.
- 87_71_11_29

I never thought the Penguins were a soft team. If anything, they go overboard trying to prove how tough they are. I think the issues were other things, whether it be MAF's head, injuries to key players, lack of a reliable bottom-6, etc. Team toughenss was never an issue for the Penguins, from what I saw.

I think it's a combination of both. Talbot has potential to be an everyday starter, and possibly a good one.
- cap1681

He could be. Or it's possible that he's an average NHL goalie, and he just has crazy good numbers due to the team in front of him.

Nah, can't be. Rangers defense r teh WeRzT!

He could be. Or it's possible that he's an average NHL goalie, and he just has crazy good numbers due to the team in front of him.

Nah, can't be. Rangers defense r teh WeRzT!
- jmatchett383

I don't think the Rangers D is bad at all. They have a good D, but the pens is better