Ryan Wilson: Signing Matt Cullen Opens Up An Option To Acquire Top Six Winger Signing Matt Cullen Opens Up An Option To Acquire Top Six Winger

fist again

Burying Matt Cullen with defensive zone starts is honestly one of the best things he does. For the first time since Staal left, Sid didn't have to take all those draws. Cullen taking those tough assignments and holding his own frees up the other 3 lines to get more favorable match ups. So I hope they keep burying him.

Amazing nobody snagged Botterhill. The Pens managed to bring back Cullen and Schultz and still have enough room to add Vesey if he chooses to come here. Brilliant use of all available cap space.

agree on the boterill comment. thought vegas would take him.

why is hudler still available? is he bad in the locker room? is there an injury? whats going on?

agree on the boterill comment. thought vegas would take him.

why is hudler still available? is he bad in the locker room? is there an injury? whats going on?
- i'mjustafan

hudler will be a nice prize for the 7 teams that don't get vesey to fight over.

Fehr was a great signing at the time and he did well in his role. But who would have thought that guys like Sheary, Wilson, rust, and even Cullen would have come in and just played unbelievable. I'd think that Fehr shouldn't be hard moving if JR really wanted to move him. He was a solid bottom 6 player, good on the PK, and can play C or RW

Fehr was a great signing at the time and he did well in his role. But who would have thought that guys like Sheary, Wilson, rust, and even Cullen would have come in and just played unbelievable. I'd think that Fehr shouldn't be hard moving if JR really wanted to move him. He was a solid bottom 6 player, good on the PK, and can play C or RW
- drummer829

I don't think Fehr will be moved should we not land Vesey. I think JR will stand pat and see how things go. Maybe make a trade mid-season if he feels a wing in needed.

I happen to believe Fehr's versatility is a nice asset.

Fehr was a great signing at the time and he did well in his role. But who would have thought that guys like Sheary, Wilson, rust, and even Cullen would have come in and just played unbelievable. I'd think that Fehr shouldn't be hard moving if JR really wanted to move him. He was a solid bottom 6 player, good on the PK, and can play C or RW
- drummer829

That is... basically what RW said

Fehr is just fine. Would keep on the roster just for his versatility. Comes into the season fully healthy too.

That is... basically what RW said
- Guile

Well there ya go. For people who don't want to read the blog, just read my summary

Burying Matt Cullen with defensive zone starts is honestly one of the best things he does. For the first time since Staal left, Sid didn't have to take all those draws. Cullen taking those tough assignments and holding his own frees up the other 3 lines to get more favorable match ups. So I hope they keep burying him.

Amazing nobody snagged Botterhill. The Pens managed to bring back Cullen and Schultz and still have enough room to add Vesey if he chooses to come here. Brilliant use of all available cap space.
- Tojo.

Agree on your first comment. Bury Cullen. If he can handle those situations then let him. You really want Cullen playing offense over Crosby Malkin and hbk? If you can bury him and we do ok then a Craig Adams goal total is fine if it means you have when healthy two lines centered by 2 centers on the top 3 in the league and hbk which is a top 15 scoring line on the league.

Disagree on botteril....while he's a fine hockey guy I don't think Schultz and Cullen resigning where primarily his dealings. He got lucky no one offered them a deal they couldn't refuse and were willing to take modest money to be ing good situations. It's like Panarin signing with the Hawks last year. The this benefits you get of winning a cup and offering the best situations.

I am pro signing Vesey AND trading Fehr AND signing Hudler.

Vesey-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Hudler
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Sheary/Wilson-Cullen-Rust

#depth

Worth mentioning that Rutherford said he was done with roster moves other than maybe adding Vesey.

agree on the boterill comment. thought vegas would take him.

why is hudler still available? is he bad in the locker room? is there an injury? whats going on?
- i'mjustafan

I've seen comments on HB that absolutely flog him, so if they are anywhere near close there would be the decision of the hero chart V eye test. Maybe teams are waiting to see if they get Vman before going after him, or he is waiting till after Vesey decides so he can make more $$$$$$$$. Or he's really poop & no one wants him!

Fehr was a great signing at the time and he did well in his role. But who would have thought that guys like Sheary, Wilson, rust, and even Cullen would have come in and just played unbelievable. I'd think that Fehr shouldn't be hard moving if JR really wanted to move him. He was a solid bottom 6 player, good on the PK, and can play C or RW
- drummer829

Good reasons to keep him aren't they?

Its the old school wrist shot. Throws goalies off, his shooting percentage will only go up as the goalies get younger.

Fehr has a history of being injured often. Dude is made of glass. Not a big fan.

Good to see cully back wish we could have had him the last 4. Yrs or when we lost staal. Fehr was a decent sign but never really filled a role like he did in wash. When hudler killed it in Calgary I always thought him and Geno could blend really well get it done. Send fehr back to wash for someone like forsberg. A wash to a WASH

I don't think Fehr will be moved should we not land Vesey. I think JR will stand pat and see how things go. Maybe make a trade mid-season if he feels a wing in needed.

I happen to believe Fehr's versatility is a nice asset.
- madmike71

I wouldn't be surprised either way. I don't think he's nearly as valuable at wing as he is at center. I do like Fehr, but they have the depth to cover with Wilson, Sundqvist, and others. Cap space may be more valuable, but I wouldn't complain if they kept him.

Agree about Vesey being a tipping point for sure though. At that point you'd have someone like Sheary on the bench and be looking at bonus overages. Makes t9tal sense to get the extra cap space.

I am pro signing Vesey AND trading Fehr AND signing Hudler.

Vesey-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Hudler
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Sheary/Wilson-Cullen-Rust

#depth
- YouMeAndDupuis9

yes. yes to this.

I wouldn't be surprised either way. I don't think he's nearly as valuable at wing as he is at center. I do like Fehr, but they have the depth to cover with Wilson, Sundqvist, and others. Cap space may be more valuable, but I wouldn't complain if they kept him.

Agree about Vesey being a tipping point for sure though. At that point you'd have someone like Sheary on the bench and be looking at bonus overages. Makes t9tal sense to get the extra cap space.
- Tojo.

I've come to the conclusion that center depth is almost as important as D depth. Fehr is a fairly decent center. If we have a guy go down, I'd feel much better with him stepping in rather than Sundqvist.

Nice story on Cullen on DK's site. Highly recommend.

I've come to the conclusion that center depth is almost as important as D depth. Fehr is a fairly decent center. If we have a guy go down, I'd feel much better with him stepping in rather than Sundqvist.

Nice story on Cullen on DK's site. Highly recommend.
- madmike71

I'd like him more than Sundqvist at this point, but I am comfortable with Sundqvist enough to move him. It's not a big deal to me either way right now. Unless they donsign Vesey. Then I'd rather move Fehr then deal with all the bonus overages.

I'd like him more than Sundqvist at this point, but I am comfortable with Sundqvist enough to move him. It's not a big deal to me either way right now. Unless they donsign Vesey. Then I'd rather move Fehr then deal with all the bonus overages.
- Tojo.

Don't think sundqvist is ready for the show just yet.

What's up folks? Ive been away for a few weeks...my baby boy was born healthy (10 pounds!) exactly 2 weeks ago. Having my first baby around makes me appreciate RW still finding ways to pump out blogs with himself not only having a new born but also 2 other young children. Props to him for his work.

Really like the Cullen (re)signing. Don't really care if they get anyone else. I like what Fehr brings to the team, no other player brings what he does. He will also be much healthier this season (to start anyway) so I'm in no rush to show him the door. I think there are players in the system that can slot in the bottom 6 if there's injuries...and there will be injuries...and current bottoms 6's can slide up if need be.

If Vesey can be had I'm in the "why not, F it, give him a shot" boat.