Ok now trade Malkins trailer for a hockey player.

Clouts is saying kuli wants to sign where grab signs... now it is clouts so take it for what it's worth..

Gut feeling. The Pens are gonna be more active than everybody thinks.
- Topshelf Mountain

Essentially, I agree.

The Penguins have more cap space than people are giving them credit for w/ about $15M & potentially the Top-6 F (Neal, Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Bennett, Dupuis), Top-2 D (Letang, Martin), and starting G (Fleury) all locked up. Add in the RFA's of Sutter ($3M/yr), Despres ($1M/yr), and Samuelsson ($700K/yr) who could, collectively, only take up $4.7M and fill out three additional roster spots.

Add in Bortuzzo. Zatkoff, Adams (ugh...), and Scuderi (triple ugh...) that leaves about $10M for two 3rd line W's and two 4th line W's, which is a heck of a lot ($2.5M per player) when you consider 4th liners are quite inexpensive.

Thank god I didn't have to say this.
- nbartley9

Why is this even taking up space on the Internet? No way Chi does this. They'd hang up literally laughing....

He has an affinity for third and fourth line players; players past their primes, or guys who really don't add much absent dropping the gloves. To be honest, there isn't one person he has on his list that I would want. Hell, I'd go as far as say I'd take Hemsky over all of those names he mentioned and people know my thoughts on Hemsky. Legwand ... Bissonette that cracks me up.
- Oneonta Penguin

Racist

I'm not a fan of taking a kid with character issues and questions involving work ethic regardless of talent. Sure, he has the tools. Character issues seem to be the big thing keeping him out of potentially being a top 10 pick.
- Oneonta Penguin

I don't think Character issues is a big deal with this team!!!

Is Stempniak going to be resigned?

Love the hire of Johnston when you look at the possession number possibilities. That's the team we have. They're built for it. He can help that. Portland made some quick turnarounds under him and have been largely successful with a good mix of talent.

Is Stempniak going to be resigned?
- The_Janitor

If he shocked if they didn't talk to him. Especially with the talk about Jokinen being let go to find his "big contract"

Is Stempniak going to be resigned?
- The_Janitor

Most of us hope so but with this franchise right now... Who knows?

Honestly, really liked hearing some specific hockey strategies from MJ. Not saying he has to be like Rutherford and tell the media everything. But I grew really tired of the Disco Dan pauses and "get to our game" snoozefests. He sounded well spoken, but not a guy to be yelling & screaming.

More importantly. Do we have a cool nickname for MJ yet?

Magic Mike?
Iron Mike? oh thats already taken
Ex Pirates Pitcher?

We need 3rd and 4th liners, do I have a certain style of player I like? yeah; my favorite players of all time are Barnaby and Cooke. I want dirt and other players hurt, call me what you will; but I wasn't one of the guys complaining when Sid got hit. This is what I enjoy about hockey.
- nbartley9

If nothing else your consistent !! One thing though , I thought I remembered you saying good things about Sutter in the playoffs ?

I don't think Character issues is a big deal with this team!!!
- lloyd095

Sensing sarcasm? I do think the locker room/character stuff is overblown. I would take the talent (Ho-Sang) if he slips to us. We're not talking about a guy doing coke or murdering anyone. Maybe it sounds like he has an ego, but fiery competitors would be a welcome addition.

I think Sid is a perfect captain. But I sure wouldn't mind some fiesty personalities mixed in on this team.

Sign Grabovski and Kulemin.... Can easily deal Sutter at that point,... Not that I want him gone, but Grabovski just uses his frame more.... Brandon is just too small still, or at least he plays like it.

Love the hire of Johnston when you look at the possession number possibilities. That's the team we have. They're built for it. He can help that. Portland made some quick turnarounds under him and have been largely successful with a good mix of talent.
- HopintheCordoba

In theory, yes we are built for it. But only with our core players. Most of the supporting cast is not. That was a huge problem last year. Bylsma's system did not work with many of the players. And they weren't effective grit or shutdown guys either. That was really a double whammy last season.

I really hope their dinner conversation at least included some talk about getting rid of the guys that don't fit the mold of a puck possession team. By all means, having some grit is important....but not at the expense of skill.

I wonder how much say, if any, MJ will have in player personnel/roster decisions.

Sensing sarcasm? I do think the locker room/character stuff is overblown. I would take the talent (Ho-Sang) if he slips to us. We're not talking about a guy doing coke or murdering anyone. Maybe it sounds like he has an ego, but fiery competitors would be a welcome addition.

I think Sid is a perfect captain. But I sure wouldn't mind some fiesty personalities mixed in on this team.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He's a very talented young player but I think can and will do better. As far as I'm concerned he's far too small right now, despite all his ability. That and the attitude at times may hurt him. But he did really improve at the end of the year. There are just guys I like more for the overall package of size, skill and attitude than him.

Sign Grabovski and Kulemin.... Can easily deal Sutter at that point,... Not that I want him gone, but Grabovski just uses his frame more.... Brandon is just too small still, or at least he plays like it.
- nelson911

What does Sutter return in a trade? He's certainly someone I'd be willing to deal given the price it may be to resign him. Grabovski wouldn't be a bad stop-gap. I hate getting older, but as a stop-gap, he's not too expensive.

In theory, yes we are built for it. But only with our core players. Most of the supporting cast is not. That was a huge problem last year. Bylsma's system did not work with many of the players. And they weren't effective grit or shutdown guys either. That was really a double whammy last season.

I really hope their dinner conversation at least included some talk about getting rid of the guys that don't fit the mold of a puck possession team. By all means, having some grit is important....but not at the expense of skill.

I wonder how much say, if any, MJ will have in player personnel/roster decisions.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

A lot. You're right the bottom 6 was a train wreck. Obviously that's the priority as far as the big club. Now it's a matter of who fits that system he wants. Quick, smart players required. Have to be unselfish and willing to take a hit to make a play while also being confident enough to carry it. Can't just let teams key on the top players. It'll be interesting to see if a guy like Zlobin gets a big look. He's in the system and on his ELC. A young guy you can bring along with skill, good speed and a knack for big time games. He's Gibbons and Megna combined, with more pedigree. Should be interesting to see how we approach this draft. Have to go forward and have to get the best guy you can. No question about that.

He's a very talented young player but I think can and will do better. As far as I'm concerned he's far too small right now, despite all his ability. That and the attitude at times may hurt him. But he did really improve at the end of the year. There are just guys I like more for the overall package of size, skill and attitude than him.
- HopintheCordoba

That's the camp I was in as well. I really like Scherbak, Tuch, and Barbashev. Then today reading that Ho-Sang is a more electric version of McDavid....may be a bit dramatic...but hard to pass up a guy with that large of a ceiling. Lot's of guys his age are 170-180 pounds. He's the same size as Yakupov. I'm not in favor of smaller guys that might struggle to be big enough in the NHL...but if the talent is there, its hard to pass up. And it seems like there's at least a decent chance he's still there at 22.

All that said, I have a feeling we will be trading that pick...

Gut feeling. The Pens are gonna be more active than everybody thinks.
- Topshelf Mountain

You mean in Free Agency or in general? I'm not sure about FA but I have that same feeling that there could be more roster shakeup than we anticipate. I'd say one major move is made, at minimum.

That's the camp I was in as well. I really like Scherbak, Tuch, and Barbashev. Then today reading that Ho-Sang is a more electric version of McDavid....may be a bit dramatic...but hard to pass up a guy with that large of a ceiling. Lot's of guys his age are 170-180 pounds. He's the same size as Yakupov. I'm not in favor of smaller guys that might struggle to be big enough in the NHL...but if the talent is there, its hard to pass up. And it seems like there's at least a decent chance he's still there at 22.

All that said, I have a feeling we will be trading that pick...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Scherbak, Barbashev or Lemieux are the kids realistically taken there. I'd be happy with either one. Ho-Sang probably will be around...unless someone overvalued him. My guy that if he falls you nab, is Perlini. He's a Top 10 guy but for some reason people feel he's dropping. His overall game is outstanding. Size and skill are close for the league now. If he fell I'd probably poop my pants though.

I think they keep the pick unless they're given good spots in the 2nd and/or 3rd combined with an NHL ready player. Far too much talent to pass up, unless you can stock up with extra picks and get someone for the immediate. My feeling is that he's just giving bait to other GMs. A few want to get back into the 1st. Just see what's out there.

What could this hire mean for Pouliot? Just curious. Does it help him reach his potential? Does it mean he could be in NHL sooner? Does it mean anything.

What could this hire mean for Pouliot? Just curious. Does it help him reach his potential? Does it mean he could be in NHL sooner? Does it mean anything.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Something. He's obviously got the ties to Portland. He's been a big part of Pouliot's development and life going into the pro game. But ultimately his recovery from surgery and a bit of time to get up to speed on the defensive side of the game for a bit are more important. People all of a sudden feel he's ready. Granted, he's taken steps...but for all his ability and skating talent, he's still not polished defensively for the spotlight. Much closer, but has some work to do.

I don't understand the beef about Ho-Sang, he could be good for the Pens with all that emotion; sometimes I think they really need it.

I don't understand the beef about Ho-Sang, he could be good for the Pens with all that emotion; sometimes I think they really need it.
- Ledgermain

Being black with a personality scares hockey people.