Letang and Bennett on the ice as is Zatkoff (expected to start). Bortuzzo isn't playing tonight (undisclosed injury).
- Pens_Burgh

Good ... Borts would have scored tonight.

I love to rip on RW, but won't on this one. While I'm a big fan of Shattenkirk's and think he would be a big need, I'm not willing to send what it takes to get him in hopes that we can resign him after next year at a pretty steep price ... when you consider we have Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessell taking up a huge percentage of the cap space. Shattenkirk is nothing more than a fantasy for Pittsburgh, not a reality or a true option.
- Oneonta Penguin

As a big fan of American international hockey and the rise of the NCAA as a legit prospect development league, Kevin Shattenkirk is a top 5 favorite non-Penguin player of mine just like Phil Kessel was. And back when I thought a Kessel trade would either have DP/Maatta going back or no salary retention (both wouldn't have been good for Pitt), if we trade for Kevin Shattenkirk, it's going to be hard for me to be upset even if it's a terrible deal for us because I love him so much. But really we shouldn't entertain this deal unless the Blues are really that dumb and decide they love Chris Kunitz like they did with Troy Brower. We just don't have the assets to bring in an upgrade over what we currently have. Our best bet is that DP can make an impact and bump Lovejoy off the top line by creating the Doomsday pairing and playing DP with either Cole or Lovejoy. That's 100% on Pouliot though because a Cole-Lovejoy pairing would be disastrous. In fact, I think trying to avoid that pairing is the only reason Dumoulin and Daley aren't playing together right now

"Agreed. Not to mention the remarkable upgrade already with Daley for Scuds. I'm still stunned by that deal......even with the salary retention. "

Good that Daley is working out for the Pens. From the Hawks' perspective, it's easy math:

Scuds- $1M + Gustafsson>> Daley

Gustafsson 8p/+12 in 15 games. Q gave Euro FA rookie Gustafsson the top 4 minutes when Kieth was hurt, not 12 yr vet Daley.

As a big fan of American international hockey and the rise of the NCAA as a legit prospect development league, Kevin Shattenkirk is a top 5 favorite non-Penguin player of mine just like Phil Kessel was. And back when I thought a Kessel trade would either have DP/Maatta going back or no salary retention (both wouldn't have been good for Pitt), if we trade for Kevin Shattenkirk, it's going to be hard for me to be upset even if it's a terrible deal for us because I love him so much. But really we shouldn't entertain this deal unless the Blues are really that dumb and decide they love Chris Kunitz like they did with Troy Brower. We just don't have the assets to bring in an upgrade over what we currently have. Our best bet is that DP can make an impact and bump Lovejoy off the top line by creating the Doomsday pairing and playing DP with either Cole or Lovejoy. That's 100% on Pouliot though because a Cole-Lovejoy pairing would be disastrous. In fact, I think trying to avoid that pairing is the only reason Dumoulin and Daley aren't playing together right now
- Victoro311

Your best bet is hoping DP becomes Shattenkirk, or something close. We don't have the luxury of trading for him ... asset wise or cap wise. I'm a big fan of Shattenkirk's and would love him to be here, but in all reality, it won't happen.

Good article by RW. It's what most of us have been saying. STL has some great options on RD with Pietroangelo, Shattenkirk, and Parayko.

St. Louis is not a cap ceiling kind of franchise

They have been for 3 years in a row. They also have a lot of $$ coming off the books before any extension would kick in; Backes, Brouwer, Ott, Gunnarson, Berglund; and only Backes would be tough to replace with what we have already in the system. Shattenkirk might get traded because of how well Parayko is doing; but it's far from certain or necessary because of the cap.

"Agreed. Not to mention the remarkable upgrade already with Daley for Scuds. I'm still stunned by that deal......even with the salary retention. "

Good that Daley is working out for the Pens. From the Hawks' perspective, it's easy math:

Scuds- $1M + Gustafsson>> Daley

Gustafsson 8p/+12 in 15 games. Q gave Euro FA rookie Gustafsson the top 4 minutes when Kieth was hurt, not 12 yr vet Daley.
- Davewn

There wasn't a "winner" of this trade between us because we both made out so well. Very good cap move on your part. I just don't understand why you haven't sent Scuderi down to the AHL yet. If you do that, you get pretty much all the cap back from the Daley hit. On our end, we got back an asset that's leagues easier to move than Scuderi and we get to avoid the cap recapture penalty from the inevitable buy out that would have taken place this off season. You guys may still buy him out, but the recapture penalty won't be as burdensome on our end because you guys will be helping to foot that bill. I thought we were going to flip Daley again for pucks abd further cap relief and that was the grand plan, but with the way he's playing... Maybe that was the plan at first, but he's really exceeded every expectation here. Maybe Rutherford actually genuinely liked him and targeted him.

Slight rebuild. Selling all our ufas for mid picks, bring up rookies and getting top 5 pick isn't really a rebuild when you are only talking about 3-4 players max




- nh4442

It also isn't doing much to improve the team either, 1 top 5 player who may not help for a season or 2 and a bunch of middling guys who may never help the team doesn't make me all warm inside.

"Agreed. Not to mention the remarkable upgrade already with Daley for Scuds. I'm still stunned by that deal......even with the salary retention. "

Good that Daley is working out for the Pens. From the Hawks' perspective, it's easy math:

Scuds- $1M + Gustafsson>> Daley

Gustafsson 8p/+12 in 15 games. Q gave Euro FA rookie Gustafsson the top 4 minutes when Kieth was hurt, not 12 yr vet Daley.
- Davewn

It is a good deal for both teams. If you saw how bad Scuderi was playing here, you'd be "stunned" too that we were able to move him. He was directly responsible for GA's and multiple chances against every game.

It was really good and creative deal-making on both GM's part.

"Agreed. Not to mention the remarkable upgrade already with Daley for Scuds. I'm still stunned by that deal......even with the salary retention. "

Good that Daley is working out for the Pens. From the Hawks' perspective, it's easy math:

Scuds- $1M + Gustafsson>> Daley

Gustafsson 8p/+12 in 15 games. Q gave Euro FA rookie Gustafsson the top 4 minutes when Kieth was hurt, not 12 yr vet Daley.
- Davewn

Eh ... too early to decide. Daley has actually played pretty well here.

i think we have a good team right now. we have been playing some good hockey as of late. lets ride with what we have for the rest of the year and see if we can squeak into the playoffs. if we play like we did yesterday i think we can make a pretty decent run.
- pensfan024

Wouldn't argue that they are much more entertaining of late but I have a hard time justifying that they "have been playing some good hockey as of late" when they're 6-6-4 and average 2.56g/gm in the 16 games since HCMS has taken over. Professional sports are a results based business and while they have looked better the results still haven't been there and at the end of the day the results are all that really matters.

yes i would like shattenkirk but not at the expense of horny.

There wasn't a "winner" of this trade between us because we both made out so well. Very good cap move on your part. I just don't understand why you haven't sent Scuderi down to the AHL yet. If you do that, you get pretty much all the cap back from the Daley hit. On our end, we got back an asset that's leagues easier to move than Scuderi and we get to avoid the cap recapture penalty from the inevitable buy out that would have taken place this off season. You guys may still buy him out, but the recapture penalty won't be as burdensome on our end because you guys will be helping to foot that bill. I thought we were going to flip Daley again for pucks abd further cap relief and that was the grand plan, but with the way he's playing... Maybe that was the plan at first, but he's really exceeded every expectation here. Maybe Rutherford actually genuinely liked him and targeted him.
- Victoro311

Scuderi hasn't been good, but as 6/7 rotated in with Rozsival and paired with TVR, he hasn't been as bad as I feared. Q loves his veteran Dmen. Scuderi looks like Lidstrom compared to what was left of the Kimmo Timmonen Philly pawned off on Stan at the deadline. Rockford NHL ready prospects are forwards, not D unfortunately.

Scuderi ($1M retained) + Garbutt ($1M retained) for Sharp and Johns- OUCH! The Cap is cruel.

No to trading Horny. I dont want to trade the only player that gives 100% every shift and goes to corners and net with wreckless abandon regardless of his lower production this year. Pretty much every single player on the team is below their normal production...which leads me to believe they all have nowhere to go but up....of course staying the same is a possibility too. Shooting % cant get much worse though.

zero chance blues want hornquist

Scuderi hasn't been good, but as 6/7 rotated in with Rozsival and paired with TVR, he hasn't been as bad as I feared. Q loves his veteran Dmen. Scuderi looks like Lidstrom compared to what was left of the Kimmo Timmonen Philly pawned off on Stan at the deadline. Rockford NHL ready prospects are forwards, not D unfortunately.

Scuderi ($1M retained) + Garbutt ($1M retained) for Sharp and Johns- OUCH! The Cap is cruel.
- Davewn

I'm not sure you lost out too much on Johns. I watched him play at ND. Yeah he was probably our best defenseman, but he was as undisciplined as they come and always tried to do too much with the puck despite not having great hands. He could bust playing against NHL competition. It does suck that that's all you got for Sharp though

Per Twitter Drouin might be headed to mtl today

Wouldn't argue that they are much more entertaining of late but I have a hard time justifying that they "have been playing some good hockey as of late" when they're 6-6-4 and average 2.56g/gm in the 16 games since HCMS has taken over. Professional sports are a results based business and while they have looked better the results still haven't been there and at the end of the day the results are all that really matters.
- jaydogg1974

You're just looking at end game results. This team has battled from multiple deficits to make it to OT and get a point. Yes it sucks to not get both points but the battle is back. Too me that's a result of hard work and not giving up or giving in. This simply wasn't happening with Johnson. The second last Canes game was a cosmic bounce away from being 2 points too.

zero chance blues want hornquist
- Gerk

After trading Oshie for Brower and an AHL ceiling goalie, don't pretend you know there's a 100% chance they wouldn't want Hornqvist. Most teams would love a guy like Hornqvist at his cap hit on their roster.

zero chance blues want hornquist
- Gerk

Maybe we can interest them in a Hornqvist instead?

Per Twitter Drouin might be headed to mtl today
- nh4442

I am really curious about what would go the other way. I think MTL would do better by targeting a C, but no doubt they could use a guy like Drouin as well

I am really curious about what would go the other way. I think MTL would do better by targeting a C, but no doubt they could use a guy like Drouin as well
- Victoro311

Am I the only one that finds it suspect that Drouin only has 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 AHL games?

EDIT: I could see Galchenyuk going back the other way. Got him on my fantasy team and he has been mediocre.

Am I the only one that finds it suspect that Drouin only has 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 AHL games?

EDIT: I could see Galchenyuk going back the other way. Got him on my fantasy team and he has been mediocre.
- jfkst1

That's who is rumored to go the other way but idk

Am I the only one that finds it suspect that Drouin only has 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 AHL games?

EDIT: I could see Galchenyuk going back the other way. Got him on my fantasy team and he has been mediocre.
- jfkst1

Well that wouldn't be sound for MTL. Trading from a position of weakness isn't a good idea. Lars Eller isn't a valid 2C

Am I the only one that finds it suspect that Drouin only has 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 AHL games?

EDIT: I could see Galchenyuk going back the other way. Got him on my fantasy team and he has been mediocre.
- jfkst1

No it is suspect, but that has also probably brought down his price and if you can get a guy with Drouin's potential for cheap you take the gamble.