So basically with keeping bylsma fleury is staying and the only question on the roster is going to be letang and now I think they will keep him so they will enter next season with a very similar roster so why should anyone expect anything different in the playoffs
- Genev21

Even if Fleury and Letang are both on the roster next playoffs, the rest of the team will look a lot different.

Lol.. this board and fanbase in general is bi-polar...

In the middle of a winning streak - "We are unbeatable... Let's plan the parade"
A week later after dropping 2 games - "F%&K Bylsma... this team sucks... bunch of underacheivers... trade everyone"


- rival22

There are a few of us who are level headed. But there are posters who can be manic about the team.

Even if Fleury and Letang are both on the roster next playoffs, the rest of the team will look a lot different.
- Deadstar

All I got out of bylsmas interview was niskanen will be replaced by despres (hopefully) and if iginla is back he will be playing on the third line with Bennett being on one of the top two lines.

I read in the Trib that Dupuis is wanting $4mil/4yrs....at 34 I cant see RS doing that.

So basically with keeping bylsma fleury is staying and the only question on the roster is going to be letang and now I think they will keep him so they will enter next season with a very similar roster so why should anyone expect anything different in the playoffs
- Genev21

I don't think Fleury is staying despite comments.

I read in the Trib that Dupuis is wanting $4mil/4yrs....at 34 I cant see RS doing that.
- sammy87

If that is what he wants, he will be playing elsewhere.

I don't think Fleury is staying despite comments.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'm sure that will go over well in the locker room after he just declared him the number 1 goalie and "this franchises goalie"

I read in the Trib that Dupuis is wanting $4mil/4yrs....at 34 I cant see RS doing that.
- sammy87

It's been nice duper, see ya

It didn't matter he got an A+ because the end result was a D. So, looking back - was your boy Iggy a great pick up? LOL
- Oneonta Penguin

He sure was. Shero gave the pens the best chance he could to win. in retrospect the move remains an A+ for many reasons. Including the possibility the pens can resign some of the vets for a decent price now that they've seen how much of a quality organization the pens are. Those vets saw what Shero did and so did the league to give the pens a winners chance. Looking back it was, regardless of the outcome, a great pick up.

I read in the Trib that Dupuis is wanting $4mil/4yrs....at 34 I cant see RS doing that.
- sammy87

dupius is going to get a great raise from somone... possibly 4@16mil. teams like COlumbus with cap room are missing peices like him. Should come slightly cheaper for pens, but is he worth 4 years? yikes! I've said keep Dupius all year, but at 4 years? A vet (iginla or otherwise) for 2 years might be a wiser move.

does it matter that therrein was fired after getting extended? no. bylsma is a regular season guy. there is no possible way his system fails in the regular season enough to get fired...

can the penguins win the cup with Bylsma? I guess. but i'm not holding my breath. any coach that just ignores the defensive aspect and relies on offense wont see success in the playoffs. when you win 3 playoff series over 4 years, something is seriously wrong.

shero is now putting himself on the line with bylsma. if things go wrong again, you can bet that shero could be in danger.

these are the things the team needs to do in order to win with bylsma as coach

1. get younger. i'm not just talking about guys like despres and bennet. we need youth on this roster. when guys like jokinen, iginla, and morrow move on, these spots need to be filled with youth. this letang trade is a perfect opportunity to set yourself up for the next couple years. the penguins do not need a top 10 pick. i would rather get 2 solid prospects and a first round pick over a top 10 pick, a solid prospect, and an okay throw in prospect. i want guys who are ready now. if im shero, im looking for a 1st, a good d prospect and good forward prospect. he'll get it no doubt, might get more. guys like letang aren't a dime a dozen. i remember leading up to the draft last season. people said we weren't going to get much for staal, maybe just the 8th pick, certainly not sutter. look what happened.

It's a shame that Coutuier plays for PHI, would love for Shero to take a crack at him to acquire him.

2. Defensive responsible defensemen. under this system, our dmen are going to be left out to dry many times. it is important to have the guys that will be in good position naturally and can minimize the damage. we need more guys like martin and less guys like letang and niskanen. letang is a hell of a dman and he'll do well somewhere, but we cant afford to keep him.

3. Know your roles. this postseason, the penguins looked like a team without an identity. they need to know their roles. the top 2 lines are scoring, the 3rd line is a speedy group of younger guys who emphasize puck possession, and the 4th line is there to bang bodies. this boston series, it looked like we had 4 4th lines who were trying to bang bodies.

4. have to bring back cooke and dupuis. character guys are a necessary part of the game. when you lose guys like Talbot, rupp, etc., you're hurting the locker room. you need guys like cooke and dupuis who bring out the best in the guys around them.

5. explore the goalie market. MAF is a goalie who wont succeed in a system like this. he is a good goalie and under a defensive system, he'll flourish. but he wont do well here, he is out of position too much. vokoun was solid because he never overcommitted and was always in solid position. penguins need a younger guy like that. they can get away with vokoun in net one more season, but after that you cant rely on a 38 year old.

am i happy about the extension? no. did i see it coming? yes. can this team still win? it will be tough, but yes.

if this is system that the Lemieux, shero, and bylsma want, that's fine. but the team needs to be built around that. which means guys like morrow and iginla aren't fits here.

Honestly if duper wants 4 per for 4 years that just makes Cooke and Iginla an easier sign. Cooke for sure... Iginla maybe... I think he would ok on the third line or jump with Crosby for a bit.

You don't seriously think that a manager would allow a player's realistic hopes for a contract to leak out?

That is Dupuis' starting bid not his take it or leave it limit.

I read in the Trib that Dupuis is wanting $4mil/4yrs....at 34 I cant see RS doing that.
- sammy87

It's a starting point.

Even at 34, I'd be ok with a 4 year deal. Between his skating and fitness level, I think he could still contribute at 38. He's not a banger, so you don't worry as much about his body breaking down.

That being said, he won't be a top 6 guy in year 3 or 4, so you can't pay him $4 mil per. I'd be ok like $3 per year.

You don't seriously think that a manager would allow a player's realistic hopes for a contract to leak out?

That is Dupuis' starting bid not his take it or leave it limit.
- cygnus41

Rossi has been throwing dumb numbers out lately...

I hope he is retained at 2.75 for 3

does it matter that therrein was fired after getting extended? no. bylsma is a regular season guy. there is no possible way his system fails in the regular season enough to get fired...

can the penguins win the cup with Bylsma? I guess. but i'm not holding my breath. any coach that just ignores the defensive aspect and relies on offense wont see success in the playoffs. when you win 3 playoff series over 4 years, something is seriously wrong.

shero is now putting himself on the line with bylsma. if things go wrong again, you can bet that shero could be in danger.

these are the things the team needs to do in order to win with bylsma as coach

1. get younger. i'm not just talking about guys like despres and bennet. we need youth on this roster. when guys like jokinen, iginla, and morrow move on, these spots need to be filled with youth. this letang trade is a perfect opportunity to set yourself up for the next couple years. the penguins do not need a top 10 pick. i would rather get 2 solid prospects and a first round pick over a top 10 pick, a solid prospect, and an okay throw in prospect. i want guys who are ready now. if im shero, im looking for a 1st, a good d prospect and good forward prospect. he'll get it no doubt, might get more. guys like letang aren't a dime a dozen. i remember leading up to the draft last season. people said we weren't going to get much for staal, maybe just the 8th pick, certainly not sutter. look what happened.

It's a shame that Coutuier plays for PHI, would love for Shero to take a crack at him to acquire him.

2. Defensive responsible defensemen. under this system, our dmen are going to be left out to dry many times. it is important to have the guys that will be in good position naturally and can minimize the damage. we need more guys like martin and less guys like letang and niskanen. letang is a hell of a dman and he'll do well somewhere, but we cant afford to keep him.

3. Know your roles. this postseason, the penguins looked like a team without an identity. they need to know their roles. the top 2 lines are scoring, the 3rd line is a speedy group of younger guys who emphasize puck possession, and the 4th line is there to bang bodies. this boston series, it looked like we had 4 4th lines who were trying to bang bodies.

4. have to bring back cooke and dupuis. character guys are a necessary part of the game. when you lose guys like Talbot, rupp, etc., you're hurting the locker room. you need guys like cooke and dupuis who bring out the best in the guys around them.

5. explore the goalie market. MAF is a goalie who wont succeed in a system like this. he is a good goalie and under a defensive system, he'll flourish. but he wont do well here, he is out of position too much. vokoun was solid because he never overcommitted and was always in solid position. penguins need a younger guy like that. they can get away with vokoun in net one more season, but after that you cant rely on a 38 year old.

am i happy about the extension? no. did i see it coming? yes. can this team still win? it will be tough, but yes.

if this is system that the Lemieux, shero, and bylsma want, that's fine. but the team needs to be built around that. which means guys like morrow and iginla aren't fits here.
- SuperHenderson13

There is no bigger overhyped young player in the NHL than the next Ron Francis, err ... Couturier. Flyer fans don't get it. They don't want to trade him to get something they need, like Keith Yandle. I'm not sure they watched Ron Franics Junior play major minutes for the Flyers this year on the fourth line. Sure, he is still young, but which one do you get - a solid rookie or the fourth line second year guy. Pass on Couturier.

I don't think Fleury is staying despite comments.
- Oneonta Penguin

I don't agree. I think he'll be here. I heard nothing in Shero's comments that leads me to believe he feels otherwise. He defended his coach in the same manner and he's getting a nice contract extension.

Anyone think Shero could pull a Fleury trade if a good opportunity arise?

I'll support the Bylsma signing I guess...but he'll have to change a few things moving forward..

Anyone think Shero could pull a Fleury trade if a good opportunity arise?

I'll support the Bylsma signing I guess...but he'll have to change a few things moving forward..
- Orpik44

I don't see Fleury having much value... if he could somehow swing a Miller deal sure otherwise give the guy a new goal coach and hope he turns around.

I don't see Fleury having much value... if he could somehow swing a Miller deal sure otherwise give the guy a new goal coach and hope he turns around.
- nelson911

no to miller. go younger.

no to miller. go younger.
- SuperHenderson13

If you know a guy who is top notch who can play 60 games is young and doesn't cost an arm and a leg... Idea?

If you know a guy who is top notch who can play 60 games is young and doesn't cost an arm and a leg... Idea?
- nelson911

Jonas Hiller?

no to miller. go younger.
- SuperHenderson13

I actually wouldn't mind Miller. He needs a change of scenery. He is a fighter.

Pulling for Boston so we don't look so bad. Chicago has as many goals as the Pens scored in 4 games in 2 and a half periods.

EDIT: OK now they have more...

I am just happy to see that a bounce can go against Boston.