I would think the first quality would be someone durable enough to play more than 77 games in his last three NHL seasons.
- Oneonta Penguin

Any player can have any injury. Not sure why you're so stuck on that.

That's a fair criticism, but you're still not providing any names.
- jfkst1

Is Prust a free agent? How about Roussel?

Any player can have any injury. Not sure why you're so stuck on that.
- Lord_Ricky51

Hes a pittsburgh penguin fan and your not sure why why hes stuck on that?

Reminds me of the sign that said Eaves Dropping from the playoffs a few years ago.
I think it was Armstrong that laid him out right?
- LetsGoPens!!

Oh right, I forgot about that... Colby Armstrong freight trained him.

Is Prust a free agent? How about Roussel?
- Grinder47

Prust and Roussel aren't UFAs.

Any player can have any injury. Not sure why you're so stuck on that.
- Lord_Ricky51

I think it would be prudent to get healthy players, or somewhat durable players to play games. Eaves is as fragile as they come, hence his 77 games played in the last three years.

Signing players of his ilk are a tremendous waste of money.

I think it would be prudent to get healthy players, or somewhat durable players to play games. Eaves is as fragile as they come, hence his 77 games played in the last three years.

Signing players of his ilk are a tremendous waste of money.
- Oneonta Penguin

Lets get Lupul then.

I think it would be prudent to get healthy players, or somewhat durable players to play games. Eaves is as fragile as they come, hence his 77 games played in the last three years.

Signing players of his ilk are a tremendous waste of money.
- Oneonta Penguin

Eaves won't make enough to be a tremendous waste of money. The reward with him outweighs the risk. Who should Rutherford be targeting to improve the depth forwards?

Eaves won't make enough to be a tremendous waste of money. The reward with him outweighs the risk. Who should Rutherford be targeting to improve the depth forwards?
- jfkst1

He really needs to be targeting scoring wingers over anything right now. Resign Downie and Comeau to similar contracts if nothing else can be done you still have Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Duper under contract and I believe Duper will play and be ready to play next season. If Perron proves not to continue to be a complete waste of space then a libeup could look somthing like this.
P-ron-Crosby-Hornqvist
FA-Malkin-FA
Kunitz-Sutter-Duper
Downie-Whoever-Comeau

Depth forwards shouldn't be a pressing issue when we are seriously lacking un depth forwards.

He really needs to be targeting scoring wingers over anything right now. Resign Downie and Comeau to similar contracts if nothing else can be done you still have Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Duper under contract and I believe Duper will play and be ready to play next season. If Perron proves not to continue to be a complete waste of space then a libeup could look somthing like this.
P-ron-Crosby-Hornqvist
FA-Malkin-FA
Kunitz-Sutter-Duper
Downie-Whoever-Comeau

Depth forwards shouldn't be a pressing issue when we are seriously lacking un depth forwards.
- Grinder47

Depth forwards are the only component of the team I can see Rutherford making major improvements on. Getting top 6 Fs or top 4 Ds is going to cost a lot and Pittsburgh doesn't have the pieces to acquire such players.

Resign Downie first. Basically Eaves but has produced offense as recently as last season playing mostly with Brandon Sutter, and he is also very entertaining. No Brainer.
- Grinder47

Don't want Downie back. I love him as a player but you can't throw a guy on the ice and have a penalty called each time someone on the mezzanine level drops a peanut. He's unfortunately a liability. I'd rather see Farnham up for half the price.

Depth forwards are the only component of the team I can see Rutherford making major improvements on. Getting top 6 Fs or top 4 Ds is going to cost a lot and Pittsburgh doesn't have the pieces to acquire such players.
- jfkst1

Like the 5 mill and 4 mill when that are going to be available when martin and erhoff leave?

Don't want Downie back. I love him as a player but you can't throw a guy on the ice and have a penalty called each time someone on the mezzanine level drops a peanut. He's unfortunately a liability. I'd rather see Farnham up for half the price.
- Topshelf Mountain

Downie didn't take one penalty this year that was the cause of the pens losing the game. Not in the least inkling. Every time he got thrown out the game was over and he was the only that cared. Its a boring tired narrative, hes better at hockey than Patrick Fing Eaves,Daniel Fing Winnik and Marcel Goc and he can play a much rougher style for nearly an entire season.

Interesting trade options for pens:

http://thehockeywriters.c...s-part-1-edmonton-oilers/

Interesting trade options for pens:

http://thehockeywriters.c...s-part-1-edmonton-oilers/
- joescullz

I'm kinda meh on Yaks. If you wanted to convince me that this was a buy low type move and wait and see if it works out, i'd consider. no way you should give up anything major for him though.

I would love Hall. I think a lot of people underrate him because of his team. Yes he hasnt been completely healthy... but think about some of the bad luck he has had. I'd be willing to give him a serious look. No idea what'd it cost though because i think the author's proposal of a 1st, 3rd and Murray is way too low for him.

I think it would be prudent to get healthy players, or somewhat durable players to play games. Eaves is as fragile as they come, hence his 77 games played in the last three years.

Signing players of his ilk are a tremendous waste of money.
- Oneonta Penguin

Crosby had a 3 year span where he played 89 games. Not that they are near the same level of player, Im just saying that people get hurt and poop happens.

He really needs to be targeting scoring wingers over anything right now. Resign Downie and Comeau to similar contracts if nothing else can be done you still have Spaling, Sutter, Kunitz, Duper under contract and I believe Duper will play and be ready to play next season. If Perron proves not to continue to be a complete waste of space then a libeup could look somthing like this.
P-ron-Crosby-Hornqvist
FA-Malkin-FA
Kunitz-Sutter-Duper
Downie-Whoever-Comeau

Depth forwards shouldn't be a pressing issue when we are seriously lacking un depth forwards.
- Grinder47

FA - Malkin - FA is easier typed than acquired. And depth forwards are exactly what we need. You think Comeau is going to sign for anything less than 2.5 times what he made this year? no. And Downie will want a raise too. We need depth forwards.

Interesting trade options for pens:

http://thehockeywriters.c...s-part-1-edmonton-oilers/
- joescullz

Not a great article. Sorry. Its fun to read that stuff but the plausibility isn't there and there's no attempt to make it so.

Don't want Downie back. I love him as a player but you can't throw a guy on the ice and have a penalty called each time someone on the mezzanine level drops a peanut. He's unfortunately a liability. I'd rather see Farnham up for half the price.
- Topshelf Mountain

IF Downie could ever stop being such a moron, he would have great 3rd line potential. Possibly second line if there aren't better options.

Anyone watch the WBS games? Connor Sheary was right up with the scoring at the end of round 2, is he a prospect coming through or Ebbetts twin brother from another mother?

Where could he fit in?

Like the 5 mill and 4 mill when that are going to be available when martin and erhoff leave?
- Grinder47

The only quality top 6 UFA forward I see on the market is Frolik. And he is more of an all-around forward than a high end offensive producer so I don't think he is a great fit to begin with. And he'll cost at least $5m/yr. Same with any top 4 dman brought in. Trading for one of them will cost too much IMO so hopefully Rutherford doesn't go that route.

FA - Malkin - FA is easier typed than acquired. And depth forwards are exactly what we need. You think Comeau is going to sign for anything less than 2.5 times what he made this year? no. And Downie will want a raise too. We need depth forwards.
- brienstel

So a 17 goal season gets you almost 4 mil? I don't even try to be armchair GM with the whole salary cap thing but I don't think your a very good one. I bet both would take slight raises.

The only quality top 6 UFA forward I see on the market is Frolik. And he is more of an all-around forward than a high end offensive producer so I don't think he is a great fit to begin with. And he'll cost at least $5m/yr. Same with any top 4 dman brought in. Trading for one of them will cost too much IMO so hopefully Rutherford doesn't go that route.
- jfkst1

Yeah hopefully we have 2 top six wingers again next year great idea, but hey get those corsi bottom six guys

This is a classic case of only looking at the advanced stats and ignoring everything else. 74 games in 3 seasons is scary enough, but he only scored 4 goals total in those 3 years. Nice total this year but again in 47gp. And RW wants to sign him for 2.2M! Money better spent elsewhere.

Yeah hopefully we have 2 top six wingers again next year great idea, but hey get those corsi bottom six guys
- Grinder47

Better than trading away what few prospects and picks the team has left and/or overpaying for a top 6 UFA.