Ryan Wilson: Look for some trades from Pittsburgh Look for some trades from Pittsburgh

Letang, Dumoulin, Maatta, Schultz is a good top 4. I see no real reason to expend assets on getting bottom pairing defensemen, unless someone gets really undervalued and we're essentially getting a fifth middle pairing defenseman for pennies on the dollar.

I do think that currently our left wing could be stronger and that Conor Sheary has fallen low enough on the depth chart that trying to upgrade him into a legit top 6 wing scoring wing could be beneficial. Now that Domi is off the board who was a really solid buy low candidate (but he got back Galch so I guess not buy low), I don't know who the target would be or what the package would look like.

Per Duper's question in the last blog...

I predict we'll trade one of Rust, Hags or Sheary for a pick or prospect. I don't think Rutherford would want a player back unless it's a small salary. I really hope it's not Rust.

Victoro I would add Oleksiak to the list of reliable D-men. Hopefully we bring him back too.

I would like a couple speedy and gritty forwards added to this group.

Victoro I would add Oleksiak to the list of reliable D-men. Hopefully we bring him back too.

I would like a couple speedy and gritty forwards added to this group.
- Barnaby36

Yohe mentions that Rutherford loves Oleksiak. I have no doubt he's a priority of the RFA's.

Agree completely about adding some speed and grit as long as they can play. I think there's some good "value" UFA's that fit this bill....guys that can chip in offensively but don't get dominated on the boards. Obviously we won't be big game hunting.

I really like what Rutherford has said since the end of the season. I think he's been spot-on at identifying our weaknesses.

Yohe mentions that Rutherford loves Oleksiak. I have no doubt he's a priority of the RFA's.

Agree completely about adding some speed and grit as long as they can play. I think there's some good "value" UFA's that fit this bill....guys that can chip in offensively but don't get dominated on the boards. Obviously we won't be big game hunting.

I really like what Rutherford has said since the end of the season. I think he's been spot-on at identifying our weaknesses.
- madmike71

Madmike I'd love to find a new forward like Steve Downie. I don't know why he left Pittsburgh and now is out of the league. He could do a lot of good things minus the occasional stupid penalties.

I'm pretty sure we can find a couple Rust like players out there (at least close to him).

Quotes not working...

I'd much rather have Hagelin at $4M for one more year than Sheary at $3M. Im honestly not sure if Rutherford would trade either as a "cap dump" (ie picks/prospects).

I'll be interested to see what Grabners AAV will be in FA. JVR, Komarov, Roussel are interesting FA options if we cleared some salary.

I know it sounds crazy and I'm probably going to catch poop for this opinion...but I think if we made EDM take Sheary/Hunwick and retain some salary, I'd take a chance on Lucic.

I've read comments here and the blog stating there's rumblings of a possible Kessel deal.

Where is this coming from, Kessel has been great for you guys, why would anyone entertain the notion of trading him

Madmike I'd love to find a new forward like Steve Downie. I don't know why he left Pittsburgh and now is out of the league. He could do a lot of good things minus the occasional stupid penalties.

I'm pretty sure we can find a couple Rust like players out there (at least close to him).
- Barnaby36

I'd love to add a couple of guys like Schaller, Calvert, Pouliot, Comeau. Bigger bodies that can skate pretty well and score a little. I would certainly be interested in Grabner but I think somebody will over-pay him.

Get tougher. The Pens are weak as poop.

Quotes not working...

I'd much rather have Hagelin at $4M for one more year than Sheary at $3M. Im honestly not sure if Rutherford would trade either as a "cap dump" (ie picks/prospects).

I'll be interested to see what Grabners AAV will be in FA. JVR, Komarov, Roussel are interesting FA options if we cleared some salary.

I know it sounds crazy and I'm probably going to catch poop for this opinion...but I think if we made EDM take Sheary/Hunwick and retain some salary, I'd take a chance on Lucic.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I have been thinking the what if Pens put Lucic with Malkin and Kessel for a little bit now. If some cap is retained. We already stole Schultz from them and he has been dominant. Lucic is also one year from his 50 point season and if we got him at a 4 million cap hit I would take him over Sheary any day of the week. He would sit in front of the goalie all day and I could see more goals open up from him shielding the goalie. Especially come playoff time.

Quotes not working...

I'd much rather have Hagelin at $4M for one more year than Sheary at $3M. Im honestly not sure if Rutherford would trade either as a "cap dump" (ie picks/prospects).

I'll be interested to see what Grabners AAV will be in FA. JVR, Komarov, Roussel are interesting FA options if we cleared some salary.

I know it sounds crazy and I'm probably going to catch poop for this opinion...but I think if we made EDM take Sheary/Hunwick and retain some salary, I'd take a chance on Lucic.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'd do it but I couldn't see Edmonton eating a lot if we take Hunwick and Sheary.

Nah, not into Lucic... but I’m calling them and offering Hunwick for a 2 lol

Thinking about having hornqvist on one line and then putting Lucic our right after him does actually sound pretty good. Can you imagine the power play with horny on the 1st unit and then the 2nd unit has Lucic coming out? I think Sheary and a mid round pick could get Edmonton to retain some salary.

But if Sheary and Hunwick could be moved, I’d much rather see the team grab JVR for around 5 mil/season

Thinking about having hornqvist on one line and then putting Lucic our right after him does actually sound pretty good. Can you imagine the power play with horny on the 1st unit and then the 2nd unit has Lucic coming out? I think Sheary and a mid round pick could get Edmonton to retain some salary.

But if Sheary and Hunwick could be moved, I’d much rather see the team grab JVR for around 5 mil/season
- drummer829

Lucic (2 million retained) and 3rd for Sheary I could see happening.

Anyone of any other key points from that Yohe article?

I've read comments here and the blog stating there's rumblings of a possible Kessel deal.

Where is this coming from, Kessel has been great for you guys, why would anyone entertain the notion of trading him
- david22

It would be a terrible mistake.

hags is in the last year of his $4M contract but he can play anywhere and there is no commitment beyond this yr. i wouldnt mind hanging on to him until the trade deadline.

does hunwick have a better camp? how much can oleksiak make? i would like them to re sign rust. but sheary at $3M/yr? I would prefer he go. i also wouldnt mind signing kunitz to 1 yr at $1M.

kuhnhackl and rowney can go but neither make big $ so they need to have someone from WBS take up some minutes.

Thinking about having hornqvist on one line and then putting Lucic our right after him does actually sound pretty good. Can you imagine the power play with horny on the 1st unit and then the 2nd unit has Lucic coming out? I think Sheary and a mid round pick could get Edmonton to retain some salary.

But if Sheary and Hunwick could be moved, I’d much rather see the team grab JVR for around 5 mil/season
- drummer829

Sure we would get slower but it'd make a more balanced lineup imo. Sheary and a mid pick for Lucic with retention is actually a pretty good deal...i don't think Edmonton could get a much better return due to age/contract.

I think JvR will be more like $6.5M. hell someone will probably give Grabner $5M.

Sure we would get slower but it'd make a more balanced lineup imo. Sheary and a mid pick for Lucic with retention is actually a pretty good deal...i don't think Edmonton could get a much better return due to age/contract.

I think JvR will be more like $6.5M. hell someone will probably give Grabner $5M.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Lucic?!?!

hags is in the last year of his $4M contract but he can play anywhere and there is no commitment beyond this yr. i wouldnt mind hanging on to him until the trade deadline.

does hunwick have a better camp? how much can oleksiak make? i would like them to re sign rust. but sheary at $3M/yr? I would prefer he go. i also wouldnt mind signing kunitz to 1 yr at $1M.

kuhnhackl and rowney can go but neither make big $ so they need to have someone from WBS take up some minutes.
- i'mjustafan

If I'm Rutherford, I'd move on from both Kuhnhackl and Rowney. Especially Rowney. I would remove the temptation of ever bringing him back up to the big club. Sullivan has shown those plugs a little too much love for my liking. I'd try to re sign Jooris for call-up duty.

I want to keep Hags too. He's a very useful player even when he's not getting points....plus he's been a huge part of our identity. Admittedly at a pretty steep price.

Lucic?!?!
- Rinosaur

I was waiting for the response from someone haha. If EDM retains, and we dump Sheary (and hopefully Hunwick), then the contract isnt much of an issue.

I don't really buy the "power forwards age faster" theory. What Lucic does is bring an element we don't have. Similiar yo how we're paying $4M for Hagelin. In each case they only provide a handful of goals but still have a unique skillset to add lots of value.

I was waiting for the response from someone haha. If EDM retains, and we dump Sheary (and hopefully Hunwick), then the contract isnt much of an issue.

I don't really buy the "power forwards age faster" theory. What Lucic does is bring an element we don't have. Similiar yo how we're paying $4M for Hagelin. In each case they only provide a handful of goals but still have a unique skillset to add lots of value.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Hagelin brings FAR more than Lucic at this point in their careers. Lucic is bad defensively, has no real skill, can't skate or even score anymore for that matter. He's a big brute, that's it.

Lucic is on the hook for FIVE more years. If EDM wants to retain $5M a year? Sure. otherwise you'd have to be nuts to take on that contract.

Anyone of any other key points from that Yohe article?
- Rinosaur

He basically says there's a good chance they'll make a couple of changes. He says he's not thinking of free agency because they're going to try to sign some of their RFA's and doesn't envision having the cap space.

Here's a quote... “Here’s the thing,” Rutherford said. “I don’t have to do anything. If I don’t do anything this summer, we’re still a contending team. We absolutely needed to get a full summer off. We didn’t want it, but our guys needed it. There’s no question in my mind about that. So, we’ll be in good shape even if we don’t bring anyone in.”

“We need to get deeper,” Rutherford said. “That’s a big goal for us right now. I want more balance throughout our lineup.”

He also seems to be happy with the defense. I wouldn't expect big changes there. It sounds like the forward group is where he's going to tinker.

He basically says there's a good chance they'll make a couple of changes. He says he's not thinking of free agency because they're going to try to sign some of their RFA's and doesn't envision having the cap space.

Here's a quote... “Here’s the thing,” Rutherford said. “I don’t have to do anything. If I don’t do anything this summer, we’re still a contending team. We absolutely needed to get a full summer off. We didn’t want it, but our guys needed it. There’s no question in my mind about that. So, we’ll be in good shape even if we don’t bring anyone in.”

“We need to get deeper,” Rutherford said. “That’s a big goal for us right now. I want more balance throughout our lineup.”

He also seems to be happy with the defense. I wouldn't expect big changes there. It sounds like the forward group is where he's going to tinker.
- madmike71

That part makes me weary. The idea of Hunwick playing for the Pens again is unnerving.