I don't see them re-signing Riemer. So basically I'm thinking we can get him later.

Marty at $2M... Maybe not. The guy wants to play for a contender. Pitt is a team that has kept coming up. I just don't see him making more than 2M if he is serious about joining a better team.
- penguins-4-life

Vokoun is a smarter signing than Marty at this point. Marty is worse than Zatkoff now.

You just talked about youth and speed but you have Iggy and Malone on this list? I'd pass on those guys, plus Boston is trying to clear space to resign Iggy.
- usethe1-2-2

iginla just came off of one of his better seasons. the guy hasnt slowed down and still played a hell of a year.

love his hunger and drive for a cup. we failed him, not the other way around.

he brings that vocal leadership and the respect to the locker room.

what is this team missing?

a skilled top 6 guy
grit
leadership
drive for a cup

iginla matches all 4 of those.

Pittsburgh isn't winning the cup this year. Plain and simple. Poor asset management is giving 58 7+ Million dollar contract each year, Dupes at 3.750 and scuds blah blah blah.

I'm looking to the 2015-2016 year when the team can field a squad of guys ready to play on the cheaper contracts.

Your idea of another top 6 forward is silly. Get the guys in the system now who will be ready to play shortly. Not only that but taking advantage of free agents is important. I'll take guys like Moulson, Cammy Hemski around the 5 mill mark over Neal any day. That plug Neal spends half the game int he box and god forbid 71 gets hurt...Neal is then just a giant paperweight.

I'll tell you how you improve and it's by getting guys who can handle their own on the bottom lines. That's what Pittsburgh need. Reality is the money isn't there for all these pieces so fix what is broken now (the bottom 6) and let 87 and 71 continue to dominate with the subpar help they've had the majority of their careers.

Riemer isn't as bad as you claim. Of the free agents out there Hiller and Miller are the other two I would consider for starting positions but will cost more. I'm tired of MAF, average at best. And if your like me and don't expect to win this year than do something about it now.
- penguins-4-life

I'dlike to get Niemi somehow. I agree with prepping for the furture but i disagree on this year. I expect to be at least as good as last year. We had the worst bottom 6 of all playoff teams. We can'tbe worse this year (knock on wood). And I'mnot going to waste this year.

When it comes to roster moves, we need to tone down the win now mentality but also be mindful of the future. Its a balance. Can't take an extreme approach either way.

Vokoun is a smarter signing than Marty at this point. Marty is worse than Zatkoff now.
- usethe1-2-2

After Vokun's recent year, I'm not sold. Not a knock on the guy. If he can come back and compete let's talk. Marty has fuel in the tank.

Vokoun is a smarter signing than Marty at this point. Marty is worse than Zatkoff now.
- usethe1-2-2

agreed. anything more than league minimum for Marty is a mistake. he just doesnt have it anymore.

iginla just came off of one of his better seasons. the guy hasnt slowed down and still played a hell of a year.

love his hunger and drive for a cup. we failed him, not the other way around.

he brings that vocal leadership and the respect to the locker room.

what is this team missing?

a skilled top 6 guy
grit
leadership
drive for a cup



I highly doubt Iggy would come back to Pitt after the disaster he had here. Odds are he stays in Boston for 5+ and IMO that's money better spend elsewhere for the Pens.

Don't give me wrong, I love the guy, but I don't see it as a fit.

iginla matches all 4 of those.
- SuperHenderson13

After Vokun's recent year, I'm not sold. Not a knock on the guy. If he can come back and compete let's talk. Marty has fuel in the tank.
- penguins-4-life

He doesn't though. If you watched him last season he was pathetic. He has nothing. I wouldn't sign him for league min.

Not exactly getting younger, but still decent production. Would he be bottom 6?
- sammy87

I'm assuming top 6. I sense hes more of a finesse guy but ill be honest, being in PHX, i havent seen him play much. Maybe hes a fallback plan in case nNeal is traded.

iginla just came off of one of his better seasons. the guy hasnt slowed down and still played a hell of a year.

love his hunger and drive for a cup. we failed him, not the other way around.

he brings that vocal leadership and the respect to the locker room.

what is this team missing?

a skilled top 6 guy
grit
leadership
drive for a cup

iginla matches all 4 of those.
- SuperHenderson13

Tried that once, he wasn't that vocal, wasn't nearly as fast and had trouble keeping up, worked a lot better with a team that slows the game down in Boston.

I'dlike to get Niemi somehow. I agree with prepping for the furture but i disagree on this year. I expect to be at least as good as last year. We had the worst bottom 6 of all playoff teams. We can'tbe worse this year (knock on wood). And I'mnot going to waste this year.

When it comes to roster moves, we need to tone down the win now mentality but also be mindful of the future. Its a balance. Can't take an extreme approach either way.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

The Pens are already struggling to sell out playoff games at the current price point. The waiting list for season tiks has dropped dramatically the past year. Either people are removing themselves from the list, or people aren't re upping. Having another 5 yr plan will hurt the franchise. 87 and 71 will have peaked and slowed down by then, 71 will probably be in Russia, they need do what they can to win now and for the next 3 years, then when Dupes, Scuds, and Kunitz are off the roster, they can re charge.

[quote=sammy87]
keep in mind that his cap hit wasnt 5 million. his cap hit was only 1.8 million. he made a ton of money through bonuses. so much that boston lost around 4.5 million in cap space this year as punishment from the league.

i think he would look here with a new coach and GM. if the old crew was still here i'd agree with you 100%.

if he could see Crosby's wing open, and i know most of you love Kane so if we got him for Neal in a deal, like honestly, what better guy would you rather have around Kane than Iginla. really similar guys.

Tried that once, he wasn't that vocal, wasn't nearly as fast and had trouble keeping up, worked a lot better with a team that slows the game down in Boston.
- usethe1-2-2

using his time here as an example is unfair to him

1. came here with the intention and expectation to play on Crosby's RW. he shouldnt have lost his place to pascal fricking dupuis.

2. he is then placed at LW on Malkin's line. Iginla-Malkin-Neal was a good line on paper, but had no chance of succeeding. really poor coaching.

3. He wasnt a leader because imagine his spot... he comes in with morrow, murray, the team is killing everyone... dream team, what does he have to say? he is here for the ride.

unlike guerin where he came to a sinking ship and had to take a role.

if you give iginla a full season... i bet you get a match different result. iginla isnt the type to walk into a locker room mid season and take it over.

keep in mind that his cap hit wasnt 5 million. his cap hit was only 1.8 million. he made a ton of money through bonuses. so much that boston lost around 4.5 million in cap space this year as punishment from the league.

i think he would look here with a new coach and GM. if the old crew was still here i'd agree with you 100%.

if he could see Crosby's wing open, and i know most of you love Kane so if we got him for Neal in a deal, like honestly, what better guy would you rather have around Kane than Iginla. really similar guys.
- SuperHenderson13

Similar how? Skin color?

using his time here as an example is unfair to him

1. came here with the intention and expectation to play on Crosby's RW. he shouldnt have lost his place to pascal fricking dupuis.

2. he is then placed at LW on Malkin's line. Iginla-Malkin-Neal was a good line on paper, but had no chance of succeeding. really poor coaching.

3. He wasnt a leader because imagine his spot... he comes in with morrow, murray, the team is killing everyone... dream team, what does he have to say? he is here for the ride.

unlike guerin where he came to a sinking ship and had to take a role.

if you give iginla a full season... i bet you get a match different result. iginla isnt the type to walk into a locker room mid season and take it over.
- SuperHenderson13

I still cant believe Dupes got his spot over him. I can only imagine Shero talking to Disco, hey um remember the 1st rnd pick I traded away for Iggy, yeah um why is he on the 2nd line on his off wing for a guy that was on the 4th line when we won the cup? Disco's response, Well Dupes has seniority so he stays.

Im not a fan of deadline deals, it seems like it takes until playoffs until the newb can click in his role. I will always look at the Hossa yr and think what could have been? To be honest Im not sure if a team who made major deadline deals ever wont the cup?

The Pens are already struggling to sell out playoff games at the current price point. The waiting list for season tiks has dropped dramatically the past year. Either people are removing themselves from the list, or people aren't re upping. Having another 5 yr plan will hurt the franchise. 87 and 71 will have peaked and slowed down by then, 71 will probably be in Russia, they need do what they can to win now and for the next 3 years, then when Dupes, Scuds, and Kunitz are off the roster, they can re charge.
- sammy87

In three years, a recharge doesn't just happen. You need to draft these guys now. You need to trade older guys at higher value now. I get your point but if we Keep trading away picks and young guys, we'll be left with nnothing. Thats why we're in this situation to begin with.

On the same token, I'm okay with filling a few holes with 30 year old guys. Not guys that are 37.. like Iginla. You want to win now right? Well I will argue that getting younger helps us achieve that goal.

I still cant believe Dupes got his spot over him. I can only imagine Shero talking to Disco, hey um remember the 1st rnd pick I traded away for Iggy, yeah um why is he on the 2nd line on his off wing for a guy that was on the 4th line when we won the cup? Disco's response, Well Dupes has seniority so he stays.

Im not a fan of deadline deals, it seems like it takes until playoffs until the newb can click in his role. I will always look at the Hossa yr and think what could have been? To be honest Im not sure if a team who made major deadline deals ever wont the cup?
- sammy87

What do you mean got his spot? It was Dupes spot, the top line was killing it that year.
Personally I think they should have put Iginla with Crosby, but it certainly wasnt his spot.

As for now, I would love Iginla to win the cup here, nothing would make me happier, but I just dont see where he fits. The dream of him lining up with Crosby is not the right fit, Crosby is a player that pushes the play, he needs line mates that can keep up with him, and Iginla simply cannot do that anymore.

If we dealt Neal, then I could see him playing with Malkin again in his proper spot on the RW. Malkin is more of a roamer who slithers up ice, Iginlas foot speed would not be an issue, I dont think he is much slower than Neal.

I'dlike to get Niemi somehow. I agree with prepping for the furture but i disagree on this year. I expect to be at least as good as last year. We had the worst bottom 6 of all playoff teams. We can'tbe worse this year (knock on wood). And I'mnot going to waste this year.

When it comes to roster moves, we need to tone down the win now mentality but also be mindful of the future. Its a balance. Can't take an extreme approach either way.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Don't get me wrong. I expect the squad to be competitive no doubt. Tone the win now mentality for sure.

The thing is with the young defensive group we will more than likely be fielding isn't a home run. The bottom 6 can only BUT be improved which is a good sign. After that what top 6 guys are we going to get that put us at the top? I posted something similar before about no-one being tradable which only makes things tougher.

In three years, a recharge doesn't just happen. You need to draft these guys now. You need to trade older guys at higher value now. I get your point but if we Keep trading away picks and young guys, we'll be left with nnothing. Thats why we're in this situation to begin with.

On the same token, I'm okay with filling a few holes with 30 year old guys. Not guys that are 37.. like Iginla. You want to win now right? Well I will argue that getting younger helps us achieve that goal.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

NO the Pens def need to get younger. Im just not so sure in trading Neal for picks, MAF for picks, those could take 2-4 yrs to develop if they do at all. Id go after younger mid 20's players. I remember the Pens had a dude Pierro Zabatol (SP) and he was smoking the WHL or whatever, and he can barely make Wheeling, you just never know with prospects. I refuse to allocate time to follow prospects, its such a crap shoot. Nail was suppose to be the next Russian superstar and I swear the next trade proposal I see with him coming back Im done.

I think for the top 6 the Pens need Okposo/Hornquest level players, younger, tougher, cheaper, hungry. I love Cammi and his game, but I think he even might be a risk at this point.

Similar how? Skin color?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

you dont think that iginla faced the same obstacles and basis that kane faced? iginla might be more soft spoken and a more likable guy, but dont under appreciate the road that he had to take to make it to the NHL...

In three years, a recharge doesn't just happen. You need to draft these guys now. You need to trade older guys at higher value now. I get your point but if we Keep trading away picks and young guys, we'll be left with nnothing. Thats why we're in this situation to begin with.

On the same token, I'm okay with filling a few holes with 30 year old guys. Not guys that are 37.. like Iginla. You want to win now right? Well I will argue that getting younger helps us achieve that goal.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You know I have been argueing against your arguement for awhile, I am fully in we must win now mode. But after listening to Crosby at the awards talk about McKinnon, I think the team needs an influx of youth. There maybe is a lack of enthusiasm in the room. Maybe a few wide eyed youths come in and the game becomes more fun for Crosby et al. Also Crosby really sounds like a guy would loves to mentor younger players.

What do you mean got his spot? It was Dupes spot, the top line was killing it that year.
Personally I think they should have put Iginla with Crosby, but it certainly wasnt his spot.

As for now, I would love Iginla to win the cup here, nothing would make me happier, but I just dont see where he fits. The dream of him lining up with Crosby is not the right fit, Crosby is a player that pushes the play, he needs line mates that can keep up with him, and Iginla simply cannot do that anymore.

If we dealt Neal, then I could see him playing with Malkin again in his proper spot on the RW. Malkin is more of a roamer who slithers up ice, Iginlas foot speed would not be an issue, I dont think he is much slower than Neal.
- stackthepads

do you think guerin had wheels to keep up with crosby? no.

this idea that every player crosby plays with needs to be really fast isnt true.

iginla could fit on this team, i have no doubt about it. really could use him on the PP and in the locker room.

doubt it happens, but man do i want to see him win a cup. just would hate to see it happen with boston.

but good discussion boys, i'm out. have a good night.

NO the Pens def need to get younger. Im just not so sure in trading Neal for picks, MAF for picks, those could take 2-4 yrs to develop if they do at all. Id go after younger mid 20's players. I remember the Pens had a dude Pierro Zabatol (SP) and he was smoking the WHL or whatever, and he can barely make Wheeling, you just never know with prospects. I refuse to allocate time to follow prospects, its such a crap shoot. Nail was suppose to be the next Russian superstar and I swear the next trade proposal I see with him coming back Im done.

I think for the top 6 the Pens need Okposo/Hornquest level players, younger, tougher, cheaper, hungry. I love Cammi and his game, but I think he even might be a risk at this point.
- sammy87

I would trade anyone not names Crosby or Malkin for Nail Yakupov and I aint even messing with you. That kid is going to be amazing once he isnt coached by Dallas Eakins.

I would trade anyone not names Crosby or Malkin for Nail Yakupov and I aint even messing with you. That kid is going to be amazing once he isnt coached by Dallas Eakins.
- stackthepads

I've seen him against the AVS, could be the coach, but I was left with the feeling that he was completely uninterested. We have an office in EDM and the feeling there is that he will be in the KHL soon. THey hate him! Also goes back to my theory on Russian players, no interest. Malkin is more than enough for me at times.

I've seen him against the AVS, could be the coach, but I was left with the feeling that he was completely uninterested. We have an office in EDM and the feeling there is that he will be in the KHL soon. THey hate him! Also goes back to my theory on Russian players, no interest. Malkin is more than enough for me at times.
- sammy87

I think he is uninterested, he has been beaten up by the coach all year and yeah if edm isnt smart they may lose him to the KHL. Russians like offense, its plain ans simple. You get a guy like Yakupov, and you set him free in the offensive zone. He is exactly like Ovechkin and Malkin ect.. they want to score.
So you let them.
If we were to get Yakupov, he'd have to play with Crosby and Kunitz, those are two very responcible forwards, who could maximize a guy like Yaks.

NO the Pens def need to get younger. Im just not so sure in trading Neal for picks, MAF for picks, those could take 2-4 yrs to develop if they do at all. Id go after younger mid 20's players. I remember the Pens had a dude Pierro Zabatol (SP) and he was smoking the WHL or whatever, and he can barely make Wheeling, you just never know with prospects. I refuse to allocate time to follow prospects, its such a crap shoot. Nail was suppose to be the next Russian superstar and I swear the next trade proposal I see with him coming back Im done.

I think for the top 6 the Pens need Okposo/Hornquest level players, younger, tougher, cheaper, hungry. I love Cammi and his game, but I think he even might be a risk at this point.
- sammy87

So essentially, we agree in principke and disagree in details! The prices for okposk and hornqvist are extremely high though. II'dlove to have them, tthat's the best case scenario... but when you start talking Neal + for one player....not as smart. If Fleury got you a dfirst, then that's good asset management, iIMO