Just remember, did LA and Chicago win their cups with more guys like Hornqvist or like Neal?

Neal was a good player but not the type that you win with. You win with the responsible 200 ft players. That isnt Neal, that is Hornqvist

Puzzled by Spaling. Would have loved to have found a way to get #11 but it should have been Spaling plus a 2nd round pick.

Chris, I agree it wasn't value we expected...we're spoiled with the Shero "big splash" trades. However, I've seen the comparison of Hornqvist to Kunitz, and agree with the comparison. I actually think PH is the more impactful player.

That said, who's been more valuable to the Pens...Kuni or Neal? I say Kunitz. If we just got another winger like him, only younger and a bit more edgy, I'd take that any day. As a matter of fact, I believe Kunitz is the prototypical winger we need to play with Sid and Geno. I LOVE THIS TRADE!
- cranktheradio

Just remember, did LA and Chicago win their cups with more guys like Hornqvist or like Neal?

Neal was a good player but not the type that you win with. You win with the responsible 200 ft players. That isnt Neal, that is Hornqvist

Puzzled by Spaling. Would have loved to have found a way to get #11 but it should have been Spaling plus a 2nd round pick.
- SuperHenderson13

I'm going to trust the Pens know what they're doing with Spaling and put him in a place to be successful.

It is scraping the bottom of the barrel but I guess Sids health is a positive, I will not agree with the Neal trade being decent, it's not. Not a single hockey person has said anything positive about this from the Pens perspective.
- nbartley9

I've seen a lot of hockey persons saying positive things. dont forget, the pens moved a d-bag for a person who should put up similar numbers with a top center and is cheaper, slightly. spalding could be a positive but even if not the deal was decent

give me Bennett's cap hit and potential over Hemsky's "talent" any day of the week.
- SuperHenderson13

only thing better is the cap hit. bennett is turning into hemsky mach 2. injury prone and will almost definately not hit potential

Just remember, did LA and Chicago win their cups with more guys like Hornqvist or like Neal?

Neal was a good player but not the type that you win with. You win with the responsible 200 ft players. That isnt Neal, that is Hornqvist

Puzzled by Spaling. Would have loved to have found a way to get #11 but it should have been Spaling plus a 2nd round pick.
- SuperHenderson13

Admittedly I don't watch many Nash games....er...make that zero Nash games. They had an interview with a local Nash newspaper guy. Said they're not thrilled with losing these two guys, especially Hornqvist. Also said the guy scored 22 goals last year and the combined distance of all 22 goals between Hornqvist and the net was about 50 feet. So yes, that is exactly a quality this team needs.

However, like some others are saying, you'd think a 40 goal scorer could have brought more assets.

Admittedly I don't watch many Nash games....er...make that zero Nash games. They had an interview with a local Nash newspaper guy. Said they're not thrilled with losing these two guys, especially Hornqvist. Also said the guy scored 22 goals last year and the combined distance of all 22 goals between Hornqvist and the net was about 50 feet. So yes, that is exactly a quality this team needs.

However, like some others are saying, you'd think a 40 goal scorer could have brought more assets.
- madmike71

The 1st round pick and Hornqvist would've been enough for me. More middle ground that way. They would've taken Perlini or Tuch with that pick I'd guess.

Hornqvist sucks a and is injury prone, we gained very little cap space, and we just lost 40 goals a year. Not to mention we very well may have a disgruntled Geno Malkin.
- nbartley9

You should buy an orange and black shirt with the flying "P" on the front, you sound like one of them!

I'm just hoping that Rutherford will eventually stop running his mouth. Is that so ridiculous to hope for? Wasting weeks of time and getting nothing for Niskanen and Jokinen rights was already bad enough for me. Now, talking about locking as many as 4 players up on July 1st? Just....shhhhhhh.

I'm not at all unhappy with our picks but we could've had more. His was a draft to build a lot more depth with. An extra few picks would've been excellent. FA camp invites are now more portent and FA has to he used to fill immediate holes up front.

only thing better is the cap hit. bennett is turning into hemsky mach 2. injury prone and will almost definately not hit potential
- ChrisMS

Hemsky at least had some successful years before becoming as fragile as a Waterford Crystal Vase. I don't get the fascination with him by board members either, but he does possess much better skill than Bennett will ever have. Someone will overpay for him. Hopefully its not the Penguins.

I really don't think Bennett will ever reach his potential. Wrist injuries aren't good things.

I'm going to trust the Pens know what they're doing with Spaling and put him in a place to be successful.
- cranktheradio

Preferably his rights are traded to Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL. I heard that is a place he can become successful.

Preferably his rights are traded to Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL. I heard that is a place he can become successful.
- Oneonta Penguin

That's good.

You should buy an orange and black shirt with the flying "P" on the front, you sound like one of them!
- stevens87

I like our goalie, and our head coach.

Just remember, did LA and Chicago win their cups with more guys like Hornqvist or like Neal?

Neal was a good player but not the type that you win with. You win with the responsible 200 ft players. That isnt Neal, that is Hornqvist

Puzzled by Spaling. Would have loved to have found a way to get #11 but it should have been Spaling plus a 2nd round pick.
- SuperHenderson13

On Spaling -- I think its a classic example of pro sports teams placing too much value on versatility. JR says he can play all 3 positions. My response is...so? Can he play them well?

Anyway, we did hedge our bet with him a bit because we get a second round pick if we don't reach a deal with him. (That is my understanding).

I'm just hoping that Rutherford will eventually stop running his mouth. Is that so ridiculous to hope for? Wasting weeks of time and getting nothing for Niskanen and Jokinen rights was already bad enough for me. Now, talking about locking as many as 4 players up on July 1st? Just....shhhhhhh.

I'm not at all unhappy with our picks but we could've had more. His was a draft to build a lot more depth with. An extra few picks would've been excellent. FA camp invites are now more portent and FA has to he used to fill immediate holes up front.
- HopintheCordoba

Haha I feel your frustration man. Like when he said they had Kapanen ranked 7th on their board. DONT TELL US THAT! Did you see Anaheim covering up their list of players walking up to the podium? It's not a big deal and I love getting the inside scoop as an obsessive pens fan, but for the sake of the team, stop tipping your hand!

Oh and side note: how are all those executives in one giant room and not overhear secret conversations or peek at peoples list of players? Its strange to me...

The below requires Scuds moving before anything can happen. I feel this is a reasonable roster. The defence becomes the concern.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
Moulson + Kulemin signings. Post draft.
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Patric Hornqvist ($4.250m)
Matt Moulson ($5.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.500m)
Beau Bennett ($0.900m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.250m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Nick Spaling ($1.500m) / Marcel Goc ($2.000m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.750m)
Craig Adams ($0.700m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7.250m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.250m) / Olli Maatta ($0.894m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) / Brian Dumoulin ($0.832m)
Philip Samuelsson ($0.605m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,680,833; BONUSES: $68,333
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $319,167

The below requires Scuds moving before anything can happen. I feel this is a reasonable roster. The defence becomes the concern.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
Moulson + Kulemin signings. Post draft.
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Patric Hornqvist ($4.250m)
Matt Moulson ($5.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.500m)
Beau Bennett ($0.900m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.250m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Nick Spaling ($1.500m) / Marcel Goc ($2.000m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.750m)
Craig Adams ($0.700m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7.250m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.250m) / Olli Maatta ($0.894m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) / Brian Dumoulin ($0.832m)
Philip Samuelsson ($0.605m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,680,833; BONUSES: $68,333
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $319,167
- penguins-4-life

Honestly, that defense is no concern to me. I think its better than last year's D corp IMO. I think Moulson and Kulemin are the types of wingers that Geno succeeds with. Just not sure I want to pay Moulson $5M. Not a ton of grit but I can live with it. And if we could bump out Fleury for Hiller.

Other than that, I like it!

The below requires Scuds moving before anything can happen. I feel this is a reasonable roster. The defence becomes the concern.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
Moulson + Kulemin signings. Post draft.
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Patric Hornqvist ($4.250m)
Matt Moulson ($5.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.500m)
Beau Bennett ($0.900m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.250m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Nick Spaling ($1.500m) / Marcel Goc ($2.000m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.750m)
Craig Adams ($0.700m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7.250m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.250m) / Olli Maatta ($0.894m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) / Brian Dumoulin ($0.832m)
Philip Samuelsson ($0.605m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,680,833; BONUSES: $68,333
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $319,167
- penguins-4-life

Best one I've seen ... Who takes scuds?

On Spaling -- I think its a classic example of pro sports teams placing too much value on versatility. JR says he can play all 3 positions. My response is...so? Can he play them well?

Anyway, we did hedge our bet with him a bit because we get a second round pick if we don't reach a deal with him. (That is my understanding).
- YouMeAndDupuis9

My friend he did have 13 goals and 32 points playing bottom 6 min on an offensively anemic team... If that's not enough he s an up grade over of the pens bottom 6 last year except sutter

- Ledgermain

Agreed

My friend he did have 13 goals and 32 points playing bottom 6 min on an offensively anemic team... If that's not enough he s an up grade over of the pens bottom 6 last year except sutter
- Brianandr1

He isn't nearly as good as his stats indicate. If he was, Nashville doesn't deal him.

He isn't nearly as good as his stats indicate. If he was, Nashville doesn't deal him.
- Oneonta Penguin

They didn't trade him for rob scuderi

Best one I've seen ... Who takes scuds?
- Brianandr1

Pretty much any team wanting to fill out cap space, or wants the "veteran defensmen" for a low draft pick trade. Still think there are a couple who would entertain taking him.

Best one I've seen ... Who takes scuds?
- Brianandr1

That's the unfortunate part, I have no idea.

Honestly, that defense is no concern to me. I think its better than last year's D corp IMO. I think Moulson and Kulemin are the types of wingers that Geno succeeds with. Just not sure I want to pay Moulson $5M. Not a ton of grit but I can live with it. And if we could bump out Fleury for Hiller.

Other than that, I like it!
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Time will tell.

I will miss Nisk even if his numbers were up b/c e played against weaker opponents... at least he capitalized on it and certainly played well with Maatta. I can live with Orpik leaving. Scud's contract gone is a dream.