Tocchet hired martin bales retained.. reirden and granto fired

You want a much older player, bigger cap hit, on a shorter deal.... Hmmmmm

The other comparatives are a wash....
- nelson911

Yes. Remove the cancer without losing the production.

The other comparatives are not a wash, Sharp is a much better 2 way player who doesn't take selfish penalties that constantly hurt the team.

One is a winner, one is a weiner.

JR - "Making in game adjustments is one of Mike Johnston's best assets"

My UFA wish list

Bruins: Iggy
Sabers: Konopka
Wings: Legwand
Flyers: Downie
Rags: Boyle
Yotes: Bissonnette
Blues: Ott

Buy out: Malone- league min, 1 yr

More important is unloading Sutter, that is what the success of this season depends on, say whatever you want he is not a winner.
- nbartley9

I see you know nothing about hockey. Iggy didnt work last year, wont help this year. Konopka, might be an ok 4th liner for you guys but you have better talent in WB/Scranton for cheaper. Legwand, might be the only guy on here i might like for you. Downie, hahahahah . Boyle, might be ok but i do believe Sutter works better with your team, which is why i was going to say why unload him. He's been a great 3rd line center for you. Bissonnette, not leaving the west. Ott, Too much money for you. Malone is washed up.

I personally think you should try and pry Tyler Myers way from Buffalo. He's big, hits and can play well when he is given a partner like Maata or Letang.

Yes. Remove the cancer without losing the production.

The other comparatives are not a wash, Sharp is a much better 2 way player who doesn't take selfish penalties that constantly hurt the team.

One is a winner, one is a weiner.
- canadianpenfan

I agree, I prefer Sharp... But it is not equal value... Would definitely need something else in return

Tocchet - "85% of teams do the same thing, it's the 15% that do different things that succeed. Mike will bring that to the Penguins"

First jagoff to bring up the suspension is Rossi. SHOCKER

I agree, I prefer Sharp... But it is not equal value... Would definitely need something else in return
- nelson911

Would you do Neal and Sutter for Sharp and Shaw?

Would you do Neal and Sutter for Sharp and Shaw?
- errey12

Yes, I would do that but Chicago would not. I would be almost certain they would turn that down.

I'm excited the process is over. I would be more excited about the hire if he was allowed to choose his own staff. Why doesn't this management team allow Johnston to bring in guys that already know exactly what Mike Johnston wants to do? In my opinion the Pens are becoming the Cowboys or Raiders of the NHL.... Owners/upper management are running this organization like a toy.

I think it is entirely closed. Teams are allowed to talk to Nisky as of 12:01 AM this morning. They just can't sign him until July 1. Why in the world would any team trade for his rights when they can talk to him to gauge his interest now. I'm sure in talking they will know if they will make him an offer or not on July 1 and I don't doubt for a second that agreements are made and just waiting for July 1 to "make it official"
- PensFan1103

Not necessarily ture. A team may work out a deal with Niskanen and want to finalize it prior to July 1 hitting. As has been said many times, you never know what will happen once UFA hits. Niskanen is, by far, best of the thin D pool. If a team doesn't want to take any chances, it might be worth a 4th rounder ( or later) to make certain. You never know.

I agree, I prefer Sharp... But it is not equal value... Would definitely need something else in return
- nelson911

I love Sharp. Don't love that he's on the wrong side of 30. No deal for me. I understand Nealers faults, but if I'm trading him, I'm asking for younger players.

Edit... Put me down as wait and see. I would have said that about any new coach.

I see you know nothing about hockey. Iggy didnt work last year, wont help this year. Konopka, might be an ok 4th liner for you guys but you have better talent in WB/Scranton for cheaper. Legwand, might be the only guy on here i might like for you. Downie, hahahahah . Boyle, might be ok but i do believe Sutter works better with your team, which is why i was going to say why unload him. He's been a great 3rd line center for you. Bissonnette, not leaving the west. Ott, Too much money for you. Malone is washed up.

I personally think you should try and pry Tyler Myers way from Buffalo. He's big, hits and can play well when he is given a partner like Maata or Letang.
- BernieKorch

HAHAHAHAHAHA thanks for the advise your brilliant!!!! Tyler Myers? hahaha Tyler Myers; wow I still cant believe you even said that,Ron is that you???

I would like to see Hynes brought in for the second asst. specializing on the defense but I tend to think that MJ will look outside the system.

Seems intelligent and has experience. I wonder if he has any fire in him.

Yes. Remove the cancer without losing the production.

The other comparatives are not a wash, Sharp is a much better 2 way player who doesn't take selfish penalties that constantly hurt the team.

One is a winner, one is a weiner.
- canadianpenfan

Was going to say Sharps overall game >>>>>> better than Neal's.

I agree, I prefer Sharp... But it is not equal value... Would definitely need something else in return
- nelson911

Yea, Sharp is the more complete player, but we need a young guy in return as well. Saad is too valuable. Maybe Neal and our first for Sharp and Saad? Again don't see that working for Chicago. Maybe Neal for Sharp and Hartman? Sharp and one of their third liners. I dunno, just brainstorming. Don't see why CHI would wan't Neal that badly...

I would like to see Hynes brought in for the second asst. specializing on the defense but I tend to think that MJ will look outside the system.
- Reverend Killtaker

I would think that Jacques Martin would be the defensive guy. Tocchet is in charge of making sure players'compete level and drive to the net.

I love Sharp. Don't love that he's on the wrong side of 30. No deal for me. I understand Nealers faults, but if I'm trading him, I'm asking for younger players.

Edit... Put me down as wait and see. I would have said that about any new coach.
- madmike71

Yeah...Sharp is older and more expensive. He's signed through '17 at $6M. I just think we need youth and/or multiple pieces for a Neal trade to make sense.

I would like to see Hynes brought in for the second asst. specializing on the defense but I tend to think that MJ will look outside the system.
- Reverend Killtaker

He won't be. Sounds like they're letting MJ hire another guy of his choice.

There will be questions about the fact he has not been a head coach in the NHL and that he is coming from the junior ranks. That was never an area I was concerned with, hockey is hockey. The only thing that changes at the NHL level is the fact the players are NHL talented. Conceptually, it is all the same.
- Ryan_Wilson

I like the hire at least its fresh and not a recycled idiot. I don't like the neal for sharp whispers. Sharpy is a great player but older and more money, plays left wing its hard to find good right wingers let alone 40g right wings. I would move neal up to play with sid n beau put kuni back with malkin to give geno more of a shoot first mentality. My ufa pick is radim vrbata 2yrs 6m.
what would anyone think of maybe trying to buy Pajarvii on the low from stl as a reclamation project????

Ho-Sang is listed at 5' 11, 176. Chris Drury, who I think is a great comparison for physique and playing style, played at 5' 10, 190.
- Johnny Wrath

He's a little smaller but he might be E. Kane 2.0

I like the hire at least its fresh and not a recycled idiot. I don't like the neal for sharp whispers. Sharpy is a great player but older and more money, plays left wing its hard to find good right wingers let alone 40g right wings. I would move neal up to play with sid n beau put kuni back with malkin to give geno more of a shoot first mentality
- Jordy8

Beau isn't a left winger, he could then play the right side.

I'm more interested on what the Pens will be doing when not in possession of the puck. Nobody asks questions like that; it's obviously more important to the media in Pittsburgh to clarify the level of play the coach has reached and if it will spoil his influence with such big stars as Pittsburgh has. He should have just said "Scotty Bowman".

I think the Penguins should do everything they can to put a stop to the aggrandizing of Sid.