Aivis Kalnins: A Pittsburgh Penguin flying to KHL?

That's okay, they'll just replace him with Denis Zaripov, who really tore it up at the ripe old age of 57 or so last year after accidentally using banned allergy medicine.

Given his age I'd stick it one more year before bolting. Seems to be close and leaving now could signal the end of a NHL career.

Simon has a pretty good hockey IQ but isn't irreplaceable. That said I hope the Pens give him a one way contract. He's useful up and down the lineup.

Simon should be given a one way contract. We shouldn’t be retaining Kuhnhackl and we should be looking to trade a winger anyways. There should be room for him.

Have to think it is better to give him a one way than letting him walk. He looked pretty solid when he got ice time. That being said, poor move on his part to threaten going to the KHL when he has had a chance to get ice time with Sid again next season.

Good riddance

bon voyage

Simon is a perfect trade sweetener / throw in...

ill pitch in the money for the Uber ride to the airport.

I don't see him going to the minors anyways and he needs to clear waivers which isn't a given. This should be a non-issue.

ill pitch in the money for the Uber ride to the airport.
- Thorny

Coincidence or not. Is that the same Michael Sivek that came over in jagr trade?

Already lost Pedan to the KHL this would be bad asset management considering he’s already proven he’s an NHL player. The issue here is contract dollar amount. If it’s like 900 gs and he’s ok with being the 13th forwards if 8 wingers have a better camp than he does then give him the one way. It doesn’t mean he can’t play in WBS he just doesn’t have to take the pay cut. They can move Haglen to a rebuilding team like Detroit because he has an expiring contract that that team can flip at the TDL for a decent pick because Haglen has trade value in that scenario. The Pens can’t afford to lose Pedan and Simon and dump Connor Hall in the same summer. After Sprong the best prospects are Blueger, Bellerive, Angelo And Millitec. That’s not awful but it’s not spectacular either. Moving a guy like Sheary to a team like the Flames or the Oilers and Haglen to the Wings or the Rags makes more sense than losing Simon for notta.

Already lost Pedan to the KHL this would be bad asset management considering he’s already proven he’s an NHL player. The issue here is contract dollar amount. If it’s like 900 gs and he’s ok with being the 13th forwards if 8 wingers have a better camp than he does then give him the one way. It doesn’t mean he can’t play in WBS he just doesn’t have to take the pay cut. They can move Haglen to a rebuilding team like Detroit because he has an expiring contract that that team can flip at the TDL for a decent pick because Haglen has trade value in that scenario. The Pens can’t afford to lose Pedan and Simon and dump Connor Hall in the same summer. After Sprong the best prospects are Blueger, Bellerive, Angelo And Millitec. That’s not awful but it’s not spectacular either. Moving a guy like Sheary to a team like the Flames or the Oilers and Haglen to the Wings or the Rags makes more sense than losing Simon for notta.
- dcoms77

You are talking like Simon actually brought anything to the table. He was awful in the playoffs, and I want zero part of him on Sids wing again. Let the dude walk, he is a dime a dozen.

Already lost Pedan to the KHL this would be bad asset management considering he’s already proven he’s an NHL player. The issue here is contract dollar amount. If it’s like 900 gs and he’s ok with being the 13th forwards if 8 wingers have a better camp than he does then give him the one way. It doesn’t mean he can’t play in WBS he just doesn’t have to take the pay cut. They can move Haglen to a rebuilding team like Detroit because he has an expiring contract that that team can flip at the TDL for a decent pick because Haglen has trade value in that scenario. The Pens can’t afford to lose Pedan and Simon and dump Connor Hall in the same summer. After Sprong the best prospects are Blueger, Bellerive, Angelo And Millitec. That’s not awful but it’s not spectacular either. Moving a guy like Sheary to a team like the Flames or the Oilers and Haglen to the Wings or the Rags makes more sense than losing Simon for notta.
- dcoms77

Losing Hall is just admitting they made a bad pick. Hasn't developed. Pedan was depth, that needs replaced, but guys like him are always available, he didn't have an NHL future.

I do agree though that losing Simon, while not a huge deal, is a blow to their depth that would be a little harder to replace.

You are talking like Simon actually brought anything to the table. He was awful in the playoffs, and I want zero part of him on Sids wing again. Let the dude walk, he is a dime a dozen.
- Thorny

He also played with a fractured thumb. I agree he shouldn't have played with Sid, but he's a solid, cheap depth player and you can always use those. If you don't have them, you end up with 4th lines like we had last year.

My only concern with him is Sully over-playing him. He should be mostly a bottom 6 here, really 4th liner that can move up with injuries.

Losing Hall is just admitting they mage a bad pick. Hasn't developed. Pedan was depth, that needs replaced, but guys like him are always available, he didn't have an NHL future.
- Tojo.

That’s not true at all. Pedan had an excellent year in WBS and improved a great deal. Pedan and Benngston were the top pair there and they lost both of them for nothing. Hall is a throw back player but he’s a big guy and he can skate. I don’t know if I would have given up on him without giving him one year in WBS/ Wheeling. Dmen take a lot longer to develop than forwards.

You are talking like Simon actually brought anything to the table. He was awful in the playoffs, and I want zero part of him on Sids wing again. Let the dude walk, he is a dime a dozen.
- Thorny

He definitely did bring something to the table. He’s a guy I would start out on the 4th line but has the ability to play up and down the lineup as injuries dictate. As a 13th forward making 900gs at the very worst you could do a whole lot worse than Simon. It just depends on if they want to take a flyer on one of Blueger, Bellerive, or Angelo. Bellerive is the best prospect after Sprong in the organization. He turned a PTO into an entry level contact and then followed that up with an incredible season. That’s impressive for a 18-19 year old kid. But what does he do for an encore? Do you send him back or do you give him 10 games because the kid can snipe and he is a great playmaker too? The Penguins need another right shot dman. They need to find a team like Calgary who has a surplus and then make some kind of arrangement. If they can get Rasmus Anderson who is a right shot and is NHL ready then they need to make that deal and keep a guy like Simon to fill the void for who the cost is to get him.

That’s not true at all. Pedan had an excellent year in WBS and improved a great deal. Pedan and Benngston were the top pair there and they lost both of them for nothing. Hall is a throw back player but he’s a big guy and he can skate. I don’t know if I would have given up on him without giving him one year in WBS/ Wheeling. Dmen take a lot longer to develop than forwards.
- dcoms77

I'd have liked to see Bengtsson stay, but disagree about the other 2, didn't see them amounting to much. Lots of top pairing AHL dmen amount to nothing. They'll sign a couple UFA dmen to replace them July 1 like they always do.

That’s not true at all. Pedan had an excellent year in WBS and improved a great deal. Pedan and Benngston were the top pair there and they lost both of them for nothing. Hall is a throw back player but he’s a big guy and he can skate. I don’t know if I would have given up on him without giving him one year in WBS/ Wheeling. Dmen take a lot longer to develop than forwards.
- dcoms77

Pedan was pretty much our 9th or 10th dman. He was never getting to Pittsburgh. Benngston was basically replaced with Riicola. Rutherford will sign somebody else for organizational depth.

and thats why James Neal will always be a loser

He also played with a fractured thumb. I agree he shouldn't have played with Sid, but he's a solid, cheap depth player and you can always use those. If you don't have them, you end up with 4th lines like we had last year.

My only concern with him is Sully over-playing him. He should be mostly a bottom 6 here, really 4th liner that can move up with injuries.
- Tojo.

Unfortunately Sullivan chose to ice that crap 4th line. There were options within the organization and Sully chose to put Kuhnhackl and Rowney on the ice.

I think Simon is a dime a dozen player. I'd rather brink back Kunitz or somebody like him for bottom 6 duty. We don't need to make big improvements to the roster, but I think we can definitely improve the depth players. Kuhnhackl, Rowney and Simon would be sent packing. I'd think

Unfortunately Sullivan chose to ice that crap 4th line. There were options within the organization and Sully chose to put Kuhnhackl and Rowney on the ice.

I think Simon is a dime a dozen player. I'd rather brink back Kunitz or somebody like him for bottom 6 duty. We don't need to make big improvements to the roster, but I think we can definitely improve the depth players. Kuhnhackl, Rowney and Simon would be sent packing. I'd think
- madmike71

I have to agree with not liking some of the line up choices. Really would have liked to see Blueger get a look over Rowney.

I do like Simon as an 8/9 wing though I don't like how Sully jumps him above that. He's got some skill and is good at shielding the puck. I'll dump Kuhnhackl and Rowney and bring in another guy for that other 8/9 spot, but I like Simon as a cheap young option.

I have to agree with not liking some of the line up choices. Really would have liked to see Blueger get a look over Rowney.

I do like Simon as an 8/9 wing though I don't like how Sully jumps him above that. He's got some skill and is good at shielding the puck. I'll dump Kuhnhackl and Rowney and bring in another guy for that other 8/9 spot, but I like Simon as a cheap young option.
- Tojo.

I don't hate Simon, but I think they can improve upon him. If we can dump Sheary, I'd be glad to keep Simon, but It's my belief that we need to get a little bigger and stronger at wing. We lost a ton of board battles this year and our smallish wings are a big part of that. With ZAR and Sprong being virtual unknowns, I think we should get a couple of bigger depth guys that aren't complete plugs.

Guys like Pouliot, Comeau, Kunitz, etc......proven players that can still skate and chip in on offense. Calvert would be a guy I'd love to see on the Pens.