GMJR said they will qualify Bennett
- cap1681

I don't get the move. Its not the 800k that matters. Its the roster spot. I'd rather gamble on a stempiak type for 800k then have bennett.

Been lurking for a bit here. Finally paid to comment since I saw that ridiculous EK post about Malkin wanting to be traded. Not sure why he'd want to be traded or why the Pens would want to trade him, but ummm...OK?

Back to Fleury. The return is not great, few places to go. The relief on his cap hit would be nice, but Murray has only played 13 games in the NHL regular season. It's a gamble.

There are a lot of rumors about the expansion draft rules, and nobody will know the precise rules (and even the timing) until June 22. One thing that goes unmentioned (in the rules rumors, at least) is that a player can waive his no movement clause to be exposed for the draft.

This is how I think this goes down. Unless JR gets an offer for a great return for MAF, he stays for this season up until the trade deadline, and the Pens acquire a right handed low cost defenseman for depth as their only real trade move this summer. Lovejoy and Schultz walk.

Both Murray and Fleury play together as we near the 2017 trade deadline, and we see what we have. I suspect that Murray, given that he tore up the AHL for the past 2 years, will be a good as we think he is. Murray may even go back to the AHL (!) to stay sharp at points during the season.

Near the trade deadline, JR goes to the loser of the competition (likely Fleury) and says (in the case of Fleury) "waive your non movement clause" or we trade you now. Someone at the deadline will want goaltending for a run, or someone will really want a top notch goalie for the future, and the return will be totally different than now.

Pens need the cap space for 17-18 and beyond, not really now. That is why Fleury stays for 16-17.

If Fleury is only going to be getting back a 2nd or Fwd depth then I'd think it's better to keep him for another strong season next year and possible cup run. Even if you lose him in an expansion draft for nothing, a cup run would be worth it. Also, in the event that he's faced with waiving his NMC or risk being selected to go to expansion Las Vegas, I think he could be persuaded to waive to a team off his list.
- 13sundin13

Unless he refuses to waive his NMC for the expansion draft, making it mandatory that he is protected during the expansion draft, & the Pens lose Murray instead.

Have to trade him as he only has a partial NTC clause. If not for the expansion draft, I would hold off on it. But it forces a decision & there is no way around it.

Pens Inside Scoop ‏@PensInsideScoop 41m41 minutes ago
Malkin on his life right now: It's a great year for me and my family. I feel so good right now. I'm the happiest guy in the world -SK


Sounds like a guy that seriously wants out.

few points

a) that's if the cap stays stagnet. You have to think that the cap will increase with the expansion.

B)The Pens don't need big time UFAs to fill their roster. They'll just need to fill in a roster with complimentary pieces.
- cap1681

I assume the Canadian dollar will stay weak for a few years which will have some impact on the cap not growing at the rate it has in prior years. And yet salaries only seem to be getting more expensive, even for complimentary pieces. I could of course be wrong, but it is far from implausible.

If Cullen is gone, there's an 18 goal scorer gone. Depth guys that scored in the playoffs like Rust, Sheary, Dumoulin, Lovejoy, Fehr....I don't think it's fair to expect any sustained production out of them.

Kunitz, Hagelin, Hornqvist are all complimentary types. I just think for a team who's offensively oriented, we need more finishers. We have 30-40 shots on goal per game and miss a ton of quality chances by guys that can't finish. How many times are Sid and Geno setting someone up with a perfect pass that no one can finish. I think Tampa demonstrated that perfectly. They buried their chances at a much higher rate.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Maybe your right, but i just don't think he is ready to be a bonafide finisher in the NHL yet. I think having a healthy Wilson back will lessen the blow if Cullen doesn't come back. I just can't see where Sprong fits in this lineup right now. Don't want him on the 4th line, because that's a waste. Is his offensive game better than Wison or Rust, maybe, but his overall game hasn't gotten to their level yet.

Pens Inside Scoop ‏@PensInsideScoop 41m41 minutes ago
Malkin on his life right now: It's a great year for me and my family. I feel so good right now. I'm the happiest guy in the world -SK


Sounds like a guy that seriously wants out.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He's definitely dying alive.

Ruth saying we'll try to resign Lovejoy. I just don't see it. I'd love to have him back at the exact same deal. 1.5 is as high as I'd go. I see him making up to 2.2 mil in the open market.
- Victoro311

2.2 makes sense to me. I don't think he was as dominant of a 3rd pair guy as scuderi was in the cup years. But still a very servicable 3rd pairing guy who just won a cup.

I don't get the move. Its not the 800k that matters. Its the roster spot. I'd rather gamble on a stempiak type for 800k then have bennett.
- sditulli

Ditto. I think the kid has "some" talent. Could probably be a decent 3rd liner. BUT he never plays. I do believe some guys are injury prone and it's not always bad luck. Move on IMO.

Is it a forgone conclusion that the Pens would lose a goalie in the expansion draft?

If MAF wants to go somewhere to start couldn't he just drop his NMC all together?

This is Murray's team now.

Maybe your right, but i just don't think he is ready to be a bonafide finisher in the NHL yet. I think having a healthy Wilson back will lessen the blow if Cullen doesn't come back. I just can't see where Sprong fits in this lineup right now. Don't want him on the 4th line, because that's a waste. Is his offensive game better than Wison or Rust, maybe, but his overall game hasn't gotten to their level yet.
- cap1681

We're pretty much on the same page, its all barring that he is ready. But if he's close to ready, you gotta keep him up because of his skill set, imo.

If HBK remains a thing, Bonino still has the two best wingers on the team. 3 out of 4 top 6 wingers probably aren't real NHL top 6ers (Sheary, Rust, Kunitz). I still think its a problem.

And I would be totally fine breaking up HBK next season.

Been lurking for a bit here. Finally paid to comment since I saw that ridiculous EK post about Malkin wanting to be traded. Not sure why he'd want to be traded or why the Pens would want to trade him, but ummm...OK?

Back to Fleury. The return is not great, few places to go. The relief on his cap hit would be nice, but Murray has only played 13 games in the NHL regular season. It's a gamble.

There are a lot of rumors about the expansion draft rules, and nobody will know the precise rules (and even the timing) until June 22. One thing that goes unmentioned (in the rules rumors, at least) is that a player can waive his no movement clause to be exposed for the draft.

This is how I think this goes down. Unless JR gets an offer for a great return for MAF, he stays for this season up until the trade deadline, and the Pens acquire a right handed low cost defenseman for depth as their only real trade move this summer. Lovejoy and Schultz walk.

Both Murray and Fleury play together as we near the 2017 trade deadline, and we see what we have. I suspect that Murray, given that he tore up the AHL for the past 2 years, will be a good as we think he is. Murray may even go back to the AHL (!) to stay sharp at points during the season.

Near the trade deadline, JR goes to the loser of the competition (likely Fleury) and says (in the case of Fleury) "waive your non movement clause" or we trade you now. Someone at the deadline will want goaltending for a run, or someone will really want a top notch goalie for the future, and the return will be totally different than now.

Pens need the cap space for 17-18 and beyond, not really now. That is why Fleury stays for 16-17.
- PensFan1962

What do you mean paid to comment?

Has anyone thought of something like this, fleury was basically pooped on and took it like a champ, heres a 3 way trade idea.

Pit gets:
Pavelec
pick

Chi gets:
Fleury

Win gets:
Crawford

lessens the cap strain on pit/chi, gets the pens a solid backup.

Man I gotta say you make a very good point. I was originally thinking Calgary would have to give up their picks #35, #54, #126 in a package for Fleury but with the actual strong suitors get reduced to basically one team Frolik is a pretty fair and decent deal.

From Calgary's point of view they give up a top six forward for a starter which is a win while Pittsburgh keeps Murray and improves their offence.

I may demand a 3rd round pick try and walk away with something (and regain one of the many picks they dealt as they only have 5).

Been lurking for a bit here. Finally paid to comment since I saw that ridiculous EK post about Malkin wanting to be traded. Not sure why he'd want to be traded or why the Pens would want to trade him, but ummm...OK?

Back to Fleury. The return is not great, few places to go. The relief on his cap hit would be nice, but Murray has only played 13 games in the NHL regular season. It's a gamble.

There are a lot of rumors about the expansion draft rules, and nobody will know the precise rules (and even the timing) until June 22. One thing that goes unmentioned (in the rules rumors, at least) is that a player can waive his no movement clause to be exposed for the draft.

This is how I think this goes down. Unless JR gets an offer for a great return for MAF, he stays for this season up until the trade deadline, and the Pens acquire a right handed low cost defenseman for depth as their only real trade move this summer. Lovejoy and Schultz walk.

Both Murray and Fleury play together as we near the 2017 trade deadline, and we see what we have. I suspect that Murray, given that he tore up the AHL for the past 2 years, will be a good as we think he is. Murray may even go back to the AHL (!) to stay sharp at points during the season.

Near the trade deadline, JR goes to the loser of the competition (likely Fleury) and says (in the case of Fleury) "waive your non movement clause" or we trade you now. Someone at the deadline will want goaltending for a run, or someone will really want a top notch goalie for the future, and the return will be totally different than now.

Pens need the cap space for 17-18 and beyond, not really now. That is why Fleury stays for 16-17.
- PensFan1962

Two points.

First, I can't imagine that Murray gets sent back down to the AHL unless he totally bottoms out beyond all comprehension. He just backstopped the Penguins to the Cup & finished tied for 4th in Conn Smyth voting. He just isn't going to the AHL "to stay sharp."

Second, if at the trade deadline there is no team on Fleury's partial NTC list that wants him & he blocks trades to all other teams, he would stay with the Pens, be required to be protected during the expansion draft, & Murray would be gone. That is a HUGE, unnecessary risk to take.

Is it a forgone conclusion that the Pens would lose a goalie in the expansion draft?
- TaxMan22

No. A few other teams have 2 quality starters. If we expose Fleury, the Vegas team could easily prefer a younger goalie that may be available. Plus, the expansion team can only take 1 player from each team, right? So, our best exposed asset might not be Fleury.

I don't get the move. Its not the 800k that matters. Its the roster spot. I'd rather gamble on a stempiak type for 800k then have bennett.
- sditulli

No chance in hell Stemp goes for dirt cheap AGAIN lol

Been lurking for a bit here. Finally paid to comment
- PensFan1962

You paid to comment?

Has anyone thought of something like this, fleury was basically pooped on and took it like a champ, heres a 3 way trade idea.

Pit gets:
Pavelec
pick

Chi gets:
Fleury

Win gets:
Crawford

lessens the cap strain on pit/chi, gets the pens a solid backup.
- Micmaz34

Doesn't make sense for Chicago. It would only be a 250k cap savings.

Has anyone thought of something like this, fleury was basically pooped on and took it like a champ, heres a 3 way trade idea.

Pit gets:
Pavelec
pick

Chi gets:
Fleury

Win gets:
Crawford

lessens the cap strain on pit/chi, gets the pens a solid backup.
- Micmaz34

What is the pick? That's a big downgrade for us to save $1.85M in cap space.

Unless he refuses to waive his NMC for the expansion draft, making it mandatory that he is protected during the expansion draft, & the Pens lose Murray instead.

Have to trade him as he only has a partial NTC clause. If not for the expansion draft, I would hold off on it. But it forces a decision & there is no way around it.
- s0rcerer1984

Oh that's right, yeah then he has to be moved sooner than later. Sucks cause it would be good for the pens to have some insurance with Murray next season.

Is it a forgone conclusion that the Pens would lose a goalie in the expansion draft?
- TaxMan22

If you are the Las Vegas GM, you have to select at least 3 goalies during the expansion draft. Can you name 3 goalies better than either Fleury/Murray who you would select? Or can you name a likely unprotected F or D from the Pens that you would select instead? I can't.

•The expansion team is required to select one player from every team including a minimum of three (3) goalies, nine (9) defenseman and fourteen (14) forwards.

http://www.blueshirtbante...raft-how-it-could-go-down

Doesn't make sense for Chicago. It would only be a 250k cap savings.
- cap1681

anything is better than nothing, they just gave away TT to save 4 mill.

Has anyone thought of something like this, fleury was basically pooped on and took it like a champ, heres a 3 way trade idea.

Pit gets:
Pavelec
pick

Chi gets:
Fleury

Win gets:
Crawford

lessens the cap strain on pit/chi, gets the pens a solid backup.
- Micmaz34

Just curious, why would Chicago want to exchange Crawford for Fleury? Pretty comparable in skill level and pay. And what kind of pick are we talking about? Cus I don't want to take on Pavelic's contract.