I'm sure that would go over well.
- Oneonta Penguin

i know you worry about the D next year. I do share that concern, but i dont know if my number one priority is one more winger. i do think this team needs one more, but if this year showed anything, fit means more than name.

i think we're on the same page as far as fleury being moved and for what he realistically will fetch. i dont think he brings in either a good enough defenseman to address your issue or a good enough winger to address mine. lets say he fetches a mid second and B prospect. that does however free up a good chunk of space.

i do think the hutton idea isnt a bad one at first blush. what are some guys you look at? FA? Trade?

According to Generalfanager, they have two 2nd and zero 3rd.
- jrmjames67

I think we have our 2nd back from TO from the Kessel deal. I also believe we have the Ducks 2nd via the deal with Van.

I think we have our 2nd back from TO from the Kessel deal. I also believe we have the Ducks 2nd via the deal with Van.
- madmike71

we have 2 2nd rounders. number 55 from anaheim and number 61 from toronto. 1 round 4 pick number 121. 1 round 5 pick number 151 and 1 round 6 pick number 181.

we have 2 2nd rounders. number 55 from anaheim and number 61 from toronto. 1 round 4 pick number 121. 1 round 5 pick number 151 and 1 round 6 pick number 181.
- martox

perhaps you add to that cache a little bit with a fleury move.

perhaps you add to that cache a little bit with a fleury move.
- stayinthefnnet

Would you take a 3rd for Kunitz?

perhaps you add to that cache a little bit with a fleury move.
- stayinthefnnet

Yeah, that will be the way we get another pick or two. I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of shipping MAF out, but I don't see any other way considering all circumstances. Not to mention the expansion draft next year.

Call me crazy but I'm still not sold Murray is better than Fleury.....at least yet.

I'm sure that would go over well.
- Oneonta Penguin

There's been several times where players burry the hatchet and come to teams where they've had beef. Look no further than Steve Downie and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Not saying it's a likely signing but it could be a shrewd move if hes only looking for ~1 mil.

Would you take a 3rd for Kunitz?
- Thorny

That highly depends on other offseason moves. I don't want to trade Kunitz without a sure fire replacement in the wings

perhaps you add to that cache a little bit with a fleury move.
- stayinthefnnet

Most of you guys are in favor of trading Fleury, I'm not. He adds protection in two ways. One, if Murray goes down to injury or regresses we won't miss a beat, and two, when the expansion draft happens he potentially could protect one of our younger guys from being poached by being taken himself.

If he doesn't demand out, I'd hold on to him.

Most of you guys are in favor of trading Fleury, I'm not. He adds protection in two ways. One, if Murray goes down to injury or regresses we won't miss a beat, and two, when the expansion draft happens he potentially could protect one of our younger guys from being poached by being taken himself.

If he doesn't demand out, I'd hold on to him.
- Topshelf Mountain

believe me. its not necessarily something i WANT to do. i'm largely influenced by the notion of having your hand forced by the expansion draft. again, another assumption, but im also operating under the assumption that he is probably going to want to leave. under both of those 2 auspices, i'd take the second rounder and try to use the cap space as best i could to address either the winger or defensive depth.

ill be extremely sad to see him go. it was actually fairly sad to see him get the cup. you could see it on his face.

That highly depends on other offseason moves. I don't want to trade Kunitz without a sure fire replacement in the wings
- Victoro311

kunitz isnt going to go on forever. but for right now, i cant see how a third benefits the team more than him being there. if youre moving him just for a third, its largely for salary relief at that point. he's not what he used to be, but its going to be hard to find better for cheaper on the FA market.

he might just be worth more to the team than via trade or gone. add in the intangibles that he clearly is part of the boy club with malkin, crosby, and letang, and i think he sticks for his last year.

by that point, hell definitely be done and you let him do whatever he wants to do, either retiring to some post in the organization or trying to hang on for another year with someone else.

Most of you guys are in favor of trading Fleury, I'm not. He adds protection in two ways. One, if Murray goes down to injury or regresses we won't miss a beat, and two, when the expansion draft happens he potentially could protect one of our younger guys from being poached by being taken himself.

If he doesn't demand out, I'd hold on to him.
- Topshelf Mountain

The parameters of the expansion rules changed recently. Now it's all players with any NMC are autoprotected. This makes it very dangerous to keep MAF around.

Yeah, that will be the way we get another pick or two. I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of shipping MAF out, but I don't see any other way considering all circumstances. Not to mention the expansion draft next year.

Call me crazy but I'm still not sold Murray is better than Fleury.....at least yet.
- madmike71

this is basically where i'm at as well.

theres no way both are working long term. the hand is going to be forced at some point. id rather be as proactive with it as i can rather than be forced into a time pressured decision.

Would you take a 3rd for Kunitz?
- Thorny

I wouldn't move him for a 3rd, and if I'm another team I wouldn't pay more than a 3rd/b prospect for him. Sometimes players just have more value to their team than they do to others in trade scenarios. We have a lot of good young wingers (wow that's strange to type after all the D we've drafted recently), but Kuni has the veteran presence that I think is helpful down the stretch - especially mentoring the younger guys who are small like him and may not be highly touted. He's also one of the first guys to go hard in on the forecheck and make a defensemen or winger pay for retrieving a puck. I'd like to see him play out next year and retire a Penguin or sign a Cullen type one year deal if he shows he has anything left in the tank to play in a bottom 6 role.

The parameters of the expansion rules changed recently. Now it's all players with any NMC are autoprotected. This makes it very dangerous to keep MAF around.
- Victoro311

If that's the case, MAF is gone. I kind of knew that was going to happen. No way the union signs off on expansion if clauses in contracts get voided.

i know you worry about the D next year. I do share that concern, but i dont know if my number one priority is one more winger. i do think this team needs one more, but if this year showed anything, fit means more than name.

i think we're on the same page as far as fleury being moved and for what he realistically will fetch. i dont think he brings in either a good enough defenseman to address your issue or a good enough winger to address mine. lets say he fetches a mid second and B prospect. that does however free up a good chunk of space.

i do think the hutton idea isnt a bad one at first blush. what are some guys you look at? FA? Trade?
- stayinthefnnet

Free agents

Center - if we do need to replace Cullen, if he retires ... someone like maybe Vernon Fiddler if Sundqvist isn't ready to be a full-time player in the NHL. I'm putting on my thinking cap about Fiddler. There is some value there as a fourth line guy.

LW - Grabner obviously. God knows he has the speed. You watch his play and look at his career numbers and they don't compute. He only has one 30-goal season to his career ... has a career high 52 points. He has some things that could bring to the roster. Would LOVE Jamie McGinn, but he is out of our price range IMO. Stalberg wouldn't be bad. I was just making a comment relative to him and Letang being on the same team. Trevor Lewis is a kid I get impressed with every once in a while for some odd reason. The question is, do we have one like him already on the fourth line.

D - A cheap option if we need one might be Schlemko from NJ. Can't remember much on Jordie Benn, but he wouldn't cost that much, I think.

G - Hutton ... he is basically a guy that has averaged 25 games each of his last three years. Pretty decent backup goalie that wouldn't command much. Fun fact. I have been bringing him up for the last few weeks, but didn't know this. He is from Thunder Bay, like Murray, so ...

Most of you guys are in favor of trading Fleury, I'm not. He adds protection in two ways. One, if Murray goes down to injury or regresses we won't miss a beat, and two, when the expansion draft happens he potentially could protect one of our younger guys from being poached by being taken himself.

If he doesn't demand out, I'd hold on to him.
- Topshelf Mountain

This is a dangerous game to play by keeping him. I'm a fan and respect the hell out of him. However, it appears we have a guy that has taken the bull by the horn at the age of 22. While he lets in a softie, he displays maturity beyond his years and comes back even tougher. There isn't a ripple effect with him.

I don't think its a comfortable situation next year for both Murray and Fleury being on the same roster. For Murray, you are always looking over your shoulder at a guy that will win 500 games in the NHL. For Pittsburgh, having a backup making 5.75 million isn't smart in a capped league.

There are options out there that can give you 25-30 games if needed. Carter Hutton for Nashville is a prime example. We need to get some cap room and the obvious move is dealing Fleury.

A decent read for pens fans.... http://penguins.nhl.com/club/m_news.htm?id=885506

Free agents

Center - if we do need to replace Cullen, if he retires ... someone like maybe Vernon Fiddler if Sundqvist isn't ready to be a full-time player in the NHL. I'm putting on my thinking cap about Fiddler. There is some value there as a fourth line guy.

LW - Grabner obviously. God knows he has the speed. You watch his play and look at his career numbers and they don't compute. He only has one 30-goal season to his career ... has a career high 52 points. He has some things that could bring to the roster. Would LOVE Jamie McGinn, but he is out of our price range IMO. Stalberg wouldn't be bad. I was just making a comment relative to him and Letang being on the same team. Trevor Lewis is a kid I get impressed with every once in a while for some odd reason. The question is, do we have one like him already on the fourth line.

D - A cheap option if we need one might be Schlemko from NJ. Can't remember much on Jordie Benn, but he wouldn't cost that much, I think.

G - Hutton ... he is basically a guy that has averaged 25 games each of his last three years. Pretty decent backup goalie that wouldn't command much. Fun fact. I have been bringing him up for the last few weeks, but didn't know this. He is from Thunder Bay, like Murray, so ...
- Oneonta Penguin

With Fehr under contract we don't really need center insurance between him and Sunny. Unless there's a real value.

Grabner and Stalberg are good low key, cost effective targets. I don't think should be looking to spend much at all in free agency.

I don't think Jordie Benn is good for our system at all and his last name may raise his price tag. I'd continue to try and resign Schultz. He and Cole were very good in a bottom pairing role. We can look into signing a Chorney level AHL vet for an 8th d. Due to our lack of d prospects, there's no real way to have good depth at that position. Can't carry 8 NHL dmen on the roster without injuries.

Agree with you on Carter Hutton. He can start ~25 games and have a ~910 sv%. That should be good to win a solid chunk of his starts and win us some points.

The parameters of the expansion rules changed recently. Now it's all players with any NMC are autoprotected. This makes it very dangerous to keep MAF around.
- Victoro311

I wasn't aware he had a nmc. Frick!

I wasn't aware he had a nmc. Frick!
- Topshelf Mountain

It's modified. Until recently it was generally believed only those with full NMCs were autoprotected. That's no longer the case.

This is a dangerous game to play by keeping him. I'm a fan and respect the hell out of him. However, it appears we have a guy that has taken the bull by the horn at the age of 22. While he lets in a softie, he displays maturity beyond his years and comes back even tougher. There isn't a ripple effect with him.

I don't think its a comfortable situation next year for both Murray and Fleury being on the same roster. For Murray, you are always looking over your shoulder at a guy that will win 500 games in the NHL. For Pittsburgh, having a backup making 5.75 million isn't smart in a capped league.

There are options out there that can give you 25-30 games if needed. Carter Hutton for Nashville is a prime example. We need to get some cap room and the obvious move is dealing Fleury.
- Oneonta Penguin

i think sundqvist can be 4th line center if necessary. he wont score, but he does some little things well. and he will have a guy like fehr with him on that line. i dont think it would be a huge drop off.

grabner is certainly an enigma. ive long been intrigued with his speed. but you have to wonder. goes without saying, but it depends on the price.

This is a dangerous game to play by keeping him. I'm a fan and respect the hell out of him. However, it appears we have a guy that has taken the bull by the horn at the age of 22. While he lets in a softie, he displays maturity beyond his years and comes back even tougher. There isn't a ripple effect with him.

I don't think its a comfortable situation next year for both Murray and Fleury being on the same roster. For Murray, you are always looking over your shoulder at a guy that will win 500 games in the NHL. For Pittsburgh, having a backup making 5.75 million isn't smart in a capped league.

There are options out there that can give you 25-30 games if needed. Carter Hutton for Nashville is a prime example. We need to get some cap room and the obvious move is dealing Fleury.
- Oneonta Penguin

i think sundqvist can be 4th line center if necessary. he wont score, but he does some little things well. and he will have a guy like fehr with him on that line. i dont think it would be a huge drop off.

grabner is certainly an enigma. ive long been intrigued with his speed. but you have to wonder. goes without saying, but it depends on the price.

With the talk now going to trades etc, I can't see Kunitz being traded away - too much experience & brings value to the group that very few can. I think Culldog will lace them up again, & Sundqvist get more time with the baby Pens. I think Shultz signs a friendly doable contract with us & Pouliot stays on a show us & see (before we trade your arse! ). On Flower, as everyone here knows Muzza is my man but I really think he starts the season in a Pens uniform but knowing how JR appears to operate, a trade is probably being worked out & he'll be gone before trade deadline.

But (frank) all that. We just won Stanley!!

Cheers Gunner for your ongoing & relentless pursuit in giving us Nevilles something to discuss (read as argue) about!

In regards to the dress sense of 66, I think there's superstition in there somewhere! But as someone already posted - he's Mario Lemeuix & he can set the trend whichever way he wants!

Go Pens!

So Carlyle back with the Ducks and Yoe is HC in waiting for the Blues.

Serious question, how can these clubs not identify any other coaching prospects? Is nobody in the AHL worthy? Assistant NHL coaches? I just can't believe these retreads are someone's solution.

Having one of those two guys coach my team would be worse than the return of Mike Johnston. Well, ok, not that bad but......