That's basically what I'm saying. Since there's no glaring holes in our roster and we're fine cap wise, our team doesn't have a real incentive to trade him. But if Schultz is resigned, he is expendable. We'd be dumb no to listen to proposals but we wouldn't move on anything we don't absolutely love because we have all the leverage. Hence why I highly doubt we'll just dump him.
- Victoro311

If the deal is right is trade anyone on the roster. Im with you though keep him unless you're blown away. Anyway I got pens in 5.

That's basically what I'm saying. Since there's no glaring holes in our roster and we're fine cap wise, our team doesn't have a real incentive to trade him. But if Schultz is resigned, he is expendable. We'd be dumb no to listen to proposals but we wouldn't move on anything we don't absolutely love because we have all the leverage. Hence why I highly doubt we'll just dump him.
- Victoro311

I don't think I ever said dumping him, but even the trade talk is in my mind insane. As you have said he's a cheap good depth guy at worst, at best he will be a stud! No idea why people are now saying to trade him, especially as I said it will be selling low.

I really think Yzerman laughs at Puoliot for Drouin, & his brief stint in the bigs had good results numbers wise didn't it (for the numbers men ). I think keep him & watch him develop in a Pens uniform! With the F depth coming through, we need D depth as well!

Game day? I've got 8 hours in the sack first!

I don't think I ever said dumping him, but even the trade talk is in my mind insane. As you have said he's a cheap good depth guy at worst, at best he will be a stud! No idea why people are now saying to trade him, especially as I said it will be selling low.

I really think Yzerman laughs at Puoliot for Drouin, & his brief stint in the bigs had good results numbers wise didn't it (for the numbers men ). I think keep him & watch him develop in a Pens uniform! With the F depth coming through, we need D depth as well!

Game day? I've got 8 hours in the sack first!
- Aussiepenguin

Well this whole conversation started because I responded to someone that was worried that DP will be dumped this offseason because he can't crack the line up. I've read a lot of posts to this end, and I just don't think its a real concern. Teams rarely just dump good prospects. They hold onto them until they pan out/bust or the prospect requests a trade because there's just no incentive to simply dump a good prospect because their cap hits are always negligible.

I only caught the 3rd period of the Isles/Bolts game last night, but if that period was indicative of how the series is going to look, there's no way Isles are coming out if that series. Pure domination by the Bolts.
- MattStrat

Score affects

Score affects
- pensfan024

Still, the Isles blew a three goal lead and allowed the Bolts to get back into striking distance. Score effect sure, but you gotta close out.

Score affects
- pensfan024

Bishop had an uncharacteristically bad game and that was the difference. The Bolts dominated them in possession, offensive zone time and shots. If that keeps up and Bishop plays like himself again, or even close to himself again, then I really cant see the Isles advancing.

Anything is possible though of course.

Bishop had an uncharacteristically bad game and that was the difference. The Bolts dominated them in possession, offensive zone time and shots. If that keeps up and Bishop plays like himself again, or even close to himself again, then I really cant see the Isles advancing.

Anything is possible though of course.
- MattStrat

Don't want to look ahead because we have a giant in front of us right now, but if the Bolts beat the Isles is there a chance Stamkos comes back for round 3?

Bishop had an uncharacteristically bad game and that was the difference. The Bolts dominated them in possession, offensive zone time and shots. If that keeps up and Bishop plays like himself again, or even close to himself again, then I really cant see the Isles advancing.

Anything is possible though of course.
- MattStrat

Tavares is a monster though..

Tavares is a monster though..
- j.boyd919

He's getting some well deserved respect throughout these playoffs. I never understood the Tavares is overrated crowd. He's a very special player.

Don't want to look ahead because we have a giant in front of us right now, but if the Bolts beat the Isles is there a chance Stamkos comes back for round 3?
- Victoro311

There is a chance but I think its a slim one. He's still on blood thinners and has no idea when he's coming off them.

Tavares is a monster though..
- j.boyd919

F'n right he is.

He's getting some well deserved respect throughout these playoffs. I never understood the Tavares is overrated crowd. He's a very special player.
- Victoro311

F'n right he is.

Well this whole conversation started because I responded to someone that was worried that DP will be dumped this offseason because he can't crack the line up. I've read a lot of posts to this end, and I just don't think its a real concern. Teams rarely just dump good prospects. They hold onto them until they pan out/bust or the prospect requests a trade because there's just no incentive to simply dump a good prospect because their cap hits are always negligible.
- Victoro311

I don't think you can disagree with me in the least with the statement I'm about to type. The 2016-17 season is almost make or break for Pouliot as far as his standing with Pittsburgh. Former first round pick, one they chose 8th overall and traded the beloved Jordan Staal to get (granted he was gone anyway). Granted still young, but let's be honest. He isn't any closer to being an NHL defenseman this year than last. There might be two openings on the blueline next year if things go a certain way. If he can't grab one of them, you have to start asking the question.

No, you don't trade him in the offseason. He has little value as it stands now. However, if we are chatting a year from now and his status is similar to what it is now, then ...

He came to camp with a great chance of making it, but blew it. Had a horrid camp. Another horrid camp should lead to questions.

I don't think you can disagree with me in the least with the statement I'm about to type. The 2016-17 season is almost make or break for Pouliot as far as his standing with Pittsburgh. Former first round pick, one they chose 8th overall and traded the beloved Jordan Staal to get (granted he was gone anyway). Granted still young, but let's be honest. He isn't any closer to being an NHL defenseman this year than last. There might be two openings on the blueline next year if things go a certain way. If he can't grab one of them, you have to start asking the question.

No, you don't trade him in the offseason. He has little value as it stands now. However, if we are chatting a year from now and his status is similar to what it is now, then ...

He came to camp with a great chance of making it, but blew it. Had a horrid camp. Another horrid camp should lead to questions.
- Oneonta Penguin

Trading Staal actually ended up = Dumoulin, Pouliot, Bonino and Fehr....not bad

I agree, don't trade Pouliot yet.

He's getting some well deserved respect throughout these playoffs. I never understood the Tavares is overrated crowd. He's a very special player.
- Victoro311

I personally thought Tavares was one of the most underrated in the NHL. He regularly puts up a PPG, and he does it very very quietly IMO.

I don't think you can disagree with me in the least with the statement I'm about to type. The 2016-17 season is almost make or break for Pouliot as far as his standing with Pittsburgh. Former first round pick, one they chose 8th overall and traded the beloved Jordan Staal to get (granted he was gone anyway). Granted still young, but let's be honest. He isn't any closer to being an NHL defenseman this year than last. There might be two openings on the blueline next year if things go a certain way. If he can't grab one of them, you have to start asking the question.

No, you don't trade him in the offseason. He has little value as it stands now. However, if we are chatting a year from now and his status is similar to what it is now, then ...

He came to camp with a great chance of making it, but blew it. Had a horrid camp. Another horrid camp should lead to questions.
- Oneonta Penguin

I think I have a little bit of a higher oppinion on DP than you do. He was not great last year and came in and flunked camp in the worst way possible. When he was called up he was unspectacular. But I think he improved substantially as he settled in.

I don't think it's up for debate that he was a reach where he was picked at. I think Shero knew he was reaching too but was to obsessed with the PMD asset bull poop. But I think he's developing at an average rate for a solid prospect. Defensemen take longer to develop than forwards. I mean just look at Dumoulin who looked like a bust all the way up until he wasn't. Look at Brady Shea (still refuse to spell it the dumb poop way he does) who didn't break in until this year's playoffs basically. Colton Paryako is also 22 years old. Not everyone is Olli Maatta or Rasmus Ristolanen.

I think DP is a fairly capable bottom pairing guy right now in the NHL, we just have a lot of blue line depth this year that he's buried behind.

I think I have a little bit of a higher oppinion on DP than you do. He was not great last year and came in and flunked camp in the worst way possible. When he was called up he was unspectacular. But I think he improved substantially as he settled in.

I don't think it's up for debate that he was a reach where he was picked at. I think Shero knew he was reaching too but was to obsessed with the PMD asset bull poop. But I think he's developing at an average rate for a solid prospect. Defensemen take longer to develop than forwards. I mean just look at Dumoulin who looked like a bust all the way up until he wasn't. Look at Brady Shea (still refuse to spell it the dumb poop way he does) who didn't break in until this year's playoffs basically. Colton Paryako is also 22 years old. Not everyone is Olli Maatta or Rasmus Ristolanen.

I think DP is a fairly capable bottom pairing guy right now in the NHL, we just have a lot of blue line depth this year that he's buried behind.
- Victoro311

You realize Skjei played for the University of Minnesota last year, right? He right now is more of a solution in the NHL than DP. Then again, the blueline situation for the Rags is pathetic. Kid is a stud.

You realize Skjei played for the University of Minnesota last year, right? He right now is more of a solution in the NHL than DP. Then again, the blueline situation for the Rags is pathetic. Kid is a stud.
- Oneonta Penguin

Doesn't change the fact that he was developing in the NCAA ranks. If he had been ready earlier he'd either have left college earlier or made the day one roster out of camp this year. Fact is defensemen usually don't break in until 22/23 unless they're really special. I'm not obsessed with DP like some here so I'm not shedding any tears that he's not playing above Lovejoy. But I think he could play on our bottom pairing right now and I don't see any real red flags at this point that would make me rush to cut bait. He's fine. Nothing spectacular and definitely a reach draft pick wise, but he's fine.

Doesn't change the fact that he was developing in the NCAA ranks. If he had been ready earlier he'd either have left college earlier or made the day one roster out of camp this year. Fact is defensemen usually don't break in until 22/23 unless they're really special. I'm not obsessed with DP like some here so I'm not shedding any tears that he's not playing above Lovejoy. But I think he could play on our bottom pairing right now and I don't see any real red flags at this point that would make me rush to cut bait. He's fine. Nothing spectacular and definitely a reach draft pick wise, but he's fine.
- Victoro311

Thats true but its also common for defensemen to take even longer than 22/23 years old to come into their own.

A poll was done among NHL fans asking the worst local announce team. Pittsburgh's had the most negative votes.

A poll was done among NHL fans asking the worst local announce team. Pittsburgh's had the most negative votes.
- Zac_O

Boston absolutely should have won.

Go ahead and chase the puck around. See how that goes. Some shots? Nearly all of them.
- Grinder47

The proof is in the pudding as they say, Washington has destroyed every team that has tried to sit back and play passive against them on the pk all season and struggled when pressured. Only a fool would advocate something that has been proven ineffective time and time again in recent history because it worked during a time frame that is completely irrelevant now but look who I'm talking to.

I love that other fan bases think that the Pens will fold to Caps physical play. The Rags tried and I thought it cost them. Granted the Caps are a better team but this team will take hits to make plays get up chase the puck and do it all over again. And most importantly will be in front taking abuse. No we are not a big physical team but we are a fast skilled team that will battle in all the areas of the ice. Corners? Yup. Net front? Yup. Boards? Yup. If the Caps try to hard to impose their physical will on the pens they will pay for it.

Boston absolutely should have won.
- Victoro311

Boston was 29, Pittsburgh 30 hahaah Steigy is awful.

I watched him while all you were drooling over the boring superstars.
- Grinder47

Oh? That's comical. You must not have watched much then considering the bum only played 9 minutes a night.