I was not happy to get bonino for sutter I thought plot would be good and about half way through the season I regretted the kessel get. Other then that I'm excellent evaluator of talent

While i did think Kessel would have found chemistry with either Sid or Geno, he is more of an elite talent than a top six i would hope to get this off season. Kessel just sort of fell in out lap through a series of fortunate circumstances.
Toronto wanted rid of him for their own reasons.
He had a no trade list that he wasnt budging on leaving pretty much just the Pens ad his destination.
JR didnt pull the trigger on an Oshie deal and held firm with Toronto getting us a Phil for what amounts to a late 1st, depending on what you think Kapanen will become.

That HBK line has almost mythical chemistry.
- stackthepads

Agreed, just pointing out the irony that Kessel seems to have made a nice niche on a line of his own. Perhaps next year we can seek to acquire Jonathan Toews to anchor our 4th line.

Moving Kunitz will open up more cap space for a top 6 winger

- znagle58

It opens space but who is really giving up anything for a 36 yr old with 1 yr left on his deal? You most likely are taking something back to get off their books. Even if you got a 2nd, then what? Pay Okposo $5+?

Im not exactly sure how it works with SHultz's status, but he hasn't been bad.

Id let Lovejoy walk, BB is gone, Cullen I love the guy but not sure if he will have anything left after this season.

Cole was garbage this year, but he's been good this playoff, so not sure what to do with him. So who knows how he will be next year.

Kunitz won't go anywhere so I see him staying in the top 6 next year. Sherry is struggling now, so he could be a ?. Gotta hope Sprong can bring it next year. I think the bottom 6 is set if not overloaded. They are up against the cap so it will be tough to get a top 6 for the 2nd line.
- sammy87

Would love to retain Schultz and DK has reported several times that management would too. I think the way it works is we have to extend a QO that's at or exceeds his current cap hit, but Schultz can also sign a lower contract with us out of his own volition and it would act as a QO. I think Schultz is having a lot of fun here and understands the opportunity he's being afforded in a new environment where people actually believe in him and the opportunity to learn from Sergei Gonchar. Wouldn't at all be surprised if he were to sign with us at 2/2.5 mil for two years with the hopes of making bank after his reclamation in Pittsburgh has been completed. That's an acceptable cap hit to me.

Cole is an enigma. He seems to be making an MO of sucking up until the stretch and then playing really well in March and into the playoffs. But you can't make a career off of getting yourself into the doghouse and then waiting on a chance to redeem yourself come playoffs. Then again the guy has legit excuses. Hitchcock didn't like him as a person and he had other office issues with how StL handled him over there. Then this year Johnston flug Cole into a role he wasn't suited for with a partner he didn't mesh with and his confidence got wrecked.

Cole plays in a way that none of our other blue liners do and adds a physical element that would be sorely missed if he weren't there. As long as he's still serviceable in the puck moving aspect and can continue to contribute in other ways besides just crease protection, physicality, and shot blocking aka #gritness id rather have him than not.

I agree that our bottom six is actually overloaded. One thing in the back of my mind has been that it's unrealistic to keep all of the WB5. I love them all but we've got guys waiting in the wings like Simon, Guentzel, and Sprong that look extremely promising and with higher upside. As those guys continue to develop, I think we will see at least one of the WB5 packaged in a trade, and that's something we need to be emotionally prepared for.

I disagree with you that we're up against the cap. Yes, we technically are, but I also think we have a lot of flexibility. We have a lot of moveable assets that can give us cap space it needed. If Daley and Flower were to be made available people would inquire. I'm not so sure Kunitz stays. He's so done it's not even funny. I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone this offseason one way or another.

"Braydon Coburn took a needless penalty."

He actually took two of them...back to back. - Once a Flyer, always a Flyer.

It opens space but who is really giving up anything for a 36 yr old with 1 yr left on his deal? You most likely are taking something back to get off their books. Even if you got a 2nd, then what? Pay Okposo $5+?
- sammy87

Okposo wasnt any good getting top line minutes with Tavares, let some other sucker get that turd.

Thanks guys but looks like I may be out of luck. I'm Canadian and when I try to get the I heart app it says unavailable in your country.
- bochangs

I would call out sick...from the camping trip

It opens space but who is really giving up anything for a 36 yr old with 1 yr left on his deal? You most likely are taking something back to get off their books. Even if you got a 2nd, then what? Pay Okposo $5+?
- sammy87

Okposo is going to get a bad contract this offseason. With his injury history he's a really good player but he's only worth 4-4.5 mil. He's going to get around 6, although knowing Okposo, we'd probably sweep the Dirty Ders for his entire tenure here.

I don't think we go the UFA rout when looking for Malkin's next guy. I'm thinking we are going to bank on Sprong developing. Truth is he has to be in the NHL next season. Another year in the juniors would probably stunt his development more than sitting in the press box all season at the NHL level. I think we bank on Sprong and try to find a value top 9 LW UFA, and bank on Wilson, Sheary, or Simon taking the last LW spot in the top 9.

Can Guentzel play wing next year? Looks like he had a great playoffs.

Okposo is going to get a bad contract this offseason. With his injury history he's a really good player but he's only worth 4-4.5 mil. He's going to get around 6, although knowing Okposo, we'd probably sweep the Dirty Ders for his entire tenure here.

I don't think we go the UFA rout when looking for Malkin's next guy. I'm thinking we are going to bank on Sprong developing. Truth is he has to be in the NHL next season. Another year in the juniors would probably stunt his development more than sitting in the press box all season at the NHL level. I think we bank on Sprong and try to find a value top 9 LW UFA, and bank on Wilson, Sheary, or Simon taking the last LW spot in the top 9.
- Victoro311

Yeah Okposo will get stupid money.

If you dont get someone decent for Malkin and Sprong isn't ready, he's gonna be like WTF?

"Braydon Coburn took a needless penalty."

He actually took two of them...back to back. - Once a Flyer, always a Flyer.
- NJPensfan

I thought the same thing!

Can Guentzel play wing next year? Looks like he had a great playoffs.
- Thorny87

He's projected to be better suited for LW in the pros than C from. Couple of reports I read. But even though he had a phenomenal playoffs I wouldn't feel comfortable at all assuming that he's NHL ready. Ideally Simon and Guentzel both start in the AHL next year and are at the top of the call up list once injuries start to hit.

Yeah Okposo will get stupid money.

If you dont get someone decent for Malkin and Sprong isn't ready, he's gonna be like WTF?
- sammy87

Haha I agree. That's why we need a contingency top 9 signing that can at least be Jokinen/Comeau level competant. If not we're probably gonna have to play Geno on Sid's wing and abandon this extremely promising three line model.

It opens space but who is really giving up anything for a 36 yr old with 1 yr left on his deal? You most likely are taking something back to get off their books. Even if you got a 2nd, then what? Pay Okposo $5+?
- sammy87

I'd be happy just moving him off the team. Give us a 6th for all I care. ARI or a team with cap would happily take him. Also no Okposo

I'd be happy just moving him off the team. Give us a 6th for all I care. ARI or a team with cap would happily take him. Also no Okposo
- znagle58

4 mil is really hard to walk away from, but hockey players are prideful beasts. Winning the cup, and a frank conversation with The Old Man where Rutherford explains the possibility of a buyout might convince him to retire on top as a Penguin rather than be traded to a cap floor team or be bought out.

It opens space but who is really giving up anything for a 36 yr old with 1 yr left on his deal? You most likely are taking something back to get off their books. Even if you got a 2nd, then what? Pay Okposo $5+?
- sammy87

Yeah, that's the problem right there. He's basically a $3.6 3rd liner at this point on any team willing to pick him up for some veteran depth. Probably not going to happen unless the Pens are willing to pay some of his salary in trade.

4 mil is really hard to walk away from, but hockey players are prideful beasts. Winning the cup, and a frank conversation with The Old Man where Rutherford explains the possibility of a buyout might convince him to retire on top as a Penguin rather than be traded to a cap floor team or be bought out.
- Victoro311

Agreed. This is the best case scenario here honestly. Personally I wouldn't want Kunitz to rot out his final year of his career in ARI but business is business in the end.

Do the Pens really need Kunitz off the books? If your gonna get squat for him and still have to pay him I'd rather just have one of the best 3rd liners in the league next year and go from there.

http://m.thn.com/blog/in-...ing-participation-badges/


Good read if u havent

Do the Pens really need Kunitz off the books? If your gonna get squat for him and still have to pay him I'd rather just have one of the best 3rd liners in the league next year and go from there.
- Grinder47

He's not even one of the best third liners in the NHL right now. Almost a stretch to call him one of the best 4th liners currently.

Agreed. This is the best case scenario here honestly. Personally I wouldn't want Kunitz to rot out his final year of his career in ARI but business is business in the end.
- znagle58

I don't want Kunitz to rot period. Seeing the shell that was once Chris Kunitz on the ice every night is depressing as hell. He has been a phenomenal Penguin and I hate seeing him like this. I don't want my final memories Kunitz bring how bad of a contract he was. I would love to see him retire cup in hand in a Pens uni

What a national shame it must be to see your Sweden dressing a team like that. A f'n disgrace. Heads will roll and/or players gonna be banned...?
- 21peter

Let me preface this by saying I realize the USA beat the Czech's, but Sweden's roster is no different than our's. Hell, its better than our's. This is the worst roster I've seen from the USA. We are relying on too many kids that played collegiate hockey this past season.

http://www.iihfworlds2016.com/en/teams/#USA

Word is the Pens have this player under expensive contract until 2019 (nickname Flower or something?) who could probably bring us a pretty good winger for Geno in trade, or at least free up some serious salary if traded for a pick.

Let me preface this by saying I realize the USA beat the Czech's, but Sweden's roster is no different than our's. Hell, its better than our's. This is the worst roster I've seen from the USA. We are relying on too many kids that played collegiate hockey this past season.

http://www.iihfworlds2016.com/en/teams/#USA
- Oneonta Penguin

NO! you did NOT just (frank)ING SAY THAT. the swedish team is the worst team they have ever iced (yes it is) usa's squad is nowhere near as bad dude. 40 pro nhl players DECLINED to play for sweden. we only had 2 nhl player and that was nyqvist and later burakovsky... you have noah hanifin, auston matthews, dylan larkin and nick foligno. the amount of hate the swedish nhl players are getting atm in sweden is outrageous

Let me preface this by saying I realize the USA beat the Czech's, but Sweden's roster is no different than our's. Hell, its better than our's. This is the worst roster I've seen from the USA. We are relying on too many kids that played collegiate hockey this past season.

http://www.iihfworlds2016.com/en/teams/#USA
- Oneonta Penguin

Yeah but what are you going to do when a lot of the good American players are currently playing for the Penguins.