What about the Wings? Their G situation was a mess last year with neither Mrazek nor Howard looking like a starting G.

Pitt is desperate to not expose Murray, and lack suitors, so I am thinking something like Wideman (UFA after next yr) and a lower pick is all you will get.
- FLflames34

Why would we want Wideman? We have zero use for him. Lower pick, as in a 5th or 6th? Pretty insulting. At worst he is worth your 53 and 55th pick, or that top second round pick from you.

Another point is that if Murray remains at this level or improves, he will be just as expensive as Fleury by 2017-2018. And Fleury could be cheap to re-sign after these 3 years as his final contract.

so while the Flower will be much older on his last legs, within three years Fleury could be the cheaper goalie.

We have two second round picks.

Have zero interest in Colbourne. He is a center and we are overloaded there. At best, he is a fourth line center if Cullen retires.

We have no use for Wideman. There is zero incentive for us to take on that lousy contract.

If its a second round pick or the 53 and 55 picks for Fleury, so be it.
- Oneonta Penguin

Wideman absolutely does have a use. He is salary relief next yr, and you unload MAFs contract in the process. And by the looks of it, cap space will be needed.

You said the Pens don't have a 1st or 2nd. We have 2 seconds. I see no way we'd want Wideman. Zero chance of that happening.
- madmike71

I'd bet the Pens would take Wideman back on a Fleury deal if it means they get more value. His cap hit is too high but he is off the books after one year and the Pens could absorb that hit for this season. Not saying Id explicitly want Wideman but he would be able to fill the right side of the bottom pairing if Lovejoy is gone.

Another point is that if Murray remains at this level or improves, he will be just as expensive as Fleury by 2017-2018. And Fleury could be cheap to re-sign after these 3 years as his final contract.

so while the Flower will be much older on his last legs, within three years Fleury could be the cheaper goalie.


- YouMeAndDupuis9

I can't see Murray getting numbers like that with his next contract. His contract after the next one will be the big one.

Wideman absolutely does have a use. He is salary relief next yr, and you unload MAFs contract in the process. And by the looks of it, cap space will be needed.
- FLflames34

Cap space is needed for us this year. Wideman doesn't provide that. Besides, even for one year, that is a lot of change to be paying for a third Dpair guy at best. We aren't unloading Fleury for Wideman and a crap pick.

Oh, I'm not saying they need goal tending per se , but why should that stop them? You think they're high on Mason right now? His playoff performance including his Chico Lind moment in the playoffs is stuff that fans and ownership don't typically look favorably on.

Obliviously anything I'll say you'll beg to differ so I won't bother but before you start name calling, you might want to know I live in your neighborhood.
- NJPensfan

I don't care where you live. You could live 2 houses down from me and you wouldn't know it. And if you ever did threaten me with physical violence, I'd call the cops on you, so I'm not sure what your location has to do with anything.

And yes, Mason has a horrible goal. Much like those bums Patrick Roy and Martin Broduer. Clearly, the best way to evaluate a goalie is with one game or one playoff series as opposed to his entire career as a Flyer to date.

I'm not sure the Murray vs. Fleury argument is even relevant. The goalie market seems likely to tank this summer. Bishop or Vasilevskiy will probably be on the market, in addition to any number of 1b goaltenders who are much cheaper than Fleury both in cap hit and in asking price. And Fleury can still name every team in the market for a starter in his no-trade list.

I don't think the team will be able to move MAF, which means moving Murray or losing him. His value is very high, even in a soft goalie market. Is one more season of him worth losing him for nothing? This team's management has to ask itself that question right now, or have it answered for them.

Another point is that if Murray remains at this level or improves, he will be just as expensive as Fleury by 2017-2018. And Fleury could be cheap to re-sign after these 3 years as his final contract.

so while the Flower will be much older on his last legs, within three years Fleury could be the cheaper goalie.


- YouMeAndDupuis9

Look at how the Price and Holtby contract progression worked out. Murray won't just jump straight into a 6 mil AAV deal.

A few things.

First, I love MAF, even have his jersey, but if he does have to be protected in an expansion draft, then he has to be moved. Anyone advocating keeping him & losing Murray via expansion draft/trade is crazy. Its like when Halak outplayed Price for the Habs back in the 2010 playoffs, except Murray is the one who stole the show & backstopped the Pens to the Cup. Is Murray perfect? No; He clearly has an issue with shots between his glove hand & waist that a few teams spotted & took advantage of, but he is younger, cheaper, and more technically sound that Fleury. He'll get better & he is more than good enough already. Get a solid back-up for ~$2M a season & applaud like crazy when Fleury comes back to Consol wearing another team's jersey for all that he did for the Pens.

Second, I'd rather not trade Fleury for Frolik for the simple fact that the Pens are already loaded at RW. Would prefer a 2nd round pick, even if its later in the round plus the Cap space.

Third, please don't move Hornqvist. He may not have the skill that many of the other Penguins forwards do, but he screened the goalie for more than a few goals during the playoff run. If he had the hands & the net front presence ability, he'd be Corey Perry & the Pens wouldn't be able to afford him.

Fourth, qualifying Bennett is a good move. He'd be at $840k & is better than the average 13th F. If it was more than that, I'd say no, but at that price I'll take it.

Fifth, would love to see Lovejoy back, but only as a 3rd pairing option at ~$1.5M or less on a short term deal. Someone will give him more than that & he should take it. Deserves a nice pay day.

Why would we want Wideman? We have zero use for him. Lower pick, as in a 5th or 6th? Pretty insulting. At worst he is worth your 53 and 55th pick, or that top second round pick from you.
- Oneonta Penguin

As in the 53 or 55. There is risk in taking MAF w the concussions, and that he was unseated by a rookie (and looked shaky in his playoff start). And taking Wideman is relief, but also due to Pitts desperation. There are literally no othrr suitors that will take on MAFs contract if Ward gets resigned. Maybe Toronto, but he wont get them ihe playoffs yet, so it doesn't make sense there. Maybe Winnipeg, that's about it.

We have two second round picks.

Have zero interest in Colbourne. He is a center and we are overloaded there. At best, he is a fourth line center if Cullen retires.

We have no use for Wideman. There is zero incentive for us to take on that lousy contract.

If its a second round pick or the 53 and 55 picks for Fleury, so be it.
- Oneonta Penguin

No insult intended throwing Wideman in there. He may be slower but the guy played 20+ minutes a game during our lonely playoff run & he still played over 16 minutes a game, mainly PP, granted we suck & Hartley had most of us shaking our heads on his player usage.

Colborne actually had a really solid 2nd half, but if you don't like him, that's OK. Burke likes him & he does tantalize at times with all the right tools, needs to do it consistently. Would Stajan or Bouma be of interest?

What about the Wings? Their G situation was a mess last year with neither Mrazek nor Howard looking like a starting G.
- sammy87

I highly doubt they'd give up on Mrazek after a shaky half of a season. Plus they need to figure out how to dump Pavel D.'s contract before even thinking about trading for a goalie.

A few things.

First, I love MAF, even have his jersey, but if he does have to be protected in an expansion draft, then he has to be moved. Anyone advocating keeping him & losing Murray via expansion draft/trade is crazy. Its like when Halak outplayed Price for the Habs back in the 2010 playoffs, except Murray is the one who stole the show & backstopped the Pens to the Cup. Is Murray perfect? No; He clearly has an issue with shots between his glove hand & waist that a few teams spotted & took advantage of, but he is younger, cheaper, and more technically sound that Fleury. He'll get better & he is more than good enough already. Get a solid back-up for ~$2M a season & applaud like crazy when Fleury comes back to Consol wearing another team's jersey for all that he did for the Pens.

Second, I'd rather not trade Fleury for Frolik for the simple fact that the Pens are already loaded at RW. Would prefer a 2nd round pick, even if its later in the round plus the Cap space.

Third, please don't move Hornqvist. He may not have the skill that many of the other Penguins forwards do, but he screened the goalie for more than a few goals during the playoff run. If he had the hands & the net front presence ability, he'd be Corey Perry & the Pens wouldn't be able to afford him.

Fourth, qualifying Bennett is a good move. He'd be at $840k & is better than the average 13th F. If it was more than that, I'd say no, but at that price I'll take it.

Fifth, would love to see Lovejoy back, but only as a 3rd pairing option at ~$1.5M or less on a short term deal. Someone will give him more than that & he should take it. Deserves a nice pay day.
- s0rcerer1984

I fail to see how qualifying Bennett at 840K is a good move. It's time to move on from him. He has provided little since he has been here. He has done nothing to show he is worth that. Let him walk and be on the IR for someone else.

Cap space is needed for us this year. Wideman doesn't provide that. Besides, even for one year, that is a lot of change to be paying for a third Dpair guy at best. We aren't unloading Fleury for Wideman and a crap pick.
- Oneonta Penguin

What do you need space for this year? Schultz? No, you need in next year.

Look at how the Price and Holtby contract progression worked out. Murray won't just jump straight into a 6 mil AAV deal.
- Victoro311

Probably... I was thinking more Rask, didn't he jump straight to $7M? Or maybe he had like a one year bridge deal...cant remember.

I fail to see how qualifying Bennett at 840K is a good move. It's time to move on from him. He has provided little since he has been here. He has done nothing to show he is worth that. Let him walk and be on the IR for someone else.
- Oneonta Penguin

It gives them a player they can, at the very least, get contributions from the at the AHL level. If someone wants to take a flier on him, they can get SOME asset for him (6th/7th). As long as it doesn't push their upper limit too high, I don't see the problem with retaining his rights for a year.

I fail to see how qualifying Bennett at 840K is a good move. It's time to move on from him. He has provided little since he has been here. He has done nothing to show he is worth that. Let him walk and be on the IR for someone else.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's pretty low risk but I agree. He needs a change of scenery and no one is going to give us anything for him. Unless there's another deal with a struggling prospect. Maybe something based around Bennett and Etem. People saying Yakupov is only worth a 2nd, so maybe a 2nd + Bennett for Yakupov + 6th or something. Or maybe if we return a forward in a MAF deal, Bennett is a throw in that hypothetically helps fill the void left by the team losing the forward.

Not very likely though, imo.

We have two second round picks.

Have zero interest in Colbourne. He is a center and we are overloaded there. At best, he is a fourth line center if Cullen retires.

We have no use for Wideman. There is zero incentive for us to take on that lousy contract.

If its a second round pick or the 53 and 55 picks for Fleury, so be it.
- Oneonta Penguin

Colborne plays all 3 fwd positions. In fact he's spent far more time on the wing than at C.

Sorry if this was already mentioned but Ward does sign a 2 yr extension.

All the talk about the 6th overall pick being of otherworldly value...I just think its too risky for a contender. The last time we were in the top 10 we picked Pouliot. It's a crapshoot and I'm not terribly interested in paying a huge premium for it. Would be just fine paying a lesser price to get a pick in the 20s.

I fail to see how qualifying Bennett at 840K is a good move. It's time to move on from him. He has provided little since he has been here. He has done nothing to show he is worth that. Let him walk and be on the IR for someone else.
- Oneonta Penguin

Here is my thought process.

Under a RFA tender Bennett would get $840. Should the Penguins wish to be rid of him at any point the could simply put him through waivers where he would either be (i) claimed by another team, removing the entirety of his Cap hit or (ii) pass through to WBS, where his contract would be buried with Cap relief available for the NHL min. salary plus $375k. Next season that would come to $950k (ie, $575k+ $375k= $950k).

The reason to keep Bennett is simply, all considering, is he one of the best 50 players in the Penguins organization? I think he is better than Kael Mouillierat or Kevin Porter so I'd keep him.

Sorry if this was already mentioned but Ward does sign a 2 yr extension.
- all-pgh

Yeah, well he's a Nazi.

Sorry if this was already mentioned but Ward does sign a 2 yr extension.
- all-pgh

It was. And it's a head scratcher. I thought maybe he was extended to be the backup and they had a plan to go get a starter. But at $3M, I still like CAR is expecting starter value.