You could say that every year. That's what happens when a team is a "buyer" every deadline. They run out of tradable assets.
- jfkst1

There needs to be balance. In a copy cat league and a cap league how are the Kings and Hawks able to do it?

You have to trade the Buffs, Ladd, and Leddys time to time.

Or in our case Kuni, PM, & Hoff's. I'm just saying I wouldn't be opposed to it.

I agree with most of this which is why I think trading PM or Hoff is a good move. If contenders will over pay for Sekera I'd imagine they'd the same if not more for PM. Trading Nisky last year to CHI for a decent prospect and late 1st could've returned Teravienen and Hartman (their 30th pick). That's how you fix depth IMO.
- stowerkraut

So you would never hold onto any pending UFA while your team is in a win-now mode? Correct? They should lower their chances of winning now (and every year) to acquire future assets.

Sure, you eat 50% of Lupul's salary and we'll send you Sutter. How's that sound?
- jfkst1

i like sutter...but we need picks/prospects since our rebuild will take about 10 years

I have this aching feeling that Pittsburgh isn't going to land any of the trade targets that are mentioned. The asking price is going to be too high or the Pens just won't have the available draft picks that other teams will have. I fear Rutherford is going to be forced to make a bad trade just to save face.

While he is Mr. Glass, the leadership Lupul brings is unquestionable, as well as his work ethic.
- jerseyleaf

UMMM ... doesn't Lupul have alleged lockerroom problems? That is why I question the leadership thing you brought up.

I agree with most of this which is why I think trading PM or Hoff is a good move. If contenders will over pay for Sekera I'd imagine they'd the same if not more for PM. Trading Nisky last year to CHI for a decent prospect and late 1st could've returned Teravienen and Hartman (their 30th pick). That's how you fix depth IMO.
- stowerkraut

We could have had Hartman in the draft if the former GM didn't make that foolish deal getting a non-needed player in Iginla.

You keep doing this sell off assets for rentals, we will run out of assets at some point. You get nothing back for when the rentals bolt.

i like sutter...but we need picks/prospects since our rebuild will take about 10 years
- clark_griswold

You can trade Sutter for a pick or two then. We trust you guys to handle that properly

There needs to be balance. In a copy cat league and a cap league how are the Kings and Hawks able to do it?

You have to trade the Buffs, Ladd, and Leddys time to time.

Or in our case Kuni, PM, & Hoff's. I'm just saying I wouldn't be opposed to it.
- stowerkraut

They don't have Ray "I never saw a rental player I didn't want to acquire" Shero running their front office. Also, not coincidentally, Bowman is heavy into analytics so they are getting better productivity per $ than other teams.

Where did Tyler Johnson come from? He's outscoring Stamkos in Tampa. Not to mention Kucherov, their 3rd leading scorer and very close to Stamkos on the scoring sheet.

i like sutter...but we need picks/prospects since our rebuild will take about 10 years
- clark_griswold

Oh, well Sutter is a perfect addition for a rebuilding team. He'll ensure you get the best chance at a lottery pick.

No, this team is still flawed. That said, I recognize we have little to trade in the lines of picks (we only have a second this year in the top four rounds), prospects (we need to keep Kapanen, Jarry, Sundquist, Pouliot and Harrington IMO) and no one wants our mess (Sutter and Scuderi to a certain extent because he has played alot better this year). I don't want to see assets for the 2016 draft traded at this time.

Petry isn't worth a first and A+ prospects. He is a third round type of acquisition. Someone is going to overpay for Sekera, who isn't worth that either.

I don't like the acquisition of rentals for good assets. I don't mind a deal that involves a good young player with term at a good cap hit. I don't like trading away good assets for someone with a terrible cap hit for the next seven years that would put us in bigger cap trouble than we are (Jordan Staal).
- Oneonta Penguin

This team this year is so odd. I look at the roster and it seems so much better than last year. We have better help up top. The depth is slightly improved. But I had more confidence in the team last year than I do this year. Maybe that is the years of disappointment catching up and thinking we would have to have a truly dominant team to actually have a chance.

I'm so torn. Half of me says this team could go on a run. If they hit their stride at the right time they are talented enough and maybe this turmoil the past 2 or 3 months has strengthened them and they will be battle tested come playoff time. But then the other half of me says that it is foolish to think this team has a legitimate shot at the cup. In which case they should trade Martin for whatever assets they can, having a 1st back in the draft would be nice even if it is a late 1st. They should try to dump Sutter and Scuderi for whatever they can get even if just late rd picks. I don't think I have had such conflicting view points at the same time for a team before.

Where did Tyler Johnson came from? He's outscoring Stamkos in Tampa. Not to mention Kucherov, their 3rd leading scorer and very close to Stamkos on the scoring sheet.
- Barnaby36

Spokane, Washington

No, this team is still flawed. That said, I recognize we have little to trade in the lines of picks (we only have a second this year in the top four rounds), prospects (we need to keep Kapanen, Jarry, Sundquist, Pouliot and Harrington IMO) and no one wants our mess (Sutter and Scuderi to a certain extent because he has played alot better this year). I don't want to see assets for the 2016 draft traded at this time.

Petry isn't worth a first and A+ prospects. He is a third round type of acquisition. Someone is going to overpay for Sekera, who isn't worth that either.

I don't like the acquisition of rentals for good assets. I don't mind a deal that involves a good young player with term at a good cap hit. I don't like trading away good assets for someone with a terrible cap hit for the next seven years that would put us in bigger cap trouble than we are (Jordan Staal).
- Oneonta Penguin

Just a footnote...Jarry may actually be a good trade chip. You never know with goalies, but Murray is looking like a really promising prospect.

Spokane, Washington
- jmatchett383

I mean. He's 24 already and I barely noticed him in the NHL. He seems to be a good player. How high was he drafted?

So you would never hold onto any pending UFA while your team is in a win-now mode? Correct? They should lower their chances of winning now (and every year) to acquire future assets.
- jmatchett383

I understand your argument. I'm not saying all UFA's. But certainly quality D men that are at a premium and teams are selling the farm for. CHI is in win now mode as much as any team and were able to ship Leddy out for picks that will create depth in 2-3 years. Sooner if the scouting is adequate (Hartman).

Acquiring assets would be a change of pace that may prove more valuable than acquiring a Hossa,Iggy,Morrow,Jagr,etc. IMO.

This team this year is so odd. I look at the roster and it seems so much better than last year. We have better help up top. The depth is slightly improved. But I had more confidence in the team last year than I do this year. Maybe that is the years of disappointment catching up and thinking we would have to have a truly dominant team to actually have a chance.

I'm so torn. Half of me says this team could go on a run. If they hit their stride at the right time they are talented enough and maybe this turmoil the past 2 or 3 months has strengthened them and they will be battle tested come playoff time. But then the other half of me says that it is foolish to think this team has a legitimate shot at the cup. In which case they should trade Martin for whatever assets they can, having a 1st back in the draft would be nice even if it is a late 1st. They should try to dump Sutter and Scuderi for whatever they can get even if just late rd picks. I don't think I have had such conflicting view points at the same time for a team before.
- PensFan1103

If Maatta never got hurt and GMJR was forced to trade Sutter in the Perron trade to offset the costs I would have a ton of confidence in this roster.

I understand your argument. I'm not saying all UFA's. But certainly quality D men that are at a premium and teams are selling the farm for. CHI is in win now mode as much as any team and were able to ship Leddy out for picks that will create depth in 2-3 years. Sooner if the scouting is adequate (Hartman).

Acquiring assets would be a change of pace that may prove more valuable than acquiring a Hossa,Iggy,Morrow,Jagr,etc. IMO.
- stowerkraut

I agree with you, but Leddy (as well as Buff, Versteeg, etc.) were shipped out/not retained for cap reasons, not because they were afraid of them getting to UFA status. They held onto those players to try to win now, which is what a confident team needs to do.

Would you please stop acting like Ryan Hartman is the difference between a Stanley Cup and missing the playoffs? He's American and he projects as a solid bottom-9 player.

I agree with you, but Leddy (as well as Buff, Versteeg, etc.) were shipped out/not retained for cap reasons, not because they were afraid of them getting to UFA status. They held onto those players to try to win now, which is what a confident team needs to do.

Would you please stop acting like Ryan Hartman is the difference between a Stanley Cup and missing the playoffs? He's American and he projects as a solid bottom-9 player.
- jmatchett383

Understood. That would be like moving a Kuni now. Still a year left but not willing to give the "raise" and trade while having more value than a pending UFA. Which is a separate conversation for when Puliot/Mattaa ELC run out.

Not sure why the all the Hartman references. I'll change that to Pastranak. Just thinking of late 1st round guys that have made the jump in short time frames.

Looks like Kane is out a month, despite going 24 pt less games, 87 wins the pt race again?

Looks like Kane is out a month, despite going 24 pt less games, 87 wins the pt race again?
- sammy87

This was very confusing to me at first.

Lupul with 1.5M retained, Frattin and Panik for Dumoulin, Sutter, Scuderi, 2015 2nd and conditional 2016 3rd
Cheap bottom six options in Frattin and Panik and great offensive threat in Lupul at 4M for three more years. Leafs get a third line C who can eventually be traded for picks or kept as part of the rebuild. Dumoulin has top 4 potential, Scuderi, like Sutter, can be traded or kept to teach the young d and gives Pens cap space to pick up defensemen in offseason. Conditional 2016 3rd is given if Penguins make 2nd round of 2015 playoffs.

This team this year is so odd. I look at the roster and it seems so much better than last year. We have better help up top. The depth is slightly improved. But I had more confidence in the team last year than I do this year. Maybe that is the years of disappointment catching up and thinking we would have to have a truly dominant team to actually have a chance.

I'm so torn. Half of me says this team could go on a run. If they hit their stride at the right time they are talented enough and maybe this turmoil the past 2 or 3 months has strengthened them and they will be battle tested come playoff time. But then the other half of me says that it is foolish to think this team has a legitimate shot at the cup. In which case they should trade Martin for whatever assets they can, having a 1st back in the draft would be nice even if it is a late 1st. They should try to dump Sutter and Scuderi for whatever they can get even if just late rd picks. I don't think I have had such conflicting view points at the same time for a team before.
- PensFan1103

You are right ... on paper, this team looks better. You are getting pretty solid contributions from unlikely suspects (Comeau and Downie); you are getting probably the best regular-season from Fleury (performance wise); you have a healthy Letang and he is back to his offensive numbers he should be putting up; you have an improved Despres; Scuderi is playing better; I believe the goals per game allowed number is down ... you put that together and it appears this team should be better.

Lupul with 1.5M retained, Frattin and Panik for Dumoulin, Sutter, Scuderi, 2015 2nd and conditional 2016 3rd
Cheap bottom six options in Frattin and Panik and great offensive threat in Lupul at 4M for three more years. Leafs get a third line C who can eventually be traded for picks or kept as part of the rebuild. Dumoulin has top 4 potential, Scuderi, like Sutter, can be traded or kept to teach the young d and gives Pens cap space to pick up defensemen in offseason. Conditional 2016 3rd is given if Penguins make 2nd round of 2015 playoffs.
- Unholy_Forward

No

This was very confusing to me at first.
- jmatchett383

It's very confusing period.

On second look ... I got it.

It's very confusing period.

On second look ... I got it.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yeah. Why not just say, "With Kane out for a month, Crosby may win the scoring race." He seemed to take a very complicated, backwards route to get there.