Totally agreed, I think they should have both gotten 2 but that would have been beneficial for the Rangers I would think.

Lappy didn't do any favors with that though, when a player makes the Ref look stupid on National TV, he's not getting anything called for him Friday and may even get called himself on something ridiculous.
- xcheckmajor

Agreed, and you know the refs got another look at that later...

I think there is a fundamental difference between what Lundqvist did and what Lappy did. Hank got bumped, if a goalie isn't expecting contact, yes he can get knocked down. Did he have to fall like that? Absolutely not, he was trying to get the ref's attention. Lappy got pushed in the chest and grabbed his face. There is a difference between exaggerating and fabricating. One is more embellishment and other is more unsportsmanlike conduct (yes I know it is the same penalty). I'm just referring to completely making something up compared to letting a ref take notice of whats happening.
- xcheckmajor

King made something up. This was nothing about letting a ref take notice of a little bump. If a 12 year old kid remains standing with that, which a normal 12 year old would, is that not fabricating? He looked like he got plowed over. That was far from the case.

Every year the cap goes up, 87 and 71 get older. They will be 27 and 28 to start the season next year. 66 and 99 never won a cup after 26 in the pre cap era.
- sammy87

It's not a given the cap will go up this year due to the strength, or the lack there of of the Canadian dollar.

It's obvious that the pens can't afford above average wingers to take the slightest attention away from the #1 and #2 player in the world. Trading Malkin or Letang would be able to grant an all-star wing(s - if Malkin) in return. This team desperately needs better forward depth. The defense has been great all season, even with the injuries, and the statistics support that.
- WhiffleUrChin

yes, they can afford them.

the problem is (and admittedly i do not have an answer to this solution, and i hate when people just throw out criticisms but offer no alternatives of their own), is that there is no one there really to afford that is justifiable.

they cannot acquire players due to the asset cost required to get them in a trade. but from a salary cap perspective, with what i would do for youth on D, they certainly can.

I still think whoever is the GM will sign a UFA Dman despite what people say. You have youth and uncertainty on the blue line. I would guess Pittsburgh would have interest in Petry. Franson and Boychuk stay where they are or get top dollar.
- Oneonta Penguin

I agree that the GM will be going for a top 4 dman. It's the safer route, but at this point, I'm rather susceptible to the Gambler's fallacy and assume the Pens will actually have a healthy season and roll with the younger players. Boychuk has signed with the Isles long-term BTW.

You cant play wide open hockey when we have no D men capable of moving the puck up to our offense. Our forwards have to come back and help support the D, thus removing any chance we have of moving through the neutral zone with speed and playing "wide open".
- thickman1178

When the D has started pinching down the wall in the 3rd periods to keep the puck in NY zone it has been effective. Or they could just lose another close 2-1 game.

You cant play wide open hockey when we have no D men capable of moving the puck up to our offense. Our forwards have to come back and help support the D, thus removing any chance we have of moving through the neutral zone with speed and playing "wide open".
- thickman1178

When the D has started pinching down the wall in the 3rd periods to keep the puck in NY zone it has been effective. Or they could just lose another close 2-1 game.

No, but you offer him his qualifying offer ($945k I think) as a make or break deal. He has some knee issues, hopefully he comes back better and stronger and can contribute next season. If not, you move on, but a one year deal at that price is fine with me.

I wouldn't mind Comeau and Winnik back at the right price, and putting them in the right role as 3rd line players.
- rival22

BB does not deserve a 45k raise for his poopty performance. People continue to make excuses for him ... but, his knee, or his wrists, or he isn't played in the spot he should be playing to thrive, or ...

I have seen more excuses for BB than anyone alive. He is the poster boy for a two-way contract.

Lots of discussion re: trading Sid or Geno. Putting no-trades aside, I think Crosby's the one to move. I really think he's "lost the room" -- that many of his lesser-skilled, lower-paid, but hard-working teammates are tired of his approach. He's one of the best players in the game, but nobody wants a whiny captain. And he's not just the captain, and face of the franchise; he's the "face" of the whole NHL. I don't see it happening, because he's a marketing bonanza, but he's the guy to trade, for a king's ransom, and Geno can stand alone, and shine, in the spotlight.
- Bromancer

It's not a given the cap will go up this year due to the strength, or the lack there of of the Canadian dollar.
- Oneonta Penguin

No its not. I read that it wont go up over 1.5 this year. The Canadian dollar is at .82. Not good for the cap.

Well what if that backfires and you blow a season and 1 of 87, 71, 58 get pissed and demand a trade?

None of those players bring much value back in a trade. Again, only 87, 71, 29, 72 really bring any thing back. Cant trade 72, then you have a top 6 hole or its just a swap. 58 is too banged up for value. 29, still need a starting G.
- sammy87

I would be so happy if 58 demanded a trade. The problem is he has negative impact in a trade, is fragile, is making over 7 million per and no one would trade anything for him because he isn't reliable.

If someone gave me just gives us a 70 cents on the dollar deal, I would consider moving him.

A slight push to the chest, in a playoff game, where the refs are letting them "play", is not a penalty. The correct call would have been 2 minutes for embellishment, period. ou could even see the guys on the Pens bench looking all "what the F"?
- Bromancer

Same exact thing Downie did, except Downie did it with his shoulder. Either theyre both penalties or neither is a penalty.

There are equitable deals to be made. Some have put them down. Chicago can't do anything. They have zero cap room, especially with the price tags of Toews and Kane. Will someone step up and put out the necessary pieces to acquire him, that is the question.

STL would be an option, same with Montreal.
- Oneonta Penguin

Name some.

BB does not deserve a 45k raise for his poopty performance. People continue to make excuses for him ... but, his knee, or his wrists, or he isn't played in the spot he should be playing to thrive, or ...

I have seen more excuses for BB than anyone alive. He is the poster boy for a two-way contract.
- Oneonta Penguin

That is fine to say, but $945k is his qualifying offer (5%) raise. Bring him back, if he's that bad, then send him down and he'll clear waivers.

One way or two way doesn't matter to any of us. I could care less what he is paid if he's in WBS. His waiver status is what it is, and he'll need to clear.

But he'll either be better next season, or he'll suck, and thus clear waivers because no one will want him. Either option is better than just letting him walk this summer.

Every year the cap goes up, 87 and 71 get older. They will be 27 and 28 to start the season next year. 66 and 99 never won a cup after 26 in the pre cap era.
- sammy87

There are lots of players who win the cup beyond the age of 26. Even at 35, Crosby and Malkin will still be better than 75% of NHL players. You argument holds no water.

I agree that the GM will be going for a top 4 dman. It's the safer route, but at this point, I'm rather susceptible to the Gambler's fallacy and assume the Pens will actually have a healthy season and roll with the younger players. Boychuk has signed with the Isles long-term BTW.
- jfkst1

So, you want to gamble Letang and Maatta remain healthy? That is a bigger gamble than putting 10,000 down next year for the Sabres to win the Stanley Cup.

Name some.
- thickman1178

They have been said. Why don't you do some reading. Don't act like there aren't any equitable deals out there. If you don't believe it, you are a fool. 9.5 million for basically a 71-point guy that plays 65 games per year. Is that a wise investment? Nope. But there certainly are GMs that wouldn't be able to help contain themselves if they got the call.

They have been said. Why don't you do some reading. Don't act like their aren't any equitable deals out there. If you don't believe it, you are a fool.
- Oneonta Penguin

Ive seen one person (ZNagle) post his theory on a trade. You keep throwing out teams saying well this team has people and that team. Throw out some actual players you think could be swapped. I have yet to see you actually do that.

And you try to make it sound like winning the presidents trophy and potentially winning the first round on 5 games is an omen of failure in the 2nd round?
- rangerdanger94

*ahem*

That sounds painfully familiar.

So, you want to gamble Letang and Maatta remain healthy? That is a bigger gamble than putting 10,000 down next year for the Sabres to win the Stanley Cup.
- Oneonta Penguin

i acknowledge the risk here.

but at the same time, the alternative is not very appealing either.

the veteran Dmen will not come cheap, either in price or in term.

i have no desire to give paul martin another 5 years.

boychuk is gone already.

a guy i actually would go all in financially for, mark giordano, doesnt become available until next offseason and he wont reach that point anyway

No its not. If you're 71 and next year you once again are playign with a 36 yr old and Comeau in your prime, at what point do you look at management and say F this!
- sammy87

That's not something you can worry about as a GM. Its like trying to anticipate injuries. poop just happens that's beyond your control. Any player at any time can get fed up and ask for a trade. But to try to anticipate it and trade a player because it might possibly have the potential to maybe happen...ludicrous.

King made something up. This was nothing about letting a ref take notice of a little bump. If a 12 year old kid remains standing with that, which a normal 12 year old would, is that not fabricating? He looked like he got plowed over. That was far from the case.
- Oneonta Penguin

Again thats you being biased. There is no way you can fully say that you know 100% Lundqvist wouldn't have fallen from that contact. Goalies are fixated on the puck, they aren't prepared for any contact, especially after the whistle has blown the play dead. Like I said, I'm not defending how hard he fell, I'm simply saying he very well could have been off balance from that. Its not like he laid flat on his back looking up at the rafters for 10 seconds (ahem Crosby on the subtle nudge by Hagelin that couldn't knock a 12 year old down). Lundqvist did jump right back up and didn't complain or say a word to the ref.

Again Lappy you can 100% prove that he did not have his face touched. This is not a debatable thing.

Ive seen one person (ZNagle) post his theory on a trade. You keep throwing out teams saying well this team has people and that team. Throw out some actual players you think could be swapped. I have yet to see you actually do that.
- thickman1178

I have ... you can't read.

Ive seen one person (ZNagle) post his theory on a trade. You keep throwing out teams saying well this team has people and that team. Throw out some actual players you think could be swapped. I have yet to see you actually do that.
- thickman1178

He never will. He only shoots down other people's offers. He doesn't actually come up with any he thinks works.

Totally agreed, I think they should have both gotten 2 but that would have been beneficial for the Rangers I would think.

Lappy didn't do any favors with that though, when a player makes the Ref look stupid on National TV, he's not getting anything called for him Friday and may even get called himself on something ridiculous.
- xcheckmajor

The guy was hooked on 2 separate breakaways without a call. He wasn't getting them anyway! Now that I remember that, Im glad he embellished that to get them to finally make a damn call.