Take it with a grain of salt.......

Stars have contacted Pens about Fleury, talks heating up per Michael Grosso, who is some rumor guy that the Hawks blogger thinks is solid.

Backlund can play wing too right?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He is a natural center. And should stay there.

Crosby
Malkin
Bonino

Who gets the tougher D pairings to face ?

Also his linemates weren't exactly of 3rd line quality ...so you have a guy who gets weak opposition and linemates who should be top 6 even one who is top 3 ...seriously bonino won the lotto with this scenario falling into his lap
- Redmile247

Last year was the first time Backlund has ever put up legit 2nd line numbers in his injury riddled career. Not exactly a sure fire top 6 guy with that history. Plus he costs 3.57 mil against the cap. Bonino costs 1.8.

We don't need Bonino to be a god. We need him to be effective in his role, which he is. Again, stop trying to inform us what we need. We don't want Wideman, and we're not taking Backlund. These two players do not help us. We need defensive depth and maybe a cheap LW with upside.

Take it with a grain of salt.......

Stars have contacted Pens about Fleury, talks heating up per Michael Grosso, who is some rumor guy that the Hawks blogger thinks is solid.
- cap1681

I want the low down on the Hawks blogger. He carries himself like Ek talking about sources, but people don't rip him for it. Is he legit?

He is a natural center. And should stay there.
- FLflames34

Okay. Thought he played some wing. In which case, not interested in taking his salary back as he doesnt fill a need.

back to #35th and Shink/Kylington

Cap space and upside. Gotta take risks to make it in a cap league. Just the way the cookie crumbles. Say we move Murr instead of Fleury and the player we get at #6 isn't NHL ready. Where are we getting the cap space to acquire defensive depth beyond just 6 defensemen?
- Victoro311

There's no guarantee that you upgrade the defensive depth even with the additional cap space and you're definitely not getting NHL ready player/players with the 2nd or 3rd round pick you're getting in return for MAF, there's a much better chance of getting an NHL ready player at #6 than there is in the 2nd or 3rd round.

As I said, there's risks and rewards to both situations, with the Fleury trade you're definitely not getting a NHL ready player with the draft picks and even getting a prospect it isn't going to be a top end guy whose ready to jump right in and be a stud for the team. So the risk now becomes if you strike out upgrading through free agency, you have potential questions in goal if Murray has any issues and you haven't upgraded to roster at all.

I'm not saying either is a slam dunk, both have pros & cons to taking that path, all I'm saying is that people who are trying to suggest that it is a slam dunk and there's only 1 viable path to take are doing so because of their love for Murray and not necessarily what is best for the team.

Take it with a grain of salt.......

Stars have contacted Pens about Fleury, talks heating up per Michael Grosso, who is some rumor guy that the Hawks blogger thinks is solid.
- cap1681

That's my dark horse candidate for MAF. There's a deal to be made with Dallas. That team absolutely needs an upgrade.

Last year was the first time Backlund has ever put up legit 2nd line numbers in his injury riddled career. Not exactly a sure fire top 6 guy with that history. Plus he costs 3.57 mil against the cap. Bonino costs 1.8.

We don't need Bonino to be a god. We need him to be effective in his role, which he is. Again, stop trying to inform us what we need. We don't want Wideman, and we're not taking Backlund. These two players do not help us. We need defensive depth and maybe a cheap LW with upside.
- Victoro311

I wouldn't mind Backlund if Bonino weren't here. He is a solid player. That said, we don't need him, especially with the way Bonino found chemistry with Kessel and Hagelin. No need to change that.

Backlund can play wing too right?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Any center can play wing

Take it with a grain of salt.......

Stars have contacted Pens about Fleury, talks heating up per Michael Grosso, who is some rumor guy that the Hawks blogger thinks is solid.
- cap1681

Target acquired...

I know bonino just had an amazing cup run for you guys so he is very popular in here but he is not better than backs ..not close ...bonino is a 3C and nothing more ...if you traded Malkin bonino could not take the 2C spot but a backlund could ...I say good on bonino for playing above his head but let's be realistic here
- Redmile247

So your saying the HBK line is only the 3rd best line the Pens have? Wow, things looking even better!

Did you ever think maybe Bonino has just finally found good line mates and he capabilities are showing because of it?

Playing over one's head usually happens for a week or maybe a few weeks, but let's be honest here, Bonino was contributing at really high level for a long period of time before the playoffs even started and then took it up a notch.

No? Then why would they have the No. 2 center Malkin playing on the 3rd line? Would it make sense to have your 2nd best center playing with the 2nd line wingers? Do you think they'll blow up the HBK line to make room for Malkin if it's still working as well at the start of the season?

Singled out Malkin is clearly a better player than Bonino from a scoring capabilities perspective. But right now, Bonino is centering the no. 2 line and even what has recently been the best line on the team. This 2C, 3C thing makes sense on paper but doesn't apply in logical game day fashion for this team and it's why there's even a possible rumor about Malkin being traded.

Okay. Thought he played some wing. In which case, not interested in taking his salary back as he doesnt fill a need.

back to #35th and Shink/Kylington
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Ask for the 54th or 56th and Shink/Kylington (I prefer Kylington).

I think calgary says no. We might stand a chance getting a third and Shink; or Kylington.

If we can get the 54th and 56th picks for MAF, do it quickly.

I wouldn't mind Backlund if Bonino weren't here. He is a solid player. That said, we don't need him, especially with the way Bonino found chemistry with Kessel and Hagelin. No need to change that.
- Oneonta Penguin

Exactly. It amazes me how people don't understand how its not always about who the best player is. The name of the game is icing a cost effective team. Bonino and Backlund would occupy the same role and Bones is much more cost effective.

That's my dark horse candidate for MAF. There's a deal to be made with Dallas. That team absolutely needs an upgrade.
- madmike71

I mean if they can buy out Lehtonen, we could certainly find a deal with them.

I'm still kinda lost on how 'risky' it is to wait on the Fleury situation if the market for him isn't that great anyway.

Say we could get a 2nd rounder right now...but later only a 3rd...is it that terrible that we waited?

Plus, unless we are trading a goalie for a goalie, we need to have a competent veteran back-up should Murray 2017 not be the same as Murray 2016. That player will cost money and requires another trade of some sort. Word was Pens like Elliot...but what would it take to get him form St Louis? He's UFA after this coming season too.

I like JR's approach...ask for something substantial...if you don't get it, keep MAF.

I mean if they can buy out Lehtonen, we could certainly find a deal with them.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Couldn't we take back Niemi, with 1.5 retained. Plus some other parts. DP? Nich? Picks? Sure they'd have a bunch of money wrapped up in tending, but that's not our problem.

We need a competent backup if MAF is gone.

Last year was the first time Backlund has ever put up legit 2nd line numbers in his injury riddled career. Not exactly a sure fire top 6 guy with that history. Plus he costs 3.57 mil against the cap. Bonino costs 1.8.

We don't need Bonino to be a god. We need him to be effective in his role, which he is. Again, stop trying to inform us what we need. We don't want Wideman, and we're not taking Backlund. These two players do not help us. We need defensive depth and maybe a cheap LW with upside.
- Victoro311

I never said we would offer wideman and I wouldn't want to trade backs ...he is a 2c though IMO

Also injuries happen ...see Crosby makin letang fleury ..

I mean if they can buy out Lehtonen, we could certainly find a deal with them.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Hell, i'd even do Fleury for Niemi and Honka. Honka and Maatta on our 2nd pairing would be awesome.

Ask for the 54th or 56th and Shink/Kylington (I prefer Kylington).

I think calgary says no. We might stand a chance getting a third and Shink; or Kylington.

If we can get the 54th and 56th picks for MAF, do it quickly.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'll give you props. I believe this was your first proposed deal. I'm not as excited about 2 2nds because the benefit about Shink/Kylington is that they're closer to NHL ready (very close in Shinkaruk's case) and fill a position of need. One of those two and a 2nd rounder gets it done for me. 3rd rounder I would hesitate.

I never said we would offer wideman and I wouldn't want to trade backs ...he is a 2c though IMO

Also injuries happen ...see Crosby makin letang fleury ..
- Redmile247

Its also possible the whole 'guins team takes a flight to Russia and everyone dies...and the penguins fold and move to Kansas city

Target acquired...


- Victoro311

I mean if they can buy out Lehtonen, we could certainly find a deal with them.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

They buy out Lehtonen and give us Niemi back in the deal, they clear a (frank) ton of cap that they can put to good use. Fleury is a work horse starter so they only need a cheap back up to play ~20 games and not completely suck. The Lehtonen buy out penalty would suck a lot, but it might be worth it for Dallas.

We'd get a fringe NHL starter who'd be the perfect candidate to split 60-40 with Murr while he continues to mature and develop. Niemi is kind of expensive, but we wouldn't have to deal with him for too long. If its too hard to extend Murray and Dumoulin with Niemi under contract, buy him out like Dcoms suggested, but I don't think it'd come to that. Plus he doesn't have a NMC, so he can be exposed.

Even though Niemi is useful to us, he's still a cap dump, so the return would be very enticing.

Couldn't we take back Niemi, with 1.5 retained. Plus some other parts. DP? Nich? Picks? Sure they'd have a bunch of money wrapped up in tending, but that's not our problem.

We need a competent backup if MAF is gone.
- madmike71

Indeed but Stars cant have that much money tied up in goalies. They need to get rid of Kari "Let'em in".

That would be over $12M tied up in goalies for Dallas. Kari is 5.9, Fleury 5.75, AND you want them to retain $1.5 from Niemi??

So your saying the HBK line is only the 3rd best line the Pens have? Wow, things looking even better!

Did you ever think maybe Bonino has just finally found good line mates and he capabilities are showing because of it?

Playing over one's head usually happens for a week or maybe a few weeks, but let's be honest here, Bonino was contributing at really high level for a long period of time before the playoffs even started and then took it up a notch.

No? Then why would they have the No. 2 center Malkin playing on the 3rd line? Would it make sense to have your 2nd best center playing with the 2nd line wingers? Do you think they'll blow up the HBK line to make room for Malkin if it's still working as well at the start of the season?

Singled out Malkin is clearly a better player than Bonino from a scoring capabilities perspective. But right now, Bonino is centering the no. 2 line and even what has recently been the best line on the team. This 2C, 3C thing makes sense on paper but doesn't apply in logical game day fashion for this team and it's why there's even a possible rumor about Malkin being traded.
- NJPensfan

Bonino played with good linemates in Anaheim and was good ...Vancouver he had crap linemates and struggled ...played most of the year in Pitt with crap linemates and struggled ...was given kessel and all of the sudden he's good again ...coincidence ?

I never said we would offer wideman and I wouldn't want to trade backs ...he is a 2c though IMO

Also injuries happen ...see Crosby makin letang fleury ..
- Redmile247

You were just saying yesterday Wideman would help us... Maybe it was someone else who offered the 30 something and Wideman.

And when injuries happen we have HBK to pick up the slack. Our forward depth is covered. Its our D depth thats not.