I think you are low balling sheary a little bit but all in all those look like fair contracts. I know sheary's success is directly related to playing with Crosby but it seems unlikely that he only gets 2 mill per bc he is eligible for arbitration. Could be wrong on this, but it seems like he progressed like crazy this year
- headyhedman77

I agree, think Sheary gets at least 3 even on a short-term bridge if that's the route they go. The other 2 are about right if they give a slight hometown discount.

I agree, think Sheary gets at least 3 even on a short-term bridge if that's the route they go. The other 2 are about right if they give a slight hometown discount.
- Tojo.

Id have to think back to back Stanley Cups would facilitate the discount. Im not sure why you would go and make trades like the ones suggested tho, winning back to back should make you want to keep the team together best you can right?

The Duchene rumors have been in Pittsburgh as well even at the deadline. Even the guys reporting it said it was overkill but apparently there's some smoke there. Think the focus will be on a defenseman though, although with a better center they can drop Kessel back down to 3rd line and play Hornqvist with Malkin.

I agree, think Sheary gets at least 3 even on a short-term bridge if that's the route they go. The other 2 are about right if they give a slight hometown discount.
- Tojo.

Yeah, he could get $3m. I definitely want to see him on a 2 year bridge though. He has been good so far but I haven't noticed him having a big impact away from Crosby.

Id have to think back to back Stanley Cups would facilitate the discount. Im not sure why you would go and make trades like the ones suggested tho, winning back to back should make you want to keep the team together best you can right?
- headyhedman77

Lots of talk actually that the team is dead tired from the extra games and could use some fresh legs. They'll want to keep their core guys of course, but changing aroundba little of the supporting cast and letting a lot of the UFAs walk seems like the smart money.

Yeah, he could get $3m. I definitely want to see him on a 2 year bridge though. He has been good so far but I haven't noticed him having a big impact away from Crosby.
- MacPatty

Agree Mac. Would like a bridge deal to see exactly what we have. And to keep the salary down for now. But he's the hardest guy to pin down, defensemen are much easier to predict.

Lots of talk actually that the team is dead tired from the extra games and could use some fresh legs. They'll want to keep their core guys of course, but changing aroundba little of the supporting cast and letting a lot of the UFAs walk seems like the smart money.
- Tojo.

Yeah i can see that, but lets not forget the value of some of those UFAs. Cullen is a solid 4th liner who wins faceoffs (underrated stat in the NHL IMO) and Kunitz is the player that won the ECF and is an Assistant Captain. Bonino is more replaceable as 3C are not that hard to come buy and im sure hes gonna want more money then the pens will want to pay. Id think you would resign Cullen (if he doesnt retire) as well as Kunitz.

Id have to think back to back Stanley Cups would facilitate the discount. Im not sure why you would go and make trades like the ones suggested tho, winning back to back should make you want to keep the team together best you can right?
- headyhedman77

The reason I would like to see a high end center for the #3 spot is to lighten the burden on Crosby and Malkin. Allow them to play a minute or two less per game during the regular season or even to rotate out taking a few games off here and there if they are dinged up.

It's also important that the Pens keep evolving. There are two ways the team can massively improve.

1. Getting a top pairing D man to play with Letang.
2. Adding a very talented 3C like Duchene.

I think Duchene will be cheaper than a true top pairing D man. And I think the Pens proved that you can win the cup with a solid 6 man rotation rather than just loading up a top pairing.

The reason I would like to see a high end center for the #3 spot is to lighten the burden on Crosby and Malkin. Allow them to play a minute or two less per game during the regular season or even to rotate out taking a few games off here and there if they are dinged up.

It's also important that the Pens keep evolving. There are two ways the team can massively improve.

1. Getting a top pairing D man to play with Letang.
2. Adding a very talented 3C like Duchene.

I think Duchene will be cheaper than a true top pairing D man. And I think the Pens proved that you can win the cup with a solid 6 man rotation rather than just loading up a top pairing.
- MacPatty

Lets not get too greedy here with the centers, you already have the best 1C and 2C combination in the NHL... I also dont see any team jumping through hoops to help the pens improve at this point. Also the two improvements kinda contradict one another, To add a 3C of Duchene's caliber you will lose at least Maatta and if im the Avs, i wouldnt even answer the call if the first name out of Rutherfords mouth wasnt Schultz +. Im not sure what it would take to add a top pair Dman to the pens by way of trade, but i know his salary cap hit would probably cause issues.

I thought the rumors were Pens interested in Landeskog...

maybe I'm misremembering

Lets not get too greedy here with the centers, you already have the best 1C and 2C combination in the NHL... I also dont see any team jumping through hoops to help the pens improve at this point. Also the two improvements kinda contradict one another, To add a 3C of Duchene's caliber you will lose at least Maatta and if im the Avs, i wouldnt even answer the call if the first name out of Rutherfords mouth wasnt Schultz +. Im not sure what it would take to add a top pair Dman to the pens by way of trade, but i know his salary cap hit would probably cause issues.
- headyhedman77

Schultz had more points than Duchene this year and defense is more an area of weakness.

Maatta is just kind of a meh secomd pairing guy. He's young and can handle a second pair role fine mostly becaise he has great instincts, but nothing really jumps out in his game. There's some value there but yeah it's limited.

Schultz had more points than Duchene this year and defense is more an area of weakness.

Maatta is just kind of a meh secomd pairing guy. He's young and can handle a second pair role fine mostly becaise he has great instincts, but nothing really jumps out in his game. There's some value there but yeah it's limited.
- Tojo.

Duchene Plays on the dumpster fire that is COL, and Schultz Played top pairing minutes for the back to back stanely cup champs. Its a little unfair to compare those stats IMO. However i dont know how you end up comparing worth when you look at forwards traded for Dman. Im not sure anyone has figured it out (I.E. Hall for Larson) but looking at stats alone with two teams in completely different points in there development doesn't seem right.

Yeah i can see that, but lets not forget the value of some of those UFAs. Cullen is a solid 4th liner who wins faceoffs (underrated stat in the NHL IMO) and Kunitz is the player that won the ECF and is an Assistant Captain. Bonino is more replaceable as 3C are not that hard to come buy and im sure hes gonna want more money then the pens will want to pay. Id think you would resign Cullen (if he doesnt retire) as well as Kunitz.
- headyhedman77

I could see them wanting to bring back Kunitz for leadership, and he can still play some. But at 38 and after 2 long runs I think unless the leadership is vital after also losing Cullen they should move on. They've got 12 or 13 forwards that need to clear waivers. Kuhnhackl couldn't get in the line up and Sundqvist, a center prospect they love but has limited offensive upside (so Cullen's replacement) has to clear waivers. A couple more interesting prospects there is no room for. Lots of bodies up front.

Do need a 3C though and some defensemen. Only have 5 and no standout prospects there.

Duchene Plays on the dumpster fire that is COL, and Schultz Played top pairing minutes for the back to back stanely cup champs. Its a little unfair to compare those stats IMO. However i dont know how you end up comparing worth when you look at forwards traded for Dman. Im not sure anyone has figured it out (I.E. Hall for Larson) but looking at stats alone with two teams in completely different points in there development doesn't seem right.
- headyhedman77

Sure, it just shows the type of years both had. But right handed top 4 defensemen are gold so I wouldn't deal him for Duchene. Like you said, he'd be a nice add but sort of a luxury.

I could see them wanting to bring back Kunitz for leadership, and he can still play some. But at 38 and after 2 long runs I think unless the leadership is vital after also losing Cullen they should move on. They've got 12 or 13 forwards that need to clear waivers. Kuhnhackl couldn't get in the line up and Sundqvist, a center prospect they love but has limited offensive upside (so Cullen's replacement) has to clear waivers. A couple more interesting prospects there is no room for. Lots of bodies up front.

Do need a 3C though and some defensemen. Only have 5 and no standout prospects there.
- Tojo.

I think the value in Kunitz is more his ability to fill any role. When he wasn't scoring this year he was playing incredibly physical in a 4th line role. When other players struggled he moved back onto the top two lines and put up a bunch of points from Game 7 of the ECF on. No matter where he is in the lineup he is making an impact. That's why I'd love to have him back.

Barrie -34


$5.5 million per



- winsix

your point? +/- is a junk stat, but offensive production is something everyone can ohhh and ahhh about. Guy still pushes the puck and is a weapon. Being minus on the worst team in the cap era without their starting goalie and number 1 dman (Johnson is all we have )....yeah you will get scored on

Considering that most of the vitriol is coming from your own fanbase (those who watch him the most), I think we both know that you're lying.
- MaximumBone

Nope. Not lying. My opinion is that he was solid most nights far more than he wasnt. He had to be. Most Pens fans I know were pleasantly surprised with his performance after missing so much time. His first game after a two month layoff was the playoffs I believe...or maybe the very last game of the season.

Its actually impressive when you think about it.

Do I think he's worth Duchane? No, I do not.

kinda hoping Leafs keep JvR and signs to a long term extension.

He's the only power forward we have on that wing. We have no replacements for him.

Defensemen being moved, can be plenty, for the right price. Rather trade prospects for prospects in that regard, and try to sign and keep JvR.

Lol, Gardiner lost his job to Fowler like 5 years ago. Fowler is younger and cheaper, and has been the better player since the day he was drafted.
- sniper11

Fowler has put up a few more points, but Gardiner does a much better job in his own end.


Jesus christ, there are words that I never thought that I'd type!

Maatta for Duchene makes a lot more sense. Vegas will then have plenty of D men that Pitt can choose from. It's not so much that Pitt NEEDS a top 4 D man but depth wins championships and we have some injury prone players. No doubt in my mind Rutherford will use this cap space wisely.

Maatta for Duchene makes a lot more sense. Vegas will then have plenty of D men that Pitt can choose from. It's not so much that Pitt NEEDS a top 4 D man but depth wins championships and we have some injury prone players. No doubt in my mind Rutherford will use this cap space wisely.
- WSCTeton17

- DDM-Coga

The Pens Fans swear they can trash Maatta all year and now that he is in trade talks he become a top 4 d man...

The Pens Fans swear they can trash Maatta all year and now that he is in trade talks he become a top 4 d man...
- headyhedman77

Oh he was 3rd on TOI for the stanley cup champs....well there was no Letang and half a Schultz during the whole playoffs. Maatta would be bottom pairing minutes on a healthy team (and he is a bottom pairing Dman who can jump into the 2nd Pair short term due to injuries)

Dutch had a rough year but he isnt so low in value that they will be taking 3rd pairing Dmen for him.

Maata playing Top 4 minutes on the Avs....that would be a disaster, he isnt good enough to log tough minutes

Oh he was 3rd on TOI for the stanley cup champs....well there was no Letang and half a Schultz during the whole playoffs. Maatta would be bottom pairing minutes on a healthy team (and he is a bottom pairing Dman who can jump into the 2nd Pair short term due to injuries)

Dutch had a rough year but he isnt so low in value that they will be taking 3rd pairing Dmen for him.

Maata playing Top 4 minutes on the Avs....that would be a disaster, he isnt good enough to log tough minutes
- DDM-Coga

If the price was truly that low then all 29 teams with a player to trade would be sending offers. Hell Vegas might throw in a draft pick package too so all other 30 teams in the NHL will have a proposal.

If the price was truly that low then all 29 teams with a player to trade would be sending offers. Hell Vegas might throw in a draft pick package too so all other 30 teams in the NHL will have a proposal.
- headyhedman77

When some of the Avs beat writers are hearing the buzz from Islanders is DeHaan the 15th overall and a young prospect.

I think the Avs will do a lot better than just "Maatta"