Ryan Wilson: Nailing Down The Top Six Nailing Down The Top Six

Im supposed to say something here, right?

Do it Pens!

While Rishag has been throwing around the idea of a 3rd pick, I feel that an eventual bidding war will lead to Chiarelli demanding a 1st or two 2nds.

BUT WAIT. Malkin isnt going to the motherland to train? he's not only staying in the states but GASP in pittsburgh as well?!

this cant be so. he wants out. he's stomping his foot and demanding a trade back to russia.

seriously though. if all it takes is a third to get yak i dont see how teams arent tripping over themselves.

How bout the following:

To stars: Fleury and Bennett

To pens: Niemi and nichushkin


Stars will get a significant upgrade in goaltending while giving up an inconsistent nichushkin who could also benefit from a change in scenery...

Pens could also buy out niemi as he wouldn't cost much to buy out...

Thoughts?

How bout the following:

To stars: Fleury and Bennett

To pens: Niemi and nichushkin


Stars will get a significant upgrade in goaltending while giving up an inconsistent nichushkin who could also benefit from a change in scenery...

Pens could also buy out niemi as he wouldn't cost much to buy out...

Thoughts?
- Kunit

First time commenting so sorry if i did this wrong. That might be a decent deal if the stars retain some of Niemi Salary

I don't believe for a second Yakupov will only go for a 2nd or 3rd. That being said, if that's the asking price, Pittsburgh should do it without hesitation and throw in Beau Bennett as a sweetener. His ~1 mil in cap can go towards Yakupov's 2.5 mil hit.

Seriously though, we're going to have cap space to play around with this offseason. There is still very little doubt in my mind Fleury's gonna get traded. Furthermore, Yak's only under contract for a year. If he sucks, let him walk next offseason, but there's a bigger chance Yakupov will pan out than anyone we get with a 2nd round pick.

I do think we need to add at least one top 6 winger. I don't see a situation where we add a sure fire game changing guy. We don't have the assets or the cap space for that. Best we can do is take a flyer on a young, relatively cheap change of scenery guy. Yakupov fits that bill, and leaves us with enough cap space left over to still address the defense.

The funny thing about all this Malkin nonsense is that now EK is on his blog demanding that the Canadiens management quash all the PK Subban trade rumors.

Poetic justice, don't you think?

How bout the following:

To stars: Fleury and Bennett

To pens: Niemi and nichushkin


Stars will get a significant upgrade in goaltending while giving up an inconsistent nichushkin who could also benefit from a change in scenery...

Pens could also buy out niemi as he wouldn't cost much to buy out...

Thoughts?
- Kunit

You copycat...

I don't believe for a second Yakupov will only go for a 2nd or 3rd. That being said, if that's the asking price, Pittsburgh should do it without hesitation and throw in Beau Bennett as a sweetener. His ~1 mil in cap can go towards Yakupov's 2.5 mil hit.

Seriously though, we're going to have cap space to play around with this offseason. There is still very little doubt in my mind Fleury's gonna get traded. Furthermore, Yak's only under contract for a year. If he sucks, let him walk next offseason, but there's a bigger chance Yakupov will pan out than anyone we get with a 2nd round pick.

I do think we need to add at least one top 6 winger. I don't see a situation where we add a sure fire game changing guy. We don't have the assets or the cap space for that. Best we can do is take a flyer on a young, relatively cheap change of scenery guy. Yakupov fits that bill, and leaves us with enough cap space left over to still address the defense.
- Victoro311

yeah i'd still be on board for even a second

Why is everyone obsessed with Nicushkin? Here's horribly inconsistent and really lacks motivation. If you were frustrated with Perron you will hate Nico, at least Perron tried his hardest every game. Honka and their first along with Niemi is still the go to ask with Dallas. Honka, Dumoulin second pairing would be fast and fun to watch.

I would trade both 2nds and Bennett for Yak...

Penguins don't have luck with trading for lazy talented right wingers that teams gave up on

Penguins don't have luck with trading for lazy talented right wingers that teams gave up on
- jchst22

Well done

In reply to the fleury-Bennett for niemi-nichushkin deal:

I think it definitely has potential. Only thing is that if I'm taking all of Niemi's contract, then I want a high draft pick as well. Taking niemi and nich will take up some cap space and not give JR much room to work with.

I'd rather see fleury-Bennett for niemi (1.5 mil retained), nichushkin, and a 4th.

How bout the following:

To stars: Fleury and Bennett

To pens: Niemi and nichushkin


Stars will get a significant upgrade in goaltending while giving up an inconsistent nichushkin who could also benefit from a change in scenery...

Pens could also buy out niemi as he wouldn't cost much to buy out...

Thoughts?
- Kunit

That trade should be done before Bennett is announced to have another injury

Penguins should trade malkin for bjugstad kulikov and a 1st.

Penguins should trade malkin for bjugstad kulikov and a 1st.
- Feds91Stammer

yeah they should get right on that

Penguins don't have luck with trading for lazy talented right wingers that teams gave up on
- jchst22

How does Yak feel about hot dogs. I think that should be the determining factor on whether the Pens make an offer for him.

You can't really talk about Pittsburghs top 6 like you can other teams. We have a top 9 and our 4th line is as good as a lot of teams 3rd lines even if it's Kuhnhackle, Sundqvist, and Rust (Fehr) next year. Trading Fehr is a distinct possibility but a few mock expansion drafts I have seen had LV taking Fehr and that's something I can live with. Obviously in that scenario Fleury is traded and Rutherford saying he is happy to start next season with Fleury is just posturing. He understands the urgency and is playing hardball. As far as the Penguins top 9 goes center and the HBK line are givens, Hornquist with Sid is a given. I thought Sprong and Wilson would be perfect linemates for Malkin but trying Yakopov there while Sprong recovers from injury is a great idea. Mad can pretty much forget about Sprong on the Penguins roster next year as he has a pretty difficult injury to heal from. So if we get Yak I wonder if the Oilers would take Kuni off our hands with a pick if we retained a million or so. It couldn't hurt to put a winner on the Oilers team to mentor those kids. Yak and Wilson with Malkin, HBK, and I am for keeping Sheary where he is. He's a tough kid with good wheels and good hands. He seems to bounce right back up when he gets hit.

Penguins should trade malkin for bjugstad kulikov and a 1st.
- Feds91Stammer

Why? That's terrible

Why? That's terrible
- Dcoms

They need more grit and more younger players.

Why is everyone obsessed with Nicushkin? Here's horribly inconsistent and really lacks motivation. If you were frustrated with Perron you will hate Nico, at least Perron tried his hardest every game. Honka and their first along with Niemi is still the go to ask with Dallas. Honka, Dumoulin second pairing would be fast and fun to watch.
- Dcoms

The Stars just lost Gogo and Russel is an UFA so they aren't getting rid if any D, if anything they will be asking for D. Nicshk is def worth taking a flyer on

The Stars just lost Gogo and Russel is an UFA so they aren't getting rid if any D, if anything they will be asking for D. Nicshk is def worth taking a flyer on.
- all-pgh

And Demers is likely gone too. However Dallas has a plethora of young D ready for larger roles.