1. I wouldn't be too sure about that.

2. If you are trading him, you better get TWO top six forwards coming back. Something like Boone Jenner, Dubinsky and a 1st.
- Oneonta Penguin

If I am trading Malkin, its to a Western Conference team, I want no part of him being in the east, let alone same division.

Malkin is a top 5 player in the world but unfortunately having over 31 million in 4 guys doesn't allow you to fill out the rest of the roster.
Malkin for Skinner Faulk a 1st and prospect
Hornqvist Crosby Stewart
Perron Skinner Kunitz
X Sutter Kapenen
Downie Lapierre Winnik

Letang Matta
Faulk Pouliot
Domoulin Cole

Plus u have a 1st in 2016 and a prospect in the trade.
- nyrangers9479

Sooo... when teams that win the Stanley Cup have 45-50% of their cap tied to their top 5 players... and a team has 52% of their cap tied to their top 5 players... that 2% really makes a difference in filling out the roster? Sorry. But some people just don't get it. The penguins cap problems do not stem from 87/71/58/29. It just doesn't. It stems from the bad contracts to scuderi, spaling, sutter, kunitz, etc... don't know how many times it's gotta be said.

If I am trading Malkin, its to a Western Conference team, I want no part of him being in the east, let alone same division.
- Thorny

Yeah and I dont think CBJ is a destination he would prefer. LA, ANA, CO, VAN, PHX, CHI, SJ would be more realistic.

The staggering amount of uneducated "fans" on this forum who defended the lovejoy trade seem to have disappeared. Surprise? lol you know who you are, so please just stop watching hockey.

Anyone who stays a fan of this team until they clean (frank)ing house is on par with abused people who keep going back to their abuser, or leaf fans, not too sure whats a worse life decision. Ill have nothing to do with this team until that (frank)ing idiot GM is gone. The guy butchered carolina and people are surprised that he set our team back five years? Sid and geno will be out of their prime by the time rutherford is done ass (frank)ing our team and someone else takes over to start the 5 year journey of fixing this soft as baby poo team. If you have any respect for yourself don't spend a dime on anything to do with this team until they fix this disaster.
- StabMastaArson

I'm right here. I'll admit it. I defended it. I understood why it was done. Still do. But it backfired. And I'm willing to admit I made a mistake. He looked like dogpoop. I agree and I was wrong. But I still understand why they did it.

If I am trading Malkin, its to a Western Conference team, I want no part of him being in the east, let alone same division.
- Thorny

I'm not saying Columbus would be an option, or one that I would like. I'm saying you don't ask for one top six, a DMAN and a 1st. We are short on top six forwards and one of the ways we can get talent would be to trade him. If you do, you need to maximize the return by getting two bonafide forwards.

A top six, a Dman and a 1st doesn't really help the cause.

Sooo... when teams that win the Stanley Cup have 45-50% of their cap tied to their top 5 players... and a team has 52% of their cap tied to their top 5 players... that 2% really makes a difference in filling out the roster? Sorry. But some people just don't get it. The penguins cap problems do not stem from 87/71/58/29. It just doesn't. It stems from the bad contracts to scuderi, spaling, sutter, kunitz, etc... don't know how many times it's gotta be said.
- j.boyd919

The 50% of cap to a top heavy team is a good argument, but of those cup winners, the Pens are the top of the echelon of that 50%. You can even break it down to 3 of them taking 36% of the cap. It can be done, however you need good drafting to supplement those players. Pens dont have that, so the other 2 options are to overpay in FA, or make trades. Unfortunately the other pieces aren't worth anything coming back and there are no more picks to trade.

Then when 1 of those 5 players is hurt is essentially makes the Pens a 1 line team. Shero has put this team in a bad corner. Everyone wants to keep the core but move everyone else, but Kuni isn't bringing anything back, neither is Scuds. His buyout would hurt too, its almost 2mil....Not sure thats a good idea. Getting guys in FA is just rinse wash and repeat from last year. Sure Comeau looked good for a stretch, but then he turned into Blake Comeau. Same with Winnik. Lap was the ONLY bottom 6 to elevate his game for the playoffs.

I'm right here. I'll admit it. I defended it. I understood why it was done. Still do. But it backfired. And I'm willing to admit I made a mistake. He looked like dogpoop. I agree and I was wrong. But I still understand why they did it.
- j.boyd919

How has Despres been for ANA? Haven't watched any of those games.

How has Despres been for ANA? Haven't watched any of those games.
- sammy87

Not sure. I've read that he's made some solid plays but I've been busy with work

This is what Nash returned and I think its fair both ways.

Nash, along with Steven Delisle and a conditional third-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, were traded to the Rangers for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round draft pick.[18]

CBJ is a better team w/o their 50g scorer.

I appreciate the feedback, if I was a pens fan I'd be upset to lose out on the 16th pick in a strong draft class for a guy who didn't produce when put in an ideal situation. Just my two cents.

I think we can retain some players if they are to be played where they were intended. IE: comeau on fourth line

Perron - Crosby - Hornqvist
xxx - Malkin - xxx
Kunitz - Sutter - Dupuis (if he comes back)
Spalling - Winnik - Comeau
Wilson (Liked what I saw, I think he can be a solid third/fourth linder)

Maatta - Letang
Pouliot - xxx
Cole - Lovejoy
Dumo/Chorney/Harrington

Scuderi bought out

I think the D should be 'okay' if we got a top4 D to play second pair.
We don't have the space to play Chorney, Dumo, Harrington. We should flip one or two of them along Bennett for some top 6 help.

Also, anyone knows how much money we'll have to play with? I know Martin and Ehrhoff are 9M. But we would have to resign Comeau and Winnik.

I appreciate the feedback, if I was a pens fan I'd be upset to lose out on the 16th pick in a strong draft class for a guy who didn't produce when put in an ideal situation. Just my two cents.
- flyerscup2011

Sutter and a 2nd (the 2nd for Winnik) would have been ideal and fair.

Martin St. Louis landed 2 1st round picks and Callahan. Thats a nice haul for an older guy and both are better for it.

I appreciate the feedback, if I was a pens fan I'd be upset to lose out on the 16th pick in a strong draft class for a guy who didn't produce when put in an ideal situation. Just my two cents.
- flyerscup2011

We gave up a first round pick and a spare part for a guy that was playing on Edmonton's fourth line. Perron didn't have a return of that. A fourth line guy in Edmonton, who was pouting and didn't want to play there has a fourth round pick and Klinkhammer type of return.

So, trade Malkin for a forward that is an injury waiting to happen in Skinner? That is dumb. When, if you trade malkin, you better get back at least two bonafide forwards that figure to be top six and not one that is a given to be on the IR.

Skinner 18-13-31 in 77 games. That sucks ass.
- Oneonta Penguin

Agree he had a tough season and wasn't 100% but the kid is 22 and already has 2 30 goal seasons. He played on a terrible Carolina team that was in the bottom 4 in goals, that doesn't help. Faulk is a stud young defenseman that van help your back end, a first in 2016 will help along with a foward prospect.

Agree he had a tough season and wasn't 100% but the kid is 22 and already has 2 30 goal seasons. He played on a terrible Carolina team that was in the bottom 4 in goals, that doesn't help. Faulk is a stud young defenseman that van help your back end, a first in 2016 will help along with a foward prospect.
- nyrangers9479

We only have three competent top six forwards, so we are very short. You trade one, and one of them being a Malkin, you better get at least two stud top six forwards back. That would be asset management at its worst with that idea. The draft pick wouldn't be ready for at least two years. So, you get a forward that has concussion issues and a stud defenseman for one of the best forwards in the game. This is a no.

BTW when is Jeff Skinner ever not 100%?

We only have three competent top six forwards, so we are very short. You trade one, and one of them being a Malkin, you better get at least two stud top six forwards back. That would be asset management at its worst with that idea. The draft pick wouldn't be ready for at least two years. So, you get a forward that has concussion issues and a stud defenseman for one of the best forwards in the game. This is a no.
- Oneonta Penguin

Getting Faulk allows u to trade one of your dmen for a foward.

Getting Faulk allows u to trade one of your dmen for a foward.
- nyrangers9479

How about getting two forwards and a prospect and pick for Malkin and stop playing the musical chairs? Carolina doesn't have a package that would interest me. This doesn't benefit Pittsburgh really.

Who is the D we are trading to get that forward exactly? Kris Letang has no value ... same with Lovejoy. Chorney isn't getting you that top six forward; neither is Cole ... Scuderi? nope. Harrington? Nope. Pouliot? Not yet. Maatta? You don't trade him.

I appreciate the feedback, if I was a pens fan I'd be upset to lose out on the 16th pick in a strong draft class for a guy who didn't produce when put in an ideal situation. Just my two cents.
- flyerscup2011

When the perron trade happened there was no indication the pick would be 16. At the very least before injury we figured 22 and up

1. I wouldn't be too sure about that.

2. If you are trading him, you better get TWO top six forwards coming back. Something like Boone Jenner, Dubinsky and a 1st.
- Oneonta Penguin

Maybe, but in return I want nothing less than their best player along with their best young player (someone with term) plus, be that picks, prospects, another roster player or any combination of the three.

How about getting two forwards and a prospect and pick for Malkin and stop playing the musical chairs? Carolina doesn't have a package that would interest me. This doesn't benefit Pittsburgh really.

Who is the D we are trading to get that forward exactly? Kris Letang has no value ... same with Lovejoy. Chorney isn't getting you that top six forward; neither is Cole ... Scuderi? nope. Harrington? Nope. Pouliot? Not yet. Maatta? You don't trade him.
- Oneonta Penguin

The reason I say Faulk is because IMO he is their best player (the 2 Staals at their cap hits won't help you.) Also is an insurance policy if for some reason Letang can't make it back (I hope not but it's possible with his history) Skinner Faulk Lindholm?

Too Bad Toronto's doing a proper rebuild....

Bet we coulda traded them Malkin for the 4th overall, Kadri, Nylander and probably a few other pieces/picks....

Too bad they've changed their ways....

Also, anyone knows how much money we'll have to play with? I know Martin and Ehrhoff are 9M. But we would have to resign Comeau and Winnik.
- Conse

Nearly $21M tied-up in problematic, deadweight/ bad contracts

#9 $3.75 (LTIR/ retirement)
#14 $3.85 (trade/ picks)
#4 $1.29 (buyout)
#10 $4.00 (UFA market)
#7 $5.00 (UFA market)
#13 $2.20 (trade/ picks)

Throw in the cash for #26 and #19 and there is substantial room to overhaul this team w/ youth, speed, size and skill. Challenge though, is there are 29 other teams looking to do the same.

Too Bad Toronto's doing a proper rebuild....

Bet we coulda traded them Malkin for the 4th overall, Kadri, Nylander and probably a few other pieces/picks....

Too bad they've changed their ways....
- RoloTahmasee

Have zero desire for Kadri.

The reason I say Faulk is because IMO he is their best player (the 2 Staals at their cap hits won't help you.) Also is an insurance policy if for some reason Letang can't make it back (I hope not but it's possible with his history) Skinner Faulk Lindholm?
- nyrangers9479

We have an option that could replace Letang in time. He needs experience. We have nothing close to a top six forward, absent Kapanen maybe in the system. Bennett is a hinderance, not a solution. We are in more dire needs for quality forwards than trying to find a replacement for Letang.