the difference with those guys is that we didnt have to give up 3-4 young assets to get them.

if we make trades like this, we will be the canucks in 4-6 years. might we have another cup? maybe. a big maybe.

but that is how teams like the red wings stay good for so long, they draft talent and develop it. they dont trade it all, they dont bring in old guys, they let the kids play.

beau bennett was misused last year. he isnt a bottom 6 player. he needs to play with talent in order to be talented. his poor luck with injuries can be frustrating. really thought an offseason full of training would do wonders for him.
- SuperHenderson13

Redwings aren't so good, the deal with the red wings are they play super disciplined, but really they havent been a threat for the cup since we beat them in 2009. If we can come away with a cup in the next 2-3 years then i dont mind being the caunucks and going into a rebuild, to me is better than just wasting away always near the top in the east but never really a real threat.

There is a reason why Chicago is trying so hard to get Kesler.

Also 29 isnt that old, I would say he easily has 5 years of usefulness in him. And he isnt that fragile, alot of his health issues stem from sacrificing everything to win in 2011, after that run his hip and shoulder were done. He didnt miss much last year and played the whole lockout half season.

Keeping it simple:

What's the general consensus...
Do the Pens make splash tomorrow?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You know I have a gut feeling they pull something huge tomrorow.

You know I have a gut feeling they pull something huge tomrorow.
- stackthepads

JR will do something big, his ego will force him to draw attention to his position.

JR will do something big, his ego will force him to draw attention to his position.
- sammy87

Good!
I bet it's something that really angers Ryan Wilson, gonna be lots of graphs and pie charts on saturday!

I think Neal has a huge value on the market. He has similar #'s to Perry, young, locked up cheap for his production for 3 more years. That being said, The Pens have 87, 71, 14. All 30+ goals, Throw in Dupes at 15-20, BB at 20 potential, do the Pens need another 30+ goal scorer? We hear the dynamic of the team needs changed, Neal seems to me like he doesn't fit well with the rest for some reason. That and the stupid plays that come with him make him the odd man out. I think he has the best value for return outside 71 and I don't think that's happening.
- sammy87

Let's not forget that Duper and Kunitz are in their mid 30's and a fall-off in production can happen at any time. BB is has yet to prove much of anything because he's never healthy.

This team needs young, proven wingers to maximize the superstars at center. James Neal is the only one on the roster that qualifies IMO. If they trade him, they better get back another proven, young goal scorer.

the difference with those guys is that we didnt have to give up 3-4 young assets to get them.

if we make trades like this, we will be the canucks in 4-6 years. might we have another cup? maybe. a big maybe.

but that is how teams like the red wings stay good for so long, they draft talent and develop it. they dont trade it all, they dont bring in old guys, they let the kids play.

beau bennett was misused last year. he isnt a bottom 6 player. he needs to play with talent in order to be talented. his poor luck with injuries can be frustrating. really thought an offseason full of training would do wonders for him.
- SuperHenderson13

Agreed ... A healthy Bennett will be playing with Malkin Neal. ... The problem with Pitt last year was a lack of depth ... I understand it exciting to discuss trading Neal and fleury but the bottom line is the 14 million in cap the pens have is more then enough to fix the bottom 6 ... Seriously if I read one more projected line up with gibbons and megna on the forth line ( Harry z as 13 or better vitale !!!) I'm going to scream ... Did you guys who post this crap actually watch the pens last year???

3 priorities

1) decide what to do with fleury and sutter
2) fix the bottom 6
3) give the young d a shot or trade them for useable pieces ... The future is now!

Agreed ... A healthy Bennett will be playing with Malkin Neal. ... The problem with Pitt last year was a lack of depth ... I understand it exciting to discuss trading Neal and fleury but the bottom line is the 14 million in cap the pens have is more then enough to fix the bottom 6 ... Seriously if I read one more projected line up with gibbons and megna on the forth line ( Harry z as 13 or better vitale !!!) I'm going to scream ... Did you guys who post this crap actually watch the pens last year???
- Brianandr1

thats just it. people here for some reason want change but they want the same players as last year.

gibbons and megna are AHL players. plain and simple. they dont belong on an NHL roster.

Agreed ... A healthy Bennett will be playing with Malkin Neal. ... The problem with Pitt last year was a lack of depth ... I understand it exciting to discuss trading Neal and fleury but the bottom line is the 14 million in cap the pens have is more then enough to fix the bottom 6 ... Seriously if I read one more projected line up with gibbons and megna on the forth line ( Harry z as 13 or better vitale !!!) I'm going to scream ... Did you guys who post this crap actually watch the pens last year???
- Brianandr1

I liked Gibbons last year, sure he gets pushed around but he puts so much pressure on people with his speed. I'd say he earned his spot on the roster.

thats just it. people here for some reason want change but they want the same players as last year.

gibbons and megna are AHL players. plain and simple. they dont belong on an NHL roster.
- SuperHenderson13

They are fine as full ins / call ups ... Kunitz had a carear year ... The focus of the discuss is on his decline and demotion in two years??? Really???

I liked Gibbons last year, sure he gets pushed around but he puts so much pressure on people with his speed. I'd say he earned his spot on the roster.
- stackthepads

What is the purpose of a forth line ??? Did poulliot Boyle Moore not teach you anything???
Have we forgotten the key role of Kennedy , duper , talbot played in 09? We need a real bottom 6

thats just it. people here for some reason want change but they want the same players as last year.

gibbons and megna are AHL players. plain and simple. they dont belong on an NHL roster.
- SuperHenderson13

But Gibbons had 1 good game!

You can play in the NHL at that size, but you need a Cammi shot, or St Louis skill. Being a bottom 6 at that size is dangerous. You need ppl that can check and play tough at the bottom 6. Im afraid that Gibbons will last a week much like the playoffs playing in NHL on a bottom 6 roll.

But Gibbons had 1 good game!

You can play in the NHL at that size, but you need a Cammi shot, or St Louis skill. Being a bottom 6 at that size is dangerous. You need ppl that can check and play tough at the bottom 6. Im afraid that Gibbons will last a week much like the playoffs playing in NHL on a bottom 6 roll.
- sammy87

You're probably right, but I still like him. I'd take him over Adams everyday of the week.

Keeping it simple:

What's the general consensus...
Do the Pens make splash tomorrow?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Wish I knew. Don't know Rutherford well enough but if I were betting I'd bet yes he does something.

You're probably right, but I still like him. I'd take him over Adams everyday of the week.
- stackthepads

Gibbons, Adams, Vitale, Megna, Glass are all parts that are interchangeable and the way BB played at the end, he fit in with those. Drop Dupes to the 3rd, Kunitz the following yr. Easy transition for the bottom6

Gibbons, Adams, Vitale, Megna, Glass are all parts that are interchangeable and the way BB played at the end, he fit in with those. Drop Dupes to the 3rd, Kunitz the following yr. Easy transition for the bottom6
- sammy87

Crap .. Go out and sign poulliot , Boyle , ott , goc .. That's what this team needs

But Gibbons had 1 good game!

You can play in the NHL at that size, but you need a Cammi shot, or St Louis skill. Being a bottom 6 at that size is dangerous. You need ppl that can check and play tough at the bottom 6. Im afraid that Gibbons will last a week much like the playoffs playing in NHL on a bottom 6 roll.
- sammy87

If he can push the puck into the opposition end and work on the cycle in the bottom six he doesn't need to be super skilled. I'm sure you saw the thousands of graphs that Ryan posts about puck possession and they explained why the Penguins bottom six was to atrocious this year. They never had the puck.

Seeing how the Penguins seem to like going line vs line instead of matching a checking line vs a top line or a attempting to get Crosby's line against the McClemment line in Toronto, they just need the third and 4th lines to have puck possession.

Like Dallas Eakins said. A perfect NHL game for a team is 0 hits. Because they had the puck all game. Sure Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck are fun to watch as they run all over the ice trying to hit everything but goals still win games.

If he can push the puck into the opposition end and work on the cycle in the bottom six he doesn't need to be super skilled. I'm sure you saw the thousands of graphs that Ryan posts about puck possession and they explained why the Penguins bottom six was to atrocious this year. They never had the puck.

Seeing how the Penguins seem to like going line vs line instead of matching a checking line vs a top line or a attempting to get Crosby's line against the McClemment line in Toronto, they just need the third and 4th lines to have puck possession.

Like Dallas Eakins said. A perfect NHL game for a team is 0 hits. Because they had the puck all game. Sure Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck are fun to watch as they run all over the ice trying to hit everything but goals still win games.
- Ben37

Did you watch the rags or the kings? 3rd and 4th lines played a key role till the end ... What don't we get? Why do you guys want to keep recreating the same team that lost??? Kulemin? Hemsky????? Really ?

Did you watch the rags or the kings? 3rd and 4th lines played a key role till the end ... What don't we get? Why do you guys want to keep recreating the same team that lost??? Kulemin? Hemsky????? Really ?
- Brianandr1

I think Kulemin fits the bill, big strong 2 way player who can skate.
Which UFA's are you interested in for our team?

If we arent trading then I like

Pouliot (3rd line)
Kulemin (malkin line)
Booth (3rd line)
Goc (4th line)

Agreed ... A healthy Bennett will be playing with Malkin Neal. ... The problem with Pitt last year was a lack of depth ... I understand it exciting to discuss trading Neal and fleury but the bottom line is the 14 million in cap the pens have is more then enough to fix the bottom 6 ... Seriously if I read one more projected line up with gibbons and megna on the forth line ( Harry z as 13 or better vitale !!!) I'm going to scream ... Did you guys who post this crap actually watch the pens last year???

3 priorities

1) decide what to do with fleury and sutter
2) fix the bottom 6
3) give the young d a shot or trade them for useable pieces ... The future is now!
- Brianandr1

I still maintain Harry Z is just fine on the fourth line. Especially at his cap hit. The guy is a crazy man and actually scored a few tough golas in his short period last year. You want spped and grit, he has both.

Did you watch the rags or the kings? 3rd and 4th lines played a key role till the end ... What don't we get? Why do you guys want to keep recreating the same team that lost??? Kulemin? Hemsky????? Really ?
- Brianandr1

Yeah they did that by having puck possession in the opponents zone. They didn't get dominated in their own zone and spend the entire shift chasing the puck.

I think Kulemin fits the bill, big strong 2 way player who can skate.
Which UFA's are you interested in for our team?

If we arent trading then I like

Pouliot (3rd line)
Kulemin (malkin line)
Booth (3rd line)
Goc (4th line)
- stackthepads

Not bad. Pouliot will be pricey. I'd pass on booth. Goc is perfectly fine as 4th line center. Or even 3rd if Sutter is traded.

Hemsky is a good hockey player. The soft stigma is pretty overblown. He's got more grit than Jokinen and everyone loves JJ. Dont overlook Hemskyand Vrbata types!

I didn't any responses earlier today on Chad LaRose. Making and nNHLcomeback attempt...he's a rRutherford guy...thoughts?

Not bad. Pouliot will be pricey. I'd pass on booth. Goc is perfectly fine as 4th line center. Or even 3rd if Sutter is traded.

Hemsky is a good hockey player. The soft stigma is pretty overblown. He's got more grit than Jokinen and everyone loves JJ. Dont overlook Hemskyand Vrbata types!
- YouMeAndDupuis9

My main issue with Hemsky is that he never shoots the puck, Im guessing we'd want him to play with Sid, but Sid needs a sniper because Sid never shoots the puck either!

I dont know anything about Vrbata.

My main issue with Hemsky is that he never shoots the puck, Im guessing we'd want him to play with Sid, but Sid needs a sniper because Sid never shoots the puck either!

I dont know anything about Vrbata.
- stackthepads

Maybe Hemsky would well with Geno then. I would like hHemsky on SIDS line though as the guy that can carry the puck into the offensive zone. Less dump and chase.

(Geez mobile autocorrect sucks.)

If he can push the puck into the opposition end and work on the cycle in the bottom six he doesn't need to be super skilled. I'm sure you saw the thousands of graphs that Ryan posts about puck possession and they explained why the Penguins bottom six was to atrocious this year. They never had the puck.

Seeing how the Penguins seem to like going line vs line instead of matching a checking line vs a top line or a attempting to get Crosby's line against the McClemment line in Toronto, they just need the third and 4th lines to have puck possession.

Like Dallas Eakins said. A perfect NHL game for a team is 0 hits. Because they had the puck all game. Sure Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck are fun to watch as they run all over the ice trying to hit everything but goals still win games.
- Ben37

You hear fancy stat folks say this all the time, but when was the last time you watched an NHL game where one team has the puck all the time? Pretty sure its never going to happen. Whats the best way to get the puck back? Hit the puck carrier. Not to mention all those meaningless hits that are thrown a split second after a D passes the puck add up by the third period.