Agreed. I don't think we resign Downie though. I just have a feeling, unless he becomes our Talbot in the playoffs.

Sorry Bartley
- znagle

Same, with all the recent scratches in favor of adams and the penalties he's taken I think they let him go. A shame, he's a good third line player.

Perron, Winnik and Comeau must be resigned IMO.
I would resign Martin for 2 years. I know Maatta and Pouliot are really good but I don't know if they can handle top pairing minutes for a whole season.
The only problem is that Martin is absolutely getting more term from any other team out there, So I'll guess we'll Roll Letang, Maatta, Lovejoy, Pouliot, Cole and Scuderi with Dumo or Harrington being the 7th.

I do agree. IMO we do need to sign a dman for 1-2 years though, if Scuderi is not moved.
- znagle

I think we end up signing a middle-tier 3/4 Dman for 3-4yrs at around $4-$5.5M/yr. That would give the Pens a Top-4 of Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, & the UFA Dman next season. The 5/6 pairing would be made up of Dumoulin, Cole, Harrington, & Scuderi. As Harrington improves over the years & hopefully jumps into the Top-4 role, the UFA can slide down w/ Cole & Dumoulin. Scuderi would obviously play out his contract & retire/leave via UFA.

EDIT: Totally forgot about Lovejoy. Maybe the Pens don't go for a Top-4 Dman this summer afterall, though I still think it would be a smart move.

I think we end up signing a middle-tier 3/4 Dman for 3-4yrs at around $4-$5.5M/yr. That would give the Pens a Top-4 of Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, & the UFA Dman next season. The 5/6 pairing would be made up of Dumoulin, Cole, Harrington, & Scuderi. As Harrington improves over the years & hopefully jumps into the Top-4 role, the UFA can slide down w/ Cole & Dumoulin. Scuderi would obviously play out his contract & retire/leave via UFA.

EDIT: Totally forgot about Lovejoy. Maybe the Pens don't go for a Top-4 Dman this summer afterall, though I still think it would be a smart move.
- s0rcerer1984

I think they solved their D slotting issue perfectly in the two trades this deadline day. Well, not perfectly, but it's such a better group than it was. It should allow for protected minutes for graduated Baby Pens next season.

I think we end up signing a middle-tier 3/4 Dman for 3-4yrs at around $4-$5.5M/yr. That would give the Pens a Top-4 of Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, & the UFA Dman next season. The 5/6 pairing would be made up of Dumoulin, Cole, Harrington, & Scuderi. As Harrington improves over the years & hopefully jumps into the Top-4 role, the UFA can slide down w/ Cole & Dumoulin. Scuderi would obviously play out his contract & retire/leave via UFA.

EDIT: Totally forgot about Lovejoy. Maybe the Pens don't go for a Top-4 Dman this summer afterall, though I still think it would be a smart move.
- s0rcerer1984

I think Pitt is set for D next year. Maatta replaces Martin and Dumo and Harrington fill in where needed.... Pouliot's looked great on the west coast trip. How much of that could/should be attributed to Lovejoy ?

I think Pitt is set for D next year. Maatta replaces Martin and Dumo and Harrington fill in where needed.... Pouliot's looked great on the west coast trip. How much of that could/should be attributed to Lovejoy ?
- willi

In the Anaheim game I think they rallied around him. Not so sure about how well they played in LA and in SJ. I think getting past the trade deadline helps settle everyone's nerves and get back to executing the game plan. Not that I want them to execute that PP game plan...

I think Pitt is set for D next year. Maatta replaces Martin and Dumo and Harrington fill in where needed.... Pouliot's looked great on the west coast trip. How much of that could/should be attributed to Lovejoy ?
- willi

Lovejoy is what he was supposed to be... a 3-4 Defensemen, plays smart, who played top pair minutes just last year. No bad points in his game whatsoever, he should not be an issue in our defense at any time. And for his price, I want Scuds dealt/dumped, and Lovejoy given another 2 years, if under 1.5 mil a year. At that cost, you can endure a slowdown his last season or so for that "veteran" presence.

In the Anaheim game I think they rallied around him. Not so sure about how well they played in LA and in SJ. I think getting past the trade deadline helps settle everyone's nerves and get back to executing the game plan. Not that I want them to execute that PP game plan...
- Johnny Wrath

I was referring to Lovejoy's impact on Pouliot play of late and not the team as a whole. These last few games he's really stood out.....but yeah I agree with the deadline passing it has to have a calming effect on the team

Lovejoy is what he was supposed to be... a 3-4 Defensemen, plays smart, who played top pair minutes just last year. No bad points in his game whatsoever, he should not be an issue in our defense at any time. And for his price, I want Scuds dealt/dumped, and Lovejoy given another 2 years, if under 1.5 mil a year. At that cost, you can endure a slowdown his last season or so for that "veteran" presence.
- Guile

Not sure if we'll get Lovejoy for under $1.5mil but it sure would be nice

Not sure if we'll get Lovejoy for under $1.5mil but it sure would be nice
- willi

Hes currently at 1.1... So, not unreasonable to think 1.5, or 2 tops.

Hes currently at 1.1... So, not unreasonable to think 1.5, or 2 tops.
- Guile

Well he has been a top 4 the past few years... 3.5 easily

Well he has been a top 4 the past few years... 3.5 easily
- znagle

That's kinda was I was thinking. Engelland went from 700k to $2.9mil

That's kinda was I was thinking. Engelland went from 700k to $2.9mil
- willi

I can't really explain that. Maybe they confused Deryk with Derrick. Or maybe that classic 1997 goatee won them over? Who can say.

Hes currently at 1.1... So, not unreasonable to think 1.5, or 2 tops.
- Guile

That's completely unreasonable unless his play declines dramatically or he suffers injuries. He signed that contract before establishing himself in the NHL. Capable top 4 dmen (which he appears to be) in their early 30s with no injury concerns get $4m+ routinely in FA. Since he is on such a low paying contract, I'd also add that he will want term of 4+ years as well.

Well he has been a top 4 the past few years... 3.5 easily
- znagle

I'm fine with that, we're paying Ehroff 4M. If we can sign him to 3 years 3.5 it's a steal.
Also Lovejoy fits perfectly with Pouliot.

That's completely unreasonable unless his play declines dramatically or he suffers injuries. He signed that contract before establishing himself in the NHL. Capable top 4 dmen (which he appears to be) in their early 30s with no injury concerns get $4m+ routinely in FA. Since he is on such a low paying contract, I'd also add that he will want term of 4+ years as well.
- jfkst1

Yes. I would expect him to command 4.5 to 5.5 per season depending on term. More term, less severe cap hit. He's prototypical size, weight, &c. Educated at Dartmouth (a.m.) makes him popular at the Wrath estate. Righty. I think is clearly a leadership-type as well; I can't say for sure but in Orpik the Penguins lost a certain precise conscience and see Lovejoy as that kind of figure.

Any chance 87 and 71 can hit 30 and 40 goals respectively?

I'm fine with that, we're paying Ehroff 4M. If we can sign him to 3 years 3.5 it's a steal.
Also Lovejoy fits perfectly with Pouliot.
- Conse

Is everyone done crying about Despres? the D is better without 47

Any chance 87 and 71 can hit 30 and 40 goals respectively?
- sammy87

From 22 and 28 respectively to 30 (+8) and 40 (+12)? No. The Penguins have sixteen games remaining. Sid has 8 PPG, Malkin 9. Both have 67 points this season; I think only one of them will surpass 75 points. If the power play starts 'clicking' I think it will be goal scoring from players like Perron and Pouliot. Letang has 1 PPG still.

I was referring to Lovejoy's impact on Pouliot play of late and not the team as a whole. These last few games he's really stood out.....but yeah I agree with the deadline passing it has to have a calming effect on the team
- willi

A few games is a small sample size, but it will be interesting to see how Pouliot plays with Lovejoy the rest of the way.

Just Lovejoy's comments, he is all in in supporting Pouliot, and making him comfortable on the ice. Whether that fully translates onto the ice, it's nice to hear a guy being comfortable in his role and so eager for it.

I know most of us panned the Lovejoy trade when it happened, but he could be a great influence on not only Pouliot, but Harrington and Dumoulin as well.

Is everyone done crying about Despres? the D is better without 47
- sammy87

That wasn't the basis of the argument against the trade. It was that trading a 23 year old #5 dman for a 31 year old #4 dman isn't good asset management.

Well he has been a top 4 the past few years... 3.5 easily
- znagle

Can we just have Lovejoy and Scuderi trade contracts? I'd be fine giving Lovejoy $3.3 mil for the next two years if we can make Scuderi take $1.1 for next season and be done.

No? Not allowed?

That wasn't the basis of the argument against the trade. It was that trading a 23 year old #5 dman for a 31 year old #4 dman isn't good asset management.
- jfkst1

That had off ice issues.

Can we just have Lovejoy and Scuderi trade contracts? I'd be fine giving Lovejoy $3.3 mil for the next two years if we can make Scuderi take $1.1 for next season and be done.

No? Not allowed?
- rival22

Someone call John Woo?

Is everyone done crying about Despres? the D is better without 47
- sammy87

No; This one is going to bother me for a while.

I still think the return for Despres could/should have been more. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I can't help but think a team like the Stars or Oilers would have given more for Despres than just Lovejoy.

No; This one is going to bother me for a while.

I still think the return for Despres could/should have been more. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I can't help but think a team like the Stars or Oilers would have given more for Despres than just Lovejoy.
- s0rcerer1984

You've got to reverse the trade a bit to understand. The Penguins really wanted Lovejoy. Had wanted to trade for him for months, by GMJR's own admission.

Lovejoy was unavailable probably until the Ducks traded for Wisniewski.

When Lovejoy was indeed available, I'm sure the Ducks were intent on a prospect D like Harrington in return. Look at what a pile of questionable trash like Coburn got to play the same role. If all it took to get Lovejoy was Despres, that's a win for the Penguins.

Maybe Despres becomes a nice player, maybe he doesn't. Maybe the Penguins have three better prospects who would have pushed Despres out by the time he's a RFA.

In all events, Despres had been rumored to be available going back to last season. If a higher return was out there I think it would have been realized. There wasn't a scenario wherein Pittsburgh was trading a Despres package for Jordan Eberle or Valeri Nichushkin. Trading Despres to fix the Penguins' slotting issue was more than enough return.