I wanna play armchair GM too!
If Lemieux would just give me the job I would be looking to do the following.

first dump scederi ofcourse.

Second the players Im looking to get are Byfuglien and Kesler. My chips to do so are Neal and Letang. Buff and Kesler are both big, mean and can take over a game. Physical game breakers are what we lack.

Neal + prospect for Kesler
Letang for Buff

Resign Sutter 8 for 32 (4 mil cap hit) I don't care what Bartley says he looked good in the playoffs, hes 23 and a few more pounds and years he is a Kesler type player.

Get a Bully for the 4th line who can play somewhat Shawn Thornton if he his UFA.

Sign Dan Boyle 5 mil per try for 3 years- yeah hes old but he can skate and he's a winner to teach our up and coming dmen prospects

Resign Goc @ 1.5

Kunitz(3.75) - Crosby(8.7) - Dupuis(3.75)
Kesler(5) - Malkin(8.7) - Buff(5.2)
Bennett(.900) - Sutter(4) - ???
Thornton(1.2) - Goc(1.5) - Gibbons(.550)

Martin(5) - Maata(.900)
Boyle(5) - Pouliot or other prospect (.900)
Depres(.900) - Bortuzzo(.600)

Fleury(5) - Zatkoff(.600)

Comes in at about 64 million leaving us 7 millions to sign a third liner Ott or Moulson at 3 - 3.5 Mil per and 4 mil to line Marios pockets.


Check that powerplay!
- stackthepads

LOL at adding a prospect for Kesler.

LOL LOL at picking up Dan Boyle

I wanna play armchair GM too!
If Lemieux would just give me the job I would be looking to do the following.

first dump scederi ofcourse.

Second the players Im looking to get are Byfuglien and Kesler. My chips to do so are Neal and Letang. Buff and Kesler are both big, mean and can take over a game. Physical game breakers are what we lack.

Neal + prospect for Kesler
Letang for Buff

Resign Sutter 8 for 32 (4 mil cap hit) I don't care what Bartley says he looked good in the playoffs, hes 23 and a few more pounds and years he is a Kesler type player.

Get a Bully for the 4th line who can play somewhat Shawn Thornton if he his UFA.

Sign Dan Boyle 5 mil per try for 3 years- yeah hes old but he can skate and he's a winner to teach our up and coming dmen prospects

Resign Goc @ 1.5

Kunitz(3.75) - Crosby(8.7) - Dupuis(3.75)
Kesler(5) - Malkin(8.7) - Buff(5.2)
Bennett(.900) - Sutter(4) - ???
Thornton(1.2) - Goc(1.5) - Gibbons(.550)

Martin(5) - Maata(.900)
Boyle(5) - Pouliot or other prospect (.900)
Depres(.900) - Bortuzzo(.600)

Fleury(5) - Zatkoff(.600)

Comes in at about 64 million leaving us 7 millions to sign a third liner Ott or Moulson at 3 - 3.5 Mil per and 4 mil to line Marios pockets.


Check that powerplay!
- stackthepads

Not sure if serious....
- trade letang for buff....no words
- sign thorton... Someone whose talent begins and ends at putting on his skates. A complete joke.
- trade for kesler... Put him on the wing....
- pick up a 75 year old boyle to pay him 5 million
- oh yeah, maata and pouliot out 4-6 month.... Enjoy the first month of the season with no dmen!
- LOL at Ott.

This might be THE worst lineup ive ever seen proposed on these boards. It regressing th penguins back for this year at every position except goalie. Nice job though, i had a nice chuckle.

Also did i read earlier someone wanted carcillo? Or was i havinv a bad nightmare?

So at the end of his contract a 41 year old Dan Boyle will be making $5 million and the other deals you proposed would make the Penguins older as well. Not only that but you are also adding a prospect to get Kesler.
- acdc1206

Im really not all that concerned with getting older, Im concerned with getting better, and getting players that will protect our stars. Dan Boyle is a replacement for Letang, whom I trading for Buff and cap relief. Boyle is also exactly the type of person I want showing my rookies the ropes. He hasnt lost much of his foot speed, and is a positional Dman.

If Canucks will take Neal straight up then sure, but I dont think they will. Kesler is an important piece in my Pens build.

Pens need to be taking advantage of Crosby and Malkin over the next 4 - 5 years over getting younger. When we are no longer in the discussion for the cup we look at dealing Malkin and or Crosby to contenders to refill the cupboards.

Because everyone else is throwing out dumb ideas, i'll take a shot.

Offense:
Kunitz-Crosby-Iginla
Kulemin-Malkin-Bennett
Boedker/Mcginn-Goc-Dupuis
Carcillo-Sill-Engelland

Sign Dan Carcillo. Everyone hates him, i know. he is a bum. i know. but i also know that he is a POS who gets under the other team's skin and gets the guys going. we need more guys like that.

Sign Kulemin. I dont know a ton about him. I know he is 6'1 and 230+ which is great. Keep in mind, in 2009 Malkin won the scoring title and playoff MVP playing with Talbot and Fedotenko. He needs to be the most skilled player on the ice as long as his linemates will crash the net and set him up. Really like Bennett, tough he wont have the offseason to build up muscle because he really needs it. As long as Kulemin is willing to crash the net, i'm all for him.

Resign Engelland... IF and only if he is willing to convert to wing. Look, i liked watching him at wing. I thought he played pretty well. It would be a very tough decision for him but he should remember that i dont think a lot of teams will be dying to get him for defense, so maybe a position change can keep his career afloat.

Sign Jarome Iginla. Will also take some heat for this one. I know some people here dont like Iginla for what his time here was like. I get it. But what i also know is that we are looking for a tough and skilled winger to play with Sid. Iginla happens to solve both of those issues. Had a great season in Boston and i think would give Pittsburgh another look under a new coaching staff.

Trade James Neal to Colorado for Jamie Mcginn, a 1st round pick, and a prospect/pick. Might be able to get a better offer, but this was the first one that popped in my head.
Another one would be Neal and RFA rights to Sutter to Arizona for their 1st (12th overall), Boedker, and Samuelsson. Might need to tweak that deal a little, dont know a ton about Boedker so that might throw the value off, but either way. Look for a Staal type deal. 3 pieces, one immediate help, a 1st, and a good prosect.

If Sutter isnt traded with Neal, look to trade him for a good pick or something. Good player, will continue to play good hockey, but i cant pay him 4 million.

let the bashing start because i left Brian Gibbons off the roster.

Our best OFFENSIVE defenseman.

Oh wait, he isn't that either.
- thickman1178

Wrong, As bad as Letang can be he is still better than anyone else on the roster. Martin is 33 and already peaked, and just as injury prone as Letang. Nisk will make top pairing money even though he is a mid tier Dman. Orpik and Scuds are old and suck. Bortz is a bottom pair dman, the rest are unproven prospects that may end up being more Joe Morrow's. Moving Letang just makes another problem with the D. Besides, when 87, 71, 58 are out, they are much worse w/o 58 than anyone else.

Defense:
Letang-Martin
Maatta-Despres
Bortuzzo-Pouliot/Harrington/Dumolin/etc.

This one was actually a lot easier for me.

1. Do not trade Kris Letang. I know he has issues and can be an idiot some time. But he has talent that very few have. I think that with a tough coach who guides him to play more risk-averse hockey, you will see a Norris winner.

2. Despres and Bortuzzo showed me enough last season to earn full time spots. both are good players who add some size and toughness to the defense, something that's been missing.

3. Let the final spot be between our kids. Pouliot obviously has little chance of winning the job but I really like Harrington.

4. Martin and Maatta maintain the status quo of their performance from last year.

Goalies:
MAF- with the right team in front of him, he will return to the 2008 and 2009 MAF. Leaving your goalie out to dry will hurt 9/10 goalies.

Coaches:
I still favor Rick Tocchet to be the head coach. Been saying that for a while. His lack of experience is something I'd look at but i feel like he is the right man for the job.

His assistants need to be an X's and O's guy to make up for Tocchet's lack of strategy and his other should be a guy like Billy Guerin or John Hynes.

GM
Like Jeff Gorton from the Rangers. Like what he did up in Boston a few years ago.

Wrong, As bad as Letang can be he is still better than anyone else on the roster. Martin is 33 and already peaked, and just as injury prone as Letang. Nisk will make top pairing money even though he is a mid tier Dman. Orpik and Scuds are old and suck. Bortz is a bottom pair dman, the rest are unproven prospects that may end up being more Joe Morrow's. Moving Letang just makes another problem with the D. Besides, when 87, 71, 58 are out, they are much worse w/o 58 than anyone else.
- sammy87

Defense:
Letang-Martin
Maatta-Despres
Bortuzzo-Pouliot/Harrington/Dumolin/etc.

This one was actually a lot easier for me.

1. Do not trade Kris Letang. I know he has issues and can be an idiot some time. But he has talent that very few have. I think that with a tough coach who guides him to play more risk-averse hockey, you will see a Norris winner.

2. Despres and Bortuzzo showed me enough last season to earn full time spots. both are good players who add some size and toughness to the defense, something that's been missing.

3. Let the final spot be between our kids. Pouliot obviously has little chance of winning the job but I really like Harrington.

4. Martin and Maatta maintain the status quo of their performance from last year.

Goalies:
MAF- with the right team in front of him, he will return to the 2008 and 2009 MAF. Leaving your goalie out to dry will hurt 9/10 goalies.

Coaches:
I still favor Rick Tocchet to be the head coach. Been saying that for a while. His lack of experience is something I'd look at but i feel like he is the right man for the job.

His assistants need to be an X's and O's guy to make up for Tocchet's lack of strategy and his other should be a guy like Billy Guerin or John Hynes.

GM
Like Jeff Gorton from the Rangers. Like what he did up in Boston a few years ago.
- SuperHenderson13

Tocchet and Guerin are my coaching wet dream!

Tocchet and Guerin are my coaching wet dream!
- stackthepads

I think Guerin could be one of the better assistants in the league. Question whether he has the experience or desire to be a head coach, but i think he could be a great assistant. really communicates and connects with the players.

- Oneonta Penguin

Dmen that is*

Defense:
Letang-Martin
Maatta-Despres
Bortuzzo-Pouliot/Harrington/Dumolin/etc.

This one was actually a lot easier for me.

1. Do not trade Kris Letang. I know he has issues and can be an idiot some time. But he has talent that very few have. I think that with a tough coach who guides him to play more risk-averse hockey, you will see a Norris winner.

2. Despres and Bortuzzo showed me enough last season to earn full time spots. both are good players who add some size and toughness to the defense, something that's been missing.

3. Let the final spot be between our kids. Pouliot obviously has little chance of winning the job but I really like Harrington.

4. Martin and Maatta maintain the status quo of their performance from last year.

Goalies:
MAF- with the right team in front of him, he will return to the 2008 and 2009 MAF. Leaving your goalie out to dry will hurt 9/10 goalies.

Coaches:
I still favor Rick Tocchet to be the head coach. Been saying that for a while. His lack of experience is something I'd look at but i feel like he is the right man for the job.

His assistants need to be an X's and O's guy to make up for Tocchet's lack of strategy and his other should be a guy like Billy Guerin or John Hynes.

GM
Like Jeff Gorton from the Rangers. Like what he did up in Boston a few years ago.
- SuperHenderson13

I agree with most of this. I don't think they get fair value in return for Letang. I too think he can return to form under a new coach and a simpler system. Besides, they can't just trade all the experienced D. Martin only has one more year and he's getting old.

Dmen that is*
- sammy87

come on you make it too easy for him.

I think Guerin could be one of the better assistants in the league. Question whether he has the experience or desire to be a head coach, but i think he could be a great assistant. really communicates and connects with the players.
- SuperHenderson13

Agree 100%, I also think he can level out Crosby, we've all heard the stories about how he would give him the business when most everyone else was intimidated by his skill.

Tocchet and Guerin are my coaching wet dream!
- stackthepads

If Tocchet is the guy, I'd rather have a couple of assistants that have a good amount of experience. Has Billy G ever coached at any level? I'd think about having Martin return.

Habs loss was Tokarski's fault

they should trade the bum
- TheGame316

I see what you did there

Agree 100%, I also think he can level out Crosby, we've all heard the stories about how he would give him the business when most everyone else was intimidated by his skill.
- stackthepads

while i agree with this, Crosby needs to level himself. Many people, me included, are getting tired of his antics. His is the captain and the face of the league. start acting like one and less like a 18 year old.

another reason why i liked iginla to sign here is because losing oprik really leaves a void in the penguins locker room. need to get some of the leadership back.

If Tocchet is the guy, I'd rather have a couple of assistants that have a good amount of experience. Has Billy G ever coached at any level? I'd think about having Martin return.
- madmike71

i'd be perfectly fine with Martin returning. I liked him as an assistant.

while i agree with this, Crosby needs to level himself. Many people, me included, are getting tired of his antics. His is the captain and the face of the league. start acting like one and less like a 18 year old.

another reason why i liked iginla to sign here is because losing oprik really leaves a void in the penguins locker room. need to get some of the leadership back.
- SuperHenderson13

I don't disagree that Sid had a couple of bad moments against the Rags, but you have to admit he was abused in both of those series. The team did a really crappy job of protecting him. Same thing happened against the B's. Chara punched the guy in his recently broken jaw and nothing happened. Very much reminded me of the Mario days before Stevens and Tocchet. This team needs to get younger, bigger and meaner. Return some of that crap.

They need to get Sid a big wing to give him some space. That would be my number one priority this off-season.

I don't disagree that Sid had a couple of bad moments against the Rags, but you have to admit he was abused in both of those series. The team did a really crappy job of protecting him. Same thing happened against the B's. Chara punched the guy in his recently broken jaw and nothing happened. Very much reminded me of the Mario days before Stevens and Tocchet. This team needs to get younger, bigger and meaner. Return some of that crap.

They need to get Sid a big wing to give him some space. That would be my number one priority this off-season.
- madmike71

I thought that was why they got Iggy...but he was rarely on the ice with Sid....and just didnt seem engaged like he was with the Bruins....something was wrong in the way they used Iginla.

I don't disagree that Sid had a couple of bad moments against the Rags, but you have to admit he was abused in both of those series. The team did a really crappy job of protecting him. Same thing happened against the B's. Chara punched the guy in his recently broken jaw and nothing happened. Very much reminded me of the Mario days before Stevens and Tocchet. This team needs to get younger, bigger and meaner. Return some of that crap.

They need to get Sid a big wing to give him some space. That would be my number one priority this off-season.
- madmike71

x2, Crosby gets abused pretty quickly, the Pens have nobody to establish the forecheck, they simply play a perimeter game, its annoying.

No on Iginla, that would put Iggy, Martin, Dupes, Scuds, Kunitz all 33+. That with a bunch of prospects, the Pens will be a divided locker between young and old.

Sid is now in his prime with Malkin, they will be 26 and 27 this season, with the NHL today, they will be old shortly. The Pens have about 5 yrs to build a competitive team. After that, they will be drafting 87s replacement.

while i agree with this, Crosby needs to level himself. Many people, me included, are getting tired of his antics. His is the captain and the face of the league. start acting like one and less like a 18 year old.

another reason why i liked iginla to sign here is because losing oprik really leaves a void in the penguins locker room. need to get some of the leadership back.
- SuperHenderson13

I think people really overlook the fact that in Pittsburgh Crosby is it. There is no one else who leads behind him who can take the reigns for him. People love to compare Crosby and Toews, Toews is amazing dont get me wrong but when he faulters theres Seabrook, Keith, Sharp, Hossa they're all great leaders who can fill in until he gets his head back in the game. Crosby who is there? I've never seen someone on Pittsburgh seeing Crosby boiling over and taking the pressure off him and rallying the team for him. They just kinda all lose their cool with him.

As for his antics I agree there.

I really like Iginla, but I think that bridge has been burned.

x2, Crosby gets abused pretty quickly, the Pens have nobody to establish the forecheck, they simply play a perimeter game, its annoying.

No on Iginla, that would put Iggy, Martin, Dupes, Scuds, Kunitz all 33+. That with a bunch of prospects, the Pens will be a divided locker between young and old.

Sid is now in his prime with Malkin, they will be 26 and 27 this season, with the NHL today, they will be old shortly. The Pens have about 5 yrs to build a competitive team. After that, they will be drafting 87s replacement.
- sammy87

Hawks: 5 guys 32 years or older
Kings: 4 guys 32 years or older
Rangers: 3 guys 33 or older

penguins also had a bunch of older guys in 2009. Guys like Kunitz, Iginla, Martin, and to an extent Dupuis all are capable of playing good hockey at their ages. To me, Iginla is the best solution for the first line when you look at asset management.

I thought that was why they got Iggy...but he was rarely on the ice with Sid....and just didnt seem engaged like he was with the Bruins....something was wrong in the way they used Iginla.
- Jeropotato

Dan Bylsma butchered that playoff run. He got his ass handed to him by Capuano and Julien. If the Isle had a real NHL goalie, Dan would have been canned last year. In hind sight, I really wish the Islanders won that series.

Hawks: 5 guys 32 years or older
Kings: 4 guys 32 years or older
Rangers: 3 guys 33 or older

penguins also had a bunch of older guys in 2009. Guys like Kunitz, Iginla, Martin, and to an extent Dupuis all are capable of playing good hockey at their ages. To me, Iginla is the best solution for the first line when you look at asset management.
- SuperHenderson13

Penguins: 8 guys 32 years or older.
The problem is not so much the age of the players as the ability of the player. Paul Coffey once said the best years of a hockey player are 27-31. As these players age and they lose their skills, they need to be replaced by better players. This is not happening, as evidenced by this article, the players who should be fighting to make this a better team are just not capable.