Everyone likes Joe Thornton, he's a future HOFer w/o a Cup, but he's 38 coming off a serious knee injury and was never known for his speed. I don't really think he fits with the Penguins' current style of play, do you? As appealing as it would be to see him in the black and gold you can't just swap one 38+ year old with another. Cullen outpaced rookies at age 40 for crying out loud.

And for anyone who wants to point to the recent acquisition of Ryan "tank on skates" Reeves" all I know is what I've read which is that Reeves has committed himself over the past two years to improve his skating, speed, and burst. The only Pens player who gets a pass on his speed is Olli Maatta cuz he's the Finnish Fenom who likes to party.

I don't know who GMJR will go after but I do not think Thornton is high on his list.
- Takumi

I don't like Joe Thornton. But besides that, I agree - I don't think Thornton is a good fit. He really regressed this season in a lot of categories and now he is coming off two major knee surgeries at age 38. I would like to have a PKer and faceoff specialist as the 3C - both are greatly needed. Not to mention that Thornton likes to engage with the BS that the Pens are trying to get away from. I'm sure he could change his game but I think it might take something away from him as a player. He just seems like a big name has-been square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

I like either Hanzal or Bonino in the $4 mil range. If not, then lets trade a winger for a 3C who fits this mold.

Who the (frank) is Dierks Bentley??

No to Joe. He's too slow.

Anyone see that Oshie's contract with th Caps is for 8 years. Wow.

No to Joe. He's too slow.

Anyone see that Oshie's contract with th Caps is for 8 years. Wow.
- powerhouse

I'll never ever understand contracts that are more than 4 years for most - Sid, Geno, McD & maybe a couple of others get the green light but that's it.

Everyone likes Joe Thornton, he's a future HOFer w/o a Cup, but he's 38 coming off a serious knee injury and was never known for his speed. I don't really think he fits with the Penguins' current style of play, do you? As appealing as it would be to see him in the black and gold you can't just swap one 38+ year old with another. Cullen outpaced rookies at age 40 for crying out loud.

And for anyone who wants to point to the recent acquisition of Ryan "tank on skates" Reeves" all I know is what I've read which is that Reeves has committed himself over the past two years to improve his skating, speed, and burst. The only Pens player who gets a pass on his speed is Olli Maatta cuz he's the Finnish Fenom who likes to party.

I don't know who GMJR will go after but I do not think Thornton is high on his list.
- Takumi

People misunderstand the "speed" in which the Penguins play. Sure they have fast players... but the speed in which the Penguins play is more of making smart, fast decisions with the puck. Bones isn't fast. Kunitz isn't a speedster. Guentzel doesn't smoke anyone. Wilson? Nah. Cole? Nope. Dumo? Nope. Maatta? Nope.

Just because they have 4 or 5 guys who are fast doesn't mean all 22 guys are fast.

Jumbo fits the bill because he is a good setup guy (Kessel), he's pretty much elite in shot generation and shot suppression. He's (frank)ing good. Thornton on one leg is better than Bonino on 2.

I get the feeling JR has something up his sleeve. Has been very quiet and had a very conservative draft.

Thornton on a 1 year deal would be great. He isn't the perfect fit for the Pens but in a 3C role they could make it work.

Marleau is the guy on the Sharks that I think would be a perfect fit on the Pens. He is fast, plays a great two way game and can still put the puck in the net. He is the perfect left wing for Crosby or Malkin. If they make a trade and free up a spot on the wing, he'd be the first guy I'd call.

Would like to see the deals done for Schultz, Dumo, and Sheary done in the next 2 days so the Penguins FO knows how much money they can spend in FA.

I get the feeling JR has something up his sleeve. Has been very quiet and had a very conservative draft.

Thornton on a 1 year deal would be great. He isn't the perfect fit for the Pens but in a 3C role they could make it work.

Marleau is the guy on the Sharks that I think would be a perfect fit on the Pens. He is fast, plays a great two way game and can still put the puck in the net. He is the perfect left wing for Crosby or Malkin. If they make a trade and free up a spot on the wing, he'd be the first guy I'd call.
- MacPatty

Maybe both Marleau and Thornton on a 1 year deal @ a discount rate? Thornton thinks the game fast and can pass. Both would be awessome with us.

Would like to see the deals done for Schultz, Dumo, and Sheary done in the next 2 days so the Penguins FO knows how much money they can spend in FA.
- cap1681

I don't know why but Sheary is the one I care less if we can't re-sign him. $2.5M per for two years is probably the most I'd go for him. I'm actually more worried about Bonino and Cullen.

Schultz and Dumoulin are must signs.

Maybe both Marleau and Thornton on a 1 year deal @ a discount rate? Thornton thinks the game fast and can pass. Both would be awessome with us.
- Barnaby36

Yes, that would be amazing. Pens would have to shed some salary even if they signed on a discount but that could just be incentive to trade a few pieces for a top notch D man.

I picture a Marleau-Malkin-Sprong line in particular being amazing. Sprong would get to work with an all time great two way winger to learn the ropes. Any of these top 3 lines would be the top line on at least half the teams in the league.

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornquist
Marleau-Malkin-Sprong
Hagelin-Thornton-Kessel

Right after we won the cup, DK's site kept saying JR is committed to turning over the roster a little bit. Get some fresh legs and some new bodies that haven't played so much hockey the last couple of years.

Now I'm reading they're interested in keeping Cullen if he doesn't retire. They want to keep Bones and Daley.

I just think some of this is a mistake. Let Cully retire. Keep Bones at good rate if you can, but don't over-pay. Daley finished up with some good hockey in the tail end of the playoffs, but I think that ship has sailed too.

I love Kunitz, but I'm not sure it's wise to bring him back either. It's hard to separate from "beloved" players that helped win the cup, but I think Ruth must do it.

Flower wrote a piece for the Players Tribune
https://t.co/1zr0sU8zWe

Right after we won the cup, DK's site kept saying JR is committed to turning over the roster a little bit. Get some fresh legs and some new bodies that haven't played so much hockey the last couple of years.

Now I'm reading they're interested in keeping Cullen if he doesn't retire. They want to keep Bones and Daley.

I just think some of this is a mistake. Let Cully retire. Keep Bones at good rate if you can, but don't over-pay. Daley finished up with some good hockey in the tail end of the playoffs, but I think that ship has sailed too.

I love Kunitz, but I'm not sure it's wise to bring him back either. It's hard to separate from "beloved" players that helped win the cup, but I think Ruth must do it.
- madmike71

I'm all for bringing back Cullen, Kunitz and Daley. Cullen and Kunitz will be one year deals pretty cheap. Daley could get a couple years but will be worth it on the bottom pairing.

Bonino though... love the guy but I think it will be a mistake bringing him back. Coming off of a broken leg will affect him this season. Also think he might get more than he is worth.

Right after we won the cup, DK's site kept saying JR is committed to turning over the roster a little bit. Get some fresh legs and some new bodies that haven't played so much hockey the last couple of years.

Now I'm reading they're interested in keeping Cullen if he doesn't retire. They want to keep Bones and Daley.

I just think some of this is a mistake. Let Cully retire. Keep Bones at good rate if you can, but don't over-pay. Daley finished up with some good hockey in the tail end of the playoffs, but I think that ship has sailed too.

I love Kunitz, but I'm not sure it's wise to bring him back either. It's hard to separate from "beloved" players that helped win the cup, but I think Ruth must do it.
- madmike71

I'd rather keep Cullen and find a new 3C. I'd like Kunitz on the cheap too. Comes in handy when there are injuries to the top 6.

Flower wrote a piece for the Players Tribune
https://t.co/1zr0sU8zWe
- tpcg402

- cap1681

I love the part where he tells Sid to keep his head up... The poke checks coming.

Right after we won the cup, DK's site kept saying JR is committed to turning over the roster a little bit. Get some fresh legs and some new bodies that haven't played so much hockey the last couple of years.

Now I'm reading they're interested in keeping Cullen if he doesn't retire. They want to keep Bones and Daley.

I just think some of this is a mistake. Let Cully retire. Keep Bones at good rate if you can, but don't over-pay. Daley finished up with some good hockey in the tail end of the playoffs, but I think that ship has sailed too.

I love Kunitz, but I'm not sure it's wise to bring him back either. It's hard to separate from "beloved" players that helped win the cup, but I think Ruth must do it.
- madmike71

After two seasons and a crap load of hockey played, I agree they need to get younger if they can, if not, then bringing back known but older assets should only be Plan B. Cullen's still got wheels, but to go through the grind to another cup for any player at his age just has to be a serious hill to climb, same goes for Kunitz. For that reason I'd stay away from JT and PM. They've both played a ton of hockey too recently and logic says they'll be hitting the wall if trying to get to another Cup final this season. Not worth the chance IMO. I'd try to bring back Bonino because he's still relatively young and his shot blocking and big game pedigree can not be undervalued in the playoffs, but I wouldn't spend more than they reasonably should at the expensive of signing others even more important.

Right after we won the cup, DK's site kept saying JR is committed to turning over the roster a little bit. Get some fresh legs and some new bodies that haven't played so much hockey the last couple of years.

Now I'm reading they're interested in keeping Cullen if he doesn't retire. They want to keep Bones and Daley.

I just think some of this is a mistake. Let Cully retire. Keep Bones at good rate if you can, but don't over-pay. Daley finished up with some good hockey in the tail end of the playoffs, but I think that ship has sailed too.

I love Kunitz, but I'm not sure it's wise to bring him back either. It's hard to separate from "beloved" players that helped win the cup, but I think Ruth must do it.
- madmike71

I agree with this. No to Thornton and Marleau for the same reasons as the poster above mentioned. Young, fresh, and hungry. Not old, slow, and worn out.

I agree with this. No to Thornton and Marleau for the same reasons as the poster above mentioned. Young, fresh, and hungry. Not old, slow, and worn out.
- T-Train

Yup. It's a shame because you know JT would bring the fire and desire to get that elusive cup before he retires (Kinda like Ray Bourque), but the body can only give what it can give regardless of what the mind and heart wants. I mean, maybe if they only played him short minutes and shifts and basically saved him for the playoffs, but even then, he would be more of a passenger like RB was to the Avalanche. Can the Pens afford a passenger for a third cup in three years? Maybe if it was the 15-16 season, but that would be asking a lot for a three-peat. A younger team could use him as a veteran to lean on, but the Pens are loaded with veteran experience, so no need for a Billy G. on the team anymore.

After two seasons and a crap load of hockey played, I agree they need to get younger if they can, if not, then bringing back known but older assets should only be Plan B. Cullen's still got wheels, but to go through the grind to another cup for any player at his age just has to be a serious hill to climb, same goes for Kunitz. For that reason I'd stay away from JT and PM. They've both played a ton of hockey too recently and logic says they'll be hitting the wall if trying to get to another Cup final this season. Not worth the chance IMO. I'd try to bring back Bonino because he's still relatively young and his shot blocking and big game pedigree can not be undervalued in the playoffs, but I wouldn't spend more than they reasonably should at the expensive of signing others even more important.
- NJPensfan

The issue is there are not exactly better options. Bones has played a ton of hockey. Hanzal hurt a lot. JT has played a ton. One benefit for JT is he was a productive 1c last year and would only be expected to be a 3c. Duchene would be great but only really have horn and sheary to offer. Maatta can only be moved for a defenseman.

3c is viewed as a higher status position since we got bones. It's going to be tough to find a trade partner. Not impossible

I'll never ever understand contracts that are more than 4 years for most - Sid, Geno, McD & maybe a couple of others get the green light but that's it.
- Aussiepenguin

If we had a better commissioner and an increasing cap like the NBA then you would understand Long term deals. If a guy declines he's reasonable at the end....if he maintains then you have a late contract bargain. Pirates made a killing on some of their deals because the guy kept improving. But they are risky. If you are right on league wide revenue they can be very smart.

NBA it's the players who have wanted short deals because revenue has exploded.