Anyone know if Staal had PIT on his no trade list? While him being the 3C makes sense, is this an example of it simply not being possible?
- IceBurgh69

Supposedly he had all contending teams hoping to not get traded. This seems odd for a few reasons. Aren't these lists just 10 teams? There are a lot more playoff and bubble teams than that. Then, what's Staal's end game? Play out his current contract in MIN and hope they re-sign for whatever so he can finish his career there? Guerin almost seemed in a hurry to trade him, so I wouldn't doubt that maybe he was part of the problem in MIN (at least as perceived by Guerin).

But yes, my guess is that the Pens were probably one of the first teams he put on this list knowing we needed a 3C and JR and Guerin had a good relationship. So, after my initial freakout, I think it was probably never to be and maybe that's for the better.

Not sure that really relates to the pens. Is there any chance he is going to sign with the penguins? We'd have to move out a lot of salary and I don't see that happening.
- lemieux_66

I think it would mean moving Letang and getting no or next to no salary back. That might be hard to do. Maybe STL wants him?

After the McCann signing, we have $6M under the cap with Jarry and Simon needing to be signed and 3 more forwards total (2 more salaries if you include ZAR's LTIR salary). That should be at least $5M-$6M right there. We could gain $2M by buying out JJ.

I think the flat cap is really going to mess up a lot of plans. If the Pens somehow, some way end up with Pietrangelo, I fully expect to see 4 sub-$1M forwards in the starting lineup (including Blueger) and either Riikola or Ruh starting at 3RD. JJ would definitely need to be gone, ideally with no retention or buyout salary.

If the Penguins could move JJ but the cost was Jarry, should they do it? Would you? I don't think I would. As much as it pains me to watch JJ eat up minutes, i want to see Murray in a PENS jersey even less....
- Brayn

If it means Murray is the goalie or a goalie, then no. If Jarry goes, I think we should trade both and bring in someone like Andersen or Lehner. So I would only do it if we had someone like that lined up. If not, then no.

Valeri Nichushkin.
- Victoro311

I doubt COL gives him up or that we can afford him and his new contract. But yeah, that would be cool.

Oh yeah I think Ennis wouldn't be the top choice, but he'd be a good signing. I just think he's in line for a raise unless he gets caught in the flat cap. I think Edmonton wants to keep him.

Ottawa would have to really like Murray. Duclair just put up better numbers than McCann at a similar age so I think he has more value both in salary and as a trade asset than you're giving him.
- Tojo.

I think Ennis and his ~$2M is the only realistic option at this point. I got so excited when JR said he was clearing cap to make a run at a FA, but I think this is what he was talking about. As of right now, nothing more expensive fits. Call me crazy, but I think JJ is on the way out. I don't think they re-sign Riikola if he wasn't. If JJ and most or all of his salary are gone, then we can move up the FA pay scale a bit.

Supposedly he had all contending teams hoping to not get traded. This seems odd for a few reasons. Aren't these lists just 10 teams? There are a lot more playoff and bubble teams than that.
- Hockey66

Let's imagine that the list included contending teams as well as teams he REALLY didn't want to go to and add teams in cap hell to the equation and you're left with a handful of potential targets.

Let's imagine that the list included contending teams as well as teams he REALLY didn't want to go to and add teams in cap hell to the equation and you're left with a handful of potential targets.
- Douchetacular

Well, if it is just 10 teams, which seems to be the magic number for M-NTCs, that leaves 21 open. That's quite a lot. If you took the top 2 from each division, that's 8 right there, so just 2 more. If the Pens are one of them, he's got one left. Let's say Toronto. Still a lot of good, contending teams left (including one that's in the Finals right now) and plenty of teams with cap room for his paltry $3.25M. I'd say more than a handful.

Valeri Nichushkin.
- Victoro311

Amazing how that guy was just about written off as a bust, and now has stormed back as a stalwart defensive forward with some offensive prowess.

He has never been the ‘bull in a China shop’ as originally projected offensively, but the guy does have a very solid 200ft game now.

I wonder how much is maturity and how much was fitting him in the right system with the right players around him. Could he duplicate this again in another city? He certainly looks like he could.

Amazing how that guy was just about written off as a bust, and now has stormed back as a stalwart defensive forward with some offensive prowess.

He has never been the ‘bull in a China shop’ as originally projected offensively, but the guy does have a very solid 200ft game now.

I wonder how much is maturity and how much was fitting him in the right system with the right players around him. Could he duplicate this again in another city? He certainly looks like he could.
- Hesh_

Seems like a lot of players fall under one or both of these categories, which is one reason I'm really glad the Pens re-signed McCann.

Of course, in rare cases guys go in the opposite direction - they explode onto the scene and then fade to obscurity.

I'd take a chance on Nichushkin, though.

I'd love him if they could get him, but feel like he's going to be outside their price range.
- Tojo.

I read somewhere that Colorado really wants Murray. I read something like Niskinusin, Grubabuer for Murray and something else. Would you do Murray and Hornquist for them 2 and something added? Does Colorado need Hornquist?

I think it would mean moving Letang and getting no or next to no salary back. That might be hard to do. Maybe STL wants him?

After the McCann signing, we have $6M under the cap with Jarry and Simon needing to be signed and 3 more forwards total (2 more salaries if you include ZAR's LTIR salary). That should be at least $5M-$6M right there. We could gain $2M by buying out JJ.

I think the flat cap is really going to mess up a lot of plans. If the Pens somehow, some way end up with Pietrangelo, I fully expect to see 4 sub-$1M forwards in the starting lineup (including Blueger) and either Riikola or Ruh starting at 3RD. JJ would definitely need to be gone, ideally with no retention or buyout salary.
- Hockey66

Putting the Pietrangelo talk aside; I'm going out on a limb here and saying Johnson won't be bought out. (Crazy I know but just a hunch).

As far as the forwards that need signed the only ones without a contract are Simon and Lafferty. Poulin, Legare and O'Connor are signed. Money will be tight, Jarry is getting $3M, so I guess all the Pens won't be spending to the cap talk was just that, talk.

I read somewhere that Colorado really wants Murray. I read something like Niskinusin, Grubabuer for Murray and something else. Would you do Murray and Hornquist for them 2 and something added? Does Colorado need Hornquist?
- nateca44

I don't like Grubauer coming back. The Pens already have two goalies in Jarry and DeSmith. Both younger and much cheaper. I guess Grubauer would be good insurance if Jarry turns out to be a bust. But we probably won't know that for months.

Salary will be needed to go to Colorado if they send us NHL talent.

I read about Pietrangelo not being close in contract talks. I have a feeling he would be the only FA that JR will go all in on. As we stated in other forums. Signing him and trading Letang would allow us to most likely trade JJ. We could potentially get some good prospects/younger talent.

As for the Hornqvist trade talk. It is hard to replace him because he is one of the top net front presence players. Wayne Simmons, Lucic, and Parise are the only players who would be available to replace his ability. Which I really believe anyone except maybe Parise with salary retained would really do much to help our team.

Let me posit this: how much is a youngish RFA with maybe some potential left in his development curve who just had his first good NHL season since his rookie season and was so bad the subsequent two that he had to go to the KHL worth? I’d say a second is a rich payment for that profile.

Now how much have we all assumed Murray is worth? A third? Maybe a third + or a second if we get lucky?

I don’t think the valuation is very far off. It just comes down to how much Sakic values Murray relative to other options.
- Victoro311

Your logic seems pretty sound as far as his value. But if you were a Cup contender, you wouldn't part with a good 3rd line player for a 3rd round pick.

I'd say your last line would be the sticking point. Sakic would have to value Murray far more than any of the options available to part with a good roster player. I think they'd much rather trade futures like other contenders because they have a pretty good stockpile and few other holes to fill (if any?)

Your logic seems pretty sound as far as his value. But if you were a Cup contender, you wouldn't part with a good 3rd line player for a 3rd round pick.

I'd say your last line would be the sticking point. Sakic would have to value Murray far more than any of the options available to part with a good roster player. I think they'd much rather trade futures like other contenders because they have a pretty good stockpile and few other holes to fill (if any?)
- Tojo.

Sure. Mostly just saying that if a hockey trade is on the table the value isn’t far off. Definitely think Sakic would rather trade futures or sign a free agent, but if for whatever reason he really likes Murray and wants him over other options, I don’t think it’s a fantasy land trade.

Supposedly he had all contending teams hoping to not get traded. This seems odd for a few reasons. Aren't these lists just 10 teams? There are a lot more playoff and bubble teams than that. Then, what's Staal's end game? Play out his current contract in MIN and hope they re-sign for whatever so he can finish his career there? Guerin almost seemed in a hurry to trade him, so I wouldn't doubt that maybe he was part of the problem in MIN (at least as perceived by Guerin).

But yes, my guess is that the Pens were probably one of the first teams he put on this list knowing we needed a 3C and JR and Guerin had a good relationship. So, after my initial freakout, I think it was probably never to be and maybe that's for the better.
- Hockey66

He can also leave teams off that are already 3 deep at center. Just off the top of my head in the East Tampa, Boston, Montreal, NYI, Washington and Carolina are 6 playoff contenders without a need. Maybe Philly depending on Patrick's health. So you can cross off a lot of teams.

And yeah, the point is he didn't want to play anywhere else. He was building his retirement home there, family is settled, and his parents are close by. Even took a discount to stay a year ago when he could have made more money on a better team.

You can start to see why it is rumored Guerin wanted to move Staal to shake up the room. Seems like he was content with his career not driven to win another Cup. (I still wouldn't have done that on a center poor team for that return, just repeating the rumor).

I read somewhere that Colorado really wants Murray. I read something like Niskinusin, Grubabuer for Murray and something else. Would you do Murray and Hornquist for them 2 and something added? Does Colorado need Hornquist?
- nateca44

I'd do that. I think we need 2 goalies and Grubabuer gives us that and his cap hit isn't outrageous. We also add a quality 3rd liner. In exchange we move a guy everyone wants to move and a guy on a big contract most everyone fears will fall off a cliff. We need to find another net front guy, but yeah I make that deal. I'm one of the handful not comfortable with a Jarry-DeSmith tandem though so others views may vary.

Very true, RW has always bern in denial about Hornqvist's PP impact. I think they score at about half the rate when he's off the ice compared to when he's on.

Sure the PP wad fine before him, but they had Kunitz. Again RW not giving credit to the net front guy by saying they have all the same guys. They don't have a guy that can step into that role.

I will agree they can spend the money for Hornqvist better, but they will need to replace him. If they could snag a guy like Maroon (may be others, he's the one that stands out to me), they could let Hornqvist go.

Of course working around his NTC and finding a taker would be easier said than done.
- Tojo.

Yeah I mean the Power play was "fine" before Kessel too... But RW likes to snark about how important he was to the power play.

I read somewhere that Colorado really wants Murray. I read something like Niskinusin, Grubabuer for Murray and something else. Would you do Murray and Hornquist for them 2 and something added? Does Colorado need Hornquist?
- nateca44

COL would be dumb to make this trade. Grubauer is better than Murray.

I read somewhere that Colorado really wants Murray. I read something like Niskinusin, Grubabuer for Murray and something else. Would you do Murray and Hornquist for them 2 and something added? Does Colorado need Hornquist?
- nateca44

I don't think Colorado needs Horny that's not to say they don't think they need him wanting his 2 cup experience, gamer every game attitude and net front presence when they have a major amount of cap space and their super star signed at a rediculously low cap hit for 3 more years.

Im torn on Horn. Would hate to see him go and he still serves a purpose, more than one actually, but that cap hit is kind of nuts for him now.

RW is going to bring up Staal all year, isn't he, despite the fact there might not have been anything GMJR could have done if he didn't want to come here.
- Tojo.

I read somewhere else that Staal turned down a few deals to contending teams at the the deadline, including Boston. Like Danault, maybe he didn't want to be a 3c on another team. He's also building a house in Minnesota so I'm sure it was not his choice to leave. Buffalo was not on his 10 team no trade list because he probably thought they would never make a move for him.

As cool as it is to think about the possibilities of trading Letang and signing Pietrangelo, I just cant see any scenario where that happens.

Surprised for how much he's been discussed here thos hasn't been posted.

Dreger: Sources say contract talks between the St Louis Blues and Blues captain, Alex Pietrangelo have broken off. The team has advised Pietrangelo to pursue unrestricted free agency.
- Tojo.

We would have to move Letang and Horny for him, I don't think it's worth it. UNLESS JJ was the one moved out as well as Letang. Literally the only way id do it, but it won't happen.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it recently reported that if JR felt he had a shot at Pietrengalo he'd go after him?

If it means Murray is the goalie or a goalie, then no. If Jarry goes, I think we should trade both and bring in someone like Andersen or Lehner. So I would only do it if we had someone like that lined up. If not, then no.
- Hockey66

I thought Lehener was signed.