Not that I hate ZAR as a player. Hopefully he throws a few(I mean a lot) more of those hits that sent Cozins or whoever to the dressing room this season. I’d still trade 4 ZAR’s for one Tanev signed to the exact same contract Tanev is currently under though. ZAR isn’t the glue that holds anything except stats people’s tiny brains together. Decent enough player though.

Pretty much. If Letang has another similar year to last, I can see someone offering him a 9m contract for 1-2 years at a time. As long as he stays healthy he is a damn good Dman.

I hope hextall has this sorted out ASAP because I do believe he could fetch a good haul. There’s no point in letting him walk for nothing just to take a run at winning a playoff series.
- 10inchTerror

Amazing with Letang because a year or two ago the narrative was that his contract was untradeable.

You are absolutely right about getting it figured out quickly. Those Nurse and Jones deals are absolutely brutal, so it would be hard to argue with Letang if he wants $9M for the next three years. That said I'd rather trade him and get a 1st and a great prospect.

If this is the best roster that can be put together with Letang at $7.5M, how bad does it look when he is at $9.5? If you can get rid of Matheson and Pettersson's contracts I'd pay him though.

I would be in favor of a Zucker for Domi trade. Cap is about the same and only one year left on his deal. I know he is a huge question mark with injury, but we know there is little chemistry with Zucker and Malkin. Domi would add size and grit and, who knows, may gel with Sid or Geno. I would rather try something than just hope that reshuffling the bottom six is good enough... idk...
- pier6687

I'm not totally against bringing in Domi. Everyone calling him out for being soft, and frankly a dirt against at times are spot on.

That said, he is going into a contract year and for the right price I wouldn't mind bringing him on board to add some skill.

No way would I trade Zucker for him though. It would have to be for Pettersson/Matheson. I think Zucker is going to have a bounce back year and do great. Just keep him on Carters line.

Amazing with Letang because a year or two ago the narrative was that his contract was untradeable.

You are absolutely right about getting it figured out quickly. Those Nurse and Jones deals are absolutely brutal, so it would be hard to argue with Letang if he wants $9M for the next three years. That said I'd rather trade him and get a 1st and a great prospect.

If this is the best roster that can be put together with Letang at $7.5M, how bad does it look when he is at $9.5? If you can get rid of Matheson and Pettersson's contracts I'd pay him though.
- MacPatty

Don’t recall anyone saying Letang’s contract was not traceable.

Also hilarious that you’re implying that Letangs contract will be the problem.

Don’t recall anyone saying Letang’s contract was not traceable.

Also hilarious that you’re implying that Letangs contract will be the problem.
- j.boyd919

If he does end up wanting a raise, given our cap structure it will unfortunately be a problem. We can’t give him a raise.

If he does end up wanting a raise, given our cap structure it will unfortunately be a problem. We can’t give him a raise.
- Victoro311

I even wonder if he'll want to come back. He voiced his feelings in the media and clearly felt disgruntled. I'm not sure how how much of that was because of JR or ownership in general.

I even wonder if he'll want to come back. He voiced his feelings in the media and clearly felt disgruntled. I'm not sure how how much of that was because of JR or ownership in general.
- Rinosaur

I suspect that Burkie and Hextall will determine very soon from Letang's agent what is more important - getting market rates or riding off into the sunset with Sid and Geno. If he says "market", then he'll likely be traded with the blessing of ownership. The return should be pretty good either way (established players or assets). As for potential trading partners, Montreal (his home town) probably would love to have him finish out his career there - especially with Shea Weber's injury. And they definitely have some interesting assets.

I suspect that Burkie and Hextall will determine very soon from Letang's agent what is more important - getting market rates or riding off into the sunset with Sid and Geno. If he says "market", then he'll likely be traded with the blessing of ownership. The return should be pretty good either way (established players or assets). As for potential trading partners, Montreal (his home town) probably would love to have him finish out his career there - especially with Shea Weber's injury. And they definitely have some interesting assets.
- Florida Penguin

I highly doubt the Pens trade him unless by the deadline the Pens are very far out of playoff contention and it's known Letang doesn't want to re-sign. If the Pens are trending as a playoff team by the deadline I think they keep him even if he has no plans on staying.

I highly doubt the Pens trade him unless by the deadline the Pens are very far out of playoff contention and it's known Letang doesn't want to re-sign. If the Pens are trending as a playoff team by the deadline I think they keep him even if he has no plans on staying.
- Rinosaur

If he doesn’t want to resign or wants 9mil I would trade regardless of our position. I’d rather get a return (even if mediocre) than keep him to try and win a playoff series. If we were contenders maybe a different story. No way I let him walk for nothing. And Letang is my favourite current player fwiw.

If he doesn’t want to resign or wants 9mil I would trade regardless of our position. I’d rather get a return (even if mediocre) than keep him to try and win a playoff series. If we were contenders maybe a different story. No way I let him walk for nothing. And Letang is my favourite current player fwiw.
- 10inchTerror

So if the Pens are in the playoff race you want to move Letang? That basically guarantees the Pens lose another first round series.

So if the Pens are in the playoff race you want to move Letang? That basically guarantees the Pens lose another first round series.
- Rinosaur

Yeah If hextall knows he won’t resign. Winning 1 playoff round isn’t a big accomplishment. I mean it is for this team but I’d rather have an asset going forward.

Yeah If hextall knows he won’t resign. Winning 1 playoff round isn’t a big accomplishment. I mean it is for this team but I’d rather have an asset going forward.
- 10inchTerror

If you're heading into the playoffs you don't kill your chances of going deep.

If you're heading into the playoffs you don't kill your chances of going deep.
- Rinosaur

There are basically no chances of going deep as we stand now. A victory for this team would be winning a single round. I also mentioned originally that if the team was an actual contender that would be different. Letting Letang walk for nothing to win one round, not worth it at all IMO.

There are basically no chances of going deep as we stand now. A victory for this team would be winning a single round. I also mentioned originally that if the team was an actual contender that would be different. Letting Letang walk for nothing to win one round, not worth it at all IMO.
- 10inchTerror

While I think the Pens aren't even dark horses at this point you have to remember this a business. Teams make money playing in the playoffs. Trading Letang doesn't just destroy the chances of winning series, it probably takes the Pens out of playoff contention.

I also still think there's a "you never know" factor with this team. As it stands at this moment, almost every team in the Metro got worse aside from NJD, so as not good as the Pens may at this point, they may be able to win a series and possibly get out of the division. That's a lot of revenue for the Penguins.

My bet is the Pens would risk losing Letang for nothing or at the very least trading his negotiating rights than shoot any playoff aspirations in the foot.

While I think the Pens aren't even dark horses at this point you have to remember this a business. Teams make money playing in the playoffs. Trading Letang doesn't just destroy the chances of winning series, it probably takes the Pens out of playoff contention.

I also still think there's a "you never know" factor with this team. As it stands at this moment, almost every team in the Metro got worse aside from NJD, so as not good as the Pens may at this point, they may be able to win a series and possibly get out of the division. That's a lot of revenue for the Penguins.

My bet is the Pens would risk losing Letang for nothing or at the very least trading his negotiating rights than shoot any playoff aspirations in the foot.
- Rinosaur

This, but I get what 10inchTerror is saying too however I agree that ownership will want the most amount of playoff games they can get and that's with Letang here.

This, but I get what 10inchTerror is saying too however I agree that ownership will want the most amount of playoff games they can get and that's with Letang here.
- 668710

Yup. It's going to take one dire situation for Letang to get moved.

I highly doubt the Pens trade him unless by the deadline the Pens are very far out of playoff contention and it's known Letang doesn't want to re-sign. If the Pens are trending as a playoff team by the deadline I think they keep him even if he has no plans on staying.
- Rinosaur

Who says that the only time to trade him is at the deadline? If the team knows this month, or early next, that Letang won't be playing here next year, the Penguins could effect a trade before training camp. The only question is whether the assets coming back make such a trade practical. Holding on to a player with the hope that the Penguins will win at least one playoff series next year, and then lose him for nothing, isn't the way that I expect Hextall to handle this - unless Mario insists to the contrary. Trading his rights so that he can sign an 8-year versus a 7-year contract isn't a practical consideration given Letang's age. Assuming that Letang says he'll be leaving, the team has only two choices - get something for him, or nothing.

Who says that the only time to trade him is at the deadline? If the team knows this month, or early next, that Letang won't be playing here next year, the Penguins could effect a trade before training camp. The only question is whether the assets coming back make such a trade practical. Holding on to a player with the hope that the Penguins will win at least one playoff series next year, and then lose him for nothing, isn't the way that I expect Hextall to handle this - unless Mario insists to the contrary. Trading his rights so that he can sign an 8-year versus a 7-year contract isn't a practical consideration given Letang's age. Assuming that Letang says he'll be leaving, the team has only two choices - get something for him, or nothing.
- Florida Penguin

Who do you replace Letang with?

Oyr gm said he loves our goalies, bring in potvin n kill him please

Oyr gm said he loves our goalies, bring in potvin n kill him please

So if the Pens are in the playoff race you want to move Letang? That basically guarantees the Pens lose another first round series.
- Rinosaur

They won with Ron hainsey, and not Letang... nothing is a guarantee either way!

Rist , petterson , and a first for tarasnkow

Who do you replace Letang with?
- Rinosaur

Who knows? Perhaps Letang ends up being the cornerstone for a trade that sends him, Jarry, Poulin and a fifth to Anaheim for Gibson, Manson and a third. I just heard a replayed interview with Brian Burke on NHL Radio and he said two things of note. The Pens need salary cap space, and Jarry's a good goaltender. The first will be a process, and the second was clearly to build up Jarry's trade value.

Who knows?
- Florida Penguin

See, this is the issue with everyone who talks about trading guys like Letang. You don't make moves based on "who knows?" #1 Dmen aren't just hanging around in some room somewhere saying, "Hey, there's tons of us. Why isn't anyone trading for us?"

The NHL isn't capfriendly.com. You don't just make trades and figure, oh, we'll just figure out because we can definitely find teams who'll take this or that and give us player X.

You don't trade someone like Letang unless you replace him with another Letang. You don't get to the cup without a legit #1 dman. You just don't. Maybe once or twice over the last twenty years has a team without a true #1 dman made it to the cup and NO team wins the cup without one.

You only trade Letang if you're ready to pack it up.

EDIT: If it turns out Hextall knows this month that Letang wants out then you still don't move him unless you have another move to replace him. You keep him until the end of the season and give yourself time to figure out how to replace him.

Who do you replace Letang with?
- Rinosaur

There is no replacement for him. For his cost I can’t think of a single person In The nhl. But one playoff series win and him walking vs trading him (obviously depending on return) could have the pens back in contention a lot quicker. For what dmen are going for if Letang has a similar year as last and stays healthy I don’t see why he wouldn’t get a pretty good picks/prospects return if we retain 50% to a win now team. I guess it boils down to if ownership wants to recoup some money now or long term.