Banking cap space this year for a potential deadline acquisition will be as important as ever this year.

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.
- madmike71

Me neither...He was about a pt/game guy when he came to Pitt. Hes also lights out on the shoot out.

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.
- dbell646

I can't see it either... Maybe next season with a year left if the young guys look ready to shoulder the load.

I'm not a big fan of a Jokinen - Sutter - Raymond line. That is pretty soft for a 3rd line in the NHL. None of those guys are really physical forechecking guys.

He's had some sh!t luck with injuries the last few season, but I wouldn't mind signing Guillaume Latendresse to a cheap deal.

I can't see it either... Maybe next season with a year left if the young guys look ready to shoulder the load.
- rival22

They have some transition coming on the back end. As much as it won't be fun to watch guys like Orpik and Martin go it's what we've all been wanting. I could see guys like Harrington and Maata being ready sooner rather than later. If Harrington and Maata are up here on rookie deals then you shave about 7.5 off the cap and have more than enough to pay Letang and Malkins new deals regardless of if the cap is raised or lowered.

I'm not a big fan of a Jokinen - Sutter - Raymond line. That is pretty soft for a 3rd line in the NHL. None of those guys are really physical forechecking guys.

He's had some sh!t luck with injuries the last few season, but I wouldn't mind signing Guillaume Latendresse to a cheap deal.
- rival22

I think its going to pretty much come to this. Whatever veteran we can invite to camp on a tryout/cheap deal. There will be some good ones this year with the lack of cap and roster spots.

I'm not a big fan of a Jokinen - Sutter - Raymond line. That is pretty soft for a 3rd line in the NHL. None of those guys are really physical forechecking guys.

He's had some sh!t luck with injuries the last few season, but I wouldn't mind signing Guillaume Latendresse to a cheap deal.
- rival22

Big body but often injured.

I like this guy for a third liner, Matt Frattin.
http://www.hockeysfuture....m/prospects/matt_frattin/

I like this guy for a third liner, Matt Frattin.
http://www.hockeysfuture....m/prospects/matt_frattin/
- powerhouse

Yeah, but can't see LA moving him after just acquiring him, and at such a low cap hit (Toronto eating half his contract).

Another note on Jussi, he cleared waivers and the Pens got him and made the Canes eat part of his salary. He didnt dress for the Pens in teh playoffs, so I dont see how you can add him and Nisk for anything of value. That being said, Id like to see what he can do with the Pens. He looked fine at the end of the reg season.

I think the Pens will miss Cooke, although I he was not hitting as much and he never fought. I think he has more value than Dupuis.

Yeah, but can't see LA moving him after just acquiring him, and at such a low cap hit (Toronto eating half his contract).
- rival22

After losing Scuds don't you think they will need D? Would we be willing to trade a D prospect for a forward? I think it's a possibility and young prospects are less of a risk for a GM who is at or near cap ceiling.

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.
- dbell646

You just gave 58M to Letang..........He needs to perform on the PP. I wouldn't be against trading Martin, considering his value is at an all time high right now. Maybe a 3rd liner and a winger prospect.

Another note on Jussi, he cleared waivers and the Pens got him and made the Canes eat part of his salary. He didnt dress for the Pens in teh playoffs, so I dont see how you can add him and Nisk for anything of value. That being said, Id like to see what he can do with the Pens. He looked fine at the end of the reg season.

I think the Pens will miss Cooke, although I he was not hitting as much and he never fought. I think he has more value than Dupuis.
- sammy87

I don't see that at all... Dupuis has much more offensive upside, and as far as PK and forechecking, he's just as effective.

Rangers locking McDonagh up for 6 years x $4.7 million, and the Islanders locking up Hamonic for 7 years x $3.8 million are two great signings.

I don't see that at all... Dupuis has much more offensive upside, and as far as PK and forechecking, he's just as effective.
- rival22

Ha yea. If he had more value than Dupuis he wouldnt have gone unclaimed last year.

@KFAN1003 - Cooke on wearing #24 (Boogaard wore #24 with #mnwild): "I don't really feel comfortable putting it on without his mom and dad's blessing."

Cooke will be missed. Contrary to popular belief (especially of the trolls on here) he is a great guy off the ice.

Rangers locking McDonagh up for 6 years x $4.7 million, and the Islanders locking up Hamonic for 7 years x $3.8 million are two great signings.
- rival22

im not a huge fan of long deals, but yeah. the value represented there is downright ridiculous

You just gave 58M to Letang..........He needs to perform on the PP. I wouldn't be against trading Martin, considering his value is at an all time high right now. Maybe a 3rd liner and a winger prospect.
- cap1681

That contract doesn't give him the ability to qb the pp. getting rid of Martin now would be a mistake

That contract doesn't give him the ability to qb the pp. getting rid of Martin now would be a mistake
- dbell646

If you trade Martin, the pens become a worse team especially just for a 3rd liner and a prospect. Trading any of the top 4 defenseman right now is a huge mistake until a prospect or 2 can show that he can play at the NHL level. Niskanen being traded to free up cap space or for a bottom 6 guy is the best bet right now

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.
- madmike71

exactly. He has some skill that you can put on any of the top two lines in a pinch ... he can play center or wing. He might be the most versatile player on the roster really.

Rangers locking McDonagh up for 6 years x $4.7 million, and the Islanders locking up Hamonic for 7 years x $3.8 million are two great signings.
- rival22

Those are two solid signings by both at friendly cap hits.

Those are two solid signings by both at friendly cap hits.
- Oneonta Penguin

especially at that tremendous value, id kill for a mcd letang swap

I just read this from Mike Colligan, and it made too much sense to actually happen:

As Shero said, the Penguins have three months to make a decision. The Scuderi signing allows him to wait and watch the trade market evolve. There’s no rush and a number of teams still have roster shuffling to do.

Heck, the St. Louis Blues will be trading a goaltender in the coming weeks. Swapping out Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million) for Jaroslav Halak ($3.75 million) would cure the Penguins’ cap concerns for this year and give them a goalie of the future.

But that’s an article for another day.
- http://thehockeywriters.com/penguins-next-move/

Not sure what Halak would cost though. St Louis obviously has no use for Fleury, and they don't really need Niskanen either.

I just read this from Mike Colligan, and it made too much sense to actually happen:



Not sure what Halak would cost though. St Louis obviously has no use for Fleury, and they don't really need Niskanen either.
- rival22

Yea, the blues aren't going to trade halak for fleury, especially when halak is better and they don't need any goalies. Unless the pens are throwing in a 1st round pick or something extra special, a deal like this would never work

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

What makes me mad is that we kept Glass' salary of $1.1M on our books (we could have bought him) and didn't re-sign Cooke. Or even keeping Niskanen. $2M would get it done with Cookie...