FWIW Kevin Allen was a real hockey writer for a real publication unlike 99.5% of the jabronis who "write" for this site.
- Rinosaur

And now he writes for hockeybuzz so yeah I don’t care how legit he once was.

I don’t mind Ristolainen going out of his way to make big hits and his border line dirty play. His name will be brought up continuously when the Pens play the Flyers this year. He will basically have free reign to run around and do whatever he wants. Crosby night fight him because he did something to Rust or Guentzel.
- Grinder47

If you get a Crosby vs Risto matchup things will go very well for the pens.

And now he writes for hockeybuzz so yeah I don’t care how legit he once was.
- Feds91Stammer

Well can't argue with you there!

I've been thinking about who we should attempt to sign out of the bargain bin here. Should we try for Staal because Geno is out to start the season? I'd like to snag up Tatar if we could but then we're also stuck with only 3 centers until Geno is back.

Brian Burke had some interesting comment about Brock McGinn on Sirius radio ...saying that he thinks theyre getting an upgraded version of Tanev.

Brian Burke had some interesting comment about Brock McGinn on Sirius radio ...saying that he thinks theyre getting an upgraded version of Tanev.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I actually don’t disagree. He’s better defensively and if Carolina fans are to be believed, brings just about the same amount of sand paper. We improved at that specific role, issue is we probably should have sacrificed that role all together to address other areas of concern

If you get a Crosby vs Risto matchup things will go very well for the pens.
- Feds91Stammer

Ehh Crosby can’t take over anymore, at least entirely. He might end up looking great on the extended stats sheet but that doesn’t win games. I’m just saying, Risto is going to (frank) with Crosby a lot this year.

I actually don’t disagree. He’s better defensively and if Carolina fans are to be believed, brings just about the same amount of sand paper. We improved at that specific role, issue is we probably should have sacrificed that role all together to address other areas of concern
- Victoro311

Does he drop em?

A quick YouTube and McGinn did well against Dillion but got ragdolled by Bobby (frank)ing Ryan.

Does he drop em?
- Grinder47

3 fights vs Tanev’s 4 with less years in the league according to Hockey Fights. Pretty comparable.

Eichel for Crosby straight up so we can flip him at the TDL? I'm totally not being facetious........

I've been thinking about who we should attempt to sign out of the bargain bin here. Should we try for Staal because Geno is out to start the season? I'd like to snag up Tatar if we could but then we're also stuck with only 3 centers until Geno is back.
- 668710

Aren't you forgetting Angello, Lafferty, and Rodrigues? They are our injury replacements, and bargains to boot.

If you get a Crosby vs Risto matchup things will go very well for the pens.
- Feds91Stammer

Bro what do you mean? Risto is really good at chasing him all over the ice and pissing him off, which is obviously exactly what you wanna do to a guy like Crosby! As we well know as Sabres fans... considering he has always scored 1-2 or more points against us whenever we play. In case my sarcasm wasn't clear

Bro what do you mean? Risto is really good at chasing him all over the ice and pissing him off, which is obviously exactly what you wanna do to a guy like Crosby! As we well know as Sabres fans... considering he has always scored 1-2 or more points against us whenever we play. In case my sarcasm wasn't clear
- Pingleheimer

You are awarded no points.

Aren't you forgetting Angello, Lafferty, and Rodrigues? They are our injury replacements, and bargains to boot.
- Thunderbolt

So like I said we only have 3 centers.

Eichel for Crosby straight up so we can flip him at the TDL? I'm totally not being facetious........
- Pingleheimer

Lol

So like I said we only have 3 centers.
- 668710

I'm being serious now. We simply have zero cap space and too many one way contracts to sign free agents. We have 23 players signed with ZAR and Zohorna remaining.

I know it's not our money. If you are truly thinking like a GM, you must work within the parameters your superiors lay out for you. One of those is to cut costs, the organization has lost money the last two years. Yes, spend to the cap, not over it. That means no hiding contracts in the minors. Angello and Riikola are being paid NHL salaries to play in the AHL. I can't see that happening.

Unless Hextall is close to a deal for Zucker, Pettersson, or anyone else we can only sign two way contracts. Even there we only have room for 3-5 additions.

I'm being serious now. We simply have zero cap space and too many one way contracts to sign free agents. We have 23 players signed with ZAR and Zohorna remaining.

I know it's not our money. If you are truly thinking like a GM, you must work within the parameters your superiors lay out for you. One of those is to cut costs, the organization has lost money the last two years. Yes, spend to the cap, not over it. That means no hiding contracts in the minors. Angello and Riikola are being paid NHL salaries to play in the AHL. I can't see that happening.

Unless Hextall is close to a deal for Zucker, Pettersson, or anyone else we can only sign two way contracts. Even there we only have room for 3-5 additions.
- Thunderbolt

Hextal is doing the same thing jr did by wasting vuluable cap space on marginal/vanilla players ie, erod, simon, etc...call ups from wbs at least provide some energy for a few games...

I'm being serious now. We simply have zero cap space and too many one way contracts to sign free agents. We have 23 players signed with ZAR and Zohorna remaining.

I know it's not our money. If you are truly thinking like a GM, you must work within the parameters your superiors lay out for you. One of those is to cut costs, the organization has lost money the last two years. Yes, spend to the cap, not over it. That means no hiding contracts in the minors. Angello and Riikola are being paid NHL salaries to play in the AHL. I can't see that happening.

Unless Hextall is close to a deal for Zucker, Pettersson, or anyone else we can only sign two way contracts. Even there we only have room for 3-5 additions.
- Thunderbolt

Point taken and I'd guess there is a limit to how much they want to do that. But they did bury Riikola's contract last year and DeSmith the year before so it's not completely off the table.

I don't think Angelo, Zohorna, or Riikola have guaranteed spots or even that Zohorna gets a one way deal. So I'd say they are at 22 but tight on cap space once ZAR signs. I'd agree they don't have room to add unless they subtract. Just enough space for a 23rd man to earn his spot.

I'm sure the board will waive Lafferty, not sure the Pens will and put a third contract in minors.

Hextal is doing the same thing jr did by wasting vuluable cap space on marginal/vanilla players ie, erod, simon, etc...call ups from wbs at least provide some energy for a few games...
- PENS1989

ERod is cheap and Simon is on a two way deal. Those don't eat up cap space, they fill out the roster and depth because they have no cap space. The only moves Hextall made that ate any cap space are Carter and McGinn.

TOR signs Ritchie 2yrs/$2.5M per. Good signing.

TOR signs Ritchie 2yrs/$2.5M per. Good signing.
- Rinosaur

Meh. Depth forward that takes way too many penalties.

Meh. Depth forward that takes way too many penalties.
- Feds91Stammer

I don't know. He's continuing to trend upwards in terms of production, he's only 25 and with all the other loony signings and trades, only two years at $2.5M is a good contract IMO. IMO he's towards being a Coleman-type.

I don't know. He's continuing to trend upwards in terms of production, he's only 25 and with all the other loony signings and trades, only two years at $2.5M is a good contract IMO. IMO he's towards being a Coleman-type.
- Rinosaur

He had 26 points last year in 56 games but he played on Boston's number one PP. That's why I picked he up in my fantasy league. Boy, did he disappoint.

He had 26 points last year in 56 games but he played on Boston's number one PP. That's why I picked he up in my fantasy league. Boy, did he disappoint.
- stevens87

9 of his 26 points came on the PP and had 10 ES goals in 56 games. That's pretty solid for a 3rd line winger. In a full season you're looking probably another 5 ES goals. At .46PPG over the course of a regular season that's about 37 points. I'd say $2.5M for two years is a pretty fair.

You point out his PP prowess, well that's an area the Pens could certainly use some help. I'm not saying this is a huge miss by Hextall or anything. Yes, I think it would have been a solid signing given their cap space, but overall I think this is probably one of the best or at least more accurate contracts of this off-season.