I know man. Its a wonder how they didn't all go in the first round. What a steal, amirite?
- Victoro311

The fruit of that Sutter trade...I can dig it.

Why go after big name free agents even if we had the money? Just won the Cup and have a good chance to repeat by adding a few depth players. Pump the brakes fellas it's going to be another good year in the Burgh.
- Mino42

Exactly

No you're right. And that's why he was picked, and BPA is a solid rule of thumb when you're picking in the top 20, maybe even the entire first round. But once you get to second rounders is such a crap shoot that I see no issue with drafting for need.
- Victoro311

Unless the best goalie was still available.

Usually when a goaltender is picked in the 2nd round, teams have "potential future starter" in mind. I'm fine with the pick as every competitive team should have several potential future starters in their system at various stages of development if they want sustained success, but I feel like if we're reluctant to move Fleury, then why spend a 2nd round pick on you're organization's biggest strong suit?

Personally, I want us to start drafting centers. You spend a second on a center and they're what? 3-4 years out? And another 1-2 years form hitting their stride as NHLers? Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be 34 and in the twilight of their career at that point. It's a good idea to start working on the organization's center depth before it becomes an emergency.
- Victoro311

We have discussed we needed to restock D prospects because our cupboard is bare. Our cupboard has been bare of forward prospects. We have Sprong, Guentzel and maybe Blueger. Two of those guys I think can make it ... the third, I have no clue.

Our farm system isn't stacked, nor has it been. We got lucky with Sheary, Rust, Kuhnackl and Wilson this year. None of them were highly though of by the national guys.

5th round pick, a Finnish Dman

http://www.nhl.com/ice/dr...ectdetail.htm?dpid=103043

Why go after big name free agents even if we had the money? Just won the Cup and have a good chance to repeat by adding a few depth players. Pump the brakes fellas it's going to be another good year in the Burgh.
- Mino42

Bc kuni is old and his cap hits hurts the pens... Shouldn't play top 6 but won't play bottom 6

Stay at home Dmen don't put up numbers. That is not their role. I don't blame Hall for not having point production. That said, I don't like the second second round pick on a Fin forward that is supposedly viewed as a bottom six forward and then Hall.

Not impressed with this draft for us at all.
- Oneonta Penguin

I agree. Lower first rounders are a crap shoot. Anything below that? forget about it. There is no reason to not draft for need/upside when every player left is such a question mark. I've always hated the play it safe mentality lower in the draft. I was a big proponent of drafting Josh Ho-Sang, and I stick by that gun.

hipcheck

We need at least two Dmen to replace Lovejoy and Schultz. We need a top six LW. Those are moves we need to make. No one should be confident that dP is now our sixth Dman.
- Oneonta Penguin

A top 6 LW would be great... I agree with that. But not at 6 million a year that each of those guys will get... Dmen, there is one spot open... Sounds like Lovejoy will resign and maybe even Schultz so I don't see that as a huge hole. We need some help but don't need the superstar name help...

Hey Vic311, do you play hockey in South Bend?

We have discussed we needed to restock D prospects because our cupboard is bare. Our cupboard has been bare of forward prospects. We have Sprong, Guentzel and maybe Blueger. Two of those guys I think can make it ... the third, I have no clue.

Our farm system isn't stacked, nor has it been. We got lucky with Sheary, Rust, Kuhnackl and Wilson this year. None of them were highly though of by the national guys.
- Oneonta Penguin

I thought GMJR has by and large done much better at drafting than Shero the past two years and I was really hopeful in regards to restocking the cupboard. We have failed to get anyone that gets my boner rolling this draft. Feels like a Shero draft. I'm not cursing my ancestors like when we drafted Pouliot over Forsberg, but I also feel like we haven't done anything.

hipcheck

We need at least two Dmen to replace Lovejoy and Schultz. We need a top six LW. Those are moves we need to make. No one should be confident that dP is now our sixth Dman.
- Oneonta Penguin

They need to sign one of Schultz or Lovejoy. Then they're done. And it's fine.

A top 6 LW would be great... I agree with that. But not at 6 million a year that each of those guys will get... Dmen, there is one spot open... Sounds like Lovejoy will resign and maybe even Schultz so I don't see that as a huge hole. We need some help but don't need the superstar name help...
- hipcheck_goalie

Biggest need is another bottom 4 dman. They will need to create space to make it happen, but like I said before, Ruth completely transformed the team last year with no cap space mid-season. I can't panic yet.

Hey Vic311, do you play hockey in South Bend?
- Blackstrom2

God I wish I was a D1 athlete. No, I'm one of the few on this board that can't even skate. Just a big fan of the sport.

No you're right. And that's why he was picked, and BPA is a solid rule of thumb when you're picking in the top 20, maybe even the entire first round. But once you get to second rounders is such a crap shoot that I see no issue with drafting for need.
- Victoro311

Wow vic, you're normally not this bad about arm chair GMing.

They need to sign one of Schultz or Lovejoy. Then they're done. And it's fine.
- hardnosed

Can we afford it with our cap space?

Honestly with our limited cap space I'd rather sign several boneheapers than one top 6 NHL defenseman. If we only sign one guy, and more than one injuries hit, we're in serious trouble.

God I wish I was a D1 athlete. No, I'm one of the few on this board that can't even skate. Just a big fan of the sport.
- Victoro311

No, I didn't mean for Notre Dame or anything, just like in their rec league. A good friend of mine moved out to South Bend about a year ago and is a huge Pittsburgh fan (he's from there). If you played, high chance ya'll ran into each other.

Ryan, I get as a blogger that you need a story to generate interest but the reality is the Pens will be extremely quiet this off season. Putting management down for not making the decisions that you think are needed is short sided because you have no clue of the details that most have no clue about. mAF may have blocked a trade... MAF may not want to leave... Management may be worried about Murray's glove side weaknesses... It's fine to question but bashing has no merit.
- hipcheck_goalie

That's because he thinks he's the most knowledgable hockey guru of all time. To him, his opinion is always right even when the facts are there to prove him wrong. I'm pretty sure Las Vegas will be inquiring about RW to be the GM because he's just the most brilliant hockey blogger who has ever lived

is it me, or does it seem every time RW says its a bad move for Pitts, it turns into a really good move lately. That Hall kid played for Team Canada, GMJR said he can skate, not sure what the issue is. He can't do worse than what BB has done the last 3 years.
- Thorny

I was a little confused by that too. Saying it is a wasted pick an hour after a kid was drafted. Like it has been said, he played for Canada World Junior team.

Also, Elliott has never been a game eater. An injured MAF has played 34 more games than Elliott the last 2 seasons. Not having the fatigue of a 60-70 game-a-year goalie has to play into the stats.

Wow vic, you're normally not this bad about arm chair GMing.
- Zac_O

It's the draft. There's no hockey for months. My job ended forever ago. I don't start gradschool until August. How am I supposed to pass the time? I can only watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer for so many consecutive hours.

What's the report on Almari? I run off the assumption all Finns are sleepers.

I thought GMJR has by and large done much better at drafting than Shero the past two years and I was really hopeful in regards to restocking the cupboard. We have failed to get anyone that gets my boner rolling this draft. Feels like a Shero draft. I'm not cursing my ancestors like when we drafted Pouliot over Forsberg, but I also feel like we haven't done anything.
- Victoro311

Rutherford inherited a horsepoop situation really when you think about it as far as a farm system. Didn't have many picks last year. This draft does mirror a Shero draft though.

What's the report on Almari? I run off the assumption all Finns are sleepers.
- Victoro311

Trying to find one. That said, I actually value Finn Dmen. They usually overachieve to me.

"The sky is falling" mentality to writing is getting really old. I find it hilarious that all these "writers" fall into the sky is falling mentality when they don't agree or "get their way". They act like some fortune teller already knowing how the future is going to play out.

These same people just can't soak up the moment and enjoy it. How many times during the playoff run of the Pens were there articles from a "sky is falling" perspective. Its like coach Sully says and what Murray said all playoffs....to enjoy and be in the moment. Enjoy and be in the moment means make the most of every moment, see the positive, know that any down moment can turn into a positive moment.

To continually read the sky is falling mentality is archaic as the dinosaurs....get over yourself and your own Ego.....and try and write from a positive perspective.....you will start to enjoy life a heck of a lot better.
- Darklight11

Yep.

It's the Internet - everyone is suddenly an expert on everything, even when they know nothing about what they're talking about. Team just won the Cup 13 days ago and folks are complaining about 3rd round draft picks.

People are unironically talking about signing Boedker or Okposo like there's a need or the cap room to do so.

People are legit upset that the Penguins look like they're have two quality goalies again, when it just took two quality goalies and Jeff Zatkoff's veteran experience to qualify for the playoffs and win the Cup.

It's kind of embarrassing honestly. The Penguins are in great shape short and long term, yet fans are acting like entitled brats because they're not getting their way.

Of course JR isn't going to broadcast that he's looking to trade Fleury. He's going to sit back and let people call and make offers for fleury and then jump on the best one.

I do have a question though. Can fleury waive his NMC right before the expansion draft and then that would allow the pens to protect Murray?

A top 6 LW would be great... I agree with that. But not at 6 million a year that each of those guys will get... Dmen, there is one spot open... Sounds like Lovejoy will resign and maybe even Schultz so I don't see that as a huge hole. We need some help but don't need the superstar name help...
- hipcheck_goalie

I'm not saying we need a 6 million dollar guy.