This writer is on a crack saying the penguins never looked competitive against the Islanders. The Penguins flat out dominated the series but Jarry couldn’t stop a puck and the backup was injured. Kassian might be a good fit in Pitt however. Has he ever fought Wilson?
- sextoymagic

Flat out dominated? Their best player was shut down and was a defensive sieve along with their blue line and they couldn’t clear the front of the net the entire series. That’s why they lost. Just like when we swept the Pens two years ago it wasn’t really their fault. Haha. Just another hockeybuzz genius commenting on what he read instead of actually watching a game. Now the Boston series the new excuse is the refs and goaltending. Never ends

Pens dominated the isles in all but one game and got sunk by goaltending…

Wait…. Can kassian play goal?
- ChrisMS

Whatever helps you sleep at night. In that case varlamov spotted you two games because he gifted you 2-3 goals per game. If you can’t win with that you have a lot more problems then goaltending. I forgot, what was the excuse again two years ago when we swept the Penguins?

I'd love to see Kassian go to Philly.

Think about it....

Penguins never truly looked competitive against the Islanders in their 4-2 series loss.

ok sean ok....

Exactly what Toronto needs, another disinterested player to replace a guy like Hyman, who goes to the net without dragging his knuckles on the ice.
- Traveldude

Hear ya. Teams will be lining up for a chance to grab Kassian. A real difference maker.

Jesus Pens fans are such a bunch of suck holes. Go cry elsewhere idiots.

I don't find the framing that people of your persuasion use regarding "dead cap" very compelling. So long as Neal is under contract, the cap being used on him is dead cap anyway. Using your terms, a 1st line winger worth of cap is dead cap if we don't buy him out. If you buyout Neal, you free up 3.9mil- a 2nd line winger- for 2 years at the cost of 1.9mil for 2 years after Sekera's buyout penalty of 1.5mil is gone.

With this in mind, what's more important: 4mil in extra space for each of the next 2 years or 2mil in extra space in 3 and 4 years? For me, that's a very easy decision.
- MaximumBone

This.

Some people still think Kassian adds value because of toughness. That’s laughable.
He and Neal are dead space on the roster or off.

Jesus Pens fans are such a bunch of suck holes. Go cry elsewhere idiots.
- TurdFergeson

ok turd ok...

I'd love to see Kassian go to Philly.

Think about it....
- Nh_kong

Good fit there.

What happened to Kassian this year? Lack of fans? Injuries? He looked disinterested the few games I watched.
- DuranDuran

I would say him being disinterested has been the knock on him since coming to the NHL. Whether it was Buffalo, YVR, MTL or EDM he has always been a guy that people want to play on their top lines when he's hot, but he is not hot often enough and gets dropped to the 4th line due to inconsistency in play.

ok turd ok...
- DeflatedPucks

Waaah! How dare anyone say anything bad about my favourite team! Sob!

Get a grip.

Retooling the bottom 6 is gonna require some crafty management to rid us of those 3 contracts. Provides cap space. Opens up spots for other players too; addition by subtraction.

A dynamic 3C that can play a great two-way game and win faceoffs would go a long way in giving the forward depth a bolstered look. Should be addressed this offseason.

Internally, could also see some AHL players make their way into the bottom 6 starting next season.

Waaah! How dare anyone say anything bad about my favourite team! Sob!

Get a grip.
- TurdFergeson

stop crying, thx

Neal only has 2yrs left. I personally don't think the Oilers are that close to contending, as in this year. You have to build to be a serious, long term contender. I'm not sure $3.9mil this year makes them a contender right away. We can all hope (like this year) but seriously they were not a contender. Thats why Holland didn't do longer term harm at the deadline when it was highly unlikely to be this year.

Last season, no one could predict covid and the covid impact on the cap. And Holland was burned by that.

Kassian was also signed before covid cap freeze, which makes it worse.
I still believe there are ways to rid Neal without buyout. Several teams have done it.

Chiarelli screwed this team so bad, there is no quick fix. And i know fans hate that but if you keep trying quick fixes, you usually get nowhere long term.

Yes I know McDavid and Draisaitl years are pilling up, but this team had so many holes and so much bad money. There wasn't no simple solutions.