Please read and understand before replying.... Conditional pick... Like I went on to say you only give that up if a deal is signed which is well worth it not to have to wait or contend with 10 other teams. As well it would be worth it for the avs to. Talking about asset management with a low 6th round pick for a kid thats highly valued is beyond silly. A 6th round low pick has UNDER a 1% chance of playing 100 NHL games in his career.... Give me a break about that hahaha

As for not knowing if hes even interested Ryan wrote about this already and his agent said regarding the penguins, "If they happen to call, Im sure wed answer the phone."
In 2 other comments which help the pens case... “That’s not what we’re looking to hear — that you can step right in,” Bartlett said. “Will’s a very grounded and bright kid.
“It’s not who can get him there the fastest. It’s really who’s got a plan for him to be an NHL player for a long time if he puts in the work.”

To me the risk is VERY minimal and the reward is VERY high. Not saying he 100% would sign in those 2 weeks but why not try!? I know for a fact when I played and talked to my friends and teammates who signed in Junior A hockey and college Div 1 over the 5 years, being wanted and teams doing extra little things like this was a MASSIVE help in deciding where I signed as well as about 75% of my teammates and friends.
- pens4life-66

Oh, yeah, I did miss the conditional part lol my bad.

Drai (8.5 per) & McD now make the same as T & K combined.

I don't believe in the whole effort thing. All players efforts ebb and flow. Every player has nights where they give bad effort. There are tons of reasons why there aren't as many Russians in the NHL. Euro scouting was more costly in the past, for one (although slightly easier now due to the internet.) And the lack of Euro scouts in the past have flooded the NHL with North American skaters, thus giving the perception of a style of hockey that the NHL is "supposed to be." Good ole' Canadian Hockey. So, a lot of Russians don't get picked because GMs pigeon hole their idea of what their team should be constructed like and if the Russians don't fit that mold, or acclimate they are (frank)ed.



If we go by these numbers there are 500k more players to choose from in Canada, 440k more players in USA, making 900 players to look at. Strategically you have a larger talent pool with easier travel, making scouting in NA much easier. It doesn't have anything to do with a Russian factor, it's because those guys aren't given the chance like NA skaters.
- j.boyd919

So the GM's dont know what they're talking about either?

Also, I find it hard to believe a hockey crazed country that has a population of around 150 million people has only 100k registered hockey players.

Another theory about lack of 3rd and 4th liner Russians could be they wouldnt make as much money in those spots as they would in Russia....and then that comes back to the attitude issue...

Drai (8.5 per) & McD now make the same as T & K combined.
- DeflatedPucks

Thats crazy.

Drai (8.5 per) & McD now make the same as T & K combined.
- DeflatedPucks

I know which two I'd rather have.

So the GM's dont know what they're talking about either?

Also, I find it hard to believe a hockey crazed country that has a population of around 150 million people has only 100k registered hockey players.

Another theory about lack of 3rd and 4th liner Russians could be they wouldnt make as much money in those spots as they would in Russia....and then that comes back to the attitude issue...
- MattStrat

Some do, some don't. That census was from the IIHF.

Russia IIHF member. 3,083 rinks. 102,179 registered players.[124] The multi-national Kontinental Hockey League is the top level league. The Vysshaya Liga is the second level league, and the Russian Hockey League (formerly the Pervaya Liga) is the third level league. Russia has men’s, women’s and junior national teams. Before the KHL was founded in 2008, the International Hockey League was the top level league from 1992-1996, and the Superleague was the top level league from 1996-2008.

Canada IIHF member. 8,250 rinks. 639,500 registered players.[20] Seven Canadian teams participate in the National Hockey League (NHL). Canadian teams also participate in several North American minor leagues, the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). The Stanley Cup is the North American professional national championship trophy, awarded since 1893. The Allan Cup is the Canadian senior national championship trophy, awarded since 1909. The Memorial Cup is the Canadian major junior national championship trophy, organized by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), awarded since 1919. The University Cup is the Canadian collegiate national championship trophy, organized by U Sports, awarded since 1963. The Clarkson Cup is the Canadian women's national championship trophy, awarded since 2009. Canada has men’s, women’s and junior national teams. For more information on this country’s ice hockey activities, see Ice hockey in Canada.

Some do, some don't. That census was from the IIHF.

Russia IIHF member. 3,083 rinks. 102,179 registered players.
- j.boyd919[124] The multi-national Kontinental Hockey League is the top level league. The Vysshaya Liga is the second level league, and the Russian Hockey League (formerly the Pervaya Liga) is the third level league. Russia has men’s, women’s and junior national teams. Before the KHL was founded in 2008, the International Hockey League was the top level league from 1992-1996, and the Superleague was the top level league from 1996-2008.

Canada IIHF member. 8,250 rinks. 639,500 registered players.[20] Seven Canadian teams participate in the National Hockey League (NHL). Canadian teams also participate in several North American minor leagues, the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). The Stanley Cup is the North American professional national championship trophy, awarded since 1893. The Allan Cup is the Canadian senior national championship trophy, awarded since 1909. The Memorial Cup is the Canadian major junior national championship trophy, organized by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), awarded since 1919. The University Cup is the Canadian collegiate national championship trophy, organized by U Sports, awarded since 1963. The Clarkson Cup is the Canadian women's national championship trophy, awarded since 2009. Canada has men’s, women’s and junior national teams. For more information on this country’s ice hockey activities, see Ice hockey in Canada.

No. I demand you give me that information right here and now.

so sprong is it? No zack aston reese? no Kasper Bjorkqvist? no Jarry? Lauzon?

Reports on Cullen to Minnesota.

So the GM's dont know what they're talking about either?

Also, I find it hard to believe a hockey crazed country that has a population of around 150 million people has only 100k registered hockey players.

Another theory about lack of 3rd and 4th liner Russians could be they wouldnt make as much money in those spots as they would in Russia....and then that comes back to the attitude issue...
- MattStrat

Russians much prefer soccer.

1. F ESPN

2. in 2014 or 2015 I remember hockeysfuture.com doing the prospect rankings then and pens were near last place. Sheary Guentzel Rust Wilson Murray and Dumoulin were all considered prospects then. So I wont be putting much stock into this ranking.

3. this site really just keeps getting worse and worse doesn't it?

Reports on Cullen to Minnesota.
- j.boyd919

well cullen is thinking about minnesota AND pittsburgh. no other team

well cullen is thinking about minnesota AND pittsburgh. no other team
- martox

Already signed.

Reports on Cullen to Minnesota.
- j.boyd919

what the hell?! why would he go there?

what the hell?! why would he go there?
- simethos

Because he's from Minnesota and it's home.

Now that Cullen has signed elsewhere will GMJR's master plan kick into effect? Down 2 centers, one arguably the best 4C in the game.

Because he's from Minnesota and it's home.
- j.boyd919

I get that, but Minnesota isn't winning poop. That's a given.

Well if we're going the "home" and "one last time" route, can we please sign Jagr? It's a given for Pittsburgh that we're going to have injuries. Might as well get some wing insurance. The guy can still score.

Already signed.
- j.boyd919

Good riddance

I get that, but Minnesota isn't winning poop. That's a given.

Well if we're going the "home" and "one last time" route, can we please sign Jagr? It's a given for Pittsburgh that we're going to have injuries. Might as well get some wing insurance. The guy can still score.
- simethos

Minnesota is pretty solid... they were the 5th best team in the NHL last year.. could score, and defend.. They are probably the most complete team in the west.

Good riddance
- DeflatedPucks

Not a Cullen fan?

Not a Cullen fan?
- j.boyd919

TSN is saying Cullen signed 1yr for $1M to MIN

GMJR, it is time to get on the phone double time!

I get that, but Minnesota isn't winning poop. That's a given.

Well if we're going the "home" and "one last time" route, can we please sign Jagr? It's a given for Pittsburgh that we're going to have injuries. Might as well get some wing insurance. The guy can still score.
- simethos

Jagr has already said he is going to the Olympics. So, he will probably be suspended for some games after the Olympics. That is another reason why a team doesn't want to sign him.

I get that, but Minnesota isn't winning poop. That's a given.

Well if we're going the "home" and "one last time" route, can we please sign Jagr? It's a given for Pittsburgh that we're going to have injuries. Might as well get some wing insurance. The guy can still score.
- simethos

Jagr plays the position of our largest organizational strength. Even if we traded someone, the best we could probably offer him is third line duty and 2PP. I personally would love that but Jagr has been pretty resistant to accepting smaller roles and smaller paychecks. I don't think it's realistic even if we traded someone.

Now that Cullen has signed elsewhere will GMJR's master plan kick into effect? Down 2 centers, one arguably the best 4C in the game.
- Thorny87

Okay, ummm... Cullen's good, but best 4C in the game might be a stretch. Dude turns 41 in November.

Now that we're down Cullen, I'd bet the plan is to run JSD as our 3C. That's pretty unacceptable. The Old Man can't wait until New Years to find a center.