I know as much as you about the situation, which is next to nothing. But you like to jump to conclusions.

Maybe he hates Winnipeg with a passion (understandable for a rich young lad) and is trying to do anything he can to get out. Maybe it's all completely made up and fabricated. Certainly not going to base my opinion off a coach that obviously has issues with him.

You have no way of knowing what he'd be like in a different situation.

My point is simply if he turns out to be a rotten egg we're in the same boat we are if we kept Neal and I think it's worth the chance.
- canadianpenfan

Rooting for the kid, Kane, to do something stupid over the summer.

Isles just signed Halak for 4yrs at $4.5M/yr.

Wonder if this is the benchmark for G contracts this offseason? Would make moving Fleury & replacing him with a cheaper, comparable goalie a little more difficult.
- s0rcerer1984

Islanders have to overpay for players. It's obvious to me.

Can't move Maatta. He looked too good last year and youth will be needed at D in the very near future; can't trade the "sure thing," 19yr old man on a ELC when Dumoulin, Despres, Harrington, and Pouliet are still unknowns at the NHL level to varying degrees.

Now, if the Jets asked about Sutter + Pouliet, I'd listen very closely. Kane would make Neal superflous so he could be moved for another piece or pieces to re-coup some of what was lost in acquiring Kane. Send Neal to a competitive team out West that struggled on the PP this past year & whose window is now. off the top of my head, i'd try to deal with Vancouver, Anaheim, or San Jose. Maybe the Wild too.

Sutter + Pouliet + Pick = Kane (WPG)
Neal = near-NHL ready Top-6 F prospect + pick + current 3rd line roster player
- s0rcerer1984

Very opposed to this. Pouliot is the heir apparent when Letang goes down, again, with an injury.

The infatuation with E. Kane blows my mind.

Neil and Letang for Lupul and Phaneuf. Sound fair?

delete

There used to be a time when reporters wouldn't talk about "gossip". Unfortunately journalism has taken a serious turn south.....and I don't consider Madden or Rossi journalist even though they claim differently. Instead of double checking facts and backing up sources some "reporters" now value being first and talking about innuendo.

I don't know if the Pens have "put" themselves in this position. Yes, the way they fired Shero and kept Bylsma is very.....um.....different. But making changes after repeated failures is 100% normal.

All of the "noise" and unsubstantiated gossip surrounding the team should be treated as such. My rule of thumb is when Yohe or Molinari report it, I'm pretty sure it's factual.
- madmike71

I agree. It's guys like Rossi and Madden who rather have themselves be part of the story instead of reporting on one. They like that their names are mentioned whether or not what they are reporting is true or false.

Islanders have to overpay for players. It's obvious to me.
- Oneonta Penguin

They are more than welcomed to take on Scuderi's contract. A 7th round pick in 2090 would suffice.

From what I've seen, I think Dumoulin will far surpass what Lovejoy is/was. Dumoulin looks like a solid 3-4 Dman with size. He and Despres don't have to be Top-2 Dman to succeed; Leave that to Letang and Maatta. Just be Top-4 Dman who can use their size.

Harrington looks like the next Rob Scuderi, but with far better puck skills. Another 3-4 Dman, but who lacks elite puck moving skills. Still, not so back with the puck that he won't find a solid role for himself in the NHL.

Of the group only Samuelsson looks like a 5-6 Dman to me with a ceiling simialr to Lovejoy or Strait.
- s0rcerer1984

You should reword this by saying the Scuderi we had before he left for LA, not the current one. Very excited to see Harrington this coming year.

Neil and Letang for Lupul and Phaneuf. Sound fair?
- PrinceLH

No ...

I hate you.
- canadianpenfan

Liar

Really irresponsible to say that a player has requested a trade. You either force a player to dispute it (possibility lying), ignore it and people assume you are unhappy and a jerk, or even dispute it and have people not believe you and think you're a jerk.

Really puts the player in a bad spot.

Unless he's obviously tanking it or a malcontent, that should stay between GM & player.

Neil and Letang for Lupul and Phaneuf. Sound fair?
- PrinceLH

start by spelling his name right.

Really irresponsible to say that a player has requested a trade. You either force a player to dispute it (possibility lying), ignore it and people assume you are unhappy and a jerk, or even dispute it and have people not believe you and think you're a jerk.

Really puts the player in a bad spot.

Unless he's obviously tanking it or a malcontent, that should stay between GM & player.
- rival22

I agree. There are no winners in that situation. If James Neal requested a trade during the regular season report it then and deal with the consequences. The biggest thing is that if he did request a trade, it was during a stretch where the old regime was at its worst. A new coach and gm changes that perception for the player.
Either way, watching these playoffs it was so clear that the Penguins were their own worst enemy. I know Tangradi was never going to be a top 6, but as a fourth liner how was he any worse than Pyatt? We have (had) a problem with the coaches and GM's trading guys who won't be top 6, but excel in lesser roles. Letestu and Tangradi on a fourth line in Pittsburgh would have been just as, if not more effective than what we had last season.

So I was just looking at old reports on the Penguins prospects and saw one that talked about Simon Despres. In this report it talked about his physical superiority compared to his peers. Specifically his skating ability, size, and sporadic offensive flair. The biggest flaw for him, written years ago, was the lack of a mean streak. The biggest upside was that if he developed a mean streak he would be a dominant minute munching, smooth skating, power hitting, defender with enough talent to make plays.

I'm sorry, but how in the hell do you not swallow your pride to work with that?

If you get a chance just read this. Not for the art that it is, but for what it contains. Botterill truly did everything for Ray to make sure he made the right decision, but it was always Ray who had the final choice. I'm not sure we have to go out of the organization to make the GM hire.
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566348

If you get a chance just read this. Not for the art that it is, but for what it contains. Botterill truly did everything for Ray to make sure he made the right decision, but it was always Ray who had the final choice. I'm not sure we have to go out of the organization to make the GM hire.
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566348
- usethe1-2-2

It probably comes down to his philosophy in building a team and his personality, but he pretty much has the perfect bio for an NHL GM.

He will be one soon, it's just a matter of for who.

It probably comes down to his philosophy in building a team and his personality, but he pretty much has the perfect bio for an NHL GM.

He will be one soon, it's just a matter of for who.
- rival22

You also have to wonder if he knows, in the back of his mind, what Shero did wrong and how to fix that. If he was so involved he has to know where the mistakes were made and how to adjust. If he was so much a "student" of the position, he would know where his teacher went wrong. I think he stays. I think he should.

So I was just looking at old reports on the Penguins prospects and saw one that talked about Simon Despres. In this report it talked about his physical superiority compared to his peers. Specifically his skating ability, size, and sporadic offensive flair. The biggest flaw for him, written years ago, was the lack of a mean streak. The biggest upside was that if he developed a mean streak he would be a dominant minute munching, smooth skating, power hitting, defender with enough talent to make plays.

I'm sorry, but how in the hell do you not swallow your pride to work with that?
- usethe1-2-2

We will never know, but I'd love to hear some of the conversations between Ray and Dan about Despres. I'm convinced the biggest reason Shero no longer works for the Pens is his faith in Dan Bylsma and his use of the personnel. I'll never forget the season ending news conference after the Boston sweep and the couple of questions about Despres. Dan looked like he was sucking on a lemon while he was saying Simone is a top 4 defensman. It was almost funny. Almost. Pathetic might be another word.

Anyway, you're right.... How do you not try to nurture that? Coach that? Give him every opportunity to earn a job? Imagine if he did pretty well last year. The Pens wouldn't be stuck paying Rob Scuderi stupid money to suck for three more years. That contract will most likely cost them any chance to keep Nisk.

I think one of the most pertinent questions DK asked of Mario and Burkle pertained to Despres.... It had something to do with still not knowing what they have in him. He was one of the better defenders in the Philly series and they still don't know 3 years later if he's worthy of a roster spot. That's just piss poor handling of a quality prospect.

So, Beau Bennett with his third wrist surgery in three years ...

So, Beau Bennett with his third wrist surgery in three years ...
- Oneonta Penguin

Someone needs to get this damn kid a girlfriend already...

If you get a chance just read this. Not for the art that it is, but for what it contains. Botterill truly did everything for Ray to make sure he made the right decision, but it was always Ray who had the final choice. I'm not sure we have to go out of the organization to make the GM hire.
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566348
- usethe1-2-2

What I got out of it was Simon Depres went from a consummate professional, willing to do what is good for the team at 17; to uncoachable at 22.

We will never know, but I'd love to hear some of the conversations between Ray and Dan about Despres. I'm convinced the biggest reason Shero no longer works for the Pens is his faith in Dan Bylsma and his use of the personnel. I'll never forget the season ending news conference after the Boston sweep and the couple of questions about Despres. Dan looked like he was sucking on a lemon while he was saying Simone is a top 4 defensman. It was almost funny. Almost. Pathetic might be another word.

Anyway, you're right.... How do you not try to nurture that? Coach that? Give him every opportunity to earn a job? Imagine if he did pretty well last year. The Pens wouldn't be stuck paying Rob Scuderi stupid money to suck for three more years. That contract will most likely cost them any chance to keep Nisk.

I think one of the most pertinent questions DK asked of Mario and Burkle pertained to Despres.... It had something to do with still not knowing what they have in him. He was one of the better defenders in the Philly series and they still don't know 3 years later if he's worthy of a roster spot. That's just piss poor handling of a quality prospect.
- madmike71

The bottom line is when Dan Bylsma and Ray Shero started they were handed a Stanley Cup team. As they gradually took over and made their mark on this team, they have gone down hill. Yes this is still a playoff team, and will be for some time. But to have not beaten a team higher than a #7 seed in four years, this is not an improving team.
Make no mistake, Bylsma and Shero deserve credit for the championship. They got their ring, their name on the Cup and made their millions. Now it is time to take your philosophy and apply it somewhere else because it is not working here. I say so long and good luck.