I would rather trade one of the other 6 guys that could become top 4 for a better return and play Engo at #7 instead of wasting that spot on a talented kid.
- canadianpenfan

Or trade Letang and get a huge return

Haha, somebody made a glaring omission. Anyway you cut it, the Pens are going to have some interesting/tough decisions to make in the near future regarding their defensemen. With how well, Maatta, Despres, and Bortuzzo have been playing, how would they not be permanent fixtures on the D going forward? And granted it's a very, very small sample size, but Dumoulin seems ready and Samuelson didn't look bad either. And then you have Harrington and Pouliot still to come. Just looking at next year with Niskanen and Orpik UFAs, I think Niskanen is gone for sure, if he isn't traded at the deadline, which I personally think he will be considering how well the younger guys are doing. It is so hard to think about the Pens having the cap space to resign Orpik, but yet not resigning him, yet that seems like the right thing to do, unless they plan on letting Martin walk the following year. But then you have the same top 4 next year with probably Bortuzzo getting hosed as the 7th d man sitting in the press box most nights, while guys like Dumoulin, Samuelson, and Harrington are down in Wilkes-Barre not getting a chance. Like we have all said it is a great problem to have, but it sure will be interesting.
- PensFan1103

As always a lot depends on how the season ends, but with the cap going up, and the ridiculous depth of NHL-ready defensemen the Pens have, Shero has the flexibility to really shake up the roster if he wants to.

Or trade Letang and get a huge return
- cap1681

That's a given for me. I said this last night ...


Mattaa- Scuderi
Despres- Martin
Bortuzzo- Orpik
Doumolin


But if we could get a better return for Doumolin than I have no problem putting Engo there.

Letang is great when he wants to be, but with the talent pool where it is the possible return he would bring is too great to ignore. I think it's the smart long term move.

I would rather trade one of the other 6 guys that could become top 4 for a better return and play Engo at #7 instead of wasting that spot on a talented kid.
- canadianpenfan

It makes sense. I don't think that's what they'll do. Ray has some tough decisions to make over the next 8 months.

Even the announcers on NHL tonite called them the Wilkes/Scranton penguins. What an effort by all those called up ! It says a lot for the depth of Pens. Bortz looked very good and it looked like he was truly having fun , which is a great combination. Vitale has been strong in every game he has played this year , so much energy it looks like he's shot out of a cannon. But Maata is the real story , what great gap control on Kessel , wow , looks like he's a 10 yr veteran especially with an assingment like Kessel.

Or trade Letang and get a huge return
- cap1681

I'm with you on this one. I don't hate Letang because he struggled at the end of last year/at times this year. He will bounce back and play well again, but I think they have the players to replace him. The amount of cap space (next year) it would free up, and the return we could get, would be worth it. If we could role a defense of:
Maatta - Scuderi
Martin - Orpik/Niskanen (assuming Orpik resigns for ~3 mil/season or Niskanen for 4.5/season)
Despres - Borts

I think the Pens would be in good shape. That would leave Dumoulin/Samuelsson/Harrington/Pouliot as call-ups for injuries. We could then put together a good shutdown third line.

So you are getting rid of Maatta?
- Marc D

Pick on the guy who listed Mikkelson as a future Pens D and spelled it michelson

Here's why I don't think Letang gets moved next year. In fact, I think Letang will at least serve two years of his new contract here. I don't believe Ray and Mario will trade a guy after they had to convince him to resign here. I know he has a limited NTC (so he can be traded), but trading the guy so recently after he resigns is not Rays MO unless he wants to leave.

He always takes the players feeling into account. The team has bent over backwards to treat these guys really well. I just don't see it happening so early in that deal. Make no mistake, Letang wants to play here.

Pick on the guy who listed Mikkelson as a future Pens D and spelled it michelson
- Deadstar

Better than how he spelled Pouliot.


Close enough, we knew what he was saying.

Here's why I don't think Letang gets moved next year. In fact, I think Letang will at least serve two years of his new contract here. I don't believe Ray and Mario will trade a guy after they had to convince him to resign here. I know he has a limited NTC (so he can be traded), but trading the guy so recently after you resign is not Rays MO unless he wants to leave.

He always takes the players feeling into account. The team has bent over backwards to treat these guys really well. I just don't see it happening so early in that deal. Make no mistake, Letang wants to play here.
- madmike71

I would argue the other way. (as I usually do with you)

I think there was a very real reason why he negotiated the 15 teams list so hard, it was a deal breaker.

I'm just jealous of all the young D guys you have.
Maatta looked great last night, and Despres looks very good.
Don't know much about the rest of your prospects, but it is a very good thing to have that kind of depth.

I would be surprised to see Letang traded even though he would get a lot back.

I can't believe I'm excited to get Glass back but I am very anxious to see a Glass-Vitale-Sill 4th line. Put Bortuzzo on the back end and watch the madness unfold.

With all the D call ups this year, anyone else surprised we haven't seen Harrington? Is he struggling at WBS? It seems like, other than Despres, he was the most highly touted D prospect in the system for a while.

I would argue the other way. (as I usually do with you)

I think there was a very real reason why he negotiated the 15 teams list so hard, it was a deal breaker.
- canadianpenfan

Well then he would be the first "core" guy to be handled that way under Shero. That would have been a deal breaker with any player not named Crosby or Malkin.

I don't think Letang finishes that contract here, I just don't believe he gets moved so early. Only time will tell.

With all the D call ups this year, anyone else surprised we haven't seen Harrington? Is he struggling at WBS? It seems like, other than Despres, he was the most highly touted D prospect in the system for a while.
- mw630

He is the least experienced of the group. This is only his first year in Wilkes-Barre, where guys like Dumoulin and Samuelsson have had over a year experience learning the system.

By my count we've used 11 different dmen. Am i missing anyone?

Letang
Scuds
Nisky
Martin
Orpik
Borts
Engo
Despres
Samuelsson
Mattaa
Doumolin

That's crazy depth considering they can all play and there are 3 or 4 more waiting in the wings.

Anyone else think EK is hinting at Tanger being traded to Tampa?

By my count we've used 11 different dmen. Am i missing anyone?

Letang
Scuds
Nisky
Martin
Orpik
Borts
Engo
Despres
Samuelsson
Mattaa
Doumolin

That's crazy depth considering they can all play and there are 3 or 4 more waiting in the wings.
- canadianpenfan

That is quite the list , guess Shero knew what he was doing picking so many defensemen

Well then he would be the first "core" guy to be handled that way under Shero. That would have been a deal breaker with any player not named Crosby or Malkin.

I don't think Letang finishes that contract here, I just don't believe he gets moved so early. Only time will tell.
- madmike71

I have to agree that Letang will not be moved in the near future. A few years down the road, sure, if the rest of the young D pan out. I just don't see a need to trade Letang right now. The Pens have plenty of cap space next year to fill out the bottom 6. So unless their goal is to replace someone in the top 6, which I just don't see as a priority, then there really is no need to get rid of Letang.

I have to agree that Letang will not be moved in the near future. A few years down the road, sure, if the rest of the young D pan out. I just don't see a need to trade Letang right now. The Pens have plenty of cap space next year to fill out the bottom 6. So unless their goal is to replace someone in the top 6, which I just don't see as a priority, then there really is no need to get rid of Letang.
- PensFan1103

What if they traded Letang before the deadline ? His no trade clause kicks in with the next contract right ? I realize it's highly unlikely but not impossible.

Anyone else think EK is hinting at Tanger being traded to Tampa?
- nbartley9

Not sure what TB would have to make that trade make sense. Their draft picks would be mid to late round. If that was the trade, TB's top PP unit would be scary good when Stamkos gets healthy.

Just ask yourself this question...

Are the Pens better right now with Letang playing and Despres in WBS or are they better with Despres taking his spot, a top 6 forward, a bottom 6 forward and a 1st round pick?

That is quite the list , guess Shero knew what he was doing picking so many defensemen
- Bradlee3

Crazy to think that we basically gave away Lovejoy and Strait too, who are both starters for their teams.

That's a given for me. I said this last night ...


Mattaa- Scuderi
Despres- Martin
Bortuzzo- Orpik
Doumolin


But if we could get a better return for Doumolin than I have no problem putting Engo there.

Letang is great when he wants to be, but with the talent pool where it is the possible return he would bring is too great to ignore. I think it's the smart long term move.
- canadianpenfan

Considering how often this team is dealing with injuries, I'd rather have one of the younger, more talented guys in reserve, because they are going to be playing more often than not. I just don't trust Engelland out there when the playoffs roll around.

Just ask yourself this question...

Are the Pens better right now with Letang playing and Despres in WBS or are they better with Despres taking his spot, a top 6 forward, a bottom 6 forward and a 1st round pick?
- canadianpenfan

I agree with this, but I just can't see it happening....