When everyone was going on about the Penguins "depleted" D core, all I thought was how you're in the midst of developing one of the best prospect crops in the league. Maata, Despres, Dumoulin, Samuelsson. You still have Pouliot and Harrington as well. I knew it was going to be a much tougher game than people expected.

That game had overtime written all over it. Crosby capitalized and the Leafs didn't. Leafs finish with 1-1-1 against the Pens, which isn't too bad. I hope we play in the playoffs, I think it'd be an epic series.
- t_leafs21

I think it would too but i'd rather not play you.

Can we get rid of that crybaby Sidney please?
- dbell646

waivers

For me, the prospect of Simmonds playing on Malkin's wing would be pretty exciting. In my eyes, he is the perfect fit to play with Neal and Geno.
- cap1681

Me too Simmonds is one of my favorite most hated players. Sadly I think Ek was referring to old man Malone making a come back. I don't think Letang was going the other way. Good thing Ek misses on most of these

You shouldn't have a problem doing that. Puck moving, offensive minded defensemen are probably the hottest commodity in the NHL right now, and teams that don't have it will pay big bucks to get it. Look at the Gogo or the whitney deals for example.
- cap1681

I just don't see how trading Letang makes the Penguins better in the short-term. His play recently hasn't been exceptional, but he is among a small group of Dmen in the NHL who can be a dynamic player at both ends of the ice. When you are competing for Cup why would you want to trade that guy?

And who are you going to get back that makes the Penguins better in the here and now? If the formula is 1 NHL player, 1 prospect, and two draft picks, I don't know of any exact trade that makes that deal a clear win for the Pens & increases their chances of winning a cup in the next 1-3yrs.

I just don't see how trading Letang makes the Penguins better in the short-term. His play recently hasn't been exceptional, but he is among a small group of Dmen in the NHL who can be a dynamic player at both ends of the ice. When you are competing for Cup why would you want to trade that guy?

And who are you going to get back that makes the Penguins better in the here and now? If the formula is 1 NHL player, 1 prospect, and two draft picks, I don't know of any exact trade that makes that deal a clear win for the Pens & increases their chances of winning a cup in the next 1-3yrs.
- s0rcerer1984

Suppose it would be addition by subtraction. More steady player in there and you add a better option up front. For arguments sake. I'd want to see the return the Pens would get before I pass judgement. However he landed Pouliot, Domoulin and Sutter for Staal. Pretty big hall there

I'm not as knowledgeable as any of you , but how much does the salary cap really help ? It goes up for EVERYONE so all those teams that spend to the cap will have more money too , which means they will be trying to get more skilled lineups , and that thins out the options right ? Which also means the players will get higher salaries which eats up more of the rising salary cap ? Am I way off base here ?
- Bradlee3

No... you are right... Cap raises, so some teams will throw silly money out at any of the top UFA's, and some of the middle of the road guys will get overpaid because of this (and because teams missed out on their top targets).

The smart teams who built their teams correctly through the draft (and prospects) do have an advantage though. They have more room to re-sign their players that they can control.

For example... some team is going to overpay Matt Niskanen... That team will use up a lot of their "added" cap space on him. The Pens can let him walk and replace him with a young player making $900k, not lose a beat, and have even more money to work with when you think of the $1.5 mil that they are saving on Nisky's roster spot.

Suppose it would be addition by subtraction. More steady player in there and you add a better option up front. For arguments sake. I'd want to see the return the Pens would get before I pass judgement. However he landed Pouliot, Domoulin and Sutter for Staal. Pretty big hall there
- dbell646

Maybe we'll just disagree here, but I don't believe that simply removing Letang from the Pens makes them a better team, especially come playoff time.

So Bortuzzo or whatever the guys name is see's that he is about to be beat so he slams his head with his shoulder lolzzzzzzz no suspension

I'm not sure who gets more favours - Boston or Pitts?

Joke bahaaaaaa

Kadri gets 5 mins and a game for a clean hit to the chest

Sad game it's become, figure skating any one?

Edit: sorry Pens fans forgot I was in a pens thread - sorry but it's true

I'm not as knowledgeable as any of you , but how much does the salary cap really help ? It goes up for EVERYONE so all those teams that spend to the cap will have more money too , which means they will be trying to get more skilled lineups , and that thins out the options right ? Which also means the players will get higher salaries which eats up more of the rising salary cap ? Am I way off base here ?
- Bradlee3

No that's true, but alot of teams don't spend to the cap. Plus when you're talking about attracting a top FA winger the possibilty to play with Crosby or Geno is enticing. Better stats equals more money on their next deal. On top of that don't listen to the trolls, the Penguins are a class organization that treats their players very well- that also plays a factor. Brand new building is a plus.
Another thing working in the Pens favor is the fact that all of their top end talent is locked up, so the additional Cap room doesn't need to be eaten up by extensions. We're in really good shape moving forward.

I just don't see how trading Letang makes the Penguins better in the short-term. His play recently hasn't been exceptional, but he is among a small group of Dmen in the NHL who can be a dynamic player at both ends of the ice. When you are competing for Cup why would you want to trade that guy?

And who are you going to get back that makes the Penguins better in the here and now? If the formula is 1 NHL player, 1 prospect, and two draft picks, I don't know of any exact trade that makes that deal a clear win for the Pens & increases their chances of winning a cup in the next 1-3yrs.
- s0rcerer1984

If they can add a physical presence to the 3rd line, and a pick + prospect, I think it does improve them immediately and in the future. The way the 3rd line is currently built, they will not have too much success in the playoffs. Assuming Fleury plays well in the playoffs, a line of small speed guys simply isn't going to get it done. If we could get an Emerson Etem type player to go with Sutter and Bennett, we would be better off.

Of all the talent Letang has displayed, he still has never grown into the PP QB that everyone envisioned him to be. Martin (and even Niskanen this year) has been much better on the PP. We have defenseman with similar skill sets to Letang. If they can get the physical/talented 3rd liner + 1st + prospect, Shero should make the move. While Shero needs to treat his players well, there are only so many years left with Malkin/Crosby. You do what you can to give the team the best chance to win the cup and don't spend too much time worrying about Letang's feelings.

No... you are right... Cap raises, so some teams will throw silly money out at any of the top UFA's, and some of the middle of the road guys will get overpaid because of this (and because teams missed out on their top targets).

The smart teams who built their teams correctly through the draft (and prospects) do have an advantage though. They have more room to re-sign their players that they can control.

For example... some team is going to overpay Matt Niskanen... That team will use up a lot of their "added" cap space on him. The Pens can let him walk and replace him with a young player making $900k, not lose a beat, and have even more money to work with when you think of the $1.5 mil that they are saving on Nisky's roster spot.
- rival22

Since he arrived in Pitt. I do think Niskanen has progressed into a Top-4 Dman and a possible a 2nd PP QB. I think a $3.5-$4.25M/yr for 5 yrs as an UFA would be reasonable. Also, (and I always forget this) he is still pretty young at age 27.

No... you are right... Cap raises, so some teams will throw silly money out at any of the top UFA's, and some of the middle of the road guys will get overpaid because of this (and because teams missed out on their top targets).

The smart teams who built their teams correctly through the draft (and prospects) do have an advantage though. They have more room to re-sign their players that they can control.

For example... some team is going to overpay Matt Niskanen... That team will use up a lot of their "added" cap space on him. The Pens can let him walk and replace him with a young player making $900k, not lose a beat, and have even more money to work with when you think of the $1.5 mil that they are saving on Nisky's roster spot.
- rival22

To me, where the Pens really have an advantage is that their top end talent is locked up. Malkin, Crosby, Letang are all on the books for a very long time. Their salaries will not rise, while the cap continues to go up (part of the reason I don't see the need to trade Letang). And then you add on top of that, we will have Kunitz, Neal, Dupuis, and Scuderi locked up for 3 more years too. So that is our top D pairing and 5 of our top 6 locked up. Most other teams don't have that much of their top end talent locked up, and those are the players that are going to see the greatest increase in their cap with it going up. So while the Pens might have to still pay more for their free agents, it isn't going to be the highest paid players they will be going after.

To me, where the Pens really have an advantage is that their top end talent is locked up. Malkin, Crosby, Letang are all on the books for a very long time. Their salaries will not rise, while the cap continues to go up (part of the reason I don't see the need to trade Letang). And then you add on top of that, we will have Kunitz, Neal, Dupuis, and Scuderi locked up for 3 more years too. So that is our top D pairing and 5 of our top 6 locked up. Most other teams don't have that much of their top end talent locked up, and those are the players that are going to see the greatest increase in their cap with it going up. So while the Pens might have to still pay more for their free agents, it isn't going to be the highest paid players they will be going after.
- PensFan1103

Plus, we have this guy...


Captain Sidney Crosby’s 12-year, $104.4 million deal began this season, carrying an Average Annual Value of $8.7 million.

A player can max out at 20 percent of the cap, so Crosby could have commanded an annual salary of about $14 million.

“I definitely wanted to make sure that me, personally, I gave myself every chance to win,” Crosby said. “That doesn’t mean someone else has to do that. But if I’m 45 and I look back and say, ‘I did everything I could. … I worked as hard as I could, took less on a contract, did everything I could to give us a chance to win,’ I can live with that. That’s the most important thing.”

- Sportsnet

If they can add a physical presence to the 3rd line, and a pick + prospect, I think it does improve them immediately and in the future. The way the 3rd line is currently built, they will not have too much success in the playoffs. Assuming Fleury plays well in the playoffs, a line of small speed guys simply isn't going to get it done. If we could get an Emerson Etem type player to go with Sutter and Bennett, we would be better off.

Of all the talent Letang has displayed, he still has never grown into the PP QB that everyone envisioned him to be. Martin (and even Niskanen this year) has been much better on the PP. We have defenseman with similar skill sets to Letang. If they can get the physical/talented 3rd liner + 1st + prospect, Shero should make the move. While Shero needs to treat his players well, there are only so many years left with Malkin/Crosby. You do what you can to give the team the best chance to win the cup and don't spend too much time worrying about Letang's feelings.
- mw630

You and I are on the same page sir.

Since he arrived in Pitt. I do think Niskanen has progressed into a Top-4 Dman and a possible a 2nd PP QB. I think a $3.5-$4.25M/yr for 5 yrs as an UFA would be reasonable. Also, (and I always forget this) he is still pretty young at age 27.
- s0rcerer1984

I think this summer, with very few puck moving defensemen UFA's and the cap raising, someone is going to offer him $5 mil a year. Maybe he'll be a little picky knowing what the wrong situation was like (what he had in Dallas), but he's going to be mid 4's a least. Carolina, Edmonton, Philly, just to name a few, will be going after him.

If they can add a physical presence to the 3rd line, and a pick + prospect, I think it does improve them immediately and in the future. The way the 3rd line is currently built, they will not have too much success in the playoffs. Assuming Fleury plays well in the playoffs, a line of small speed guys simply isn't going to get it done. If we could get an Emerson Etem type player to go with Sutter and Bennett, we would be better off.

Of all the talent Letang has displayed, he still has never grown into the PP QB that everyone envisioned him to be. Martin (and even Niskanen this year) has been much better on the PP. We have defenseman with similar skill sets to Letang. If they can get the physical/talented 3rd liner + 1st + prospect, Shero should make the move. While Shero needs to treat his players well, there are only so many years left with Malkin/Crosby. You do what you can to give the team the best chance to win the cup and don't spend too much time worrying about Letang's feelings.
- mw630

I agree the 3rd-line could use more size, but I don't agree on the way of acquiring it. Why trade Letang for picks/prospect & 3rd-line size when you can acquire it this offseason as a UFA without giving up any assets? The Pens have almost all of their Top-4 D and Top-6 F locked up w/ an estimated $15M next year to play with. Add in the RFA's (Megna, Sutter, Despres) at a discounted price and the Pens would be left with about $9M, conservatively. Patience rather than a knee-jerk, unnecessary trade is what is required.

I think this summer, with very few puck moving defensemen UFA's and the cap raising, someone is going to offer him $5 mil a year. Maybe he'll be a little picky knowing what the wrong situation was like (what he had in Dallas), but he's going to be mid 4's a least. Carolina, Edmonton, Philly, just to name a few, will be going after him.
- rival22

That's why if the D-core can get healthy by March 5th, Shero should be shopping him.

Plus, we have this guy...


Captain Sidney Crosby’s 12-year, $104.4 million deal began this season, carrying an Average Annual Value of $8.7 million.

A player can max out at 20 percent of the cap, so Crosby could have commanded an annual salary of about $14 million.

“I definitely wanted to make sure that me, personally, I gave myself every chance to win,” Crosby said. “That doesn’t mean someone else has to do that. But if I’m 45 and I look back and say, ‘I did everything I could. … I worked as hard as I could, took less on a contract, did everything I could to give us a chance to win,’ I can live with that. That’s the most important thing.”

- Sportsnet
- canadianpenfan

There are already people saying that guys like Stamkos and Toews could be getting $11-$12 million on their next deals. A few years from now, Crosby's deal will be an absolute bargain.

I agree the 3rd-line could use more size, but I don't agree on the way of acquiring it. Why trade Letang for picks/prospect & 3rd-line size when you can acquire it this offseason as a UFA without giving up any assets? The Pens have almost all of their Top-4 D and Top-6 F locked up w/ an estimated $15M next year to play with. Add in the RFA's (Megna, Sutter, Despres) at a discounted price and the Pens would be left with about $9M, conservatively. Patience rather than a knee-jerk, unnecessary trade is what is required.
- s0rcerer1984

I definitely understand your thought process. But, I don't think trading Letang is a knee-jerk decision at all. If anything, it has at least been considered since they signed him to a contract extension. They did not give him the NTC because they needed that flexibility to trade him if the right situation was presented. Having him in the lineup the past couple of years has given Despres plenty of extra time to develop, and they are now reaping the rewards. I might be in the minority, but I don't think there will be any noticeable drop off if he is moved.

I do think that we could see a dramatic improvement in the 3rd line though, if he is moved. Getting someone as an UFA would always be ideal, but there is no guarantee that one will be available this year. We would also have the opportunity to replenish our D prospects with the additional pieces of the trade.

I agree the 3rd-line could use more size, but I don't agree on the way of acquiring it. Why trade Letang for picks/prospect & 3rd-line size when you can acquire it this offseason as a UFA without giving up any assets? The Pens have almost all of their Top-4 D and Top-6 F locked up w/ an estimated $15M next year to play with. Add in the RFA's (Megna, Sutter, Despres) at a discounted price and the Pens would be left with about $9M, conservatively. Patience rather than a knee-jerk, unnecessary trade is what is required.
- s0rcerer1984

See, my thought would be to get a return of maybe a proven top 6 guy, preferably in the Kunitz mold. There is no coincidence that Malkin has had his best years with Kunitz or Malone on his wing. The offensive boost of adding a guy like that to the top 6 i think would outweigh the offense Letang brings. Plus, the defenseman who would replace Letang (Despres or whoever) would be more responsible defensively the Letang.

Don't get me wrong, i am a fan of Letang, i just think that what they would be able to get would make a stronger team now and into the future then what it would be keeping him.

I just don't see how trading Letang makes the Penguins better in the short-term. His play recently hasn't been exceptional, but he is among a small group of Dmen in the NHL who can be a dynamic player at both ends of the ice. When you are competing for Cup why would you want to trade that guy?

And who are you going to get back that makes the Penguins better in the here and now? If the formula is 1 NHL player, 1 prospect, and two draft picks, I don't know of any exact trade that makes that deal a clear win for the Pens & increases their chances of winning a cup in the next 1-3yrs.
- s0rcerer1984

Trading him makes the Pens better equipped to make a longer run in the play-offs every year. He gets you valuable assets moving forward to help restock the farm system with forwards AND a much needed young nhl ready forward too boot.

Anyone who thinks trading Letang doesn't help isn't seeing the big - long term picture. The guy is also having fragility issues. Quite a few games missed the last two or three years.

So Bortuzzo or whatever the guys name is see's that he is about to be beat so he slams his head with his shoulder lolzzzzzzz no suspension

I'm not sure who gets more favours - Boston or Pitts?

Joke bahaaaaaa

Kadri gets 5 mins and a game for a clean hit to the chest

Sad game it's become, figure skating any one?

Edit: sorry Pens fans forgot I was in a pens thread - sorry but it's true
- Garnie

another Toronto crybaby. Beginning to be commonplace.

There are already people saying that guys like Stamkos and Toews could be getting $11-$12 million on their next deals. A few years from now, Crosby's deal will be an absolute bargain.
- rival22

You couldn't be more right. It will be one of the best contracts in hockey. Malkin's will proabably be one of the better contracts too.

I'm really interested to see what Patrick Kane is going to get with his next contract. Toews deserves every penny he is going to get - he is a great player/captain. Living in Chicago, it was interesting to hear all of the people who wanted Kane moved before the beginning of last season. It will be interesting to see if he can live up to an 8yr/72 mil contract.

There are already people saying that guys like Stamkos and Toews could be getting $11-$12 million on their next deals. A few years from now, Crosby's deal will be an absolute bargain.
- rival22

Malkin and Letang's too. Could you imagine in a few years, 4 or 5 down the road maybe. Crosby and Malkin possibly not being in the top 10 highest paid players? That is going to be such a steal. Right now Malkin and Crosby are 2 and 3 in highest cap hits in the league behind Ovechkin.

That's why if the D-core can get healthy by March 5th, Shero should be shopping him.
- cap1681

It all depends on what the return is.

The D-depth Niskanen provides helps the Pens compete for the Cup now, especially since its almost guaranteed that at some point a Dman will go down with injury in the Playoffs. Plus, given the way Niskanen has played & his relatively young age, I can see Shero moving his rights for value prior to UFA, but after the trade deadline so i don't think it is an all or nothing kinda thing.

However, if the right deal is available & Shero needs to clear space, then I'd be all for it. Just have to make sure that you are getting real value for Niskanen & not just a mid-2nd round pick or something.