damn quotes - regarding Weal getting in, Hakstol has shown he doesn't change the lineup for the most part (Ghost back in the exception) until they lose.
- nastyflyergirl

Yeah, and I'm okay with it. I hope we can see what weal brings to the table, mainly because I know very little about him other than what has been said on this site, and a few others...which probably should be taken with a grain of salt.

I think Drouin can probably play, and I don't mind moving a good piece or two for a player that age, but honestly, the need is less if Voracek is going to stick at LW -- and I think he should. One of Simmonds or he needed to do that, since Schenn just couldn't play it with any amount of consistency

If I were Hextall, I'd make replacing Umberger on the NHL roster a priority if I were serious about making the playoffs. I think a line of Read-Laughton-Upgraded Player could really be something that helps Laughton develop and gives Hakstol the opportunity to get the most out of Read, who has been playing better since the scratch

Easier said than done, though -- you look around the league, there's a lot of teams looking for help and there isn't a ton of quality available
- AllInForFlyers

Agree with Read, Laughton, upgraded player over Umberger.
Not against giving Read time on the 2nd line flipping him with Raffl playing with Laughton either.
One more player with hands, (not stone hands), can give the line a boost.

For sure, size does matter. However, unlike in the clutch and grab era, smaller players have a better shot at succeeding in today's NHL. However, when choosing between 2 players relatively equal in skating, hockey sense and skills, a GM will, and should, almost always choose the bigger guy.
- BiggE

Yeah, we are on the same page, just different way of saying it!

So, the Pens traded a pending UFA and RFA for a poor man's Swedish version of Matt Read. Who is also more expensive than Matt Read and has another year on his deal.

Good job, good effort Jim Rutherford.

So, the Pens traded a pending UFA and RFA for a poor man's Swedish version of Matt Read. Who is also more expensive than Matt Read and has another year on his deal.

Good job, good effort Jim Rutherford.
- johndewar

Well, it was no accident that he ran the Hurricanes into the ground when he was the GM. Good luck for catching lightning in a bottle and the change of rules after the lockout that helped them win the cup.
Looks like he is back at it in Pittsburgh.

I think Drouin can probably play, and I don't mind moving a good piece or two for a player that age, but honestly, the need is less if Voracek is going to stick at LW -- and I think he should. One of Simmonds or he needed to do that, since Schenn just couldn't play it with any amount of consistency

If I were Hextall, I'd make replacing Umberger on the NHL roster a priority if I were serious about making the playoffs. I think a line of Read-Laughton-Upgraded Player could really be something that helps Laughton develop and gives Hakstol the opportunity to get the most out of Read, who has been playing better since the scratch

Easier said than done, though -- you look around the league, there's a lot of teams looking for help and there isn't a ton of quality available
- AllInForFlyers

You could argue moving Umberger might be a bigger challenge than moving Vinny. Vinny is a boarderline hall of famer who MIGHT be able to put up points and provide leadership. What does Umberger do? What has he done?

If I'm Hextall, if I can't move him for half the cost, I'd at the very least consider a buyout. I know we could give Umberger the special Vinny treatment for another year but with Vinny gone, we are so close to moving in the right direction.

Bill West
‏@BWest_Trib

GMJR sees Perron as a 20-goal scorer and Hagelin a 15-goal scorer, but notes Hagelin w/ better plus-minus.

Perron is -13, Hagelin is -10. If our GM ever made a deal like this and used +/- as a rationale, I'd want him fired into the Sun

Absolutely, with you and JSaq pointing out the contractual status, it does make it a really odd move -- I assumed (incorrectly) that the terms/dollars would be relatively close in that kind of swap

The Pens are in a weird, weird spot. I did watch them last night, take a peek at them periodically. They had been playing better of late, but they really have some structural problems on defense (mobility, skill and hockey sense) when Letang is hurt (and he got hurt again last night) and they honestly play like a team that has just gotten really stale with Malkin and Crosby as the focal points

Kunitz is old, Bennett's never healthy, Hornqvist is still effective but is a complementary player...there's a lot to not like about them

The funny thing is that Fleury has been really, really good for basically two seasons. He really hides a lot of the problems they have, when Letang does play

If it was me, I'd really, really, really quietly explore a Crosby move. They won't, because they are trying to sell the team, but man, a lot of guys just don't mesh with him on the ice, for whatever reason. A second-level contender like St. Louis could revitalize his on-ice demeanor -- he just looks so stale, at times

They should probably look to move Kessel, too -- he's in shape, but he looks like one of those guys who is "best player on a bad team, but not an impact player on a good team"
- AllInForFlyers

The problem for the Penguins is, the window is rapidly closing. There's not a ton of systemic depth. They have Sprong and Poulliot. Murray looks like he could be a good goalie, and after that there's only a guy or two that could be more than a depth guy in the NHL.

They traded a guy with decent offensive skills for more of a two way speed guy, but they added on extra years at a significant cap hit. They also shed yet another prospect to do so.

They have $65mm already committed to salaries in 2016-17 and that's with a ton of open spots. $65mm spent on 8 forwards (Crosby, Malkin, Hagelin, Kunitz, Kessel, Hornqvist, Bonino, & Sheary) 4 defensemen ( Letang, Daley, Cole & Dumoulin) and Fleury.

Worse, if they manage to make the playoffs, their first rounder goes bye bye.

Bill West
‏@BWest_Trib

GMJR sees Perron as a 20-goal scorer and Hagelin a 15-goal scorer, but notes Hagelin w/ better plus-minus.

Perron is -13, Hagelin is -10. If our GM ever made a deal like this and used +/- as a rationale, I'd want him fired into the Sun
- Jsaquella

#unfancystats

You could argue moving Umberger might be a bigger challenge than moving Vinny. Vinny is a boarderline hall of famer who MIGHT be able to put up points and provide leadership. What does Umberger do? What has he done?

If I'm Hextall, if I can't move him for half the cost, I'd at the very least consider a buyout. I know we could give Umberger the special Vinny treatment for another year but with Vinny gone, we are so close to moving in the right direction.
- SuperSchennBros

Maybe. Umberger isn't at the point Lecavalier was here. The Flyers basically decided the only way Lecavalier was going to play is if there was no other choice after injuries. If there was any cap space, they were going to call up a Phantom and play him ahead of Vinny.

Umberger is still playing, and doing an acceptable job as a bottom six winger. He's not playing great, but he hasn't been a liability most nights and at the very least the coach is still willing to dress him. Not the case for Vinny.

Let's not forget, one critical reason the Flyers were able to trade Lecavalier was that he promised to retire at season's end. If he had not promised that to Lombardi, he's still a Flyer. The Kings likely would have signed Scott Gomez if Vinny hadn't agreed to retire.

philly.com comments are bad for you.

#unfancystats
- hammarby31

Yeah, stats are not like ketchup

philly.com comments are bad for you.
- hammarby31

They're the Mos Eisley spaceport of the internet

I'm going with: Rutherford's an idiot.
- BiggE

tanking for Toronto

It's hard to make that case contractually, tho.

Perron's a pending UFA... if he can't score, the Ducks just let him walk (or trade him again). They can replace him with something else.

Hagelin's never broken 20-goals or 40-pts... and he's got $8M left and two more years on his deal. Pens already had 5 forwards making ~$4M or more. Hagelin's now the 6th.
- Tomahawk

(frank)ing penis

Chicago waives Bryan Bickell. Again.

Maybe. Umberger isn't at the point Lecavalier was here. The Flyers basically decided the only way Lecavalier was going to play is if there was no other choice after injuries. If there was any cap space, they were going to call up a Phantom and play him ahead of Vinny.

Umberger is still playing, and doing an acceptable job as a bottom six winger. He's not playing great, but he hasn't been a liability most nights and at the very least the coach is still willing to dress him. Not the case for Vinny.

Let's not forget, one critical reason the Flyers were able to trade Lecavalier was that he promised to retire at season's end. If he had not promised that to Lombardi, he's still a Flyer. The Kings likely would have signed Scott Gomez if Vinny hadn't agreed to retire.
- Jsaquella

But Vinny is playing. Regardless of handshakes and promises made behind the scenes, the trade was made. The Kings could have signed someone else for cheaper and without giving up anything. They didn't. I don't agree with the decision to play Umberger.

Chicago waives Bryan Bickell. Again.
- Jsaquella

How does that work, again? Since he already cleared, they don't have to waive him to send him down, right? You only have to waive him again if you want to see if someone will claim or if there is going to be a termination?

But Vinny is playing. Regardless of handshakes and promises made behind the scenes, the trade was made. The Kings could have signed someone else for cheaper and without giving up anything. They didn't. I don't agree with the decision to play Umberger.
- SuperSchennBros

There's not really a regardless. The agreement to retire was a requirement. Without it there is no trade.

Ignoring that part of it is like saying if my aunt had a set of balls she'd be my uncle. The trade does not happen if Lecavalier doesn't agree to retire, it's a key reason that the Kings agreed to trade for him.

There's not really a regardless. The agreement to retire was a requirement. Without it there is no trade.

Ignoring that part of it is like saying if my aunt had a set of balls she'd be my uncle. The trade does not happen if Lecavalier doesn't agree to retire, it's a key reason that the Kings agreed to trade for him.
- Jsaquella

Uncle Helen

How does that work, again? Since he already cleared, they don't have to waive him to send him down, right? You only have to waive him again if you want to see if someone will claim or if there is going to be a termination?
- AllInForFlyers

When a guy clears waivers you have 30 days to send him to the AHL without putting him on waivers again. I'm guessing that the Blackhawks are considering moving him to the AHL or have a trade coming where they need to clear a bit more cap room.

Or maybe they were told if he was placed on waivers somebody might claim him

and there was much rejoicing.
- hammarby31

Yayyy

Why.

We all hate the (frank)ing Rangers.

When a guy clears waivers you have 30 days to send him to the AHL without putting him on waivers again. I'm guessing that the Blackhawks are considering moving him to the AHL or have a trade coming where they need to clear a bit more cap room.

Or maybe they were told if he was placed on waivers somebody might claim him
- Jsaquella

Ah. Thanks

(frank)ing penis
- PhillySportsGuy

Wow I'm offended