I feel like the trades last year really hurt this team in terms of building a cup contender. Last year was the year to sell. I still like the Kessel trade as I think he's performing ok and has a chance to step it up over time. Not a homerun, but he's good depth scoring.

If we waited till the trade deadline to make moves we could have realized the team had too many injuries to compete. Keep our David Perron 1st. Avoided the Winnik/Depres trades. What if we sold Paul Martin for a 1st and 3rd. We could conceivably added Barzal, Sprong, and a late 1st pick (or drafted sprong late 1st) and added a dman project in 2nd. We could have used those assets to either have depth or maybe made a move for Shattenkirk which fixes the defense.

Every other contender has had a year they spent retooling. Forcing trades has killed our asset base to put a cup team together. Which means we are constantly a 1 to 2 round playoff team.

I think Bonino and a 2nd are the 2 things with value that could be moved to help the team. Seeing guys like polak get 2 2nd round picks also makes me think Cole still has some value. The team absolutely can not waste anything on rentals though
- drummer829

Like it or not, Cole has looked pretty solid since being inserted back in lineup. Somehow managed to be +1 last night too. Im not ready to give up on Cole yet, especially with Lovejoy down.

RW summed up: The Penguins should only be targeting 20+ goal scorers and top-pair defensemen.

Less certain on this year. I don't like being a seller and only have Kunitz to sell. I think the owners like the playoff money so not worth selling. But buying just kills us again in terms of assets. I think we need to hold and hope UFA decisions are better next year. And bank on Maata/Pouliot improving next year.

Would anyone do maatta for Drouin?

Nope.

What would be the haul for trading Cole, Bonino, and Kunitz and settling for being 8th seed and 1st round knockout.

That would significantly improve our asset base and cap situation. We could then make a move in the offseason to get a 3d that probably won't be available UFA.

I feel like the trades last year really hurt this team in terms of building a cup contender. Last year was the year to sell. I still like the Kessel trade as I think he's performing ok and has a chance to step it up over time. Not a homerun, but he's good depth scoring.

If we waited till the trade deadline to make moves we could have realized the team had too many injuries to compete. Keep our David Perron 1st. Avoided the Winnik/Depres trades. What if we sold Paul Martin for a 1st and 3rd. We could conceivably added Barzal, Sprong, and a late 1st pick (or drafted sprong late 1st) and added a dman project in 2nd. We could have used those assets to either have depth or maybe made a move for Shattenkirk which fixes the defense.

Every other contender has had a year they spent retooling. Forcing trades has killed our asset base to put a cup team together. Which means we are constantly a 1 to 2 round playoff team.
- sditulli

If Shero weren't a mental midget and just took the highest rated player available the Pens would have a much stronger team right now. Instead his dumb ass thought he was so smart with taking PMD every single pick to trade for a rental later. It's like taking out credit card debt to pay for other credit card debt.

RW summed up: The Penguins should only be targeting 20+ goal scorers and top-pair defensemen.
- jmatchett383

It's true though, not that they are going to acquire it, but why on god's earth would the Pens go after Russel? I actually thought there were a lot of stretches where the Pens outplayed the Bruins last night, pinning them in their own zone a few times, and a lot of that was having stable guys at the point, Russel does not fit that bill at all... big, hard, pass on Russell... Wierchoch is someone I've wanted them to target for a few weeks now. Get it done JR.

It's true though, not that they are going to acquire it, but why on god's earth would the Pens go after Russel? I actually thought there were a lot of stretches where the Pens outplayed the Bruins last night, pinning them in their own zone a few times, and a lot of that was having stable guys at the point, Russel does not fit that bill at all... big, hard, pass on Russell... Wierchoch is someone I've wanted them to target for a few weeks now. Get it done JR.
- j.boyd919

I thought the Pens played well for stretches too, but I can't accept that this roster has such difficulty finishing. There's way too many high end offensive talents for this 14 month drought.

I thought the Pens played well for stretches too, but I can't accept that this roster has such difficulty finishing. There's way too many high end offensive talents for this 14 month drought.
- jfkst1

I dunno, when you become a one and a half line team.. it's pretty easy to stack your matchups against them, teams are going to make the Pens bottom 6 beat them, although they have scored a few times the past 3 or 4 games, if I were the other team, I'd still take my chances with those guys and stack up against Sid's line and Kessel's line (without Geno). I really think they need to give Toronto a call about Pareanteau and Grabner... my hopeful pickups for the deadline are Wiercoch and PA.

If Shero weren't a mental midget and just took the highest rated player available the Pens would have a much stronger team right now. Instead his dumb ass thought he was so smart with taking PMD every single pick to trade for a rental later. It's like taking out credit card debt to pay for other credit card debt.
- jfkst1

What's funny is Shero was good at trades only, his drafting suck as and ability to get ufas to come play with Sid and Geno sucked. While Ruth sucks at trades (he's 50-50 on deals imo) but his ability to get better ufas here and drafting is great...


Out of all those high priced rentals the pens got, Duper is the only one who stayed and he was a throw in! That is why I kind of want to stay away from UFA rentals. Yet I want Boedker and versteeg lol

What's funny is Shero was good at trades only, his drafting suck as and ability to get ufas to come play with Sid and Geno sucked. While Ruth sucks at trades (he's 50-50 on deals imo) but his ability to get better ufas here and drafting is great...


Out of all those high priced rentals the pens got, Duper is the only one who stayed and he was a throw in! That is why I kind of want to stay away from UFA rentals. Yet I want Boedker and versteeg lol
- nh4442

I'm not against rentals if the asking price is good. Of course, that's almost never the case.

I dunno, when you become a one and a half line team.. it's pretty easy to stack your matchups against them, teams are going to make the Pens bottom 6 beat them, although they have scored a few times the past 3 or 4 games, if I were the other team, I'd still take my chances with those guys and stack up against Sid's line and Kessel's line (without Geno). I really think they need to give Toronto a call about Pareanteau and Grabner... my hopeful pickups for the deadline are Wiercoch and PA.
- j.boyd919

Stay away from guys like PA. They will be available me this summer and will not be a big enough difference maker to trade a 2nd pick for. If you are going to spend, spend bigger for youth. Dallas reportedly listening on offers for Nichuskin. That's a big one. Weircioch is also a guy I like. Still don't think enough people are talking about Justin Schultz either. Could be had for almost nothing and is a good right shot bottom pairing guy who has really big upside.

The bottom lines is this Without Fleury playing his best, this team is going nowhere. All the speculation of the additions or subtractions to this team are irrelevant, and right now MAF is not performing in a way that this team needs him to be. In a tight close game against a quality team he always seems to blink first. That is not how you win in this league consistently. He needs to be better and I am betting that is not going to happen. Too much inconsistency in his performances..

The bottom lines is this Without Fleury playing his best, this team is going nowhere. All the speculation of the additions or subtractions to this team are irrelevant, and right now MAF is not performing in a way that this team needs him to be. In a tight close game against a quality team he always seems to blink first. That is not how you win in this league consistently. He needs to be better and I am betting that is not going to happen. Too much inconsistency in his performances..

- holeinone

Top goaltending helps, but teams win SCs with average goaltending all the time. MAF wasn't great in 2009 either.

Stay away from guys like PA. They will be available me this summer and will not be a big enough difference maker to trade a 2nd pick for. If you are going to spend, spend bigger for youth. Dallas reportedly listening on offers for Nichuskin. That's a big one. Weircioch is also a guy I like. Still don't think enough people are talking about Justin Schultz either. Could be had for almost nothing and is a good right shot bottom pairing guy who has really big upside.
- usethe1-2-2

PA can be had for super cheap especially because Toronto helping us essentially helps them get a 1st round pick. I'd be surprised if he costs us a 2nd with the 1st rounder implications from the kessel trade.

PA can be had for super cheap especially because Toronto helping us essentially helps them get a 1st round pick. I'd be surprised if he costs us a 2nd with the 1st rounder implications from the kessel trade.
- j.boyd919

That's wishfull thinking, ID like to see it, but I'm not sure that's the case. Clever thought though.

I would be ok with punting on Schultz if we traded Pouliot. Schultz just doesn't work as a 2nd/3rd pairing guy as long as Daley and Pouliot are on the roster.

Also you say Schultz has upside, but from what I read to retain his rfa rights you have to offer mid 4's. So even if he performs he's expensive to retain or more likely he becomes UFA then anyone can sign him.

That's wishfull thinking, ID like to see it, but I'm not sure that's the case. Clever thought though.
- usethe1-2-2

Yeah, I'd expect at least one 2nd rounder for PAP. That's not cheap IMO.

Hearing that #Blackhawks have serious interest in Hamhuis & Vrbata. No word yet on whether Hamhuis is willing to waive NTC. #Canucks

Thankfully it's not us

Tsn reporting chi has strong interest in hamius and vrbata. Which is good bc I don't want either as a pen haha

Hearing that #Blackhawks have serious interest in Hamhuis & Vrbata. No word yet on whether Hamhuis is willing to waive NTC. #Canucks

Thankfully it's not us
- Pens_Burgh

Damn your good. Need to copy and paste more haha

Like it or not, Cole has looked pretty solid since being inserted back in lineup. Somehow managed to be +1 last night too. Im not ready to give up on Cole yet, especially with Lovejoy down.
- MattStrat

I thought Cole and DeePo were a disaster last night.

Stay away from guys like PA. They will be available me this summer and will not be a big enough difference maker to trade a 2nd pick for. If you are going to spend, spend bigger for youth. Dallas reportedly listening on offers for Nichuskin. That's a big one. Weircioch is also a guy I like. Still don't think enough people are talking about Justin Schultz either. Could be had for almost nothing and is a good right shot bottom pairing guy who has really big upside.
- usethe1-2-2

You say stay away from PAP, well I say stay away from Schultz. Justin Schultz is garbage. He is no better defensively than what we saw last night from our Dmen.

I kind of like the upside of Boedker. Is he ever going to be better than a guy like Hagelin? I dont know, he definitely hasnt lived up to the hype yet. But he's a young, fast, top 6 LW. Since we aren't going to get a powerfoward, speed may be a good route. If we can re-sign him that would give us Boedker, Hagelin, Kessel, Sprong, Hornqvist, Kunitz. That's a lot of speed on the wings.

edit: yes, we would have to have the money from Dupuis LTIR to sign him. If he's looking at $5M+, forget it.