Defenses problem is the second pairing. Cole was given to us for Bortuzzo and was a 6/7 dman there. Best case they undervalued him but he still looks like a 4-5 at best. Pouliot is intriguing but he's still very young. I think he will produce offensively but he isn't built yet to be a minute eater like paul Martin. Pouliot would be a really good offensive dman on 3rd pairing but in the second he's not ready.

3rd pairing is fine. Not elite but they should be able to play their roles. Coles upside is turning into what niskanen become at that age which is a 5 that is capable of stepping into second pairing.

If we still had Depres I would feel a lot better. I think he's getting close to being a big minute second pairing guy. I think his year next year could be comparable to Franson. Also hits a lot and blocks shots and maybe would pair well with pouliot as the offensive side of pairing

First things first.... Scuds has a limited NTC. He get's to approve most teams. Something tells me he doesn't want to go the NJ. My bet is most teams (probably all) for which he'll accept a trade, will not want him.
- madmike71

A team he would be willing to go to may take him if the Penguins hold onto half his salary making his cap his 1.68. I don't think scuderi is a terrible player he just isn't worth what his contract is and the way this team is constructed you cannot overpay for depth player ie. Sutter. I think a contending team would give up a 5th possibly a 4th rounder for scuderi at 1.68 to be a bottom pairing penalty killer. Holding onto any of his salary obviously isn't ideal but dumping him for just a pick holding half the salary should give the team around 3 mil in cap space to sign another player and considering the rumored offer to ehrhoff from Columbus is in the 2-3 mil range the team could still get a solid player say a franson on a short term deal.

By my guess we are about 800k under cap with full roster. So even the Franson idea we would need him to accept no more than scuderi cap hit. That's a bit doubtful.

Only workable plan I think would be to move kunitz for a pick and use his cap hit for Franson. Then flip Lovejoy for either a) pick or b) forward depth. Could use lovejoy cap to sign trusty or stempiak etc. under that scenario we could get to 4 million to offer franson

By my guess we are about 800k under cap with full roster. So even the Franson idea we would need him to accept no more than scuderi cap hit. That's a bit doubtful.

Only workable plan I think would be to move kunitz for a pick and use his cap hit for Franson. Then flip Lovejoy for either a) pick or b) forward depth. Could use lovejoy cap to sign trusty or stempiak etc. under that scenario we could get to 4 million to offer franson
- sditulli

We are about 800k-1 mil... PLUS Fehr's 2 mil on the LTIR. We could deal scuds, even keep half a mil or so, and Squeeze in Franson. This would put us in another butt clench of if so and so gets injurred at a bad time, but we will be set for the next few years with our D.

Bret Bauer eats too many carrots.

I like the signing. I agree that this team had to do something different and looks very deep now. No young guys are being blocked at Forward anyway. Keep the D as is unless we can move Scuderi. Solid forwards will help improve the young D.

im good with our lines as of now. once fehr gets back will add a boost in back strectch.

health will be a big issue again this year, dupes Bennett, poliout, maatta, letang, fehr... thos are big names coming off some injuries.. depth signing is cool with me..

We are about 800k-1 mil... PLUS Fehr's 2 mil on the LTIR. We could deal scuds, even keep half a mil or so, and Squeeze in Franson. This would put us in another butt clench of if so and so gets injurred at a bad time, but we will be set for the next few years with our D.
- Guile

Im very ok with scuderi being traded and the pens retaining around 1 mil.

good article highlighting how incompetent Benning is.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...istakes-of-the-past-year/

good article highlighting how incompetent Benning is.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...istakes-of-the-past-year/
- jfkst1

Did RW write that

Did RW write that





- nh4442

Nah, looks like its grabbing from a few people's stuff... hell, i think RW or someone on HB quoting part of what that article used.

By my guess we are about 800k under cap with full roster. So even the Franson idea we would need him to accept no more than scuderi cap hit. That's a bit doubtful.

Only workable plan I think would be to move kunitz for a pick and use his cap hit for Franson. Then flip Lovejoy for either a) pick or b) forward depth. Could use lovejoy cap to sign trusty or stempiak etc. under that scenario we could get to 4 million to offer franson
- sditulli

That wouldn't surprise me at all. I have to hand it to Ruth, he's done a great job at analyzing this team and correcting it's deficiencies. He has to see the D needs a tweak. I'm pretty worried that the kids might not be entirely ready.

Why does everyone think a player with a MNTC or NTC will try to (frank) over the team trading him? I mean how many years has Scuds been here? You know he's really good buddies with the whole team and management. I think he realizes he's the odd man out, I don't think he would pout like a little girl and basically say the only way he's being traded is to NYR, WSH etc..

I'd like to think he wouldn't want to tarnish his career over something like this. As long as Ruth moves him to a place he'd feel comfortable going to.

I like the signing of Cullen.

Im very ok with scuderi being traded and the pens retaining around 1 mil.
- drummer829

This is the ideal situation. In no circumstances do we trade second rounders to get rid of Scuderi regardless if we got them free or on a trade.

This is the ideal situation. In no circumstances do we trade second rounders to get rid of Scuderi regardless if we got them free or on a trade.
- nelson911

What about a 3rd rounder then? Gotta give a bonus to the team taking Scuds off our hands... unless we can find ANOTHER Vancouver type deal, where the GM is a moron.

Letang, Maatta, Cole, Lovejoy, and Scuderi are currently 5 of their top 6 defensemen baring prospects beating any of those guys out. If they go in with 5 of those 6 guys, those guys are all veterans.
- RAGSareDANGERus

No no god no. Scuderi is the 7th and Lovejoy is the sixth. Pouliot is 3 and Dumoulin is 5 and those 2 guys are mandated to play this season. Lovejoy will be with. Dumoulin on thee bottom pairing and Pouliot will be with Cole.

Cullen for vinny

This is the ideal situation. In no circumstances do we trade second rounders to get rid of Scuderi regardless if we got them free or on a trade.
- nelson911

I think Guile has the right perspective on it. If Franson is coming for a reasonable cap hit, isn't that basically trading Scuderi and a late 2nd for Franson? I don't see how that isn't a good deal. Really don't think the options will be more favorable in-season.

Cullen for vinny
- Just5

I was going to offer Scuderi but Vinny's contract is brutal.

What about a 3rd rounder then? Gotta give a bonus to the team taking Scuds off our hands... unless we can find ANOTHER Vancouver type deal, where the GM is a moron.
- Guile

With no retention sure.. Otherwise I just tell him he may be scratched or a sixth D. With Scuderi over his injury issue I think he may be alright as an injury replacement here and there. I can't stand his transition game and think its a major deterrent to the skill we have.

I could see the Pens missing the postseason, but I think it would have to do with injuries. No Metro team can afford to take significant injuries because the division is that strong.
- jfkst1

I would agree with this. 3 spots and 5 potentially 100 point teams looking for those. Injuries could be a killer.

I think Guile has the right perspective on it. If Franson is coming for a reasonable cap hit, isn't that basically trading Scuderi and a late 2nd for Franson? I don't see how that isn't a good deal. Really don't think the options will be more favorable in-season.
- jfkst1

Where is this Franson talk coming from I haven't heard him considering Pitt or being within their salary structure. Yes Scuderi will clear some cap....but money will be spent next year with Maata and Perron. Franson prob wants a multi year deal. There is no guarantee of a cap increase. If Franson took a friendly deal, then sure he could very valuable.

Heres some boredom questions

Fehr, Bonino, Cullen.....(pretend Fehr isnt injured and all three players play a full season) who scores the most points this year?

Fehr, Bonino, Plotnikov...which one ends up getting a large chunk of top 6 minutes this year?

Bennett, Kunitz, Perron....most likely to have a bounce back year?

Anderson, Clendening, Erixon...which one is the first injury call up?

Where is this Franson talk coming from I haven't heard him considering Pitt or being within their salary structure. Yes Scuderi will clear some cap....but money will be spent next year with Maata and Perron. Franson prob wants a multi year deal. There is no guarantee of a cap increase. If Franson took a friendly deal, then sure he could very valuable.
- nelson911

We were said to be looking at him coming out of the FA gate... but who wasn't. We can't field an offer at this moment until we move someone, and nothing has been leaked regarding him besides Boston wanting him there.