After a 47 save performance, the odds were in favor of Murray having a bad game last night. He didn't play Beagle's goal well but after that he was solid. He now has two days to relax and get ready. With the addition of Kris Letang, I look for him to play well. Team defense has been solid and last night without the top two Dmen it was better than expected. The Pens should be confident and if they get the lead Washington will have to battle the Pens and the fans.
- Thunderbolt

Murray is a cool customer. Certainly playing well above being 21 years old. Yes, he has given some weak goals up this play-off series. Remember him allowing two early to the Rags (one of them very weak) and then after that NOTHING. He shakes off bad goals and slams the door shut.

Sorry, I gots hockey thoughts...

- Expecting that Letang plays an exceptional game tomorrow night, but hoping that it's a level headed game. He needs to shoot more. Also hoping that Daley builds off last night's confidence booster and takes things to another level.

- I feel like the forwards have been consistently good in this series, but the inability at times for the defense to get the puck out of the zone has made it harder for the forwards to play their full-tilt 200 foot game. Hopefully that reverts tomorrow as well.

- Haven't seen any mention of Sundqvist - I thought he played a solid game at a different position, was hard on the puck and took the body when it was there.

- A game five is seldom huge when you're up 3-1, but the Capitals thrive on confidence, and giving them back some momentum even with a two game lead is asking for trouble. Tomorrow night would be a great night for things to really fall into place all over, which honestly hasn't happened in this series yet.
- hardnosed

You missed a decently extensive Sundqvist conversation earlier. He has little to no offensive instinct at this point in his development but he has been noticeably better since his first call up when we were basically playing short handed when we he was on the ice in the offensive zone. But I think he played quite well. Definitely not a liability out there. If he bulks up a bit more in the offseason and gets his conditioning to the point where he can play at full motor the whole game rather than spot shifts, I think he's a lock at 4C next year with 3C upside.

Dude, DP is so far behind that of Cole right now, or when he arrived in Pittsburgh it's not funny. Let's cool it on him making between Cole numbers and 4.5 million per year for a bit. He is closer to being Beau Bennett non factor than Ian Cole at this point. Not saying he is a bust at all just yet, but slow your roll a tad. Let's see if DP can force his way into the lineup next year instead of forecasting his worth two years from now. I'm not certain he will be in our lineup next year.

If there is a deal to be made this offseason and someone offers a second round pick, or a late first round, you jump on it. I don't care if it has to be greater than the next guy Pittsburgh could lose in the draft. I hate to tell you, the thing that clouds our protection list is the Fleury/Murray debate and nothing else. I think its pretty straight forward who is kept outside of that as it stands now.
- Oneonta Penguin

honestly dp should be happy if he gets above 1 mil

Murray is a cool customer. Certainly playing well above being 21 years old. Yes, he has given some weak goals up this play-off series. Remember him allowing two early to the Rags (one of them very weak) and then after that NOTHING. He shakes off bad goals and slams the door shut.
- Oneonta Penguin

and every goalie gives away weak goals from time to time so nothing to worry about.

Yall visit the ekblog lately? The hypothetical trade senerios for fluery are hilarious. He's worth everything from the number 6 over all pick to a single 3 rounder and everything in between.

After a 47 save performance, the odds were in favor of Murray having a bad game last night. He didn't play Beagle's goal well but after that he was solid. He now has two days to relax and get ready. With the addition of Kris Letang, I look for him to play well. Team defense has been solid and last night without the top two Dmen it was better than expected. The Pens should be confident and if they get the lead Washington will have to battle the Pens and the fans.
- Thunderbolt

I still don't put that Beagle goal on him, or anyone... just a damn flukey, only place that it could have gone in from a silly angle shot.

Ian cole got 3 years at 2.1....after like 2 months of quality play. Pouliot can easily raise his value to that level. Does depend how much term we want to give him.

Daley will be 33 after next season. If he keeps playing at this level someone is going to offer him a decent contract with term. I want nothing to do with that. Pouliot is the guy who looks like he could up his game in 2 years to a similar level.

Point is any return on Fleury has to be greater than the next guy Pittsburgh would lose in the expansion draft.
- sditulli

Daley's future or lack there of with this team has nothing to do with Pouliot's next contract. He's a RFA. He has no leverage. He's not going to get more money from us because we are "desperate". No other team is going to lose significant draft picks by offersheeting a guy that can't crack a starting rotation big money. Finally, Ian Cole played consistently well down the entire stretch and the playoffs last year. That was a worthy gamble. DP had a wide open spot coming into the year and failed camp in the worst way. After his call up he underwhelmed to the point that the guy that we went out and got as a depth 8th defenseman passed him on the depth chart. Yeah he had some good games in the regular season but he also had some pretty bad ones and he's shat the bed in the playoffs. There is no reason to think at this moment that he'll get north of 2 million with how underwhelming he's been and how little leverage he has.

Highly doubt Fleury is traded in the off-season. .. Murray is playing outstanding but he hasn't been the #1 guy for a full season then shouldered the playoffs. You don't just assume that role and pull it off. Fleury has been a mainstay on the team. I say if there is a perfect trade scenario he may go and Pitt would then get a goalie to tandem with Murray because he hasn't proven he can do a 60 game load in the NHL yet. If the nucks bail on Markstrom maybe then pens could try and bring him in and Fleury will be traded earlier.

honestly dp should be happy if he gets above 1 mil
- martox

I agree. He isn't worth 1 million right now though.

Yall visit the ekblog lately? The hypothetical trade senerios for fluery are hilarious. He's worth everything from the number 6 over all pick to a single 3 rounder and everything in between.
- pensfan024

Let me guess, the idiots from Toronto think third round.

You missed a decently extensive Sundqvist conversation earlier. He has little to no offensive instinct at this point in his development but he has been noticeably better since his first call up when we were basically playing short handed when we he was on the ice in the offensive zone. But I think he played quite well. Definitely not a liability out there. If he bulks up a bit more in the offseason and gets his conditioning to the point where he can play at full motor the whole game rather than spot shifts, I think he's a lock at 4C next year with 3C upside.
- Victoro311

If we are chasing a cup why wouldn't you just resign cullen for 800k and start sundqvist in the minors. If cullen's age catches up with him then insert sundqvist into the line up. The upside of Sundqvist is below what cullen already gives you.

Daley's future or lack there of with this team has nothing to do with Pouliot's next contract. He's a RFA. He has no leverage. He's not going to get more money from us because we are "desperate". No other team is going to lose significant draft picks by offersheeting a guy that can't crack a starting rotation big money. Finally, Ian Cole played consistently well down the entire stretch and the playoffs last year. That was a worthy gamble. DP had a wide open spot coming into the year and failed camp in the worst way. After his call up he underwhelmed to the point that the guy that we went out and got as a depth 8th defenseman passed him on the depth chart. Yeah he had some good games in the regular season but he also had some pretty bad ones and he's shat the bed in the playoffs. There is no reason to think at this moment that he'll get north of 2 million with how underwhelming he's been and how little leverage he has.
- Victoro311

HMMM ... almost like you saw my post on DP. We agree.

If we are chasing a cup why wouldn't you just resign cullen for 800k and start sundqvist in the minors. If cullen's age catches up with him then insert sundqvist into the line up. The upside of Sundqvist is below what cullen already gives you.
- sditulli

Because Cullen very well could receive offers more than 800k?

HMMM ... almost like you saw my post on DP. We agree.
- Oneonta Penguin

To be fair I was the one that originally called him out for saying DP wouldn't get north of 2 mil. Wasn't copying. Just late to the party.

If we are chasing a cup why wouldn't you just resign cullen for 800k and start sundqvist in the minors. If cullen's age catches up with him then insert sundqvist into the line up. The upside of Sundqvist is below what cullen already gives you.
- sditulli

Kinda was running off the assumption of Cullen's retirement.

Dude, DP is so far behind that of Cole right now, or when he arrived in Pittsburgh it's not funny. Let's cool it on him making between Cole numbers and 4.5 million per year for a bit. He is closer to being Beau Bennett non factor than Ian Cole at this point. Not saying he is a bust at all just yet, but slow your roll a tad. Let's see if DP can force his way into the lineup next year instead of forecasting his worth two years from now. I'm not certain he will be in our lineup next year.

If there is a deal to be made this offseason and someone offers a second round pick, or a late first round, you jump on it. I don't care if it has to be greater than the next guy Pittsburgh could lose in the draft. I hate to tell you, the thing that clouds our protection list is the Fleury/Murray debate and nothing else. I think its pretty straight forward who is kept outside of that as it stands now.
- Oneonta Penguin

The NHL is littered with defenseman teams gave up on and turned into solid professionals. Nisky, Depres to an extent. Ian Cole. Defenseman often taking longer to develop than a team patience. If I were a NHL GM I wouldn't draft defenseman in the first round. I'd target guys like Depres, NIsky, Pouliot, Cole and try to pick them up on the cheap. Guys with 1st round pedigree who have shown some of that ability. We can probably add Justin Schultz to that list (not quite yet).

Kinda was running off the assumption of Cullen's retirement.
- Victoro311

Has he indicated any interest in retirement? He seems happy. He's not making much money, but if chasing cups is fun for him and he wants to come back he's got an offer from me.

Let me guess, the idiots from Toronto think third round.
- Oneonta Penguin

calgary

The NHL is littered with defenseman teams gave up on and turned into solid professionals. Nisky, Depres to an extent. Ian Cole. Defenseman often taking longer to develop than a team patience. If I were a NHL GM I wouldn't draft defenseman in the first round. I'd target guys like Depres, NIsky, Pouliot, Cole and try to pick them up on the cheap. Guys with 1st round pedigree who have shown some of that ability. We can probably add Justin Schultz to that list (not quite yet).
- sditulli

Niskanen's second contract was for 1.5 mil. Cole's was for less than that. Same as Despres. That's what happens when you don't prove yourself. You get cheap bridge deals.

Please please take the caps out of the playoffs....

Please please take the caps out of the playoffs....
- pred_26

dw we will. gl with san jose

calgary
- martox

LOL ... they have three second round picks. It starts with the best pick of the second round for them.

Niskanen's second contract was for 1.5 mil. Cole's was for less than that. Same as Despres. That's what happens when you don't prove yourself. You get cheap bridge deals.
- Victoro311

Exactly. Still don't know why anyone is worrying about DP's salary right now considering he hasn't done a thing in the NHL that warrants anything north of 900k.

Exactly. Still don't know why anyone is worrying about DP's salary right now considering he hasn't done a thing in the NHL that warrants anything north of 900k.
- Oneonta Penguin

One word offer sheet.

He's shown enough for the analytical crowd and has the 8th overall pick pedigree. Yes he needs work.

Anyway 1.2-1.8 takes a 3rd round pick compensation. 1.8 - 3.6 would take a second round pick. If I'm a team like say Ottawa. Middle of the pack not a playoff contender I offer up a 1 year 2.2 contract to Pouliot in a heart beat. 2nd round compensation but that is a fine reward. He may not be SCF hockey 6d, but he's better than most teams 6d and a 2nd round pick is a cheap price to grab someone with his potential. His next contract will run in the 2's. 4's if he starts to put it together next year.

One word offer sheet.

He's shown enough for the analytical crowd and has the 8th overall pick pedigree. Yes he needs work.

Anyway 1.2-1.8 takes a 3rd round pick compensation. 1.8 - 3.6 would take a second round pick. If I'm a team like say Ottawa. Middle of the pack not a playoff contender I offer up a 1 year 2.2 contract to Pouliot in a heart beat. 2nd round compensation but that is a fine reward. He may not be SCF hockey 6d, but he's better than most teams 6d and a 2nd round pick is a cheap price to grab someone with his potential. His next contract will run in the 2's. 4's if he starts to put it together next year.
- sditulli

One word - delusional. It's like you haven't watched a single game this year. Then again, Pouliot rarely played because he wasn't good enough to crack the lineup when given the chance at camp. So, a guy that is essentially serving as our 8th Dman and is basically an AHL player is all the sudden going to make that? Keep dreaming dude.