I've said this before, later in Sid & Geno's career, hopefully we will have 1 of the best D in the NHL that can carry the team with Sid & Geno being the icing on the cake & not being relied on to do all the heavy lifting.
- Aussiepenguin

Possible but a lot of things have to go absolutely the right way. Maatta needs to heal up and get back on track to where he was projecting, Dumoulin needs to work on his shot a lot, and Pouliot needs to show something. Anything. Then we can talk about unseating Nashville or the Ducks.

To me it's simple, the Pens have to keep their draft picks, especially first thru third rounds. You have to be able to bring up young guys, like they did this year, on entry level contracts.

Also, is Pouliot ever going to amount to anything? I'm beginning to wonder but if he does, you would have another young D-man to go with Maatta or maybe trade one to upgrade in other areas.

To me it's simple, the Pens have to keep their draft picks, especially first thru third rounds. You have to be able to bring up young guys, like they did this year, on entry level contracts.

Also, is Pouliot ever going to amount to anything? I'm beginning to wonder but if he does, you would have another young D-man to go with Maatta or maybe trade one to upgrade in other areas.
- stevens87

Next 2-3 years I tend to agree. But then you might want to start using picks to acquire assets when Windows still open. Not sure it will make sense to hang on to picks when the core is 33. Anyone drafted won't contribute till window might be closed.

Might get a point where it's better to move picks for someone coming off elc whose team can't resign like saad in the past or Tyler Johnson situation next year.

I think they have a good 3 to 5 years left.

I do not think Sid and Gino are going to age as well as Jumbo Joe. The 2 of them have had major injuries. While looking at Thorton and Marleau, its incredible how little amount of games they have missed. Since joining the Sharks Thorton has missed less then 10 games. Marleau I don't believe has missed a game in the last 7 years. I'm not 100%, but I believe Sid and Gino have each missed more games in one season then Thorton and Marleau have missed in the entire careers combined, and if it is not the case, then it is close.

I also think you have to be careful when you say you only need average goaltending. You got very good goaltending this last time around. You would have probably lost to the lighting with average goaltending. You will need a good or very good goaltender. I'll agree that you don't have to have a top 5 goaltneder.

I think they have a good 3 to 5 years left.

I do not think Sid and Gino are going to age as well as Jumbo Joe. The 2 of them have had major injuries. While looking at Thorton and Marleau, its incredible how little amount of games they have missed. Since joining the Sharks Thorton has missed less then 10 games. Marleau I don't believe has missed a game in the last 7 years. I'm not 100%, but I believe Sid and Gino have each missed more games in one season then Thorton and Marleau have missed in the entire careers combined, and if it is not the case, then it is close.

I also think you have to be careful when you say you only need average goaltending. You got very good goaltending this last time around. You would have probably lost to the lighting with average goaltending. You will need a good or very good goaltender. I'll agree that you don't have to have a top 5 goaltneder.
- VT001

I dunno... i thought we got pretty mediocre goaltending against Tampa. The forwards attack won us that series.

If we do resign bonino one thing I would like to see us do is heavily structure his contract for two reasons. If he declines he's owed less cash than cap hit so easier to move to a budget team since he's not owed much. If he performs then might be able to do a brassard type trade and move him for someone younger whose about to sign a bigger deal. And the player is usually willing to accept a little less to get money sooner and protect against buyout.
We could do something like 5 years $22.
Year 1 $6
Year 2 $6
Year 3 $2 signing bonus $2 salary
Year 4 $2 signing bonus $1 salary
Year 5 $3 salary

Could create an opportunity where the guys performing after 2 years and you can offer him to a team like the senators whose cash costs are 3 years $8 which could be very reasonable if his stats look impressive on hbk.

Rangers with how much cash they have should do every contract like this. If they did something like this with girardi they might actually have his cash cost low enough to move him in a year or two. Feel like burkle could handle these type of deals but Lemieux probably cares about profitability more.

But if you have the financial resources to pay guys like this then you can gain a lot of leverage in trades with certain teams. And protect yourself if a guy declines. If he declines you could retain some to move his cap hit and get his cash costs down to vet min.
- sditulli

that proposed bonino deal is horrific!

He had one good run and is otherwise a $2m player. Don't Bolland/Bickel yourselves.

It closed when Despres left

Zetterberg and Datsyuk have shown that elite players can still produce at a high level well into their mid to late 30s. Pens are definitely contenders for the next 4-5 years. After that it will be dependent on what players are added/improve to make up for whatever little decline you see from Sid and Geno.

You have to worry about decline or long term injury. Letang is still one concussion away from game over. Malkin been hurt a bunch. Window is open but risks remain.

And I'm a little concerned with our pipeline in the minors now. How many guys do we have that look like potential impact top 6/top 4? I'm only counting Sprong maybe Guetzel. We've had a lot of people graduating lately.
- sditulli

Every single player in the league is in this boat. Every single player is one bad concussion away from career over, whether they've had a concussion before or not. Every player in the league is one really heavy hit/awkward fall away from their career being done and it doesn't even have to be a head injury.

Every single player in the league is in this boat. Every single player is one bad concussion away from career over, whether they've had a concussion before or not. Every player in the league is one really heavy hit/awkward fall away from their career being done and it doesn't even have to be a head injury.
- MattStrat

Actually previously having a concussion may increase your risk for another one per the mayo clinic.

Actually previously having a concussion may increase your risk for another one per the mayo clinic.
- Feds91Stammer

That's pretty much common knowledge. Re read what I said.

That's pretty much common knowledge. Re read what I said.
- MattStrat

Point is Letang is at a higher risk than other players. Who knows how many more high hits he can take before he is a Savard, Pronger, Franzen, etc.

Point is Letang is at a higher risk than other players. Who knows how many more high hits he can take before he is a Savard, Pronger, Franzen, etc.
- Feds91Stammer

Then again he may continue to play till he's 50 years old!

Point is Letang is at a higher risk than other players. Who knows how many more high hits he can take before he is a Savard, Pronger, Franzen, etc.
- Feds91Stammer

I know Letang is at a higher risk...that doesn't dismiss the fact that any player in the league, whether they've had head trauma before or not, is one really bad smack to the head away from retirement...which was my point.

I know Letang is at a higher risk...that doesn't dismiss the fact that any player in the league, whether they've had head trauma before or not, is one really bad smack to the head away from retirement...which was my point.
- MattStrat

It would be extremely rare for a player without prior history to be one hit away from retirement.

Every single player in the league is in this boat. Every single player is one bad concussion away from career over, whether they've had a concussion before or not. Every player in the league is one really heavy hit/awkward fall away from their career being done and it doesn't even have to be a head injury.
- MattStrat

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the healthiest man to Erik Lindros." -The Joker

It would be extremely rare for a player without prior history to be one hit away from retirement.
- Feds91Stammer

Some players should of retired after the first and some wish they had.

Everyone's body/brain is different.

Steve Moore is still having symptoms from that one incident with Bertuzzi over 10 years ago. He had no prior concussion history.

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the healthiest man to Erik Lindros." -The Joker
- Victoro311

haha can't argue with The Joker....

I know Letang is at a higher risk...that doesn't dismiss the fact that any player in the league, whether they've had head trauma before or not, is one really bad smack to the head away from retirement...which was my point.
- MattStrat

You point makes little sense and your arguing semantics. It can happen to anyone yes, but letang's history means he's already at a 10-50 times higher risks than average player.

You have to worry about decline or long term injury. Letang is still one concussion away from game over. Malkin been hurt a bunch. Window is open but risks remain.

And I'm a little concerned with our pipeline in the minors now. How many guys do we have that look like potential impact top 6/top 4? I'm only counting Sprong maybe Guetzel. We've had a lot of people graduating lately.

There are other guys that are NHL possible and some that probably are not. Even the Penguins organization didn't see Kuhnhackle as a regular NHL player, that came from him impressing Sullivan in WBS. So anything can happen. Benggston, Prow, Dea, Archibald, Jarry, Blueger, Simon, Taylor, Gustavsson, Bjorkvist, Hall, Jones, Almari all have real potential and could fill various different roles. I don't understand why they haven't at least given Dea a game or 2, he's lightning fast and has a real scorers touch. It's really like spinning a roulette wheel, if 5 of those guys work out at some point and can contribute in some capacity in the NHL then this team will remain competitive.

You point makes little sense and your arguing semantics. It can happen to anyone yes, but letang's history means he's already at a 10-50 times higher risks than average player.
- sditulli

Your paragraph makes little sense.

10-50 times higher risk of what? getting a concussion? or 10-50 times higher risk of getting career ending symptoms?

There seems to be quite a bit of pessimism with pretty much the whole penguins core being one concussion away from retirement. lol relax.

Pens are in pretty good shape. I really think Crosby can age gracefully with his game. Malkin not so sure about.

And Pens do have some decent top nine options waiting in Wilson, Guentzel and Sprong. I think a few average to good drafts and more progression in Poliout's case will be the best we can hope for going forward. And that's pretty good

It would be extremely rare for a player without prior history to be one hit away from retirement.
- Feds91Stammer

It would be pretty rare that a pro athlete in a contact sport has never had any concussion.

There is so much parity it is difficult for one team to dominate anymore. Look at the Oilers too, all those draft picks and talent and what? Nothing. So it is players, competition, and management of assets. Look at it that way and I say 3-5 years based on all the above going as expected.

It would be pretty rare that a pro athlete in a contact sport has never had any concussion.
- sammy87

I was just thinking that.