Always liked the thought of swapping Letang for E Kane, however it might be the one deal where Pitt has to throw in more

Not only that, but who wants to trade Letang within the division?
- jak521

I would have no problem trading him in the division if said team comes to the table and offers a significant package. Say, the Islanders (won't happen), but we will give you our first and Grabner and a third next year, I'd seriously consider it.

Really? I like the green but not so much the logo. To each his own I guess.
- HopintheCordoba

Hadn't seen this. Did the Stars and Canes get a 2 for 1 deal from a jersey designer ?

CapGeek ‏@capgeek 1h
#NHL #Penguins have five players signed taking up $33.2M in cap space in 2014-15. Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Martin, Fleury.

CapGeek ‏@capgeek 1h
Based on next season's cap, that would leave $31.1M for the remaining 18 players to fill out a 23-man roster -- $1.72M each. #NHL #Pens

Scary about 2014-15... That is why I can't see the Pens extending Letang, or someone like Eberle coming back.
- rival22

First, I don't see Fleury being around in 14-15. Secondly, I will play along with the Letang to Edmonton for Eberle. If Eberle comes in, Neal probably gets dealt.

"Think about it overnight and you realize we’ve been down a lot worse. It’s one game. It was a fun game to be a part of. It was great hockey out there," said Tyler Seguin, who assisted on the Bergeron goal. "By the end of those overtimes, I talked to a couple of guys on their team just saying, 'Someone end it, please.' The boys were getting tired."


Does anyone else find this weird? I would be pissed if i heard a Penguin player said something like that to the opposition in the finals.

Do you think the Pens can be SC without Letang next year?

Da Man has a long history of being right when everyone else thinks he is wrong.

Two exceptions:

1 JVR trade caught me off guard
2. I thought Bobby Ryan would be skating w/ G by now


I reiterate - the Pens just traded a first round pick for Iggy, who could go. They are in win now mode (refer to Philly and NYR every year). Not seeing how a trade could increase the Pens 2013-2014 chances but we'll see.
- Daman

Shero is one of the best in the business when it comes to trades.

Sure they could. But who wants to trade Letang for picks?

I sure don't.
- canadianpenfan

Perhaps J.Johnson + 1st round pick.

"Think about it overnight and you realize we’ve been down a lot worse. It’s one game. It was a fun game to be a part of. It was great hockey out there," said Tyler Seguin, who assisted on the Bergeron goal. "By the end of those overtimes, I talked to a couple of guys on their team just saying, 'Someone end it, please.' The boys were getting tired."


Does anyone else find this weird? I would be pissed if i heard a Penguin player said something like that to the opposition in the finals.
- canadianpenfan

Nah, it's just a tongue in cheek comment.

I would have no problem trading him in the division if said team comes to the table and offers a significant package. Say, the Islanders (won't happen), but we will give you our first and Grabner and a third next year, I'd seriously consider it.
- Oneonta Penguin

If Letang goes, they have to get a good NHL defensman coming back. You can't trade your young number 1 Dman without getting a suitable replacement. I like Despres, but I'm not handing him the 1st slot without a hell of lot more evidence. Too bad we don't know where he stands....

Nah, it's just a tongue in cheek comment.
- Gunner Staal

Yea I suppose.

Good news: He'll also want to stay close to the Philadelphia area, for family reasons.

Bad news: He plays significantly better at center than at wing, but is defensively sub-par.
- BulliesPhan87

That was my only question, how well he does on the wing.

He is an interesting option though, that will be cheap.

Perhaps J.Johnson + 1st round pick.
- Orpik44

So, you hang onto him and get NOTHING in return? The thought is to deal him to get something of value. Stall brought a nice return; Letang should bring more.
- Oneonta Penguin

You assume you will get equal value with less salary cap implications? I don't.

In this salary cap era, you will likely sacrifice $$ vs. talent.

So my point is why take a hit to talent THIS YEAR when you are pressured as a GM to win now? Right or wrong, that is my position/question posed.

Perhaps J.Johnson + 1st round pick.
- Orpik44

Not happening:

A) Columbus is in our division next year.

B) Columbus would have to add a lot, considering their 1st pick is a middle pick, not a top 10 pick.

C) It's Jack Johnson

You assume you will get equal value with less salary cap implications? I don't.

In this salary cap era, you will likely sacrifice $$ vs. talent.

So my point is why take a hit to talent THIS YEAR when you are pressured as a GM to win now? Right or wrong, that is my position/question posed.
- Daman

You get something for him. You let your best players walk, you find yourself in Calgary's position in two years. Staal was going to walk - we got Sutter, a high first and Domoullin. Letang isn't worth what he will be asking for and Shero won't know the cap until Letang hits free agency. I don't perscribe to your theory to play; challenge for the Cup and then let him walk. There will be a market for Letang and you will be able to get a good return for him. If you got that for Staal and you could see he wanted to walk; you can get better for Letang who is on record saying he wants to stay.

Your point makes little sense to me.

Say your boys were in similar situation - competing for a cup; close to the cap, which you are the later and bang, Claude Giroux is your version of Kris Letang. Do you keep Claude and go for the Cup knowing that you might not be able to keep him, or deal him for assets that help today and in the future? You are saying you would play Giroux and then let him walk for nothing?

Doesn't Letang have 1 year left? Why would Pitt trade him now?

I think he stays. We can play GM all we want, but the pressure for a GM with Crosby and Malkin is to win a cup, and win now.

I see how it all plays out.

Will be an interesting offseason. From a Flyers perspective, I can only imagine that we will be getting rid of more than we bring in.

Briere - gone
Bryz - ??? - I am one of the few that hopes he stays
If we sign and overpay Streit, another D-man will go.
Still need a winger.

Best to all and cheers!
- Daman

So, you hang onto him and get NOTHING in return? The thought is to deal him to get something of value. Stall brought a nice return; Letang should bring more.
- Oneonta Penguin

Obviously Ray would love to keep Letang at a price the Pens could live with (5M??)...but that would certainly not be what Letang could get on the open market (if Gonch can get 5M, Letang surely can get 7).

Clearly Ray is going to get offers for Letang...seems like the feeling out process may have started happening within 24 hours of their loss...based on what he said in the press conference and assuming Letang is one of the guys GMs were talking to him about.

If I were Ray and I could get a couple of NHL assets...guys that would play now, I certainly would entertain the idea. And clearly a forward with some speed, skill and age on his side would be very valuable in return.

The only real downside I see is that unlike the Gonchar situation (aside from there being another year on Letangs contract) there really isn't a heir apparent to Letang's spot.

Sure, Despres looks like he COULD be the guy...but he's nowhere near as established as Letang was when we let Gonchar go.

From that point of view, I think Shero will hold onto Letang for a while (unless he gets an offer he can't refuse) . We are simply better off with him than without him.

He'll see how Despres matures next year and evaluate what the team looks like as we go.

What if they are playing great...winning with the guys they have now plus a few cheap acquisitions...and are heading toward the playoffs looking good. I can imagine a scenario where they decide to hold onto Letang and make a run with him.

"Think about it overnight and you realize we’ve been down a lot worse. It’s one game. It was a fun game to be a part of. It was great hockey out there," said Tyler Seguin, who assisted on the Bergeron goal. "By the end of those overtimes, I talked to a couple of guys on their team just saying, 'Someone end it, please.' The boys were getting tired."


Does anyone else find this weird? I would be pissed if i heard a Penguin player said something like that to the opposition in the finals.
- canadianpenfan

I'd be more pissed if a Penguin player of that pedigree had put up only 5 pts and -2 so far.

He's one of the biggest no shows for any team in this years playoffs.

- Gunner Staal

So, it's a questionable idea?

Just not sure where you stand on Jack Johnson... He is friends with Crosby you know?

Really? I like the green but not so much the logo. To each his own I guess.
- HopintheCordoba

Honestly? I didn't like the Stars jersey that much. I like the green but it could be darker.
As for the Hurricanes jersey, I like it a lot. The white one with the "red shoulders" looks a bit strange though.

Honestly? I didn't like the Stars jersey that much. I like the green but it could be darker.
As for the Hurricanes jersey, I like it a lot. The white one with the "red shoulders" looks a bit strange though.
- Orpik44

I like the Stars colors/jerseys, but that logo is just lame.

If Letang goes, they have to get a good NHL defensman coming back. You can't trade your young number 1 Dman without getting a suitable replacement. I like Despres, but I'm not handing him the 1st slot without a hell of lot more evidence. Too bad we don't know where he stands....
- madmike71

Using it as an example. I'm not opposed to dealing him in division. We know his strengths, but the rest of the team knows his defensive weaknesses.

The ONLY team that can give you a good NHL ready Dman in division really is the Rags.

If Letang goes, they have to get a good NHL defensman coming back. You can't trade your young number 1 Dman without getting a suitable replacement. I like Despres, but I'm not handing him the 1st slot without a hell of lot more evidence. Too bad we don't know where he stands....
- madmike71

In fairness though, chances are that the team that you move him to will have to clear a roster spot, so a defenseman might be coming back anyway. It might not be an ideal top 4 guy, but you figure that you will at least get a serviceable NHL player back (look at Niskanen in the Goligoski deal or even getting Dupuis when we gave up two NHL forwards to Atlanta).

I like the Stars colors/jerseys, but that logo is just lame.
- rival22

Very cartoonish.

I like the jersey as well, just would prefer a darker green. The stripes are cool.

Not happening:

A) Columbus is in our division next year.

B) Columbus would have to add a lot, considering their 1st pick is a middle pick, not a top 10 pick.

C) It's Jack Johnson
- cap1681

It would be funny if a trade like that happened and the Penguins win a cup next year.
Bylsma re-signed (check)
J.Johnson trade (check)
Iginla back (check)

Always liked the thought of swapping Letang for E Kane, however it might be the one deal where Pitt has to throw in more
- drummer829

Some guys I'd trade straight up for Letang:

E.Kane
Eberle
L.Eriksson

Other than that, I'd want packages.