Semin is the reason the lazy Russian stereotype exists. Tons of talent, great quick release, just no drive or intensity in his game at all. I wouldn't take Semin if CAR had 100% retained.
- sammy87

Guess we are gonna differ on opinion then. You can put Semin with Crosby or Malkin, he'd have to mesh with one of the two. I refuse to believe he'd be worse than Kunitz right now. Comparing them due to cap hit being near the same.

This stat is a bit misleading. Before the lockout season, he had a break out performance during the playoffs, and then during the lock out he was on pace for about 40 points. Last year he missed the 20 goal mark by a single tally and notched 51 points.This season he only played in about half the games and notched 14, putting him at an almost 30 goal pace. I don't watch Arizona or Boedker, but from a stats only perspective, this is the kind of upward trending development I'd want to see from a youngster. If Sutter can somehow fetch him, I think this the best kind of deal we can get for Sutter, maybe Sutter and a little plus. If we send out Sutter for Boedker and manage to throw Spaling in as a throw in cap dump, then we not only get Boedker, but also the cap space to make a play at Soderberg.

Between Boedker and Perron, we'd have our top 6 LWs with Kunitz at depth to jump up in case of injury. Between Kapanen, Bennett, and possibly Dupuis, there's a solid chance we don't have to look any further for a 3RW. By giving Malkin some talent in Boedker or Perron, we could stand to have a weaker link at RW. Let's take a looksee:

Boedker-Crosby-Hornqvist
Perron-Malkin-Bennett/Kapanen
Kunitz-Soderberg-Dupuis/Bennett/XXX
Sundqvist/XXX-Sundqvist/XXX-Rust/Wilson

That forward grouping looks really good to me. I like the idea of giving Crosby a fast sniper with Hornqvist to beast it up in front of the net, so I put Boedker with the top line for now, but he can easily interchange with Perron. Malkin killed it with Neal, so I see no reason why Boedker wouldn't be a great fit with his slightly worse shot, but better all around game.
- Victoro311

I dont get the facination with Soderberg. He is an average player at best that is going to grossly overcompensated because of a weak fa class. In 3 years he has 29 goals. Sutter in 3 years has 45 and only costs us a fraction of what Soderberg will get. Soderberg is turning 30 when season begins. Sutter just turned 26.

Semin is the reason the lazy Russian stereotype exists. Tons of talent, great quick release, just no drive or intensity in his game at all. I wouldn't take Semin if CAR had 100% retained.
- sammy87

He had plenty of drive in his game when he played for a team that was decent. I know that no player should ever give less than 100%, but on a poopty team with a comfy contract and a few injuries, I can give benefit of the doubt.

At half salary retention, the risk/reward is way worth it. He plays great with skilled players in the past.

You guys have no creativity..you are all a product of recency bias

Guess we are gonna differ on opinion then. You can put Semin with Crosby or Malkin, he'd have to mesh with one of the two. I refuse to believe he'd be worse than Kunitz right now. Comparing them due to cap hit being near the same.
- Guile

Indeed. He would kinda have to play with Geno though, given he's a RW and Hornqvist is firmly planted at 1st line RW.

He had plenty of drive in his game when he played for a team that was decent. I know that no player should ever give less than 100%, but on a poopty team with a comfy contract and a few injuries, I can give benefit of the doubt.

At half salary retention, the risk/reward is way worth it. He plays great with skilled players in the past.

You guys have no creativity..you are all a product of recency bias
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I would take Semin if canes retained salary. He & Geno would do great together.

I dont get the facination with Soderberg. He is an average player at best that is going to grossly overcompensated because of a weak fa class. In 3 years he has 29 goals. Sutter in 3 years has 45 and only costs us a fraction of what Soderberg will get. Soderberg is turning 30 when season begins. Sutter just turned 26.
- joescullz

So you are counting the year he played 6 games? C'mon man!

To answer your question... he has the size, physicality, board play we need in our bottom 6. Will he be overpaid? Likely. But I'll take the trade return of sutter + Soderberg over Sutter alone.

I dont get the facination with Soderberg. He is an average player at best that is going to grossly overcompensated because of a weak fa class. In 3 years he has 29 goals. Sutter in 3 years has 45 and only costs us a fraction of what Soderberg will get. Soderberg is turning 30 when season begins. Sutter just turned 26.
- joescullz

This is not correct. Soderberg is currently making 1 mil. He's 29/30 years old He's not gonna make much more than 3 mil. That might be a slight overpayment but its still .3 mil cheaper than what Sutter costs us now, let alone what Sutter will cost us after this season when its raise time.

I agree with you that Sutter can probably produce more goals, but Sutter is a one trick pony and all he can really do well is finish on the right side. He's not very good at facilitating a line and he's not physical at all. Soderberg is a very good two way player who is actually physical. He can facilitate offensively still, and is the type of center we need if we want to have a shut down third line again to open up the opportunity for Crosby and Malkin to get better offensive opportunity.

Sutter's an ok tertiary scorer, but the Penguins don't really need that. We need to have a functional third line to go up against the opposing team's top two lines so that Crosby and Malkin can run train without having to worry about that roll. Sutter can't give us that, but Soderberg can. He may produce a little less, but he's a far better fit for this team.

Guess we are gonna differ on opinion then. You can put Semin with Crosby or Malkin, he'd have to mesh with one of the two. I refuse to believe he'd be worse than Kunitz right now. Comparing them due to cap hit being near the same.
- Guile

I dont think Kunitz is a top 6 option at this point.

Pens holes:

2 top 6
3-4 bottom 6
1 D

Its a huge maybe if Kap and Sundquest can fill any of those holes, and no body really has any value in a trade. Maybe Sutter. Besides, what are you willing to give to get Semin?

I dont get the facination with Soderberg. He is an average player at best that is going to grossly overcompensated because of a weak fa class. In 3 years he has 29 goals. Sutter in 3 years has 45 and only costs us a fraction of what Soderberg will get. Soderberg is turning 30 when season begins. Sutter just turned 26.
- joescullz

Misleading since Soderberg has played 161 games in the last 3 years and registered 94 points while Sutter has played 209 games in the last 3 years and only registered 78 points. Sutter is also very likely going to cost more than Soderberg in his next contract.

I dont think Kunitz is a top 6 option at this point.

Pens holes:

2 top 6
3-4 bottom 6
1 D

Its a huge maybe if Kap and Sundquest can fill any of those holes, and no body really has any value in a trade. Maybe Sutter. Besides, what are you willing to give to get Semin?
- sammy87

He's not a top 6 on a full time basis, but more spot duty when someone is injured.

Perron/sid/horn
FA/geno/semin (salary retained)
Kuntiz/Sutter/dupuis
Spalling/sunquvist/kappanen

Matta/tanger
Cole/pouliot
Dumolin/chorney/lovejoy

Flower
Murray or Zatkoff

I dont think Kunitz is a top 6 option at this point.

Pens holes:

2 top 6
3-4 bottom 6
1 D

Its a huge maybe if Kap and Sundquest can fill any of those holes, and no body really has any value in a trade. Maybe Sutter. Besides, what are you willing to give to get Semin?
- sammy87

Outisde of a package deal... probably Spaling and decent prospect (Kuhnhackl, Zlobin, Dea)

He's not a top 6 on a full time basis, but more spot duty when someone is injured.

Perron/sid/horn
FA/geno/semin (salary retained)
Kuntiz/Sutter/dupuis
Spalling/sunquvist/kappanen

Matta/tanger
Cole/pouliot
Dumolin/chorney/lovejoy

Flower
Murray or Zatkoff
- joescullz

Ugh, thats ugly. I can see Geno and Semin going invisible for long stretches. Im not banking on Dupes coming back either and why do you have Kap on the 4th line? He will last about 2 weeks there before he becomes BB 2.0.

Outisde of a package deal... probably Spaling and decent prospect (Kuhnhackl, Zlobin, Dea)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

And why would CAR do that deal and keep salary?

He's not a top 6 on a full time basis, but more spot duty when someone is injured.

Perron/sid/horn
FA/geno/semin (salary retained)
Kuntiz/Sutter/dupuis
Spalling/sunquvist/kappanen

Matta/tanger
Cole/pouliot
Dumolin/chorney/lovejoy

Flower
Murray or Zatkoff
- joescullz

still need some tweaks....like getting Kapanen off the 4th line, trading sutter for a winger,

lets go for the yakupov/geno/semin line

And why would CAR do that deal and keep salary?
- sammy87

um...so they dont have to pay Semin $7M a year?

So you are counting the year he played 6 games? C'mon man!

To answer your question... he has the size, physicality, board play we need in our bottom 6. Will he be overpaid? Likely. But I'll take the trade return of sutter + Soderberg over Sutter alone.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Eh, i dont know about that my man. There is always one team that overpays and one team that grossly overpays; Soderberg will probaby fall into the grossly overpayed category. He'll get btween 4/4.5 mil per. No thank you.

still need some tweaks....like getting Kapanen off the 4th line, trading sutter for a winger,

lets go for the yakupov/geno/semin line
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Would love to see what Yak could do with geno and semin. Oil would want something ridiculous for him like Matta.

Would love to see what Yak could do with geno and semin. Oil would want something ridiculous for him like Matta.
- joescullz

it would be pure entertainment.

hockeybuzz heads would explode with enigmatic russian comments and commitment to defense.

Ugh, thats ugly. I can see Geno and Semin going invisible for long stretches. Im not banking on Dupes coming back either and why do you have Kap on the 4th line? He will last about 2 weeks there before he becomes BB 2.0.
- sammy87

Because my proposed line combos factors in Dupuis still being on the team. If he retires, then put kap w/sutter

it would be pure entertainment.

hockeybuzz heads would explode with enigmatic russian comments and commitment to defense.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I guess no body here watched any of the Russian teams in the olympics.

um...so they dont have to pay Semin $7M a year?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

So CAR has a guy that isn't coming coming close to his expected production, are are willing to take a good chunk of his salary just to get him off the books. Why on Earth would the Pens want to take him on for 50%?

And why would CAR do that deal and keep salary?
- sammy87

Why? No idea, it makes no sense to me why they want him gone and have stated they'll eat 50%. But, I think you can't be wrong taking him in for 3.5 mil.

Would love to see what Yak could do with geno and semin. Oil would want something ridiculous for him like Matta.
- joescullz

Why would they want a Dman that has had the same shoulder surgically repaired 2x in the same year for a former 1st pick that just signed a cap friendly contract? I think they would want more.

Why? No idea, it makes no sense to me why they want him gone and have stated they'll eat 50%. But, I think you can't be wrong taking him in for 3.5 mil.
- Guile

Sure you can. It's 3 more years for a bum for the same price as you're paying 2 other guys in their 30's to be in the top 6. As much as I hate BB, id take him in the top 6 over Semin at this point.

Would love to see what Yak could do with geno and semin. Oil would want something ridiculous for him like Matta.
- joescullz

Even if Maatta did NOT have the injury problems.. I wouldn't say Maatta for Yakupov ridiculous... I actually think that's a pretty fair trade.