Our defense is fine? What games have you been watching?
- thickman1178

As in next year we don't need any big deals.

Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, resign Cole and Chorney, Lovejoy, Dumo, Harrington and probably a mid level UFA will be signed. Our young guys another year to grow and this post season experience.

I honestly believe it comes down to size. It's a smallish team. I've been saying it for 3 years now. The NHL has morphed from speed and skill to size and power.

Not saying there are players that couldn't use some additional strength training, but it can be tough to add bulk and strength to somebody with Brandon Sutters body type.
- madmike71

And I think that's where calling the obstruction penalties comes into play to even it up for the smaller, more agile players.

Im so over hearing people saying we need to trade Malkin. I would like for anyone who keeps bringing this bullpoop up to find a team that can provide us equitable trade value for a similar cap hit, with a similar length of term to Malkins contract, where Malkin would waive his NTC to go to, and a GM who would agree to said deal.
- thickman1178

Malkin + Sutter + mid round pick for Max P + Galchenyuk + Gallagher

Malkin + Perron + Sutter for Max P + Galchenyuk + Gallagher + Weisse/Picks/Prospects

Here is an example of why the Penguins are where they are. They drafted Dmen so that they could have good assets to use as bargaining chips. They did not use them wisely to restock the empty tool box at the forward position. Instead they did this.
Got rid of Brian Strait (Islanders) for nothing. Got rid of Lovejoy for almost nothing and then traded Despres (1st round pick to get him back) Traded Bortuzzo for Cole which turned out to be Ok but did not receive anything to help the forward position. Brought back Scuderi when there were young Dmen waiting in the wings to move up. Instead they burdened themselves with a bad contract. Also got nothing for Orpik, got nothing for Nisky, got nothing for Engelland, and will get nothing for Martin. Not to mention signing Erhoff who has been nothing but injured. Mismanagement of defensemen will get you nowhere. Nothing in the above mentioned guys produced a FORWARD to help the weakness of the team. Just a real bad sequence of moves
- holeinone

Hey, you finally posted something I agree with! And you didn't use the YUCK face. Kudos!

I think Sheros plan to draft PMD's and trade them off later for higher value was a pretty good one. Too bad they severely blundered it.

Im so over hearing people saying we need to trade Malkin. I would like for anyone who keeps bringing this bullpoop up to find a team that can provide us equitable trade value for a similar cap hit, with a similar length of term to Malkins contract, where Malkin would waive his NTC to go to, and a GM who would agree to said deal.
- thickman1178

this

Here is a scary thought....

Mega Cap Space + Rutherford as GM + Limited, Overrated UFA Pool =

I sure hope he doesn't go out searching for some quick fix UFA and signs him to a long term extension. That would dig us a deeper hole.

I'm all for ridding ourselves, as much as possible, of the following players for draft picks:

- Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Perron, Duper

Perhaps package some of the picks acquired to get back into round 1 of a deep draft. If not, use them to restock. The above guys should net you a combination of 2nd-4th round picks.

Sign a few low cost, fringe UFAs. Keep Scuds if you cant move him. Pray Kap and Oscar turn out.

Sacrifice next season. Anyone you cant move this offseason, move them at the deadline next year. Try and set yourself up for 2016-2017 and beyond. I don't see any other way or quick fix. Even is you moved Malkin, you're not getting enough back. Plus, you'd be selling low at this point.

Get back to organizational fundamentals. Scout, Draft. Develop.

I was all in for win-now when we were actually in a position to win the Cup. We aren't anymore. They need to come to that realization.

Im so over hearing people saying we need to trade Malkin. I would like for anyone who keeps bringing this bullpoop up to find a team that can provide us equitable trade value for a similar cap hit, with a similar length of term to Malkins contract, where Malkin would waive his NTC to go to, and a GM who would agree to said deal.
- thickman1178

not many teams coming to mind...chicago, dallas, maybe avalance...ummm...calgary has some good up and commers...anaheim maybe? I mean itd be tough for sure but maybe it could work

top 6 winger, preferably younger and cheaper, top 4 d man, someone solid, doesnt need to be an all star, and a 1st round pick or 2 depending on who the top 6 is...

yea by tough i mean nearly impossible, but hey stranger things have happened, we traded lovejoy for a 5th rounder then traded our first rounder for him

this
- rival22

It comes down to this, would you rather have 2 world talent players saddled with middle of the road guys, or a top 9 that can compete in today's NHL? We've tried the top 2 for years with 1 Cup to show and we shouldn't have even won that, but we had a team then. You want to depend on 2 guys to carry our whole offense for the next few years? Haven't we been doing this for 5 years?

Here is a scary thought....

Mega Cap Space + Rutherford as GM + Limited, Overrated UFA Pool =

I sure hope he doesn't go out searching for some quick fix UFA and signs him to a long term extension. That would dig us a deeper hole.

I'm all for ridding ourselves, as much as possible, of the following players for draft picks:

- Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Perron, Duper

Perhaps package some of the picks acquired to get back into round 1 of a deep draft. If not, use them to restock. The above guys should net you a combination of 2nd-4th round picks.

Sign a few low cost, fringe UFAs. Keep Scuds if you cant move him. Pray Kap and Oscar turn out.

Sacrifice next season. Anyone you cant move this offseason, move them at the deadline next year. Try and set yourself up for 2016-2017 and beyond. I don't see any other way or quick fix. Even is you moved Malkin, you're not getting enough back. Plus, you'd be selling low at this point.

Get back to organizational fundamentals. Scout, Draft. Develop.

I was all in for win-now when we were actually in a position to win the Cup. We aren't anymore. They need to come to that realization.
- 87_71_11_29

Yeah, we'll have mega cap space and I can see Martin being resigned to term given that this UFA list is way below average.

Kap and Sund will be huge if they can step in and produce. Don't know if that's possible, but I guess we'll have to see next year if no big moves are made.

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.

I'm really good at photoshop.
- j.boyd919

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, lesser 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 they should trade, for a king's ransom, and Geno can stand alone, and shine, in the spotlight.
- Bromancer

Lol.... It always makes me laugh when random people have convinced themselves that they know what players are thinking or what locker room dynamics are.

Lol.... It always makes me laugh when random people have convinced themselves that they know what players are thinking or what locker room dynamics are.
- rival22

It is the fans' prerogative to do just that.

Here is a scary thought....

Mega Cap Space + Rutherford as GM + Limited, Overrated UFA Pool =

I sure hope he doesn't go out searching for some quick fix UFA and signs him to a long term extension. That would dig us a deeper hole.

I'm all for ridding ourselves, as much as possible, of the following players for draft picks:

- Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Perron, Duper

Perhaps package some of the picks acquired to get back into round 1 of a deep draft. If not, use them to restock. The above guys should net you a combination of 2nd-4th round picks.

Sign a few low cost, fringe UFAs. Keep Scuds if you cant move him. Pray Kap and Oscar turn out.

Sacrifice next season. Anyone you cant move this offseason, move them at the deadline next year. Try and set yourself up for 2016-2017 and beyond. I don't see any other way or quick fix. Even is you moved Malkin, you're not getting enough back. Plus, you'd be selling low at this point.

Get back to organizational fundamentals. Scout, Draft. Develop.

I was all in for win-now when we were actually in a position to win the Cup. We aren't anymore. They need to come to that realization.
- 87_71_11_29

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.

It seems the vibe is:

This year T-O-A-S-T.

Next year, wine and roses?

Here is a scary thought....

Mega Cap Space + Rutherford as GM + Limited, Overrated UFA Pool =

I sure hope he doesn't go out searching for some quick fix UFA and signs him to a long term extension. That would dig us a deeper hole.

I'm all for ridding ourselves, as much as possible, of the following players for draft picks:

- Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Perron, Duper

Perhaps package some of the picks acquired to get back into round 1 of a deep draft. If not, use them to restock. The above guys should net you a combination of 2nd-4th round picks.

Sign a few low cost, fringe UFAs. Keep Scuds if you cant move him. Pray Kap and Oscar turn out.

Sacrifice next season. Anyone you cant move this offseason, move them at the deadline next year. Try and set yourself up for 2016-2017 and beyond. I don't see any other way or quick fix. Even is you moved Malkin, you're not getting enough back. Plus, you'd be selling low at this point.

Get back to organizational fundamentals. Scout, Draft. Develop.

I was all in for win-now when we were actually in a position to win the Cup. We aren't anymore. They need to come to that realization.
- 87_71_11_29

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.

Yeah, we'll have mega cap space and I can see Martin being resigned to term given that this UFA list is way below average.

Kap and Sund will be huge if they can step in and produce. Don't know if that's possible, but I guess we'll have to see next year if no big moves are made.
- znagle

Kap and Sund will help tremendously. I dont think its reasonable to expect them to both make the team though.

I dont want Martin back. At his age I see him being Scuds 2.0 in a yr or 2.

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

Then you get rid of those players... they're awful and replaceable anyways. You don't move Crosby or Malkin. That's nonsense.

Then well be having the same conversation next year.
- sammy87

You are such a bundle of positivity. Has anyone ever told you that?

Kap and Sund will help tremendously. I dont think its reasonable to expect them to both make the team though.

I dont want Martin back. At his age I see him being Scuds 2.0 in a yr or 2.
- sammy87

(frank) it, right or die with the young kids. It'll give the Pens tons of money to spend on forward depth next year.

Kap and Sund will help tremendously. I dont think its reasonable to expect them to both make the team though.

I dont want Martin back. At his age I see him being Scuds 2.0 in a yr or 2.
- sammy87

Yeah but with this UFA class and oodles of cap room, I can see it happening.

Also I think Sund and Kap start AHL, who knows if they can contribute.

You are such a bundle of positivity. Has anyone ever told you that?
- thickman1178

Yeah my wife loves it when the in laws are in town.

Yeah but with this UFA class and oodles of cap room, I can see it happening.

Also I think Sund and Kap start AHL, who knows if they can contribute.
- znagle

I hate the thought of having Scuds, Martin, Kuni and Possibly Dupes all starting next year. So old and slow.

I'm actually ok with where this team is for next season

? - Crosby - Hornqvist
Perron - Malkin - ?
Kunitz - Sutter - Dupuis
Wilson - Spaling - Bennett
Kapanen/Sundqvist

Letang - Maatta
Pouliot - Lovejoy
Cole - Dumoulin
Harrington

Dupuis is a question mark, so is the future of guys like Sutter, Kunitz & Spaling. Scuderi has to be bought out.

We likely need two top six wingers... Best case scenario is that Kapanen can be one, but we will still need to find one elsewhere.

Not a lot on the UFA market, but there are some teams who have a shortage of centers. Maybe flip Sutter plus something for a lower end top 6 wing?

I know emotions are high now, but this team is in a decent place next season. They just need to avoid moving any more future pieces, and if anything acquire some more picks/prospects somehow.

Yeah but with this UFA class and oodles of cap room, I can see it happening.

Also I think Sund and Kap start AHL, who knows if they can contribute.
- znagle

Kap and Sund remind me of Tedenby and Josefson for the Devils a few years ago. European prospects they were looking forward to for a while who come in with top 6 potential and end up scrubs.