I just can't imagine either Orpik or Letang traded this season... For once in a long while we have a solid top 4 for a playoff run. You don't hurt your top 4 to help your 3rd line (or even your first line when the other 2/3 of it are top 10 scorers).
- rival22

Pens have a cup team this year! Depending on the return for a niskenen or a prospect shero needs to consider all possibilities! Is this team better this year if we could trade nisk for a top 6 forward? ESP if they know he walks this summer

Pens have a cup team this year! Depending on the return for a niskenen or a prospect shero needs to consider all possibilities! Is this team better this year if we could trade nisk for a top 6 forward? ESP if they know he walks this summer
- Brianandr1

Who's giving up a legit top 6 winger for Matt Niskanen as a rental?

Who's giving up a legit top 6 winger for Matt Niskanen as a rental?
- rival22

A playoff team with a top 6 wingers that needs a pmd (Colorado) or a team that might try to sign him before the season ends

I personally think they should resign orpik for a 3-4 year deal and trade try to trade him in 2 years when the younger guys start stepping in more. I think he's too valuable as of right now and no one can fill his role yet. Just do the sign and trade like jagr. Seems like the only reason teams are signing jagr is to trade him at the deadline for something they couldn't get before
- drummer829

I'd love to be able to extend him for only 2 years, but it might take 3... If he has a strong playoff, he'd easily get a Scuderi-type 4 year deal this off season on the open market.

Pens are still in 1st place, no need to make a huge play for a bottom 6 guy. When the Pens are healthy it will all work out. The move to make is for a top 6 for Sid. Eberle, Kane, Cammalarri, would be great. Maybe even move Letang after the season and go after Vanek. If Iginla can be had for 2 guys nobody ever heard of, a bottom 6 can be acquired very easily.

At least it will be easier, cheaper to resign Sutter this offseason.

I'd love to be able to extend him for only 2 years, but it might take 3... If he has a strong playoff, he'd easily get a Scuderi-type 4 year deal this off season on the open market.
- rival22

He will still be very valuable to the team and is a top 4 defenseman on any team. Our D prospects our just now beginning to take the next stride in their development, but they still don't have what it takes to fill orpik's skates. I figured a guy like orpik should have no problem being dealt if he stays relatively healthy in 2 years

Pens are still in 1st place, no need to make a huge play for a bottom 6 guy. When the Pens are healthy it will all work out. The move to make is for a top 6 for Sid. Eberle, Kane, Cammalarri, would be great. Maybe even move Letang after the season and go after Vanek. If Iginla can be had for 2 guys nobody ever heard of, a bottom 6 can be acquired very easily.
- sammy87

Vanek?? Really?

Pens have a cup team this year! Depending on the return for a niskenen or a prospect shero needs to consider all possibilities! Is this team better this year if we could trade nisk for a top 6 forward? ESP if they know he walks this summer
- Brianandr1

Not to sound like a spoiled fan, but this is an argument for every year for the last 6

Vanek?? Really?
- drummer829

It's just a thought for a top forward. Im not sure who all will be UFA's this year other than Vanak and Cammi. I doubt Vanek will be available as long as the Isles are on the bubble. Dude has talent, no denying that.

I used to think highly of Vanek as an all around player years ago. Hes had way too many Semin moments this year that Ive seen.

It's certainly not going to be like last year. The late trade deadline meant that teams were only responsible for about a 7th of a player's salary. That'll be different this year. And unlike last year, the Penguins didn't come into this season with their customary salary buffer for Ray to play with, just no way to do that the way the cap went down. Pretty sure that capgeek's numbers are correct, and the Penguins will be $970k under the cap come the deadline, which is miniscule.
- hardnosed

Cap space is not going to be an issue at all. With Vokoun and Dupuis LTIR space, plus whoever the Pens would send down to open a roster spot for an acquisition, the Pens can go get whoever they want.

It's just a thought for a top forward. Im not sure who all will be UFA's this year other than Vanak and Cammi. I doubt Vanek will be available as long as the Isles are on the bubble. Dude has talent, no denying that.
- sammy87

I agree he has skill, but he has a heavy price tag. Cammi should be signed just for the fact that everytime the pens play against him, he lights it up.

Not to sound like a spoiled fan, but this is an argument for every year for the last 6
- Deadstar

Point is a 3 re line winger or 2 could be the diff between winning the conf finals or the cup or losing ... Most teams with a handful of exceptions would love to have the pens issues and if I need to trade and prospect or to to get another cup this year then so be it

Love that the blog uses the words "dumpster fire." I really wish that phrase would pass into the common lexicon as it is just a perfect description for something that is a complete and abject disaster.

Point is a 3 re line winger or 2 could be the diff between winning the conf finals or the cup or losing ... Most teams with a handful of exceptions would love to have the pens issues and if I need to trade and prospect or to to get another cup this year then so be it
- Brianandr1

Another argument that could have been made last year and they did get those (2) wingers.

The pens should of gone after versteeg. 2 mediocre prospects AND the panthers retained half of his salary. That would of been a huge pickup for the 3rd line

The pens should of gone after versteeg. 2 mediocre prospects AND the panthers retained half of his salary. That would of been a huge pickup for the 3rd line
- drummer829

Hes awful. And hes a top 6 or not at all player. And he doesn't belong in the top 6.

Pittsburgh is a win now team, they have one glaring whole as a team ... The 3rd line , which btw has been as issue since day one this year needs to be upgraded if we're going to beat the other elite teams when it counts , I understand the people on this thread that don't want to trade d prospects for a rental , however... The organization is so rich there that even if every prospect worked out there would not be enough spots on the roster, it's time to cash in one of the chips .. In shero I trust , his track record tells me he ll get something done
- Brianandr1

I don't like the win now mentality and forgetting about the future. You can have both. It doesn't mean you have to be ridiculous and mortgage all the future for now. That is irresponsible for a GM to do so.

Another argument that could have been made last year and they did get those (2) wingers.
- Deadstar

You can argue both sides pretty easily.... The players added last deadline slowed the team down enough that they became easier to play against.... No way Iginla was ever going to keep up with Crosby and Dupuis on rushes.

Shero needs to acquire players for specific roles this season.... not just add players and try to make them fit. Either you add a top 6 forward and bump guys down the lineup or you add 2 bottom 6 guys with specific skill sets and let the top 5 do their job and score.

I'm still saying give Megna a try on the top line... if he can do half of what Dupuis brought to the table at even strength, that line would be fine IMO

I used to think highly of Vanek as an all around player years ago. Hes had way too many Semin moments this year that Ive seen.
- Deadstar

I just wouldn't want Vanek because he is too slow. I would much rather see a skilled winger with good/great speed to play on Crosby's wing. Kane/Eberle are pipe dreams, but would fit in perfectly.

Oilers blog said they are playing Gagner on the top line RW maybe as an audition for the Pens. Interesting however I really don't know much about Gagner.

Hes awful. And hes a top 6 or not at all player. And he doesn't belong in the top 6.
- Deadstar

A speedy gritty player doesn't belong on the 3rd line? He doesn't belong in the top 6 which is why you put him on the 3rd...

Another argument that could have been made last year and they did get those (2) wingers.
- Deadstar

To me, they didn't get the right players, they got the most expensive players. The two are not always synonymous.

Shero needs to acquire players for specific roles this season.... not just add players and try to make them fit.
- Yonk1216

This.

A speedy gritty player doesn't belong on the 3rd line? He doesn't belong in the top 6 which is why you put him on the 3rd...
- drummer829

A speedy gritty player does belong on the 3rd line. I don't consider Versteeg either of those qualities is all.