Ryan Wilson: Finding A Top Four Defenseman: Cam Fowler Finding A Top Four Defenseman: Cam Fowler

Bummer for Dupuis, been a fan since I had him in my hockey pools in Minny, turned into a great winger for Sid.

Moving Hornquest makes a hole in the top 6, if Perron doesnt want to stay or the Pens dont want him, thats 2 holes you gotta fill in the off season. Only Sprong might be able to fill one of them. You could have Kessel as the only top 6 locked up after this year. Not sure thats good management.

It's the Ducks that should run from this deal. Cam just turned 24, which is the very beginning of his prime as a D. Hornqvist turns 29 in January, which in the NHL is almost post prime. NO thank you.

Moving Hornquest makes a hole in the top 6, if Perron doesnt want to stay or the Pens dont want him, thats 2 holes you gotta fill in the off season. Only Sprong might be able to fill one of them. You could have Kessel as the only top 6 locked up after this year. Not sure thats good management.
- sammy87

Management doesn't care about next year or any future years beyond that because none of them including the owners will be here to reap those benefits. Mario is trying to cash out and GMJR is not signed beyond this year I beilieve, they want the Cup this year and could care less what they are leaving behind for the people that take over, don't be surprised if either or both of Pouliot and Sprong are heavily shopped in big deals. As far as the FO is concerned it's live for today because the world is going to end in July.

No way do I move Hornqvist for anyone that's not an absolute stud. Honestly, if a Kunitz package can't bring back a top 4 guy I'd sit tight and wait on Coach Farce to be fired and see if our team can bring it together under a new guy. We need to move on from Kunitz by this offseason anyways. If we trade Hornqvist we're left with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, and if we're lucky Perron. Crosby is essentially left with no locked in wingers which is not good at all. What we need is to have the Kunitz-Crosby-Bennett line to click for a while to up Kunitz's value and then send Kuni packing. Then we move Hornqvist back up to 1RW and hope that either Bennett or Sprong click on the left. We could also role the die on Sheary if those two don't work on their off wing. If none of that works, we reunite the tried and true Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist line that was inexplicably never tried this season, as much as I hate to break up our current Malkin unit and then see what works on Malkin's left.

Why get a top 4 when they have pouliot... wouldn't they try to get another forward if the only trade option is horn?

I'd rather they see what they have in pouliot, keep the picks and players... only one I would trade is perron but only if they are getting a 1st back or a long term top 6 player

Not sure the Pens can trade Hornqvist. Even if Bennett plays well with Crosby, does anyone wanna trust Mr. Glass with big minutes? Guess the team needs to take risks as they can't get much worse than they are right now.
Doubt any of these would happen but...
Hornqvist for Vatanen.
Hornqvist+Pouliot for Barrie/Shattenkirk.
2nd+ for Wiercioch/Hamhuis.

Management doesn't care about next year or any future years beyond that because none of them including the owners will be here to reap those benefits. Mario is trying to cash out and GMJR is not signed beyond this year I beilieve, they want the Cup this year and could care less what they are leaving behind for the people that take over, don't be surprised if either or both of Pouliot and Sprong are heavily shopped in big deals. As far as the FO is concerned it's live for today because the world is going to end in July.
- jaydogg1974

I agree mostly. Im not sure Mario cares about the cup. I think he wants a team that has big name ticket sales and can at least make the playoffs. He's allowed moves that dont create cup teams and a long future of success. But yeah what does JR care of the consequences of this team.

I agree mostly. Im not sure Mario cares about the cup. I think he wants a team that has big name ticket sales and can at least make the playoffs. He's allowed moves that dont create cup teams and a long future of success. But yeah what does JR care of the consequences of this team.
- sammy87

You do realize that playoff ticket sales are huge profits to the owners right? I guarantee they want to win the SC because it boosts profits.

Why get a top 4 when they have pouliot... wouldn't they try to get another forward if the only trade option is horn?

I'd rather they see what they have in pouliot, keep the picks and players... only one I would trade is perron but only if they are getting a 1st back or a long term top 6 player
- nh4442

Because Pouliot isn't that good at D. He lost the job to Dumo. DP will be on the team next year when they buy out Scuds. But they still need a top 4 guy. DP wasnt top 6 to start the season.

You do realize that playoff ticket sales are huge profits to the owners right? I guarantee they want to win the SC because it boosts profits.
- jfkst1

Can you honestly say the Pens have been constructed as a contender for the past 2-3 seasons? I think Mario and Burkle have reached a level of revenue where they feel its good enough. They took a few runs, but time to peace out.

Because Pouliot isn't that good at D. He lost the job to Dumo. DP will be on the team next year when they buy out Scuds. But they still need a top 4 guy. DP wasnt top 6 to start the season.
- sammy87

well dumo is better than matta, letang, lovejoy, clendening, cole and warsofsky atm so not sure that is anything weird. only scudz is better

Can you honestly say the Pens have been constructed as a contender for the past 2-3 seasons? I think Mario and Burkle have reached a level of revenue where they feel its good enough. They took a few runs, but time to peace out.
- sammy87

Last year when healthy they were. Year before if healthy they were close. Year before that they were contenders. This year they aren't even close.

easy solution, ask the Leafs what they want for Matt Hunwick

easy solution, ask the Leafs what they want for Matt Hunwick
- poohcrumbs

Hunwick is fine in a bottom pairing role. That's not what the Pens need. Aside from better coaching, the Pens need a 2/3 dman and all the ones available to them are gonna be 4-6 dmen.

easy solution, ask the Leafs what they want for Matt Hunwick
- poohcrumbs

ok we'll give you suckderi

well dumo is better than matta, letang, lovejoy, clendening, cole and warsofsky atm so not sure that is anything weird. only scudz is better
- martox

Dumo has been one of the few bright spots so far this season.

I'm not really sure what the Pens realistically can offer in a trade that just doesn't create another hole. PH and Kessel are the only legit top 6 guys locked up after this season. Kuni, not worth anything, same with BB. Sprong, DP, G prospects might fetch something, but that leaves basically no future. Maata is damaged goods at this point.

That leaves Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, MAF and Letang and pretty much the only thing of value.

Last year when healthy they were. Year before if healthy they were close. Year before that they were contenders. This year they aren't even close.
- jfkst1

You mean those playoff years when they can't score or win a game past the 2nd round they were contenders?

Good article , to be honest I've always been really sold on how good cam fowler looks and always assumed his underlying numbers would be good also ....

Hamhuis is nothing special but with better coaching and a system actually geared towards our players he may be all we need. With Pouliot, Maatta, and Dumoulin in the system and maybe even Clendening we gotta trust that our boys can develop. Marta's already showing improvement, Dumoulin was a fantastic surprise, and DP is apparently doing well and developing in the A. It we be a mistake to unload our minimal assets on a world beater when we already have good pieces moving forward. Nothing wrong with a stop gap like Hamhuis but no Fowlers, Barries, or Shattenkirks unless it's an absolute fleecing that we can't turn down.

Dumo has been one of the few bright spots so far this season.

I'm not really sure what the Pens realistically can offer in a trade that just doesn't create another hole. PH and Kessel are the only legit top 6 guys locked up after this season. Kuni, not worth anything, same with BB. Sprong, DP, G prospects might fetch something, but that leaves basically no future. Maata is damaged goods at this point.

That leaves Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, MAF and Letang and pretty much the only thing of value.
- sammy87

you forgot to mention we should trade malkin jk with you

You mean those playoff years when they can't score or win a game past the 2nd round they were contenders?
- sammy87

All the years they led the league in injuries too. When healthy they were contenders. This year they are healthy and aren't even close to being contenders.

Hamhuis is nothing special but with better coaching and a system actually geared towards our players he may be all we need. With Pouliot, Maatta, and Dumoulin in the system and maybe even Clendening we gotta trust that our boys can develop. Marta's already showing improvement, Dumoulin was a fantastic surprise, and DP is apparently doing well and developing in the A. It we be a mistake to unload our minimal assets on a world beater when we already have good pieces moving forward. Nothing wrong with a stop gap like Hamhuis but no Fowlers, Barries, or Shattenkirks unless it's an absolute fleecing that we can't turn down.
- Victoro311

Adding another player to a broken system is pointless. This team isn't one dman away from contending. They could add Barrie or Shattenkirk (both would be #1 dmen on ~10 teams in the league) and it won't fix this team.

you forgot to mention we should trade malkin jk with you
- martox

HAHA, the reality is, he and Crosby are one of the few pieces that can fix the team.