JR & JJ have history together with the Canes...I can't see JR ever signing JJ.
JR draft JJ, and then in 2006 when JR tried to sign JJ after his college season was done. JJ basically said he'd never sign with the Canes and forced JR to trade him to LA. 3rd overall pick & he never played a game for JR & the Canes.

Just can't see it happening!

A guy who no one is talking about I wouldn't mind the Pens looking into is Thomas Hickey. He wasn't bad on that dumpster fire of a Islanders team.

I like the deal for Buffalo a lot. People will tell you how soft Sheary is and playoff woes or whatever, but he's a legitimately good, but flawed hockey player who can play either wing. He's definitely worth the $3 mil AAV as a middle six wing.

He just fell too far down the Pens depth chart. We are stacked at RW, and although our LW is kind of weak, he is not better than Guentzel, Hagelin, or Rust. We had to shed some cap, so he or Hagelin were the odd man out, and he let us unload the Hunwick mistake.

Honestly I think this is one of those few trades that work really well for both sides.
- Victoro311

This. I don’t think it is possible to explain it any better.

I know it’s gonna be JJ... making me sick

Pass on Nash, hes mulling retirement anyway.

Pens need to get younger.

I've always liked Nash but I'm wary of him now. He always got way more poop than he deserved for "underperforming" but at this point he's legitimately breaking down.

Now, if the Old Man went out and got JV (frank)ing R I'd hoot and holler. I loved JVR even when he was a (frank)ing flyer.
- Victoro311

I have wanted Nash for a long time. Not what he once was but he can still play and is great on the puck. Nash-Malkin-Sprong/Kessel would be unstoppable!

From Eklund:

Penguins have traded Connor Sheary and Matt Hunwick to the Sabres for a draft pick, clearing over $5 Million in cap space prior to July 1. This is a setup for the Penguins, who are looking to go in big on UFA Day...Rumors out there that the Pens may be prepping to make a play for Erik Karlsson...

Did anyone else laugh out loud at the last part of that? People at my work think I'm crazy....

I'd be ok with Nash on 2-3 years for less than $5 mil AAV. It wouldn't excite me that much but would have good if not great value.
- Victoro311

Pretty much. there is absolutely nothing exciting about his game anymore but he is a very effective PKer. Decent on the PP. Can move up and down the lineup. Probably score 40 again with Sid or Geno ffs lol

Pass on Nash, hes mulling retirement anyway.

Pens need to get younger.
- sammy87

Anything we do in free agency won't make us younger. Age doesn't really matter anyways. Its all about contract value.

From Eklund:



Did anyone else laugh out loud at the last part of that? People at my work think I'm crazy....
- mw630

I can’t believe it to be possible. I would prefer Craig Anderson off of the Sens roster!! LMAO

I like the deal for Buffalo a lot. People will tell you how soft Sheary is and playoff woes or whatever, but he's a legitimately good, but flawed hockey player who can play either wing. He's definitely worth the $3 mil AAV as a middle six wing.

He just fell too far down the Pens depth chart. We are stacked at RW, and although our LW is kind of weak, he is not better than Guentzel, Hagelin, or Rust. We had to shed some cap, so he or Hagelin were the odd man out, and he let us unload the Hunwick mistake.

Honestly I think this is one of those few trades that work really well for both sides.
- Victoro311

For sure I think you nailed it. Sheary should do well in Buffalo. Im glad the Pens moved on. I was so tired of the loss of possession from him.

From Eklund:



Did anyone else laugh out loud at the last part of that? People at my work think I'm crazy....
- mw630

I thought EK was crazy... but cray cray crazy?

Re-sign Sheahan/Oleksiak

Sign Duclair/de Haan/possibly Kunitz

No to JJ/Rick Nash/JVR

Ok skinner trade if no Sprong

Call it a summer

Jake - Sid - Horny
Rust - Geno - Sprong
Hags - Brass - Kessel
Kunitz - Sheahan - Duclair
ZAR - Simon

Letang - Dumo
Olli - Shultz
Oleksiak - de Haan
Ruhwedel

The more I think about it, the more the Johnson smoke isn't adding up to me.

1) JR said he's happy with our top 4, and JR doesn't mince words for better or for worse.

2) Johnson is going to command at least a $4 mil AAV contract.

3) If we like our top 4, why would we give a sign a guy that insures that at least one $4 mil + contract will be playing on the third pairing, even if Johnson jumps someone like Maatta or Schultz on the depth chart which is extremely unlikely. I know Rutherford wants to roll three pairings, but that seems like overkill and needless cap waste.

I think Rutherford wants a d-man, identified Johnson as the splashiest D man on the market and enquired. I don't think the talks are gonna go further than that once Johnson makes it clear what he's looking for and I think reporters are blowing things out of proportion.

Sid is just trying to drive up interest and get his buddy a bigger payday by leaking that the Pens are interested...

Re-sign Sheahan/Oleksiak

Sign Duclair/de Haan/possibly Kunitz

No to JJ/Rick Nash/JVR

Ok skinner trade if no Sprong

Call it a summer

Jake - Sid - Horny
Rust - Geno - Sprong
Hags - Brass - Kessel
Kunitz - Sheahan - Duclair
ZAR - Simon

Letang - Dumo
Olli - Shultz
Oleksiak - de Haan
Ruhwedel
- stowerkraut

I think de Haan is the right move if Rutherford is deadset on committing a ton of cap to a #5 defenseman. I'm still against the move in general, but I'd much rather give 4 mil to de Haan who's actually a 4/5 defenseman than to Johnson.

I think de Haan is the right move if Rutherford is deadset on committing a ton of cap to a #5 defenseman. I'm still against the move in general, but I'd much rather give 4 mil to de Haan who's actually a 4/5 defenseman than to Johnson.
- Victoro311

GMJR has said he wants to be able to have move balance in the d-pairings so Letang's TOI can be cut down. That move makes sense.

Pretty much. there is absolutely nothing exciting about his game anymore but he is a very effective PKer. Decent on the PP. Can move up and down the lineup. Probably score 40 again with Sid or Geno ffs lol
- Cape Breton Bruins

We're talking about Rick, not Riley

GMJR has said he wants to be able to have move balance in the d-pairings so Letang's TOI can be cut down. That move makes sense.
- cap1681

You can improve the 3rd pairing enough to role three pairings without investing $4 mil into it. Cole made the 3rd pairing very playable the last two or so years at half that price. I think you can find a Cole out there for much cheaper than straight up getting a fifth mid pairing defenseman that will be underutilized on the third pairing.

now that we have some cap space, whats the highest $ / term you would give Mike Green?

I think $3.5 for 3 years is as high as I would go....I'm sure someone will give him more but to me, all we need is a bottom pair, RHD.

I'd rather spend the money on a 2nd-3rd line LW

JR trading for cap space when the negotiating window is open tells me something is up. I think he has a deal with another team or a deal with some free agents that he has made.

Ryan Wilson: Penguins trade Sheary: Cap space is only as good as what you use it on
Cap space is only as good as what you use it on
- Ryan_Wilson

Pittsburgh fans..your honest opinion of Sheary please.

Based on this I’d say Sheahan and Kunitz are locks for contracts. Nervous about other moves, especially JJ speculation, the dude just stinks

now that we have some cap space, whats the highest $ / term you would give Mike Green?

I think $3.5 for 3 years is as high as I would go....I'm sure someone will give him more but to me, all we need is a bottom pair, RHD.

I'd rather spend the money on a 2nd-3rd line LW
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He’s still a solid Dman and he may be the best available now. He easily gets 5+ for 3 years. I think a team like colorado grabs him.

Am i missing something on Sheary?

This just seems like a really good deal for Buffalo.

I get taking Hunwicks salary, but if you bury him its only a 1.25MM cap hit.
- ImThatGuy

It is a good deal for Buffalo. They did well.