Admittedly, I havent been doing much following/reading on anything expansion related. Thought Quebec was a frontrunner and as Canadian kind of hope we get another team. It's in our bloodlines up here. I also remember the intense battles of the Habs and Nords back in the day. Furthermore I kinda feel bad that the team left Quebec for Colorado then won a cup the very next year. If I was a Nords fan Id be furious.
- MattStrat

Same thing happened to the stars. I was to young (as in a few months old when the relocation happened) at the time to know it but it makes me upset now.

I want to see a Rob Rossi-Paul Steigwald show down in the finals.



Tweet from Yohe: "If I make it to the second round I have no chance #icecream"

If I were gm it would speed up my trading of fleury even if prematurely. I wouldn't be willing to lose Murray even if it's at the expense of fleury. And I think fleury is terrific.
- dbell646

I don't want to lose Murray either, but I think I'd choose to trade him and keep MAF around for the remainder of the "sid/geno" window. The last thing we need is our goalie having growing pains while we try to contend the next few years. If Murray's stock is truly sky high we might be able to get a nice young player we wouldn't have to expose to the expansion draft. We still have Jary and it sounds like his trajectory is great too.

I want to see a Rob Rossi-Paul Steigwald show down in the finals.



Tweet from Yohe: "If I make it to the second round I have no chance #icecream"
- Victoro311

Not even gong to pretend to know anything about most of those people but Rossi's words (and appearances on TSN and Sportsnet) have rubbed me raw way too many times. The guy is a tool...seems more like a hipster that should be writing articles about indie bands than writing about hockey.

How would the expansion draft work for players with NMC's? I cannot possibly see the players union accepting a player who negotiated a NMC into his deal is now subject to movement to an expansion team. Unless of course there's some kind of language in the CBA.....which I doubt.
- madmike71

Was thinking the same thing. If XXX team wants to unload XXX player on a NMC, they can easily leave him exposed in a draft. I'm not sure that flies. Then, they are bound to be protected, which puts said team in a bigger problem.

Not even gong to pretend to know anything about most of those people but Rossi's words (and appearances on TSN and Sportsnet) have rubbed me raw way too many times. The guy is a tool...seems more like a hipster that should be writing articles about indie bands than writing about hockey.
- MattStrat

Yeah I just know the guys that are associated with the Pens and some of the guys associated with the Steelers but both Rossi and Stieggy are 1 seeds, so it seems like I already know eveything I need to know

Not even gong to pretend to know anything about most of those people but Rossi's words (and appearances on TSN and Sportsnet) have rubbed me raw way too many times. The guy is a tool...seems more like a hipster that should be writing articles about indie bands than writing about hockey.
- MattStrat

Robb Rossi is a columnist for one of our local papers. He used to do the Pens beat, but now does his own column.

Here's what he is.... He's a troll in print form. He thinks taking adversarial opinions on Pittsburgh teams somehow makes him relevant. He isn't. He just comes off looking like the fool that he is.

I want to see a Rob Rossi-Paul Steigwald show down in the finals.



Tweet from Yohe: "If I make it to the second round I have no chance #icecream"
- Victoro311

As someone not from the burgh area I only know a few of these. But Id love to see Mark Madden Vs Rossi.

Robb Rossi is a columnist for one of our local papers. He used to do the Pens beat, but now does his own column.

Here's what he is.... He's a troll in print form. He thinks taking adversarial opinions on Pittsburgh teams somehow makes him relevant. He isn't. He just comes off looking like the fool that he is.
- madmike71

Yeah, besides Steigy, Rossi is the one I'm most familiar with. I used to go to Tribe Total Media website a lot to get Pens news but Rossis crap turned my stomach, that, and the comments on the stories there were just too much to take. It was like a bunch of Sammys commenting. The Facebook comments can be very similar too.

We dont have to worry about Murray and Pouliot, they cant be picked as first and second year NHLers.

There is also the question about players with NMC and NTC. If they cant be picked at all we wouldnt have to protect crosby and malkin, thus having 2 more players to protect.

We dont have to worry about Murray and Pouliot, they cant be picked as first and second year NHLers.

There is also the question about players with NMC and NTC. If they cant be picked at all we wouldnt have to protect crosby and malkin, thus having 2 more players to protect.
- Conse

I'm pretty sure the way it works if they decided that players with NTCs can't be drafted then the franchise is forced to protect them and burn a protection, which sucks

We dont have to worry about Murray and Pouliot, they cant be picked as first and second year NHLers.

There is also the question about players with NMC and NTC. If they cant be picked at all we wouldnt have to protect crosby and malkin, thus having 2 more players to protect.
- Conse

From what I have read and seen others reporting... players with NMC/NTC would be forced as the team's protected players first.

But that can create a very odd situation, of a team having more than the protected amount covered by those NMC/NTC.

I want to see a Rob Rossi-Paul Steigwald show down in the finals.



Tweet from Yohe: "If I make it to the second round I have no chance #icecream"
- Victoro311

Madden only a 3 seed? Hard to fathom...

HCMS saying Wilson is going to be a longer term injury...but it looks like Beau is ready to go. Really hope he can stay healthy...not holding breath on it though.

HCMS saying Wilson is going to be a longer term injury...but it looks like Beau is ready to go. Really hope he can stay healthy...not holding breath on it though.
- MattStrat

Yohe said he was in a walking boot last night and Sully said something about swelling...so longer term sounds about right.

I wonder what they're going to do with Lovejoy? It sounds like he's just about ready to return. Schultz being used on the PP will block his return.

Yohe said he was in a walking boot last night and Sully said something about swelling...so longer term sounds about right.

I wonder what they're going to do with Lovejoy? It sounds like he's just about ready to return. Schultz being used on the PP will block his return.
- madmike71

With Cole finally playing good hockey, Lovejoy is a 7th man again. Pouliot might now be the 8th man now. But they are really both the next man up, depending on if its Shultz or Cole who gets bumped down.

With Cole finally playing good hockey, Lovejoy is a 7th man again. Pouliot might now be the 8th man now. But they are really both the next man up, depending on if its Shultz or Cole who gets bumped down.
- Guile

Why would pouliot be bumped lower? Thought he was playing good for a young player

Why would pouliot be bumped lower? Thought he was playing good for a young player
- jmdodgeser4

It depends on how you view it. He is the next man up should Letang, Daley, or Shultz get hurt or Shultz plays bad.

Lovejoy for Maatta, Dumo, or Cole injury, or Cole playing bad.


Or have you not noticed Pittsburgh tries to have 1 offensive Dman and 1 well rounded/stay at home dman per pairing? As well as trying to keep the LHD and RHD to one each a pairing as well.

We dont have to worry about Murray and Pouliot, they cant be picked as first and second year NHLers.

There is also the question about players with NMC and NTC. If they cant be picked at all we wouldnt have to protect crosby and malkin, thus having 2 more players to protect.
- Conse

1st and 2nd year PROS- AHL time counts, Murray, Jarry and Pouliout will all be exposed if not protected next offseason. Hopefully next season we are able to get a good enough read on Murray because my thought is you trade one of Fluery or Murray prior to the expansion draft so you can protect one and still get assets for the other, because I guarantee whom ever is unprotected between Fleury and Murray is the player we lose- so don't even take that chance, trade one.

1st and 2nd year PROS- AHL time counts, Murray, Jarry and Pouliout will all be exposed if not protected next offseason. Hopefully next season we are able to get a good enough read on Murray because my thought is you trade one of Fluery or Murray prior to the expansion draft so you can protect one and still get assets for the other, because I guarantee whom ever is unprotected between Fleury and Murray is the player we lose- so don't even take that chance, trade one.
- Willaged

And also the burning of Sprongs first year of his ELC contract is now an even bigger deal as if he plays with us next season he will also by definition have "2 years pro" and will need to be protected or will be exposed in the expansion draft. Will this be a consideration for management when deciding if Sprong makes the team next season? It may.

And also the burning of Sprongs first year of his ELC contract is now an even bigger deal as if he plays with us next season he will also by definition have "2 years pro" and will need to be protected or will be exposed in the expansion draft. Will this be a consideration for management when deciding if Sprong makes the team next season? It may.
- Willaged

its 2017-2018. must have a year notice before july 1st of expected expansion draft. So that would be after next season. Did you see we must expose enough cap space to equal 25 percent of the cap worth of players?

It depends on how you view it. He is the next man up should Letang, Daley, or Shultz get hurt or Shultz plays bad.

Lovejoy for Maatta, Dumo, or Cole injury, or Cole playing bad.


Or have you not noticed Pittsburgh tries to have 1 offensive Dman and 1 well rounded/stay at home dman per pairing? As well as trying to keep the LHD and RHD to one each a pairing as well.
- Guile

Not really. I dispise watching any pens game unless its against the flyers. Im sure feeling is mutual.

its 2017-2018. must have a year notice before july 1st of expected expansion draft. So that would be after next season. Did you see we must expose enough cap space to equal 25 percent of the cap worth of players?
- jmdodgeser4

Yeah, that's not a huge concern for us as we'll expose Kessel I'm sure so that helps us to get to that 25%...

Why would pouliot be bumped lower? Thought he was playing good for a young player
- jmdodgeser4

Schultz is a more seasoned/experienced player. He has much more experience in all situations in the NHL and quite frankly he looks better than Pouliot on the ice right now.

Not really. I dispise watching any pens game unless its against the flyers. Im sure feeling is mutual.
- jmdodgeser4

However to answer your first question... Yes, Pouliot was and is playing well. I believe he is down for Shultz, because Shultz is getting a trial by fire treatment here, and is doing well. He is an improvment over Pouliot, ESPECIALLY on the powerplay with Malkin out. Had he been bad, oh well, we wasted a 3rd round pick. Thats less than our usual trade deadline spending.

I have said this a few times, but I 100% believe Shultz is a backup plan way to cut salary slighty from Daley (again, depending on Shultz staying good/improving more this season), should the cap not go up to the alleged 74 mil.