Complete joke man I thought he sucked when he was on the pens
- Genev21

Really? When the Pens acquired him I loved it. He did well with Geno/Sykora. I liked the guy even though he was not the fastest. He was a big body/tough to move around with some skill to score. Today he's garbage.

Really? When the Pens acquired him I loved it. He did well with Geno/Sykora. I liked the guy even though he was not the fastest. He was a big body/tough to move around with some skill to score. Today he's garbage.
- Orpik44

Was never a fan respected his defensive ability though.

Was never a fan respected his defensive ability though.
- Genev21

He was good for 40- 50pts/season. I liked the fact that he was defensively responsible. We need a player like that to be able to play with Geno and James Floater Neal (the last part was a joke, kind of)

Pens need to deal Niskanen for picks just to have barely enough money to fill out the roster + have a buffer. Not likely a way can they bring anybody in, unless it's part of a bigger trade...maybe Niskanen+Bortuzzo <-> Hansen or somebody like that...I don't see any FAs that fit the system well...trading only Niskanen gives us a decent roster still, then next year with cap increase the holes can be properly filled (and who knows maybe somebody surprises this year!):

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Bennett - Malkin - Neal
Jokinen - Sutter - X
Adams - Vitale - Y
X/Y: time split of Jeffrey/Glass/Zolnierczyk/Sill/

Letang - Scuderi
Martin - Despres
Orpik - Z
Z: some time split of Bortuzzo/Demoulin/Engelland

I guess dealing Niskanen+Demoulin is also possible, but we'd have to get a really good 3rd line guy who has a very small cap hit...not sure if anybody out there fits the bill...Kassian? Hansen? + pick?

Pens need to deal Niskanen for picks just to have barely enough money to fill out the roster + have a buffer. Not likely a way can they bring anybody in, unless it's part of a bigger trade...maybe Niskanen+Bortuzzo <-> Hansen or somebody like that...I don't see any FAs that fit the system well...trading only Niskanen gives us a decent roster still, then next year with cap increase the holes can be properly filled (and who knows maybe somebody surprises this year!):

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Bennett - Malkin - Neal
Jokinen - Sutter - X
Adams - Vitale - Y
X/Y: time split of Jeffrey/Glass/Zolnierczyk/Sill/

Letang - Scuderi
Martin - Despres
Orpik - Z
Z: some time split of Bortuzzo/Demoulin/Engelland

I guess dealing Niskanen+Demoulin is also possible, but we'd have to get a really good 3rd line guy who has a very small cap hit...not sure if anybody out there fits the bill...Kassian? Hansen? + pick?
- mventres

Anyone thought about Radek Dvorak? I don't know how he's doing right now but I liked his style of play. In a trade, as I said, I'd go after J.Slater WPG or J.Mitchell COL. Cogliano ANH and S.Downie COL are other options.. Nisky+ would have to go the other way.

I'm a bit biased because I like Raymond and I feel he has potential to be a big player on our team I say yes. If Shero can find room for him he should bring him in. I doubt it happens but if it did I wouldn't be upset.

I say it's more likely that Niskanen is moved for bottom 6 help and possibly a late round pick. I still feel Niskanen has potential but his salary and the prospect depth chart make him expendable now. Dumoulin or Bortuzzo could take his place.

Anyone thought about Radek Dvorak? I don't know how he's doing right now but I liked his style of play. In a trade, as I said, I'd go after J.Slater WPG or J.Mitchell COL. Cogliano ANH and S.Downie COL are other options.. Nisky+ would have to go the other way.
- Orpik44

I really like Downie, but not so sure COL would part with him unless they got more than Niskanen back. His salary is too high though (~2.65mil) so that puts him out of reach...we only have room for somebody in the 1-1.25 range, max. People like:

Vladimir Sobotka (1.3)
Jannik Hansen (1.3)
Zack Kassian (.87)
Shawn Thornton (1.1)
Daniel Paille (1.3)
etc...

Hal Gill is a FA just saying
- Genev21

Wouldn't shock me to see him holding back Despres and other young defensemen

Jussi jokinen just isnt a third line player so shero will ne dealing him and niskanen in a package trade to get a solid third liner and a draft pick. Dustin jefferey will be sloted into the third line because he can also play center. I can see shero reaching out to Edmonton, their in need of defensive depth a jokinen would fit in on their top 2 lines

Jussi jokinen just isnt a third line player so shero will ne dealing him and niskanen in a package trade to get a solid third liner and a draft pick. Dustin jefferey will be sloted into the third line because he can also play center. I can see shero reaching out to Edmonton, their in need of defensive depth a jokinen would fit in on their top 2 lines

Someone like Colin Greening out of Ottawa would be nice. Add some size, replace Cooke's shorthanded minutes and the Sens are looking for defensive help. Having a proven quantity in Niskanen would be nice and they have loads of cap space. Two birds with one stone. We may have to sweeten the pot on that one though

Clutterbuck would have been nice, as would someone like Derek Dorsett or Brandon Prust.

I wouldn't mind seeing Niskanen and Jeffrey or Glass going to Colorado for McGinn and maybe a pick.

I'm sure Colorado would love to pick up a defenseman that could be a minimum top 6 pairing guy.

I know...I know...people in hell want ice water.

Wouldn't shock me to see him holding back Despres and other young defensemen
- lloyd095

I got to tell you, It should be a concern that our young D won't get any playing/development time. What's going to happen if Orpik leaves next year? Martin the following year? Are we going to have any of these young guys ready to take those slots? Dan's reluctance to play future players over guys like Nisk and Eng could come back to bite us.

Jussi jokinen just isnt a third line player so shero will ne dealing him and niskanen in a package trade to get a solid third liner and a draft pick. Dustin jefferey will be sloted into the third line because he can also play center. I can see shero reaching out to Edmonton, their in need of defensive depth a jokinen would fit in on their top 2 lines
- glovesave2985

What he does is add versatility. No one on the roster can comfortably play both center and wing outside of him.

Im glad I had a few days to calm down, not signing Cooke maybe the worst move in the history of this franchise. He is a heart and soul type of player. The exact type of player this team of powder-puffs is lacking. It is, with out a shadow of a doubt that as constructed; right now the Penguins are the easiest team in the entire league to play against. We have no guts, we have NO toughness, we have a very soft team to play against. I would be dying to get a shot at knocking off someone's head and laughing all the way to the bench because I know im not going to have to worry about being hit myself. Shero is quickly going down Bylsma's path of destruction for me, first Iginla now this. I hate the make up of this team, its a really sad looking group.

But we got Scuds, yeah he is the answer.

Good luck Pens, because we are going to need absolutely all of it.

What he does is add versatility. No one on the roster can comfortably play both center and wing outside of him.
- Oneonta Penguin

I don't see why people would want to move Jussi. Let's face it, Sid and Geno haven't exactly been durable and Jussi proved last year that he can competently hold that spot. His FO ability alone is enough to make me want to keep him.

Im glad I had a few days to calm down, not signing Cooke maybe the worst move in the history of this franchise. He is a heart and soul type of player. The exact type of player this team of powder-puffs is lacking. It is, with out a shadow of a doubt that as constructed; right now the Penguins are the easiest team in the entire league to play against. We have no guts, we have NO toughness, we have a very soft team to play against. I would be dying to get a shot at knocking off someone's head and laughing all the way to the bench because I know im not going to have to worry about being hit myself. Shero is quickly going down Bylsma's path of destruction for me, first Iginla now this. I hate the make up of this team, its a really sad looking group.

But we got Scuds, yeah he is the answer.

Good luck Pens, because we are going to need absolutely all of it.
- nbartley9

I think you're going a little over board with guys like Vitale, Glass, Engelland, Kunitz, Orpik, Bortuzzo on the roster I don't think we are exactly a soft team but I understand your point. Scuds is a great signing IMO. I bet they bring Asham back. He's available he'd be cheap and he was a great team mate. I loved him in his time here only concern is injuries.

Im glad I had a few days to calm down, not signing Cooke maybe the worst move in the history of this franchise. He is a heart and soul type of player. The exact type of player this team of powder-puffs is lacking. It is, with out a shadow of a doubt that as constructed; right now the Penguins are the easiest team in the entire league to play against. We have no guts, we have NO toughness, we have a very soft team to play against. I would be dying to get a shot at knocking off someone's head and laughing all the way to the bench because I know im not going to have to worry about being hit myself. Shero is quickly going down Bylsma's path of destruction for me, first Iginla now this. I hate the make up of this team, its a really sad looking group.

But we got Scuds, yeah he is the answer.

Good luck Pens, because we are going to need absolutely all of it.
- nbartley9

Wow, a little over-reaction 2 months before training camp even begins.

Anybody see a trade of Paul Martin to free up cap space and bring a third liner? Despres is supposed to be top 4 and Letang/Scuds Orpik/Despres would be solid. Tough call especially considering how good he looked this year, but...

Wow, a little over-reaction 2 months before training camp even begins.
- cap1681

That might be the worst over-reaction by a Pens fan ever on this site. Has anybody ever seen Bartly and Matt Cooke together...

Im glad I had a few days to calm down, not signing Cooke maybe the worst move in the history of this franchise. He is a heart and soul type of player. The exact type of player this team of powder-puffs is lacking. It is, with out a shadow of a doubt that as constructed; right now the Penguins are the easiest team in the entire league to play against. We have no guts, we have NO toughness, we have a very soft team to play against. I would be dying to get a shot at knocking off someone's head and laughing all the way to the bench because I know im not going to have to worry about being hit myself. Shero is quickly going down Bylsma's path of destruction for me, first Iginla now this. I hate the make up of this team, its a really sad looking group.

But we got Scuds, yeah he is the answer.

Good luck Pens, because we are going to need absolutely all of it.
- nbartley9

If not resigning a career third liner is the worst move of the Penguins franchise history than I am okay with it.

Cooke didn't prevent the other teams from running the Penguins, especially not in the last two year.

Anybody see a trade of Paul Martin to free up cap space and bring a third liner? Despres is supposed to be top 4 and Letang/Scuds Orpik/Despres would be solid. Tough call especially considering how good he looked this year, but...
- ecushey

I can't see it happening this year. Martin was our best defenseman last season and is a nice option on the PP if Letang doesn't perform well.

to me, you resign morrow for about 2 mil and then trade Niskanen to cover his salary, Niskanen should bring in a draft pick or two.

then you trade Engelland to get his 566k back and use that as the buffer that shero wants.

- SuperHenderson13

I can't see any scenario where trading Engelland makes sense.

He's a decent, experienced 6-7 defensemen, fills the role of a face puncher when needed, and most importantly only costs $566k. Anyone you replace him with is going to cost more than that.

Mason Raymond is a top 6 guy that never played consistently enough to be a top 6 guy.

I don't think he fills the Cooke void but not sure who does...or if the Pens really want to fill it in the same way now.

Raymond could make that third line a better scoring threat...if you assume Sutter and Jokinen are there with him.

I have never been a big fan of two scoring lines...a checking line and then spare parts. I have always thought in today's NHL you need 3 lines that are a threat to score.

We had that with Staal, Kennedy and Cooke for a while. Can we have it again with Sutter, Jokinen and Raymond???

Raymond has an upside that's offensively better that Cooke's...but he doesn't offer the grit game that Cooke had. I don't think anybody hears Mason Raymond's footsteps.

If you wanted a guy that could play the 7-9 forward and fill in 3-6 (you know Sid and Geno are 1-2) when needed, that would work...but clearly you are getting a different type of player with Raymond than what you had with Cooke.

If you decided your third line should be more of a scoring threat...and wanted to give them a little more ice time than what we have recently seen with the Penguins, then maybe he fits the bill.

Anybody see a trade of Paul Martin to free up cap space and bring a third liner? Despres is supposed to be top 4 and Letang/Scuds Orpik/Despres would be solid. Tough call especially considering how good he looked this year, but...
- ecushey

It's not remotely a tough call, you don't trade a top 4 defensman (probably their best overall dman) for a third liner.