Here are some third line centers worth going after.

Cody Eakins, Dallas. 6' 190lbs
Ryan Garbutt, Dallas. 6' 190lbs
James Sheppard, San Jose. 6' 205lbs

Eakins is young, Garbutt is a more physical guy.
Sheppard is a bigger guy who has potential. All are in our price range.
All are centers.
- powerhouse

Sheppard isn't that great. He's kind of like Joe Vitale with NHL size.

Sheppard isn't that great. He's kind of like Joe Vitale with NHL size.
- Johnny Wrath

Yeah there is a reason he is listed last.

exactly. no one fears this team anymore. any of the teams you listed could beat them. although to be fair, i think any of those teams you listed could also beat each other. i really think the east is wild this year, even without the typical boston behemoth.
- stayinthefnnet

I think that any team with Crosby and Malkin can be feared. But, as I've said many a time, they haven't won a single game past the 2nd round since 2009. If they stick to the type of game they're capable of, they can beat anyone. When they get frustrated, or MAF's head takes a vacation, or they decide to prove how tough they are, things go badly.

I think that any team with Crosby and Malkin can be feared. But, as I've said many a time, they haven't won a single game past the 2nd round since 2009. If they stick to the type of game they're capable of, they can beat anyone. When they get frustrated, or MAF's head takes a vacation, or they decide to prove how tough they are, things go badly.
- jmatchett383

yeah.

man that is sad to see in writing.

I think that any team with Crosby and Malkin can be feared. But, as I've said many a time, they haven't won a single game past the 2nd round since 2009. If they stick to the type of game they're capable of, they can beat anyone. When they get frustrated, or MAF's head takes a vacation, or they decide to prove how tough they are, things go badly.
- jmatchett383

The thing about 'as long as they have Sid and Geno' is that they don't play well together, and they play very individualistic games. They try gamebreaker stuff when the pressure is on. The book is out on them. Maybe Perron and Hornqvist help to change the dynamic a bit, but I still don't think the Penguins are a 'team' to be feared.

The thing about 'as long as they have Sid and Geno' is that they don't play well together, and they play very individualistic games. They try gamebreaker stuff when the pressure is on. The book is out on them. Maybe Perron and Hornqvist help to change the dynamic a bit, but I still don't think the Penguins are a 'team' to be feared.
- Johnny Wrath

I thought that getting rid of Neal and replacing him with Hornqvist (who should be on Crosby's wing), plus the addition of Perron, makes them a team to be feared.

But man oh man, losing Maata is huge.

The thing about 'as long as they have Sid and Geno' is that they don't play well together, and they play very individualistic games. They try gamebreaker stuff when the pressure is on. The book is out on them. Maybe Perron and Hornqvist help to change the dynamic a bit, but I still don't think the Penguins are a 'team' to be feared.
- Johnny Wrath

Also, if your 2 superstars can't play together and/or play very individualistic games where they refuse to work with their wingers...well, that opens up a whole different, much deeper issue to be dealt with that will have some ugly results that I doubt anyone on here wants to contemplate.

I can't help but think that having better/faster skaters on the PK unit would help in shot suppression.


someone like.. I dunno... Brian GIBBONS!

I thought that getting rid of Neal and replacing him with Hornqvist (who should be on Crosby's wing), plus the addition of Perron, makes them a team to be feared.

But man oh man, losing Maata is huge.
- jmatchett383

losing maatta is an absolute killer.

so is losing dupuis.

absolutely brutal.

but yeah, hornqvist and perron (who should both be on crosby's wing) are the exact type of player this team has needed. if maatta and dupuis were still around (and the team found some other way to fit perron's salary), this would be the deepest pens team since the cup years

Sutter, Adams, Sill, and my undying gratitude. Maybe an ice cream cake as well.
- Guile

I'll take them and Dumoulin for Tlusty and McClement.

We can load up and have a Panzer Division first line of Sill-Malone-Adams

I thought that getting rid of Neal and replacing him with Hornqvist (who should be on Crosby's wing), plus the addition of Perron, makes them a team to be feared.

But man oh man, losing Maata is huge.
- jmatchett383

They don't defend as a team. The puck support isn't good enough. From the top down they're almost exclusively 1-way players. I haven't seen much by way of manufacturing goals except by individual effort. The Penguins try more and more Byzantine plays the tighter the checking gets. That's a model perfect for being stuffed in the playoffs.

They don't defend as a team. The puck support isn't good enough. From the top down they're almost exclusively 1-way players. I haven't seen much by way of manufacturing goals except by individual effort. The Penguins try more and more Byzantine plays the tighter the checking gets. That's a model perfect for being stuffed in the playoffs.
- Johnny Wrath

So then the solution is clear. Unpleasant, and clear.

losing maatta is an absolute killer.

so is losing dupuis.

absolutely brutal.

but yeah, hornqvist and perron (who should both be on crosby's wing) are the exact type of player this team has needed. if maatta and dupuis were still around (and the team found some other way to fit perron's salary), this would be the deepest pens team since the cup years
- stayinthefnnet

I like Dupuis, but I think he's pretty much dried up. They probably shouldn't have extended him. He's getting 2nd line money to be a 3rd liner.

I like Dupuis, but I think he's pretty much dried up. They probably shouldn't have extended him. He's getting 2nd line money to be a 3rd liner.
- jmatchett383

he is overpaid by about a million, yes.

but, within the context of this team, he could be killing it in a third line role, really helping the depth issue. he also provides an element of speed (even at his age) on the PK that simply isnt there right now.

he is overpaid by about a million, yes.

but, within the context of this team, he could be killing it in a third line role, really helping the depth issue. he also provides an element of speed (even at his age) on the PK that simply isnt there right now.
- stayinthefnnet

Dupuis on the 3rd line at $3.7 is better than Sutter on the 3rd for $3.3

Also, if your 2 superstars can't play together and/or play very individualistic games where they refuse to work with their wingers...well, that opens up a whole different, much deeper issue to be dealt with that will have some ugly results that I doubt anyone on here wants to contemplate.
- jmatchett383

Yes, certainly it is. I usually get some nonsense about puck luck or what would have happened if the Penguins hadn't been victimized somehow. You know, for those three Game 7 losses recently at Consol. Or that I should just enjoy watching 87 and 71, what a horrible guy I must be. 29 other teams would kill, and all that.

Yes, certainly it is. I usually get some nonsense about puck luck or what would have happened if the Penguins hadn't been victimized somehow. You know, for those three Game 7 losses recently at Consol. Or that I should just enjoy watching 87 and 71, what a horrible guy I must be. 29 other teams would kill, and all that.
- Johnny Wrath

so which of them are you trading?

so which of them are you trading?
- stayinthefnnet

Letang.

Letang.
- Johnny Wrath

haha i already knew that one.

i meant which of 87 or 71.

ONLY way Pouliot gets traded for someone on the Flyers it better be in a deal for Simmonds, Voracek or Giroux. DP is extremely valuable and he will be a great player. I think he can be the next Letang once he gains some confidence and gets used to the big leagues. He's on a short leash right now and can't hop up into play or anything really yet.

- znagle

I don't want to move Pouliot for really anyone right now... I think trading him now is selling short on a good asset. I'd much rather let him play a couple of seasons in the NHL before trading him. Even if he tops out as a #5, decent puck moving defensemen, his trade value won't ever get any lower.

haha i already knew that one.

i meant which of 87 or 71.
- stayinthefnnet

Neither. They r hockey

I like Dupuis, but I think he's pretty much dried up. They probably shouldn't have extended him. He's getting 2nd line money to be a 3rd liner.
- jmatchett383

He was producing at a top line rate this year before being ruled out. And if he doesn't come back his contract is off the books. Kunitz' production is the one that has declined significantly.

haha i already knew that one.

i meant which of 87 or 71.
- stayinthefnnet

You can't trade either. Sid for political and marketing reasons, Malkin because he'll retire from the NHL and go play in the K. Malkin is also totally necessary because of how vulnerable Sid's health has been.

I have always thought that in the grand scheme of things that as good as they are, neither of the two have been developed very well. We shouldn't cringe if it is suggested that those two take an even strength shift together.

Malkin should be able to play scoring center, PK center, scoring wing, power play point man. As needed depending on match up, injuries, &c. Zetterberg with a bomb and size. I think it's ironic that Malkin has had a better NHL career considering Sid always received first consideration.

He was producing at a top line rate this year before being ruled out. And if he doesn't come back his contract is off the books. Kunitz' production is the one that has declined significantly.
- jfkst1

Was his contract an over-35 deal?

I don't want to move Pouliot for really anyone right now... I think trading him now is selling short on a good asset. I'd much rather let him play a couple of seasons in the NHL before trading him. Even if he tops out as a #5, decent puck moving defensemen, his trade value won't ever get any lower.
- rival22

Agreed. I'm 100% against trading Pouliot