The bigger news here is the possibility of Tommy John surgery. If there is any truth to that being a possibility, the Pens would lose Malkin for an entire season.

While the HBK line would become the official 2nd line, the Pens would need to pick up a 3rd line center unless they believe that Fehr can step in.

This would drastically alter the Pens' game-plan.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...bettman-press-conference/ the vegas team will play the 2017 - 2018 season so expansion draft next year

Oh, I know where you were going, but all of the guys you mentioned aren't complete busts champ. I suggest you look at the last two years of Mason in Philly. Save percentage is better than that banner opening year in Columbus. He was just as good for Philly this year then what he was in Columbus if you look at things. Niemi's best year was in SJ in 2012-13, not that first full season in Chicago, so he isn't a one hit wonder either. Numbers wise, Cam Ward is better now than what he was earlier. Look at the numbers. You failed on three of your examples - pretty badly.
- Oneonta Penguin

Pretty sure I never used the word bust at any time. Wouldn't that just be awesome if it took Murray 3-5 years to duplicate his play from this year like it took Mason, that would be perfect timing for Pittsburgh, gets back just at the end of Sid, Geno and Letang's careers.

In regards to Fleury, you didnt even mention being forced to Expose Murray in expansion draft depending on the rules......

Here are the rules: https://twitter.com/mirtl...status/745715148153888768

Here are the deadlines:

NHL teams must submit protected lists by June 17, 2017. Las Vegas must submit selections by June 20, 2017. Announcement June 21, 2017.

— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) June 22, 2016

Because if you can't trade him later ... you have a problem. There are more limitations trading goalies than forwards or defensemen. Not rocket science here. That could very well be the problem with this is MAF is kept. Dumb move by Pittsburgh if they don't and decide to go over the cap 10%. No one will do us any favors.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yet every year teams find a way to pull off rocket science. Nobody is saying it would be the ideal way to handle things but holding MAF because they don't get the deal they want shouldn't and won't effect their pursuit of other upgrades.

Here are the rules: https://twitter.com/mirtl...status/745715148153888768
- tpcg402

Nothing surprising here.

The bigger news here is the possibility of Tommy John surgery. If there is any truth to that being a possibility, the Pens would lose Malkin for an entire season.

While the HBK line would become the official 2nd line, the Pens would need to pick up a 3rd line center unless they believe that Fehr can step in.

This would drastically alter the Pens' game-plan.
- Rinosaur

Im not sure hed be out the whole year. Thats baseball time frame, which involves throwing in an unnatural way. While its clear he would be out a considerable time, Hockey is different than baseball and it isnt written in stone his recovery would be 12 months just like a pitcher/// Medical people, clarify if needed...

Here are the rules: https://twitter.com/mirtl...status/745715148153888768
- tpcg402

says nothing about posistion changing players to be able to included them (for exampel changing a defensemen into a forward so they can protect a defensemen under the forward tag for the draft)

says nothing about posistion changing players to be able to included them (for exampel changing a defensemen into a forward so they can protect a defensemen under the forward tag for the draft)
- martox

Bettman did say no "shenanigans" at beginning of presser. I thought that was funny

Im not sure hed be out the whole year. Thats baseball time frame, which involves throwing in an unnatural way. While its clear he would be out a considerable time, Hockey is different than baseball and it isnt written in stone his recovery would be 12 months just like a pitcher/// Medical people, clarify if needed...
- Amanion

Everything I've says jan/feb return if tommy john surgery

Bettman did say no "shenanigans" at beginning of presser. I thought that was funny
- tpcg402

7 forwards and 3 dman for the Pens might be rough...might like the 8 players better. That way you can keep 4 d and 4 f. That is if, DP turns out to be what we all hope he will be.

Everything I've says jan/feb return if tommy john surgery
- sditulli

That's still very significant. I know they can put him on LTIR and free up his cap-hit, but once he returns in January or February, does his cap-hit get pro-rated or go back to it's original hit?

7 forwards and 3 dman for the Pens might be rough...might like the 8 players better. That way you can keep 4 d and 4 f. That is if, DP turns out to be what we all hope he will be.
- Thorny

I don't see Pouliot being a Penguin come opening night, but that's just my opinion.

The 3 Dman thing really isn't that bad. Daley is a pending UFA, Cole is expendable and who knows who will fill the bottom-pair role. Letang, Maatta and Dumoulin are really the only important pieces of the puzzle once Daley is gone, so that's all they need to protect.

It would just stink to lose a guy like Rust or Sheary.

Geno, Sid, Kessel, Bonino, Hagelin and Hornqvist would be the automatic six.

One thing I didn't see, are pending UFA's automatically expempt? If so, the Pens wouldn't need to protect Bonino and hopefully make a verbal contract with him to sign after the expansion draft.

Sprong would be automatically exempt.

One of Rust, Sheary, Wilson, Kuhnhackl and Sundqvist would go unprotected and likely selected.

Malkin has the third most FM on the team behind Daley abd Crosby. We cant afford to trade him.

I don't see Pouliot being a Penguin come opening night, but that's just my opinion.

The 3 Dman thing really isn't that bad. Daley is a pending UFA, Cole is expendable and who knows who will fill the bottom-pair role. Letang, Maatta and Dumoulin are really the only important pieces of the puzzle once Daley is gone, so that's all they need to protect.

It would just stink to lose a guy like Rust or Sheary.

Geno, Sid, Kessel, Bonino, Hagelin and Hornqvist would be the automatic six.

One thing I didn't see, are pending UFA's automatically expempt? If so, the Pens wouldn't need to protect Bonino and hopefully make a verbal contract with him to sign after the expansion draft.

Sprong would be automatically exempt.

One of Rust, Sheary, Wilson, Kuhnhackl and Sundqvist would go unprotected and likely selected.
- Rinosaur

Bonino would be a UFA and Hornqvist would only have one year left of term. I'd protect Rust and then one of Sheary or Wilson. If Simon makes the team next year he enters into the conversation.

I shook my head like many when Chicago was dumb enough to do that for Kane and Toews. Thought they would be in serious cap hell and now, they are. The had to trade a young winger in terravainen just to unload Bickell. Now, rumors are out there they they are seriously considering trading Crawford. This is what happens when you make foolish decisions.
- Oneonta Penguin

They also had to trade saad last year. Say what you want about Toews "leadership", but Sid opted to not take more money back in 2012 in order to keep malkin and other parts of the team together at the time. If Toews and Kane didn't get so greedy and ask for the moon, the team would have saad and/or teravainen still

For this discussion since we are in trade rumor time... Moving forward.

Only a few players in the NHL can completely take over a game, we have two of them, Tavares is absolutely another one.
- Guile

true. but JT is a good bit younger, one of the best contract bargains in the league. no health issues.

if they called up and said 71 for JT, I'd do it in a nanosecond. not even a hard decision for me, as good as malkin is

Bonino would be a UFA and Hornqvist would only have one year left of term. I'd protect Rust and then one of Sheary or Wilson. If Simon makes the team next year he enters into the conversation.
- Victoro311

You don't really have to protect them if I read this correctly. You only need to expose two forwards under contract and had played at least 40 games in the 16/17 season, which would be Kuhnhackl and Sundqvist if I had my choice.

I could be mistaken about how exactly this works.

So 1st and 2nd year pros don't need protected. I take it AHL counts. Do they have to fill a AHL team to?

So 1st and 2nd year pros don't need protected. I take it AHL counts. Do they have to fill a AHL team to?
- kgrpitt

That protects Sundqvist and Sprong. The Pens could expose Fehr and Kuhnhackl.

You don't really have to protect them if I read this correctly. You only need to expose two forwards under contract and had played at least 40 games in the 16/17 season, which would be Kuhnhackl and Sundqvist if I had my choice.

I could be mistaken about how exactly this works.
- Rinosaur

Assuming Sprong doesn't play in the NHL next season which is a high possibility, this is how I'd shake out the protections for the skaters:

Crosby
Malkin
Kessel
Hagelin
Rust

Letang
Maatta
Dumoulin

The last two protection spots I'd have going to whoever's most effective out of Sheary, Wilson, Sundqvist and Pouliot or an X factor like Simon or that we may acquire via trade. I just don't think one year of Patric Hornqvist is worth protecting, and if he's made available it may ensure that none of our young assets get taken.

That protects Sundqvist and Sprong. The Pens could expose Fehr and Kuhnhackl.
- Rinosaur

Something I'm not clear on:

When it says two years of professional experience, entering their third year in 2017-2018 are exempt, or are players that completed their second year in 2016-2017 vulnerable to be picked in the draft? Not having to worry about Sprong, Sundqvist, and Simon would be incredible.

Hopefully players like Kunitz and Duper waive their NMC. Though they wouldn't get picked the pens would be forced to protect them even though they might not get re-signed by the pens.

Assuming Sprong doesn't play in the NHL next season which is a high possibility, this is how I'd shake out the protections for the skaters:

Crosby
Malkin
Kessel
Hagelin
Rust

Letang
Maatta
Dumoulin

The last two protection spots I'd have going to whoever's most effective out of Sheary, Wilson, Sundqvist and Pouliot or an X factor like Simon or that we may acquire via trade. I just don't think one year of Patric Hornqvist is worth protecting, and if he's made available it may ensure that none of our young assets get taken.
- Victoro311

Going to disagree on Hornqvist. Just because he has one year left doesn't mean the Pens have no intention on making him a Penguin for life.

Sprong will be exempt because he's having surgery to keep him out about seven months and you'd have to assume they will place him in WBS for his rehab.

I don't know if anyone can clarify this, but reading this sounds like outside of the players you "protect" you only have to expose two, so you don't necessarily need to protect Wilson, Rust or Sheary. You just need to expose two of Kuhnhackl, Fehr and Bennett. If they're smart they will play Bennett from time to time to make him eligible.