That Wild Bill contract though for Vegas is awesome. under 6M for a top line caliber center is a steal. And it's only till he's 32 or 33.

That Wild Bill contract though for Vegas is awesome. under 6M for a top line caliber center is a steal. And it's only till he's 32 or 33.
- j.boyd919

Great contract. I'm curious to see Vegas' next move. They have quite a bit of space to clear out.

Woah. After reading this blog I'd be looking at a total rebuild if I were a Pens fan. And to be completely honest, it may be time. Time to unload Malkin/Letang, whoever can get you first round picks in abundance. This team has top end talent that is rapidly reaching their best before dates. Would Sid consider playing in Anaheim? Kings? Intestinal fortitude is going to be needed before it's too late

Woah. After reading this blog I'd be looking at a total rebuild if I were a Pens fan. And to be completely honest, it may be time. Time to unload Malkin/Letang, whoever can get you first round picks in abundance. This team has top end talent that is rapidly reaching their best before dates. Would Sid consider playing in Anaheim? Kings? Intestinal fortitude is going to be needed before it's too late
- Hardbalz

There's literally ZERO reason to do a total rebuild. The Pens misspent and can correct that, but that problem is they won't.

Carolina picked up a 1st rounder which is a sizable trade chip. Hall approved NJD to get Subban so you can figure they’ll probably add another impact player or two. The Aislanders are doing their best to retain their dudes. Plenty of rumors around Philly not being done and NYR getting Panarin (although rumor is he’s meeting with FLA first). I wouldn’t count out Zucc returning to the Rags either

But I agree with your last statement. RW does get all fem and swings from one extreme to the other regularly
- WSCTeton17

Carolina also picked up a 7mil middle six player.
Pens don’t have the cap space to sign 7-9mil players like Carolina, NYR, NYI, NJD, JR could not have made those moves.

RW develops unhealthy hatred for people and uses his blog to bad mouth them, it’s pathetic.

That Wild Bill contract though for Vegas is awesome. under 6M for a top line caliber center is a steal. And it's only till he's 32 or 33.
- j.boyd919

Holy crap that’s a great deal. I could easily see him taking a small bridge deal and get 7-8 mil in free agency. Really helps the knights to stay competitive for a while.

I dont understand the draft. The scouting reports are all similar: "need to work on skating" and "a few years away". As for potentially shaking up the roster, how about:

Kessel and johnson to AZ for Galchenyuk and Lyubushkin

Rust and bjugstad to Vegas for Miller and McNabb

Letang to montreal for domi and tatar

Te WK deal in vegas is a good one for the team. total steal at $6M. The Leafs getting kapanen signed for $3.2M for the next 3 is a good deal too.

Holy crap that’s a great deal. I could easily see him taking a small bridge deal and get 7-8 mil in free agency. Really helps the knights to stay competitive for a while.
- drummer829

They were at $83.125M before the deal and this deal brings them to appx. $89M.

Now they need to shed at least $$7.5M. Realistically, they need to move more than that to make room to sign enough players to fit their roster.

Carolina also picked up a 7mil middle six player.
Pens don’t have the cap space to sign 7-9mil players like Carolina, NYR, NYI, NJD, JR could not have made those moves.

RW develops unhealthy hatred for people and uses his blog to bad mouth them, it’s pathetic.
- stackthepads

I agree that RW is likely mentally unhealthy to some extent, as so many us are these days

The Marleau trade is a good one. He’s a third liner but that’s a good return. The value of these ELCs goes up every year and these 1st rounders are always valuable. Good on Carolina for extracting their toll. TOR will be fine but they’re not out of the woods yet

They were at $83.125M before the deal and this deal brings them to appx. $89M.

Now they need to shed at least $$7.5M. Realistically, they need to move more than that to make room to sign enough players to fit their roster.
- Rinosaur

5.2 of that is David (Wendel) Clarkson; so it’s only a shade over 2 that they actually need to move.

Dump Cody Eakin and replace with Cody Glass and you’re compliant.

I dont understand the draft. The scouting reports are all similar: "need to work on skating" and "a few years away". As for potentially shaking up the roster, how about:

Kessel and johnson to AZ for Galchenyuk and Lyubushkin

Rust and bjugstad to Vegas for Miller and McNabb

Letang to montreal for domi and tatar
- i'mjustafan

Montreal is trying to stay young and fast and their prospects cupboard is stacked now. They’ve been killing it at the draft. They don’t want to take on an older defender plus they already have Weber and Perry on the right side

Vegas isn’t looking for more forwards in that price range.

The Kessel trade is an interesting one. Obviously it’s addition by subtraction in a sense. Chucky was certainly playing more of a grinder game down the stretch, if he keeps at it and plays with Geno and Kahun (who always around the net/slot which opens up soft spots for Chucky) I could see that as a good line. Lyubushkin is a steady meh #7 defender BUT this trade would clear up some space to retain our other RFAs. I actually think it makes sense EXCEPT I don’t think there’s a chance in hell the analytical Chayka takes JJ in the deal. I think AZ simply adds a top 6 winger in FA and that’s it unless they (sadly) move Kevin Connauton

5.2 of that is David (Wendel) Clarkson; so it’s only a shade over 2 that they actually need to move.

Dump Cody Eakin and replace with Cody Glass and you’re compliant.
- Za Warudo

Actually Cap friendly already had Clarkson factored in.

I think Eakin and Miller are pieces they could move for pick/prospect heavy deals.

They were at $83.125M before the deal and this deal brings them to appx. $89M.

Now they need to shed at least $$7.5M. Realistically, they need to move more than that to make room to sign enough players to fit their roster.
- Rinosaur

William Karlsson and Haula are decent 1-2 options. I think Reaves and Stastny are the obvious choices to be moved. They still have the pens 2nd round pick they can add to reaves to try and dump him somewhere.

If JR was serious about trading Malkin, I always thought a Malkin for Karlsson+ would have been a good deal

William Karlsson and Haula are decent 1-2 options. I think Reaves and Stastny are the obvious choices to be moved. They still have the pens 2nd round pick they can add to reaves to try and dump him somewhere.

If JR was serious about trading Malkin, I always thought a Malkin for Karlsson+ would have been a good deal
- drummer829

Last part first: WUT?

First part last: Reaves maybe, but they aren't moving Statsny.

William Karlsson and Haula are decent 1-2 options. I think Reaves and Stastny are the obvious choices to be moved. They still have the pens 2nd round pick they can add to reaves to try and dump him somewhere.

If JR was serious about trading Malkin, I always thought a Malkin for Karlsson+ would have been a good deal
- drummer829

Haula also plays wing. It sounds like the prime options are for Haula to play 3C and carry a line or have him play wing. Clarkson and D are going to be moved most likely

That early Fleury extension sure looks bad now eh? The extra 1-2MM in cap space sure would look good rn

Not sure if shopping is the right word when it comes to Faulk but CAR is listening and rumor has it their talks with his camp this week on an extension didn’t go well at all.

Sounds like Buffalo is 100% shopping Ristolainen, Tampa is said to be highly interested and if they can get a pair of guys to waive (maybe Killorn and Johnson) then a fit could easily be made. I still think Turris to Buffalo makes a ton of sense. If they somehow got all 3? That’s a huge upgrade over their 2nd line from last year

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Johnson-Turris-Killorn

I hope GMJR doesn’t go after Risto and if he does hopefully he’s buying low. If we can’t afford Schultz then I like Tojo’s Idea of Shattenkirk. NYR likely would retain some salary

I'm going to prognosticate:

Vegas will move THREE of Eakin, Miller, Haula and Reaves. Reaves likely the hardest IMO.

There is golden opportunity if the Pens can move out some salaries themselves.

I dont understand the draft. The scouting reports are all similar: "need to work on skating" and "a few years away". As for potentially shaking up the roster, how about:

Kessel and johnson to AZ for Galchenyuk and Lyubushkin

Rust and bjugstad to Vegas for Miller and McNabb

Letang to montreal for domi and tatar
- i'mjustafan

Yikes! Crosby for a 3C and middle D. Lets keep trading down until we can roster two poop teams.

The NHL is way too bloated as it relates to certain contracts. I think the young players are still largely underpaid while players on a lot of teams are vastly over paid.

I mean, if you look on Capfriendly, they have a popular buyout list. Some of the names: Lucic, Marleau, Eriksson, Alzner, etc. The list goes on even with guys like Johnson. I have to think the NHL will see a similar buyout period like we saw after the last CBA. Let teams buy guys out, get the player their money and let teams free up the cap space. A lot of teams would take advantage of that.

For the Penguins, the same story being told by Ryan Wilson gets old, but he is right. The Penguins are backed into a corner right now and I do not see them making the playoffs unless Crosby, Malkin, and/or Murray steps up in a big way. I think Sully sees the writing on the wall and knows he will be gone the first time things go wrong. I think Rutherford knows the situation this team is in. Rutherford made a lot of great moves and saw 2 Stanley Cups come to Pittsburgh, not taking that away from him. However, he then completely turned his back on that style of hockey and ignored a lot of warning signs when he handed contracts out to guys like Hornqvist and Johnson.

So now, Rutherford has 3 choices:
1) Bite the bullet, trade valuable assets to dump your bad mistakes such as Johnson.
2) Trade guys on this roster that arent part of the problem, but hey you have to do something, right?
3) Do nothing, take this team into training camp and see what happens.

None of these 3 options are good, and Rutherford has no one but himself to blame.

I've warmed up to a Rusty for Puljujarvi deal.

I love Rust but being so cap crunched, and seeing Kapanen at $3.2, I think Rust reached that point like Maatta...a little over paid and would actually bring something decent back in return.

Hornqvist's NTC. Is it a full NTC?

I've warmed up to a Rusty for Puljujarvi deal.

I love Rust but being so cap crunched, and seeing Kapanen at $3.2, I think Rust reached that point like Maatta...a little over paid and would actually bring something decent back in return.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I agree with the Rust deal. Rust has a limited ceiling and we have guys that can fill Rust's role. Finding a talented, young, & cheap winger is something you cannot easier do.

It seems Pittsburgh turned down the deal 1 for 1. Convinvce Edmonton to throw in a pick to feel good about yourselves and make the deal.

I've warmed up to a Rusty for Puljujarvi deal.

I love Rust but being so cap crunched, and seeing Kapanen at $3.2, I think Rust reached that point like Maatta...a little over paid and would actually bring something decent back in return.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I agree, I think this trade should be made because like you said Rusty is a great player but now that cap space is so limited and JJ is probably staying I think this is a good option. I would try to add a pick in with rusty as well as JJ and see if they would bite.