Maatta is a bonafide #3 dman signed to a below market value contract for 5 more years!! And this should be his rookie season. Dmen develop much slower than forwards.
- Dcoms

I haven't watched him as much as I should to really comment on him...but calling him a number three is a huge stretch...he hasn't played over 20 mins a game in three years.

and last year he didn't play a lick of PP time.(8 seconds a game on average)

and not to mention his last years seasons of games played are

20
67
55


sorry but that isnt top 3...hard to call him a top 4 as well. I'm not doubting he has the tools to become one though but he has a long ways to go to prove it

If you guys trade for him i'll be pissed

I've watched him play in the OHL/AHL/NHL...never doubted him. He's got the right attitude to succeed and the skills to boot.
- Santo_44

I honestly don't think Toronto wants to trade him, but I know there are some salary cap issues there and moving Brown (who is NHL ready) for a guy like Sprong (who is not, IMO) could alleviate that cap troubles a little bit, while not sacrificing talent. You know what I mean? Give Sprong a year or 2 on the Marlies and you could have a RW depth chart of Nylander, Marner, Sprong, and Kapanen on some friendly deals.

josh archibald and pouliot resigned. pouliot 6 million 1 year deal
- martox

Good news on both fronts.

Get in the corner gay boyd no one is talking to you. Take your loser trade and shove it where only your mommy dares to touch.
- Dcoms

Hahaha your chirps suck just as bad as your hockey opinion. It's comical. You are such a joke.

I haven't watched him as much as I should to really comment on him...but calling him a number three is a huge stretch...he hasn't played over 20 mins a game in three years.

and last year he didn't play a lick of PP time.(8 seconds a game on average)

and not to mention his last years seasons of games played are

20
67
55


sorry but that isnt top 3...hard to call him a top 4 as well. I'm not doubting he has the tools to become one though but he has a long ways to go to prove it
- Santo_44

Maatta is good enough to play on the 2nd pairing, but he isn't gonna put up a ton of points and he will get toasted from time to time, but he has a good hockey iq and makes solid breakout passes. As long as he's not paired with someone like Trevor Daley (that pairing was a dumpster fire) he should be fine. Personally I think he would play better in a system like... Anaheim, LA, or WPGs... a team not necessarily built around speed (like TOR or PIT). I think his game would really excel in those systems, whereas in PIT or TOR he would be decent, but nothing special.

I honestly don't think Toronto wants to trade him, but I know there are some salary cap issues there and moving Brown (who is NHL ready) for a guy like Sprong (who is not, IMO) could alleviate that cap troubles a little bit, while not sacrificing talent. You know what I mean? Give Sprong a year or 2 on the Marlies and you could have a RW depth chart of Nylander, Marner, Sprong, and Kapanen on some friendly deals.
- j.boyd919

the LTIR thing is a cluster (frank)

It came out yesterday that you can indeed put players on LTIR in the offseason...Lou said it today as well. If that is the case the Leafs have tons of space to sign Brown.

I think the reason the Leafs are trying to deal Bozak and JVR is because they believe Nylander is ready for center and that they have younger guys ready to step in plus Marleau...and with the future signings of the kids they don't want to commit to JVR and Bozak together unless they are willing to take a discount.

But yes, having guys like Sprong in the system who can enter the NHL in 2-3 years on cheap contracts is a smart way to go...Kind of like what the Pens have done with Crosby and Sheary. Im just not sure if its worth trading away Brown

I haven't watched him as much as I should to really comment on him...but calling him a number three is a huge stretch...he hasn't played over 20 mins a game in three years.

and last year he didn't play a lick of PP time.(8 seconds a game on average)

and not to mention his last years seasons of games played are

20
67
55


sorry but that isnt top 3...hard to call him a top 4 as well. I'm not doubting he has the tools to become one though but he has a long ways to go to prove it
- Santo_44

Yet he's won 2 cups as a number 3 on a championship team. He's even better when paired with Letang and I think that will be his partner next year.

the LTIR thing is a cluster (frank)

It came out yesterday that you can indeed put players on LTIR in the offseason...Lou said it today as well. If that is the case the Leafs have tons of space to sign Brown.

I think the reason the Leafs are trying to deal Bozak and JVR is because they believe Nylander is ready for center and that they have younger guys ready to step in plus Marleau...and with the future signings of the kids they don't want to commit to JVR and Bozak together unless they are willing to take a discount.

But yes, having guys like Sprong in the system who can enter the NHL in 2-3 years on cheap contracts is a smart way to go...Kind of like what the Pens have done with Crosby and Sheary. Im just not sure if its worth trading away Brown
- Santo_44

That's why Maatta was in there.. to sweeten the deal a bit But yeah, I can see that. Nylander is a natural center too, right? He should be there. Toronto is gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year. Do you think Kapanen starts the season in the show or in the AHL? Please dont give Hainsey top 4 minutes. I will hate you guys if you do.

Hahaha your chirps suck just as bad as your hockey opinion. It's comical. You are such a joke.
- j.boyd919

Yeah but that was a great burn right there. I'm crying right now because you hurt my feelings so bad. Bad as in most of your ideas and your gigantic ego. But in the end you're a little pu$$y who spends all day every day on a hockey message board. Why don't you get out of your parents basement and find a fat chick to spend time with. She might even let you touch her. If you pay of course.

Maatta is good enough to play on the 2nd pairing, but he isn't gonna put up a ton of points and he will get toasted from time to time, but he has a good hockey iq and makes solid breakout passes. As long as he's not paired with someone like Trevor Daley (that pairing was a dumpster fire) he should be fine. Personally I think he would play better in a system like... Anaheim, LA, or WPGs... a team not necessarily built around speed (like TOR or PIT). I think his game would really excel in those systems, whereas in PIT or TOR he would be decent, but nothing special.
- j.boyd919

I am not a fan of Daley whatsoever...I think he is overated as (frank)

but yes, I agree with you there in a fast paced system it's hard for slower guys to keep up. on the 3rd pairing sure but in the top 4 if you are playing on a fast team you better be able to skate with them for 20+ mins a night

That's why Maatta was in there.. to sweeten the deal a bit But yeah, I can see that. Nylander is a natural center too, right? He should be there. Toronto is gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year. Do you think Kapanen starts the season in the show or in the AHL? Please dont give Hainsey top 4 minutes. I will hate you guys if you do.
- j.boyd919

Yep, Nylander played center at the worlds and was pretty good there. Babcock is as good teacher as any to teach the kid how to do it in the NHL. If not this year he will be there next year.

and Kapanen deserves to be in the NHL this year...One thing I learned from him this year is he is extremely fast...The fastest skater Iv'e seen other than Mcdavid. If Nylander moves over I could see him with Matthews. If he is a healthy scratch this year I hope the kid gets traded...he deserves a shot somehwere if it isnt here

and as for Hainsey I like him as a 3rd pairing guy but sure as hell not a 2nd pairing...I hope we get a top 4 d for next season.

we have a pair of d prospects that could make the jump but it;s unlikely they can make a big impact this seaosn

How is it a terrible idea? Pens have a surplus of LD. Dumo, Cole, Hunwick could be 1,2,3.. making Maatta expendable. You trade him for a 23 year old stud who had a 128 point season in Erie, scored 20 goals as a rookie on what I think was the 3rd like in Toronto. So you just get an NHL ready winger to replace Sprong who may not be ready for the NHL yet. So you add to the already most potent forward group in the NHL, maximize the next 3 years of Sid/Geno/Kessel/Letang while they're still at the top of their game. You add a 3C that's proven in the last to put up points with Kessel and get rid of the log jam on LD.
- j.boyd919

That's all Brown has accomplished by the age of 23 ? Maatta has 2 cups while playing top 4 minutes......another way to get rid of the log jam at LD is to play someone on their off side

Archie and Pouliot both signed to one way contracts... Pouliot at 800k
..isnt that more than Ruhdwel?

I really like what Archibald brings every game. Super fast and for a smaller frame still effectively physical. Decent hands too. Him at 675k is all good with me.

That's all Brown has accomplished by the age of 23 ? Maatta has 2 cups while playing top 4 minutes......another way to get rid of the log jam at LD is to play someone on their off side
- willi

I don't really give a poop about cups as individual accomplishments. It's a team accomplishment. I would never use cups to compare players. That's the problem with the toews/Crosby debates. And I would never use cups to compare individual talent.

I also don't care about past accomplishments. I care about improving the Penguins for next season and increasing scoring more goals. The penguins live and die by their forwards (as evident by this most recent cup.) Why not continue to add to that formula and put more skill at forward?

I don't really give a poop about cups as individual accomplishments. It's a team accomplishment. I would never use cups to compare players. That's the problem with the toews/Crosby debates. And I would never use cups to compare individual talent.

I also don't care about past accomplishments. I care about improving the Penguins for next season and increasing scoring more goals. The penguins live and die by their forwards (as evident by this most recent cup.) Why not continue to add to that formula and put more skill at forward?
- j.boyd919

I would say this years cup was more about goaltending than it was about scoring especially early on. My point about Maatta is the Pens know they can win with him in their top 4. Sometimes change is good but other times don't fix what ain't broke

I would say this years cup was more about goaltending than it was about scoring especially early on. My point about Maatta is the Pens know they can win with him in their top 4. Sometimes change is good but other times don't fix what ain't broke
- willi

It was a combo of stellar lights out goaltending and extremely opportunistic skillfull scoring... Especially the first two rounds.

Yep, Nylander played center at the worlds and was pretty good there. Babcock is as good teacher as any to teach the kid how to do it in the NHL. If not this year he will be there next year.

and Kapanen deserves to be in the NHL this year...One thing I learned from him this year is he is extremely fast...The fastest skater Iv'e seen other than Mcdavid. If Nylander moves over I could see him with Matthews. If he is a healthy scratch this year I hope the kid gets traded...he deserves a shot somehwere if it isnt here

and as for Hainsey I like him as a 3rd pairing guy but sure as hell not a 2nd pairing...I hope we get a top 4 d for next season.

we have a pair of d prospects that could make the jump but it;s unlikely they can make a big impact this seaosn
- Santo_44

Hainsey is going to play top 4, so prep the hate. Next to Gardiner on the right side. I understand your trepidation. At first I was pretty meh too, but the Leafs most common top 4 last season by far was,

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Carrick

Carrick had a lot of good moments but when the game was tight in critical moments and pretty much all playoffs, he was stapled to the bench. When you look at it from this perspective Hainsey is an upgrade.

I would say this years cup was more about goaltending than it was about scoring especially early on. My point about Maatta is the Pens know they can win with him in their top 4. Sometimes change is good but other times don't fix what ain't broke
- willi

Pens scored the most goals in the playoffs, 77, and also let in the most goals in the playoffs, 57. Yes I know that they played 3 more games. But the Pens didn't win games because of their defense, you are right about that, it was goaltending (early on) and opportune goal scoring. Still.. you win hockey games by outscoring the other team. Pens already have some of the best forwards in hockey. I would like to continue that. Don't fix what ain't broke? The Pens didn't change anything and while they did win the cup, it was not nearly as dominate as 2015-16. I would rather the Pens play like the 2015-16 pens than the 2016-17 pens. Pens shouldn't stay complacent, they need to look to improve, because that's what every team does in the off season.

Yep, Nylander played center at the worlds and was pretty good there. Babcock is as good teacher as any to teach the kid how to do it in the NHL. If not this year he will be there next year.

and Kapanen deserves to be in the NHL this year...One thing I learned from him this year is he is extremely fast...The fastest skater Iv'e seen other than Mcdavid. If Nylander moves over I could see him with Matthews. If he is a healthy scratch this year I hope the kid gets traded...he deserves a shot somehwere if it isnt here

and as for Hainsey I like him as a 3rd pairing guy but sure as hell not a 2nd pairing...I hope we get a top 4 d for next season.

we have a pair of d prospects that could make the jump but it;s unlikely they can make a big impact this seaosn
- Santo_44

Babcock has also pretty bluntly said Nylander will not be playing center next season. He has a ton of chemistry on Matthews wing.

And didn't you guys hear the great news, Lou had Bill Daly talking in circles, the Leafs are fine for cap space. They can use their LTI.

You're right I think Kapanen is ready to stay. His speed was immediately noticeable and he PKs. If Toronto doesn't move someone up front for help on D though I can't see him cracking the opening line up.

Madden also said Sundqvist was part of the future plans for the Pens and they would protect him in the expansion draft because he was so vital to the future.
- j.boyd919

That was Yohe.

Hainsey is going to play top 4, so prep the hate. Next to Gardiner on the right side. I understand your trepidation. At first I was pretty meh too, but the Leafs most common top 4 last season by far was,

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Carrick

Carrick had a lot of good moments but when the game was tight in critical moments and pretty much all playoffs, he was stapled to the bench. When you look at it from this perspective Hainsey is an upgrade.
- Blazed

Dude, Hainsey just won a Cup as the Pens #1 dman - he's AWESOME!!!!

Pens scored the most goals in the playoffs, 77, and also let in the most goals in the playoffs, 57. Yes I know that they played 3 more games. But the Pens didn't win games because of their defense, you are right about that, it was goaltending (early on) and opportune goal scoring. Still.. you win hockey games by outscoring the other team. Pens already have some of the best forwards in hockey. I would like to continue that. Don't fix what ain't broke? The Pens didn't change anything and while they did win the cup, it was not nearly as dominate as 2015-16. I would rather the Pens play like the 2015-16 pens than the 2016-17 pens. Pens shouldn't stay complacent, they need to look to improve, because that's what every team does in the off season.
- j.boyd919

Weren't as dominate in 2017 but they also didn't have Letang in the line up like they did in 2016

The Jets probably want to avoid Maatta even more than they want to keep Perreault and Little. There's no room on our blueline unless you're a righty who's willing to wait in the press box for a Myers injury.

I don't really give a poop about cups as individual accomplishments. It's a team accomplishment. I would never use cups to compare players. That's the problem with the toews/Crosby debates. And I would never use cups to compare individual talent.

I also don't care about past accomplishments. I care about improving the Penguins for next season and increasing scoring more goals. The penguins live and die by their forwards (as evident by this most recent cup.) Why not continue to add to that formula and put more skill at forward?
- j.boyd919

I agree. Pens were hemmed in their own end so much during the playoffs, if it weren't for the forwards helping out and both goalies standing on their heads, the Pens would have been finished pretty early on.

Maatta is good enough to play on the 2nd pairing, but he isn't gonna put up a ton of points and he will get toasted from time to time, but he has a good hockey iq and makes solid breakout passes. As long as he's not paired with someone like Trevor Daley (that pairing was a dumpster fire) he should be fine. Personally I think he would play better in a system like... Anaheim, LA, or WPGs... a team not necessarily built around speed (like TOR or PIT). I think his game would really excel in those systems, whereas in PIT or TOR he would be decent, but nothing special.
- j.boyd919

I agree. The fact that he doesn't produce much offense means he will never be considered a #3. Sure, he was able to ride Letang's coattails on the first pairing, but that's like saying Sheary is a bona fide first line winger because he put up points playing next to Crosby. I think Maatta has the potential to be a limited #2 (slow, not physical, injury-prone) but I think we can realistically hope for a solid, consistent, dependable #3 or #4. But he isn't there yet.