I will say that sometimes a chip off the glass is the best play (and often the only play) in order to get a critical clear and hopefully a line change. How often do you see a team hemmed in for a stretch, with gassed players, and there is an opportunity to clear and they try to get cute and/or take too long and the puck ends up staying in the zone even longer? That sucks.

But, for guys like Hainsey and Scuderi, the chip off the glass is their go-to move in just about every situation. That's a problem. Canes fans warned us and he didn't fail to live up to the hype. Same thing when Flyers fans told us that Streit sucks. Sure enough.

It was a truly bizarre playoff run. I still don't know how they managed to get through it.
- T-Train

Streit was fine. We didn't give up much for him. Every contender gives up a long pick to add a 8,9, 10 defender in the playoffs so you can put someone on the ice who has some level of competence if injuries occur.

Hainsey for a 2nd was tough.

Didnt Sheary have one of the highest P/60 in the entire league this year?
- MattStrat

How could you have forgotten? RW touted that stat 100 times last year.

What were his possession numbers with vs without sid? I don't know all those sites you guys use for those, but that'd be an interesting one to look at.
- buckster2342

Other then in the playoffs I'm not sure how much he played without Sid.

He was, as others mentioned, fist in the league in ES Pt/60 at 3.01. Was that helped by Sid, of course it was, yet that's not a number anyone playing with Sid can get. In a full season that's over 25 goals and 70 points for a guy barely getting anything on the PP.

For comparison's sake since you mentioned Hornqvist he had a 1.77. His best year was his firat herw and that was 2.16. So even if there's a potential for Sheary to drop off, he's probably still better than Hornqvist and a lefit top 6 guy. I kind of want to see what he, Sid, and Guentzel can do in a full year together (Guentzel was also top 5 and 1st in goals/60) unless it's a star player coming back.

Streit was fine. We didn't give up much for him. Every contender gives up a long pick to add a 8,9, 10 defender in the playoffs so you can put someone on the ice who has some level of competence if injuries occur.

Hainsey for a 2nd was tough.
- sditulli

I don't have any issues with it, they won the Cup. I would do it again. I don't think the Pens won despite him, I think he contributed to the Cup win. People need to let go of that trade...I mean, they won the freaking Cup again.

Ron Cook had an article about Kessel possibly being shipped sooner rather than later.

With Guntzel, Hornquest, Rust, potentially Sprong all at RW......Kessel isnt good with either Crosby or Malkin, only 23 g this year...he could be used to land Duchene.

Other then in the playoffs I'm not sure how much he played without Sid.

He was, as others mentioned, fist in the league in ES Pt/60 at 3.01. Was that helped by Sid, of course it was, yet that's not a number anyone playing with Sid can get. In a full season that's over 25 goals and 70 points for a guy barely getting anything on the PP.

For comparison's sake since you mentioned Hornqvist he had a 1.77. His best year was his firat herw and that was 2.16. So even if there's a potential for Sheary to drop off, he's probably still better than Hornqvist and a lefit top 6 guy. I kind of want to see what he, Sid, and Guentzel can do in a full year together (Guentzel was also top 5 and 1st in goals/60) unless it's a star player coming back.
- Tojo.

I'm also interested, I just hope the Pens don't have to pay him 4 Milllion to see it

I don't have any issues with it, they won the Cup. I would do it again. I don't think the Pens won despite him, I think he contributed to the Cup win. People need to let go of that trade...I mean, they won the freaking Cup again.
- Thorny

I have this gut feeling Maatta is going to end making some people glad we kept* him. I for one think he was very solid in the playoffs and was very important for them..and remember that he went straight into playoffs after being laid up a few months...

*If they keep him...
- MattStrat

I don't even hate Maatta. I thought he was solid during the playoffs. I just find him expendable with Dumo, Cole, Hunwick, DP all capable of playing the left side. And DP's contract is one way so he should start the season in Pittsburgh. With him being 22, he is probably the player who can garner the best return and I do think his production is replaceable. 7 points in 55 games should be relatively easy to top for Cole or Hunwick, even DP should be able to muster that up. Not too worried.

Didnt Sheary have one of the highest P/60 in the entire league this year?
- MattStrat

Yep.

What were his possession numbers with vs without sid? I don't know all those sites you guys use for those, but that'd be an interesting one to look at.
- buckster2342

I'm also interested, I just hope the Pens don't have to pay him 4 Milllion to see it
- Thorny87

Don't we all! But in Sheary's case, I feel good that he can live up to that contract (figure many 20/40 guys get that) and has a realistic chance to exceed it. Whatever the arbitration number is, I hope they lock him in at 2 years and then decide what to do. At some point they likely mobe on from him, but it doesn't have to be now and there's a still good chance he'll increase in value.

Streit was fine. We didn't give up much for him. Every contender gives up a long pick to add a 8,9, 10 defender in the playoffs so you can put someone on the ice who has some level of competence if injuries occur.

Hainsey for a 2nd was tough.
- sditulli

I just remember winning a cup when we weren't supposed to, analysts said we wouldn't do it, bars and graphs said we shouldn't, but we did, and Ron Hainsey was part of the story.

We. are. spoiled.

Don't we all! But in Sheary's case, I feel good that he can live up to that contract (figure many 20/40 guys get that) and has a realistic chance to exceed it. Whatever the arbitration number is, I hope they lock him in at 2 years and then decide what to do. At some point they likely mobe on from him, but it doesn't have to be now and there's a still good chance he'll increase in value.
- Tojo.

If Sheary puts up 50+ points over the next 3-4 season, I will gladly pay him 4 million per.

I don't even hate Maatta. I thought he was solid during the playoffs. I just find him expendable with Dumo, Cole, Hunwick, DP all capable of playing the left side. And DP's contract is one way so he should start the season in Pittsburgh. With him being 22, he is probably the player who can garner the best return and I do think his production is replaceable. 7 points in 55 games should be relatively easy to top for Cole or Hunwick, even DP should be able to muster that up. Not too worried.
- j.boyd919

Selective with stats. He had a bad regular season. 8 points in 25 playoff games sounds a lot better. Maatta really just comes down to health. His overall career minus last years regular season indicates a 25-30 point guy. If he ever gets back on track probably has 40-45 point potential.

I don't even hate Maatta. I thought he was solid during the playoffs. I just find him expendable with Dumo, Cole, Hunwick, DP all capable of playing the left side. And DP's contract is one way so he should start the season in Pittsburgh. With him being 22, he is probably the player who can garner the best return and I do think his production is replaceable. 7 points in 55 games should be relatively easy to top for Cole or Hunwick, even DP should be able to muster that up. Not too worried.
- j.boyd919

I feel like Hunwik might get RD duties...

When it comes to defensemen I consider more than production. Maatta is a very intelligent defender already and he's only 22. As others have alluded to, it comes down to health for him...because I liked what I say in the playoffs and that was after a very long lay off with no games at all. He was just thrown into the fire and was solid. That to me is promising.

- j.boyd919

So great with Sid and didn't really matter who is at RW.

Super small sample size with Geno and Kessel, but those super small sample sizes were bad.

Below average with Bonino, but Bonino in general wasn't great last year so it was likely Bonino dragging Sheary down.

$4M is going to be tough to swallow if he can only produce at that rate with Sid, and that's what I'm worried about. $3M for 2 years and see what happens is acceptable, but you never know with arbitration.

Moving Hagelin and paying Sheary the same is the smart move, but Sheary probably has a higher trade value than Hagelin. Unless other GMs think Sheary is only good because of Sid...

If Sheary puts up 50+ points over the next 3-4 season, I will gladly pay him 4 million per.
- j.boyd919

If that were the case I wouldnt bat a lash either. If that were the case it would be somewhat of a steal...

Selective with stats. He had a bad regular season. 8 points in 25 playoff games sounds a lot better. Maatta really just comes down to health. His overall career minus last years regular season indicates a 25-30 point guy. If he ever gets back on track probably has 40-45 point potential.
- sditulli

I doubt Maatta ever sniffs 40 points.

I feel like Hunwik might get RD duties...

When it comes to defensemen I consider more than production. Maatta is a very intelligent defender already and he's only 22. As others have alluded to, it comes down to health for him...because I liked what I say in the playoffs and that was after a very long lay off with no games at all. He was just thrown into the fire and was solid. That to me is promising.
- MattStrat

I understand that, and I wouldn't be mad if we kept Maatta, just wouldn't be mad if we traded him either. I think he would fetch the best return and is probably the easiest to replace.

So great with Sid and didn't really matter who is at RW.

Super small sample size with Geno and Kessel, but those super small sample sizes were bad.

Below average with Bonino, but Bonino in general wasn't great last year so it was likely Bonino dragging Sheary down.

$4M is going to be tough to swallow if he can only produce at that rate with Sid, and that's what I'm worried about. $3M for 2 years and see what happens is acceptable, but you never know with arbitration.

Moving Hagelin and paying Sheary the same is the smart move, but Sheary probably has a higher trade value than Hagelin. Unless other GMs think Sheary is only good because of Sid...
- buckster2342

I dont know. I feel like regardless of production, Hagelin is looked as a very valuable piece in this league. His skating might be second to none and he's extremely good defensively and on PK.

Ranger fans have hated losing him. I dont want to lose him.

So great with Sid and didn't really matter who is at RW.

Super small sample size with Geno and Kessel, but those super small sample sizes were bad.

Below average with Bonino, but Bonino in general wasn't great last year so it was likely Bonino dragging Sheary down.

$4M is going to be tough to swallow if he can only produce at that rate with Sid, and that's what I'm worried about. $3M for 2 years and see what happens is acceptable, but you never know with arbitration.

Moving Hagelin and paying Sheary the same is the smart move, but Sheary probably has a higher trade value than Hagelin. Unless other GMs think Sheary is only good because of Sid...
- buckster2342

Even if he is only good with Sid, who gives a (frank)? How many times did we hear the "gotta find a winger for Sid" poop every off season? Well we found one. Actually, 2 in Sheary and Guentzel. And he played pretty god damn well last season. So everyone wants to trade him. Makes sense.

Even if he is only good with Sid, who gives a (frank)? How many times did we hear the "gotta find a winger for Sid" poop every off season? Well we found one. Actually, 2 in Sheary and Guentzel. And he played pretty god damn well last season. So everyone wants to trade him. Makes sense.
- j.boyd919

I'm hoping a $4M player, who earns that on his own, would produce better with Sid than Sheary. Is that true, or easy to find? Probably not. But if we can get better production for those $$$, why not look for it?

If Sheary's # comes in at or below $3M, then the conversation changes.

Even if he is only good with Sid, who gives a (frank)? How many times did we hear the "gotta find a winger for Sid" poop every off season? Well we found one. Actually, 2 in Sheary and Guentzel. And he played pretty god damn well last season. So everyone wants to trade him. Makes sense.
- j.boyd919

Why is it so hard to conceptualize trading from a strength to address a weakness?? Seriously, wanting to trade Sheary or Maatta or whoever is not an indictment of that player. It doesn't mean we "Want to get rid of him". It means they are more expendable than other players while still having significant trade value.

If it takes trading Sheary to get an above average 3C, I'd rather have the above average 3C and let Sheary be backfilled by ZAR or Sprong. It's better than keeping Sheary and having Rowney as the 3C.

And DP's contract is one way so he should start the season in Pittsburgh.
- j.boyd919

Why? A one-way contract is basically meaningless. It's just a little extra money out of a couple of millionaire's pockets. Ruhwedel is likely the 7th D, and I doubt they keep 8, which means Pouliot has a better shot at seeing waivers than the big club out of the gate.

Why is it so hard to conceptualize trading from a strength to address a weakness?? Seriously, wanting to trade Sheary or Maatta or whoever is not an indictment of that player. It doesn't mean we "Want to get rid of him". It means they are more expendable than other players while still having significant trade value.

If it takes trading Sheary to get an above average 3C, I'd rather have the above average 3C and let Sheary be backfilled by ZAR or Sprong. It's better than keeping Sheary and having Rowney as the 3C.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Some people are making reasonable trades for Sheary. Some people are just trading him for a guy who will be gone in another year.