Could you imagine this team though if they kept Bonino, added Vesey, and Sprong and Guentzel become what we hope they will?

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Vesey -Malkin-Sprong
HBK
Kuhnhackl/Sheary-Fehr-Rust

- Tojo.

Sprong's defense has better improved greatly to get second line minutes. He sucks defensively.

Could you imagine this team though if they kept Bonino, added Vesey, and Sprong and Guentzel become what we hope they will?

Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Vesey -Malkin-Sprong
HBK
Kuhnhackl/Sheary-Fehr-Rust

- Tojo.

I value centers over wings unless their elite like Kessel. So personally I'd think very hard about going as high as $5 on bonino even if it meant trading Hagelin or Hornqvists. If we sign vesey then having a cheap top 6 winger would mean we can even more go down the center model. Bonino isn't too old that a 4-5 year contract will carry heavy risks.

I also feel a lot more comfortable with our wing prospects Guentzel and Sprong than I think we have a legit 3C coming up. Guentzel could be it, but you can always move him to wing too.

Sprong's defense has better improved greatly to get second line minutes. He sucks defensively.
- Oneonta Penguin

Malkin doesn't exactly get lots of tough defensive assignments. It's actually the best place to put an offensive wing.

I value centers over wings unless their elite like Kessel. So personally I'd think very hard about going as high as $5 on bonino even if it meant trading Hagelin or Hornqvists. If we sign vesey then having a cheap top 6 winger would mean we can even more go down the center model. Bonino isn't too old that a 4-5 year contract will carry heavy risks.

I also feel a lot more comfortable with our wing prospects Guentzel and Sprong than I think we have a legit 3C coming up. Guentzel could be it, but you can always move him to wing too.
- sditulli

I agree. I'm willing to play it out a bit, but I'd rather load up at center and hope enough of our wings work out to fill out the line up. I didn't even have room for Wilson or Simon who are also possibilities. If enough of rhe wings work out, and none of them are due raises for 2 to 3 years, they can easily afford Bonino without compromising your stars or defense core.

So, do we have another Domer? According to this, unless I'm reading this wrong, we signed Thomas DiPauli?

http://www.prohockeyrumor...8/vesey-update-81816.html

So, do we have another Domer? According to this, unless I'm reading this wrong, we signed Thomas DiPauli?

http://www.prohockeyrumor...8/vesey-update-81816.html
- Oneonta Penguin

What I've read was that one person reported he's likely to sign with us. Nothing confirmed. Since its the same agent, there may be some smoke to a package deal of Vesey/DiPauli both to the Pens.

OR we miss out on Vesey and this is Panarin/Plotnikov all over again lol

What I've read was that one person reported he's likely to sign with us. Nothing confirmed. Since its the same agent, there may be some smoke to a package deal of Vesey/DiPauli both to the Pens.

OR we miss out on Vesey and this is Panarin/Plotnikov all over again lol
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I find it interesting the reason he eliminated Washington ... given the fact we have every forward that played in the Cup for us back ...

https://www.washingtonpos...ly-to-sign-with-penguins/

What I've read was that one person reported he's likely to sign with us. Nothing confirmed. Since its the same agent, there may be some smoke to a package deal of Vesey/DiPauli both to the Pens.

OR we miss out on Vesey and this is Panarin/Plotnikov all over again lol
- YouMeAndDupuis9

It does kind of have that feel to it.

He's probably waiting for Vesey to choose a team. Then see where he fits best afterwards. The Pens do need LW prospects. I guess this kid can play center or LW.

So, do we have another Domer? According to this, unless I'm reading this wrong, we signed Thomas DiPauli?

http://www.prohockeyrumor...8/vesey-update-81816.html
- Oneonta Penguin

Suck it

DiPauli did just fine signing here. He's not NHL ready (this past season was the only season he showed flashes of legit NHL potential), so it's not like he needs to make a decision based on what imidiate situation he's walking into. Hard to gauge what an org will look like two/three years down the road, so it's better to make a decision on system and atmosphere than depth chart, and he's the stereotypical Sullivan mold player. You know how I always said I never realized how fast Rust actually was in college? Yeah, I never had any question about DiPauli. He's a blur.

I'll take Rust over Hudler any day. Rust was clutch in the playoffs and Hudler has never won a cup. I have Rust to score 20 goals this year. I think that kid has the best attitude and his speed is incredible. Age is just a number but we have lots of older players, we have had lots every year and they always find a way to let us down. I want a competitive team in 7 years. We have to cultivate that. No one lets good young players just walk. The fact Hudler has not yet been signed gives me alarm bells. He was an embarrassment in Florida last year. Let so either team make a mistake signing him. If he ends up being a difference maker for any team this year I promise to admit I know nothing but I'm actually a pretty good judge of talent and I think Hudler is a mistake. Nothing retarded about it, and I would know, I work with developmentally disabled people every day for my job and even they think Hudler is a mistake.
- Dcoms

Hudler did win a cup ...he beat the pens ...remember ?
As for an embarrassment in Florida ...11 points in 19 games isn't that bad ...that's only a couple less than your boy Rust got in over 50 games in his career ...I will admit Hudler ain't going to do much else if the offense goes dry but he will out produce rust easily next year

in other news. I am gonna go see the cup with horny tomorrow. gonna lift that cup like nobodys business

Suck it

DiPauli did just fine signing here. He's not NHL ready (this past season was the only season he showed flashes of legit NHL potential), so it's not like he needs to make a decision based on what imidiate situation he's walking into. Hard to gauge what an org will look like two/three years down the road, so it's better to make a decision on system and atmosphere than depth chart, and he's the stereotypical Sullivan mold player. You know how I always said I never realized how fast Rust actually was in college? Yeah, I never had any question about DiPauli. He's a blur.
- Victoro311

Speed helps you overcome a lot. I'm happy the pens are looking at these kids.

Suck it

DiPauli did just fine signing here. He's not NHL ready (this past season was the only season he showed flashes of legit NHL potential), so it's not like he needs to make a decision based on what imidiate situation he's walking into. Hard to gauge what an org will look like two/three years down the road, so it's better to make a decision on system and atmosphere than depth chart, and he's the stereotypical Sullivan mold player. You know how I always said I never realized how fast Rust actually was in college? Yeah, I never had any question about DiPauli. He's a blur.
- Victoro311

I guess it's official we signed this kid. Yohe says he immediately becomes one of our better prospects.

Suck it

DiPauli did just fine signing here. He's not NHL ready (this past season was the only season he showed flashes of legit NHL potential), so it's not like he needs to make a decision based on what imidiate situation he's walking into. Hard to gauge what an org will look like two/three years down the road, so it's better to make a decision on system and atmosphere than depth chart, and he's the stereotypical Sullivan mold player. You know how I always said I never realized how fast Rust actually was in college? Yeah, I never had any question about DiPauli. He's a blur.
- Victoro311

So, at best, this guy can be a Bryan Rust clone (which isnt a bad thing) GMJR has done a really good job stocking the shelves with bottom 6 guys, which was a weakness for the Pens for a long time.

Murray was a rookie and he played admirably considering the pressure. The team plays differently when MAF is in the net, they play tenative. Sorry I know you hate Murray and love MAF but it's time to move on from Fleury.
What am I basing it on? Well year after year of MAF melting down in the playoffs or in pressure situations. He's just so flakey. Yes he played well in the 2015 playoffs, but the Pens had zero chance of winning that series so there was zero pressure. How about the year before against the Blue Jackets? https://youtu.be/WQGz9UoKOKo
I don't need to quantify anything. He just terrified me when the game is close and it means something. The same way you can't quantify Murray as beings anything but great during last years playoffs. I'm just more comfortable with him and so is the team.
- Dcoms

So basically you're basing it on biased opinion and not stats or facts.

I don't hate Murray at all and I do agree that what he did as a rookie was admirable(even though I don't consider his playoff performance great), i'm just not ready to anoint the kid a Vezina winner and future hall of famer after less than 30 games. I say some flaws in his game (most are fixable) and he let in quite a few bad goals during his run so I'd like to see him show a little more before turning the franchise over to him. I'very been on record many times stating that if he continues that level of play throughout the season Fleurythmics goes and the team belongs to Murray so I have no clue where this "hate Murray and love Fleury" moniker comes from.

Eh I don't like spot promising. I want Vesey, but that's one thing we shouldn't do. Sends the wrong message to the team. Yeah sure, we're trying to recruit him and telling him he's going to start the year in the AHL is no way of going about getting him here, but it should be clear that you earn things around these parts.
- Victoro311

Context is everything. They may have told him that he has a good possibility at playing there. Or that if he works hard and shows promise that he can be placed on the top two lines. Media likes to take things said behind closed doors out of context for hits and get people quoting them.

I guess it's official we signed this kid. Yohe says he immediately becomes one of our better prospects.
- madmike71

Yeah apparently he did a lot of growing up on the ice last year. Unfortunately, since I graduated in 2015, I didn't see many of his games last year as I no longer worked at the ND Sports Media Relations Department, so I can't really give you an accurate scouting report of the player he's become but he's fast as (frank) and is positionless, which is always helpful.

Context is everything. They may have told him that he has a good possibility at playing there. Or that if he works hard and shows promise that he can be placed on the top two lines. Media likes to take things said behind closed doors out of context for hits and get people quoting them.
- kgrpitt

Yeah you're not wrong.

in other news. I am gonna go see the cup with horny tomorrow. gonna lift that cup like nobodys business
- martox

Put your finger prints all over it Martox you lucky lucky bastard!

And tell Horny I want more from him next season!

are we out of veseywatch since we signed Cullen and DiPauli?

are we out of veseywatch since we signed Cullen and DiPauli?
- all-pgh

No

are we out of veseywatch since we signed Cullen and DiPauli?
- all-pgh

DiPauli doesn't look that great... lesser version of Vesey at the same age. I think he was just a free asset grab like the 5 or so ~8th type Dman we signed before Schultz.

DiPauli doesn't look that great... lesser version of Vesey at the same age. I think he was just a free asset grab like the 5 or so ~8th type Dman we signed before Schultz.
- Guile

Agree dipauli doesn't even sound like plotnikov level signing. He's more of an AHL guy you hope becomes a cheap 4th liner. Nothing wrong with that when its free.

sounds like Vesey to the Rangers

sounds like Vesey to the Rangers
- cap1681

I mean I don't think we need Vesey so I'm not going to make huge deal about it but honestly the Rangers? New Jersey might have even been a better option. What an odd decision. New York is one more bad season away from going full rebuild.