When Fleury get's taken tomorrow night, the Pens will have about 20M in cap space. They need to sign Dumoulin and Schultz, but that should only cost about 8M. They will have a ton of room.
- cap1681

I'd like to see Jumbo Joe in a Pens uni, sign cheap and go for his cup. What a power play

I'd like to see Jumbo Joe in a Pens uni, sign cheap and go for his cup. What a power play
- Bo

Thornton, Malkin, Crosby on the same PP? Who will shoot? Phil?

Duchene would be 2C behind JT. Isles have offense and he would not need to carry the team. The Pens are going to get Duchene to be 3C?
- ses111

Isles should be focusing on getting a scorer on JTs wing b/c if they don't he's going bye bye after next season

Maybe to NYR.......Nash will be off the books

When Fleury get's taken tomorrow night, the Pens will have about 20M in cap space. They need to sign Dumoulin and Schultz, but that should only cost about 8M. They will have a ton of room.
- cap1681

That's amazing they have that much cap space JR is by far the best GM. Although I don't think Vegas Takes Fluery without Pitt paying quite a bit. A lot of capable goalies to pick for an expansion team.

Isles should be focusing on getting a scorer on JTs wing b/c if they don't he's going bye bye after next season

Maybe to NYR.......Nash will be off the books
- rrentz

Isles need a 2C more than a wing. The JT Lee Bailey line was very productive. If Col wants too much for Duchene, I would move on to another center.

quotes not working but McPhee is almost certainly taking Fleury. Between what he brings to the locker room & off the ice, what he brings in experience & winning, what he brings in talent & numbers alone on the ice, that's more valuable than maybe a middle 6 winger (Rust/Hagelin) brings.

Not only that, but building from the back out & down the center is kind of the absolute way to go in building a winner. Fleury was the 1st building block in Pittsburgh (along with Orpik/Whitney) way back when in rebuilding the team until Sid/Geno/Staal (and more recently, Sid/Geno/Bones/Letang) came in as well.

The only goaltender even close to the quality of Fleury available is Mrazek and show me what he's won? Fleury has Olympic gold, 3 cup rings (all of which he was instrumental in, in some way with only 1 that he didn't carry the team for at least 1/2 the playoffs), will likely top out in the top 5 all-time winningest goalies in NHL history. That counts for something with establishing winning culture from day 1. Especially in an important position that you build out from.

In the backseat of Doughboy's six-fo Impala on the fresh-ass Dayton's
-eichiefs9

Who said anything about E-Kane...

That's amazing they have that much cap space JR is by far the best GM. Although I don't think Vegas Takes Fluery without Pitt paying quite a bit. A lot of capable goalies to pick for an expansion team.
- HamiltonHawk

A lot of capable goalies with no starting experience and no history of winning. Going back to the 1972 draft, no GM has passed on drafting at least 1 goalie with NHL starting experience in an expansion draft except for Tampa Bay taking Wendell Young in 1992. And the only other goalie with any real starting experience is Elliott, who isn't even close to Fleury.

quotes not working but McPhee is almost certainly taking Fleury. Between what he brings to the locker room & off the ice, what he brings in experience & winning, what he brings in talent & numbers alone on the ice, that's more valuable than maybe a middle 6 winger (Rust/Hagelin) brings.

Not only that, but building from the back out & down the center is kind of the absolute way to go in building a winner. Fleury was the 1st building block in Pittsburgh (along with Orpik/Whitney) way back when in rebuilding the team until Sid/Geno/Staal (and more recently, Sid/Geno/Bones/Letang) came in as well.

The only goaltender even close to the quality of Fleury available is Mrazek and show me what he's won? Fleury has Olympic gold, 3 cup rings (all of which he was instrumental in, in some way with only 1 that he didn't carry the team for at least 1/2 the playoffs), will likely top out in the top 5 all-time winningest goalies in NHL history. That counts for something with establishing winning culture from day 1. Especially in an important position that you build out from.
- ScienceJesus

all that is great and all.. but LV would still be doing you guys a favor. doubt its for free

quotes not working but McPhee is almost certainly taking Fleury. Between what he brings to the locker room & off the ice, what he brings in experience & winning, what he brings in talent & numbers alone on the ice, that's more valuable than maybe a middle 6 winger (Rust/Hagelin) brings.

Not only that, but building from the back out & down the center is kind of the absolute way to go in building a winner. Fleury was the 1st building block in Pittsburgh (along with Orpik/Whitney) way back when in rebuilding the team until Sid/Geno/Staal (and more recently, Sid/Geno/Bones/Letang) came in as well.

The only goaltender even close to the quality of Fleury available is Mrazek and show me what he's won? Fleury has Olympic gold, 3 cup rings (all of which he was instrumental in, in some way with only 1 that he didn't carry the team for at least 1/2 the playoffs), will likely top out in the top 5 all-time winningest goalies in NHL history. That counts for something with establishing winning culture from day 1. Especially in an important position that you build out from.
- ScienceJesus

Fleury is a good goalie nobody is disputing that, but McPhee knows that the pens want him to be taken which is a point of leverage he can use. Why would McPhee just do what JR wants without an incentive in a scenario where it seems like every team is basically being shaken down for draftpicks/prospects in return for McPhee doing what he wants. You cant deny that the pens want to dump salary, and if all of us can see that then McPhee definitely can.

all that is great and all.. but LV would still be doing you guys a favor. doubt its for free
- mrn22

Your rational opinion is refreshing

When Fleury get's taken tomorrow night, the Pens will have about 20M in cap space. They need to sign Dumoulin and Schultz, but that should only cost about 8M. They will have a ton of room.
- cap1681

I think you're forgetting about that pesky detail of the 12 unsigned UFA and RFAs.....unless you're assuming those roster spots will be left empty they'll have to be filled by someone. So even if you're filling them with middling players that $10M done right away. Leaves you $4.9M to work with unless Fleury is taken, which as others have stated, seems to be a big IF unless Pitt is also dealing their 1st or 2nd. Not sure why else the new team would claim a good but expensive and aging goalie.

all that is great and all.. but LV would still be doing you guys a favor. doubt its for free
- mrn22

And again, please show me how it's not in LV's best interest to do it? I absolutely understand the argument of them doing us a favor, however it's a mutually beneficial "favor". The only guy you could legitimately argue might be the better choice for LV's starter would be Mrazek but even that argument is mostly speculative because there's no significant history to point at & say "he was the starter for X years here & won this" cause it hasn't happened. And again, 45 years of NHL expansion history says "GM's don't take at least 1 guy without significant starting experience in the draft". The only other guy that could fit that bill is Elliot and I don't see that being a good choice.

Could they go Mrazek/Elliot with Elliot as the "veteran" backup? Sure. You get the starter experience & the talent, but spread between 2 guys. Is it more likely that they go with the guy that combines experience, a proven track record of doing it, and being certainly capable of being the starter all in the same guy? I would. Mrazek/Elliot is more goalie by committee. Fleury/any of the younger guys is a more clear situation. Fleury is the vet starter & the young backup is the guy that will be THE guy 2-3 years from now when Fleury's contract expires.

How will the Penguins be able to fit his cap hit in. I know they might lose Fluery but they will have to be close to the cap max.
- HamiltonHawk

With Fleury in LV the Pens have 20-21 million in cap space. If Maatta were moved to Colorado about 25.
Duchene would cost Dumolin, Sprong and a 1st, I could see the Pens offering Maatta, Sprong and a 1st. Dumo won't be moved.

And again, please show me how it's not in LV's best interest to do it? I absolutely understand the argument of them doing us a favor, however it's a mutually beneficial "favor". The only guy you could legitimately argue might be the better choice for LV's starter would be Mrazek but even that argument is mostly speculative because there's no significant history to point at & say "he was the starter for X years here & won this" cause it hasn't happened. And again, 45 years of NHL expansion history says "GM's don't take at least 1 guy without significant starting experience in the draft". The only other guy that could fit that bill is Elliot and I don't see that being a good choice.

Could they go Mrazek/Elliot with Elliot as the "veteran" backup? Sure. You get the starter experience & the talent, but spread between 2 guys. Is it more likely that they go with the guy that combines experience, a proven track record of doing it, and being certainly capable of being the starter all in the same guy? I would. Mrazek/Elliot is more goalie by committee. Fleury/any of the younger guys is a more clear situation. Fleury is the vet starter & the young backup is the guy that will be THE guy 2-3 years from now when Fleury's contract expires.
- ScienceJesus

LV is pretty clearly not concerned with winning now, as they are willing to deal with anyone in return for picks/prospects. Even Ryan Wilson the pens writer for this website has LV taking Hagelin so that has to count for something in your mind. I think LV taking Fleury would signal they are trying t compete sooner rather then later but Mcphee has seemed to be singing a different tune IMO. That being said it could very well still happen I just find it highly unlikely that it occurs with out some sort of add. Its similar to Chicago getting LV to take Kruger with TVR. Original reports didn't have anything extra being added specifically but considering LV can just take TVR, as he is exposed, CHI will have to pay LV some sort of incentive.

I think you're forgetting about that pesky detail of the 12 unsigned UFA and RFAs.....unless you're assuming those roster spots will be left empty they'll have to be filled by someone. So even if you're filling them with middling players that $10M done right away. Leaves you $4.9M to work with unless Fleury is taken, which as others have stated, seems to be a big IF unless Pitt is also dealing their 1st or 2nd. Not sure why else the new team would claim a good but expensive and aging goalie.
- nikel

Only 3 important ones are Dumoulin, Schultz, and Sheary. Penguins have 10 forwards under contract, with 6 of them being top 6 guys. Sheary makes 7. They also have 2 guys in the system that should see playing time this coming season that have potential top 6 ability. The Penguins depth isn't going away. Among those 12 UFAs are several guys who will not be brought back. GMJR has done a masterful job of building a Cup winning team over the past few years without committing the team to cap hell in future years.

There has been a lot of talk about LV taking Fleury, and people saying Pittsburgh should give them something to do so. I wonder if LV didn't reach out a while back and ask PIT not to trade him so they could pick him in the draft? Maybe not but a different perspective.

DUchene for Hamonic a top pick 2nd or 3rd Barzal, Beaulliver or Pulock! Maybe another player/pick coming from Colorado as well . Going to be a very similar deal to the Ror trade with Buffalo.

I heard a rumour that Galchenyuk to Islanders for Leddy and Beauvillier?????.....is there any credibility from this rumour ?????

I'm sure Pittsburgh has assurances in place that LV takes Fleury. I would hate to see the Pens lose someone like Rust because they were playing a hunch that Fleury was going over one of their forwards.

There has been a lot of talk about LV taking Fleury, and people saying Pittsburgh should give them something to do so. I wonder if LV didn't reach out a while back and ask PIT not to trade him so they could pick him in the draft? Maybe not but a different perspective.
- Hooligan21

It has been reported that Fleury agreed to waive his no trade clause back in early 2017 for the purpose of ONLY going to Vegas. What does this mean, that Vegas/Pittsburgh and Fleury have a prior agreement.

Im pretty sure the Pens will NOT have to give up anything more for Vegas to take Fleury and no one on the Penguins exposed roster is irreplaceable especially with the cap room the Pens will have. If Vegas wants another chip....maybe Haglin, then that actually helps the Pens even more clearing more cap space. Jim Rutherford has no concerns going into the expansion draft so obviously an agreement is in place.

I heard a rumour that Galchenyuk to Islanders for Leddy and Beauvillier?????.....is there any credibility from this rumour ?????
- DEVILKNIGHT

I personally havent seen this anywhere but that doesnt mean its not out there

Where does Gudbranson fit in here?
- smellmyfinger

I am keeping an eye on Montreal.

There has been a lot of talk about LV taking Fleury, and people saying Pittsburgh should give them something to do so. I wonder if LV didn't reach out a while back and ask PIT not to trade him so they could pick him in the draft? Maybe not but a different perspective.
- Hooligan21

This is how I imagine it happening, Rutherford talking with McPhee and saying he can make Fleury available if he wants him, otherwise he is trading him elsewhere. McPhee says he wants him, Rutherford keeps Fleury so he can be claimed by McPhee. It was a two-way street, not just the Pens hoping he is taken.

I personally havent seen this anywhere but that doesnt mean its not out there
- headyhedman77

Oh it's out there. Maybe not in the context he's thinking bit it's definitely out there.