Yeah, Health is a female dog....any contracts you think the Pens should ditch in order to explore free agents ? Aside from Scuderi, of course.
- Jeropotato

I would bet one of Kunitz, Spaling, or Sutter is gone at least. Maybe two.

I would bet one of Kunitz, Spaling, or Sutter is gone at least. Maybe two.
- SuperHenderson13

Crazy though....of all positions to be lean on, the Wing should be the easiest fix ......

.....Yakupov for Letang?


I kid, I kid

Crazy though....of all positions to be lean on, the Wing should be the easiest fit. ......

.....Yakupov for Letang?


I kid, I kid
- Jeropotato

We have guys in the AHL that could at least compete for bottom 6 roles that are all signed at reasonable deals. For whatever reason, management continues to not trust them and commit money to veterans to fill the bottom 6. ideally, you fill the bottom 6 with those kind of guys and that leaves you some money to get a top 6.

i would say the penguins are on the right track. The defense will be as strong as ever. Letang will hopefully return to form before the hit. Maatta is a monster. Pouliot looked good last year. We will probably lose Martin, but i think he is replaceable.

Hopefully management sees the problems at forward and makes the correction. we need more energy and speed on the bottom 6. not older veterans who are running out of gas by April.

I would bet one of Kunitz, Spaling, or Sutter is gone at least. Maybe two.
- SuperHenderson13

I'd put c-note that Sutter is gone. Guaranteed he's moved. Spaling being moved would be a dream. Dude is a dime a dozen player. I have no idea about Kunitz. Not having a NTC in his contract is nice.

We have guys in the AHL that could at least compete for bottom 6 roles that are all signed at reasonable deals. For whatever reason, management continues to not trust them and commit money to veterans to fill the bottom 6. ideally, you fill the bottom 6 with those kind of guys and that leaves you some money to get a top 6.

i would say the penguins are on the right track. The defense will be as strong as ever. Letang will hopefully return to form before the hit. Maatta is a monster. Pouliot looked good last year. We will probably lose Martin, but i think he is replaceable.

Hopefully management sees the problems at forward and makes the correction. we need more energy and speed on the bottom 6. not older veterans who are running out of gas by April.
- SuperHenderson13

Speaking of Martin, what's your honest opinion of him? Would he help the Oilers on a top pairing for a couple years, or are those days behind him?

Speaking of Martin, what's your honest opinion of him? Would he help the Oilers on a top pairing for a couple years, or are those days behind him?
- Jeropotato

Martin is an absolute workhorse. He can play big minutes. Can play on the both the PK and PP. Beyond that he is just a very smart defensemen. You rarely see him caught in the offensive zone that leads to a 2 on 1.

he would help any team he went to, including the oilers. However, i think he is destined for Minnesota.

Martin is an absolute workhorse. He can play big minutes. Can play on the both the PK and PP. Beyond that he is just a very smart defensemen. You rarely see him caught in the offensive zone that leads to a 2 on 1.

he would help any team he went to, including the oilers. However, i think he is destined for Minnesota.
- SuperHenderson13

He's going to get too much money for too long. Same old story. Some team will hate his deal in 2 or 3 years.

Martin is an absolute workhorse. He can play big minutes. Can play on the both the PK and PP. Beyond that he is just a very smart defensemen. You rarely see him caught in the offensive zone that leads to a 2 on 1.

he would help any team he went to, including the oilers. However, i think he is destined for Minnesota.
- SuperHenderson13

That's kind of the pickle were in right now. We can afford to over pay for like 3 years, Max, before Nurse, Draisaitl, Yak and McDavid are due to get paid. We actually need a contract that might expire by then. Free agents don't sign 3 yr deals unless they are old and near dead.

That's kind of the pickle were in right now. We can afford to over pay for like 3 years, Max, before Nurse, Draisaitl, Yak and McDavid are due to get paid. We actually need a contract that might expire by then. Free agents don't sign 3 yr deals unless they are old and near dead.
- Jeropotato

Since you proposed that ridiculious trade, how about Malkin and Crosby for your entire top 6

I have little confidence in Rutherford. I just think a good percentage of NHL GMs are nearly equally incompetent. Many of them overvalue intangibles. To me, that isn't acceptable but in an insular community like the NHL, it's encouraged.
- jfkst1

Ok if you are criticising the intangibles you must be a stats guy - nothing wrong with that. Ryan pumped Winniks tyres before the trade due to his numbers, now are you saying he was traded for due to his 'intangibles' or his numbers? If it's for his numbers it was a bad trade. Don't remember Ryan saying he was a gritty kind of guy, just a very good possession player?

You don't like the Winnik trade then the numbers were wrong not the intangibles (small sample size granted).

I believe playoff hockey is all about the intangibles, how many good possession teams lose, or suddenly become bad possession teams in the playoffs or vice versa? Lap is a perfect example of not being a very good 82 game player but shows up in the playoffs - he even said it. I'm not saying poop teams will win Stanley, but so many unknowns occur in the playoffs there is no perfect recipe for success.

Martin is an absolute workhorse. He can play big minutes. Can play on the both the PK and PP. Beyond that he is just a very smart defensemen. You rarely see him caught in the offensive zone that leads to a 2 on 1.

he would help any team he went to, including the oilers. However, i think he is destined for Minnesota.
- SuperHenderson13

Do you think his physicality is a question mark for a top line D man? I don't think nor really do I know, that he has the equipment to lead a young talented side that will undoubtedly get the living McJesus pumped out of them? Someone takes a swing at the new McHighlander I can see Martin turning away & seeing what's on the big screen. Not what the Oilers will need, they need a D that will go & rip a head off who ever touched the untouchable. In saying that who is the Canucks prospect that shut McD down in the playoffs - if he did it then there may be no need for the physical intimidation??

Still think the D needs big balls though!

Do you think his physicality is a question mark for a top line D man? I don't think nor really do I know, that he has the equipment to lead a young talented side that will undoubtedly get the living McJesus pumped out of them? Someone takes a swing at the new McHighlander I can see Martin turning away & seeing what's on the big screen. Not what the Oilers will need, they need a D that will go & rip a head off who ever touched the untouchable. In saying that who is the Canucks prospect that shut McD down in the playoffs - if he did it then there may be no need for the physical intimidation??

Still think the D needs big balls though!
- Aussiepenguin

a defense needs talent and puck moving skill. not toughness or grit.

martin would be a great fit for any team.

a defense needs talent and puck moving skill. not toughness or grit.

martin would be a great fit for any team.
- SuperHenderson13

Agreed, but look at Tanger for example. What will he do if someone takes a swing at his captain? The top line guys need some intimidation factor also. Who are the top guys left this year & how many don't have that mean streak or will punch on if necessary? When was the last time Martin had a fight? I'm not saying both top line D need that but I think 1 does. Martin is a complementary Dman with his skill & knowledge - that's why he & Tanger are great together.

Since you proposed that ridiculious trade, how about Malkin and Crosby for your entire top 6
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Is was a joke....but Yak for Letang could be sweetened a little bit to make sense, no?

Obviously I probably don't value Letang as much as you guys, what with the games missed and his defective heart or whatever....want your 1st rounder back as well?

Do you think his physicality is a question mark for a top line D man? I don't think nor really do I know, that he has the equipment to lead a young talented side that will undoubtedly get the living McJesus pumped out of them? Someone takes a swing at the new McHighlander I can see Martin turning away & seeing what's on the big screen. Not what the Oilers will need, they need a D that will go & rip a head off who ever touched the untouchable. In saying that who is the Canucks prospect that shut McD down in the playoffs - if he did it then there may be no need for the physical intimidation??

Still think the D needs big balls though!
- Aussiepenguin

Yeah I was thinking Martin could be a nice add, along with another D,mot the Oilers Defense. Not sure who the other is.

I heard that too. However we have no idea that Ruthy didn't pursue Jagr. Don't forget Toronto had to eat a bunch of money for the Winnik trade to work. The same would have been required for Jagr. It's highly unlikely NJ would have been willing to eat some of Jagr's contract.

The Despres deal is mind boggling. To be honest, ownership should be asking some really uncomfortable questions after yet another DUMBASS mistake. Lovejoy comes on board and he's on the ice for 10 of 11GA. That's an amazing stat.
- madmike71

Not sure where that stat originated from but in reality he was on for eight for against while his partner PMarts was on for seven. A very poor showing indeed but it shows the bias that the Pittsburgh media will go in order to protect their favorite player. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Martin can't leave fast enough for me.

Yeah I was thinking Martin could be a nice add, along with another D,mot the Oilers Defense. Not sure who the other is.
- Jeropotato

Back from the wet yet Jero? Different landscape the Asian 1 - not that I've been to Canada, but the sister in law is Canadian & told a few stories.

I can see plenty of trade partners for the Oilers none of which doing you any favours but every one wanting a bargain! Nice place to be but still a lot of work to do. What would Seabrook do for you guys? Maybe a multiple trade with the Hawks looking to shed salary, I've said before I thought Crawford could be a good get for you guys.

Ok if you are criticising the intangibles you must be a stats guy - nothing wrong with that. Ryan pumped Winniks tyres before the trade due to his numbers, now are you saying he was traded for due to his 'intangibles' or his numbers? If it's for his numbers it was a bad trade. Don't remember Ryan saying he was a gritty kind of guy, just a very good possession player?

You don't like the Winnik trade then the numbers were wrong not the intangibles (small sample size granted).

I believe playoff hockey is all about the intangibles, how many good possession teams lose, or suddenly become bad possession teams in the playoffs or vice versa? Lap is a perfect example of not being a very good 82 game player but shows up in the playoffs - he even said it. I'm not saying poop teams will win Stanley, but so many unknowns occur in the playoffs there is no perfect recipe for success.
- Aussiepenguin

Giving up a 2nd and 4th rounder for Winnik was too much and I said as much when the trade happened. I like his game and I do think he was a solid addition to the forward depth despite his poor play in the NYR series. Sutter was a lot more effective when he had Winnik on his wing as well. 5 games is way too small of a sample size to be drawing conclusions.

Giving up a 2nd and 4th rounder for Winnik was too much and I said as much when the trade happened. I like his game and I do think he was a solid addition to the forward depth despite his poor play in the NYR series. Sutter was a lot more effective when he had Winnik on his wing as well. 5 games is way too small of a sample size to be drawing conclusions.
- jfkst1

So how much is he going to cost? I think seeing as though we paid that much to get him we are almost obliged to sign him now, only hope if we make the the playoffs he doesn't disappear. Between him, Spaling & possibly Sundy we have our starting bottom 2 C, as I think we all think Sutter has played his last game (I think he may start the season but will get traded early). Lappy might even get a guernsey which I don't mind as long as it's a cheap contract for a year.

Back from the wet yet Jero? Different landscape the Asian 1 - not that I've been to Canada, but the sister in law is Canadian & told a few stories.

I can see plenty of trade partners for the Oilers none of which doing you any favours but every one wanting a bargain! Nice place to be but still a lot of work to do. What would Seabrook do for you guys? Maybe a multiple trade with the Hawks looking to shed salary, I've said before I thought Crawford could be a good get for you guys.
- Aussiepenguin

Not yet....quiet couple of days on Samui...been raining for a couple of days....but I got my hammock under a gazebo and " A Dance of Dragons" to keep me company, so it's all been good. Nice to cool off.

Honestly,mi don't see any trades that rock our core...just UFA signings and moving of 2nd and 3rd round picks this year.

So how much is he going to cost? I think seeing as though we paid that much to get him we are almost obliged to sign him now, only hope if we make the the playoffs he doesn't disappear. Between him, Spaling & possibly Sundy we have our starting bottom 2 C, as I think we all think Sutter has played his last game (I think he may start the season but will get traded early). Lappy might even get a guernsey which I don't mind as long as it's a cheap contract for a year.
- Aussiepenguin

I agree that he should be re-signed. He doesn't belong in the top 6, but he is a good versatile bottom line C/LW. I imagine he shouldn't cost more than $1.5m/yr. I don't want Lapierre anywhere near the team. He was trash and I have no idea why anyone likes him.

It seems like the Pens have struggled to be a sure fire contender the last few years....what needs to happen, and realistically, how long should it take ?
- Jeropotato

2 top 6 F's, 3 bottom 6 F's, a defensive minded tough 3C and a mid level pairing Dman. And they really have nothing to go acquire those pieces.

I agree that he should be re-signed. He doesn't belong in the top 6, but he is a good versatile bottom line C/LW. I imagine he shouldn't cost more than $1.5m/yr. I don't want Lapierre anywhere near the team. He was trash and I have no idea why anyone likes him.
- jfkst1

Lap was 1 of only 4 Pens that elevated their game with the Pens. As a 4C player I dont have high expectations, but he is decent on the draw, a good PKer, and feisty when it matters. Im sure he will be pretty cheap.

Winnik was complete garbage for the Pens. He literally brought 0 to the table. I have no clue why everyone was so happy with his performance. He will also get $2.5 plus on the market. Id take him at 1.5 tops, but I think Wilson would be a better option for the price.

2 top 6 F's, 3 bottom 6 F's, a defensive minded tough 3C and a mid level pairing Dman. And they really have nothing to go acquire those pieces.
- sammy87

That's a long list.....sucki

That's a long list.....sucki
- Jeropotato

Yes sir it is. Some here think that trading Sutter and Kunitz will fill all those holes. It won't. 71 will be 29 this year, he is at the height of his peak window. The Pens have really no good options in the farm that can help either. Kunitz will bring back a prospect or a pick, that doesn't help for 2-3 years. Some here think Sutter is garbage, but he did score 21g this year and has some decent skill. No clue what he could return. I think trading 71 is the best way to keep this team competitive in the long run.