Ryan Wilson: James Neal Wears Out His Welcome In Pittsburgh James Neal Wears Out His Welcome In Pittsburgh

Think we make any more trades today?

I look forward to seeing how he does with Nashville and see if he can keep scoring with mediocre centers.

Hornqvist is an underrated player.

Hornqvist is an underrated player.
- Blackstrom2

He's solid. Like a lot of Predators players, he is a solid guy who can play 200 feet. He's doesn't have the best hands, but has a good shot and a hockey IQ. With Crosby and/or Malkin, I would expect he will hit 30-35 goals if playing a full 82 games.

I am reading that Penguins have been in contact with Kulemin's camp to become Malkin's winger. Any thoughts on this, Ryan?

He's solid. Like a lot of Predators players, he is a solid guy who can play 200 feet. He's doesn't have the best hands, but has a good shot and a hockey IQ. With Crosby and/or Malkin, I would expect he will hit 30-35 goals if playing a full 82 games.

I am reading that Penguins have been in contact with Kulemin's camp to become Malkin's winger. Any thoughts on this, Ryan?
- YzermanIsTheMan

I think it certainly would be wise to kick the tires and see what his asking price is. If it is around 3M he will probably be signed.

Excellent blog Gunner. Not the worst trade, but a little underwhelmed. I think this is where Shero would have squeezed a little better deal out of Nash. They have two 2nd's. One of those should have been included.

At the very least, Adams should be going the other way. They have the cap space to let him rot in the press box.

I think it certainly would be wise to kick the tires and see what his asking price is. If it is around 3M he will probably be signed.
- Ryan_Wilson

I think he'll fit in perfectly next to Malkin.

Excellent blog Gunner. Not the worst trade, but a little underwhelmed. I think this is where Shero would have squeezed a little better deal out of Nash. They have two 2nd's. One of those should have been included.

At the very least, Adams should be going the other way. They have the cap space to let him rot in the press box.
- madmike71

Emotional response was a lot different than analyzed response. Spaling stinks though.

Hell tk got a 2nd... This is (frank)ing bullpoop.... jr sucks at trading

Hell to got a 2nd... This is (frank)ing bullpoop.... jr sucks at trading
- nh4442

A bit of an overreaction. Pens didn't get fleeced.

A bit of an overreaction. Pens didn't get fleeced.
- YzermanIsTheMan

Ya they kinda did....

Ya they kinda did....
- nh4442

Nope

Ya they kinda did....
- nh4442

Fleeced would be if Pens included anything more than they did. They obviously didn't win out in this trade, but its not totally bad. Horns is a solid 2 way, 200-foot player. Something Neal couldn't do.

I'm interested in knowing what all we offered Wpg besides Neal to almost get Evander Kane and if we still have anything left to get him

Excellent blog Gunner. Not the worst trade, but a little underwhelmed. I think this is where Shero would have squeezed a little better deal out of Nash. They have two 2nd's. One of those should have been included.

- madmike71

Ironically we dont have a 2nd or 3rd rdr because of Shero.

Hell tk got a 2nd... This is (frank)ing bullpoop.... jr sucks at trading
- nh4442

Using the 2013 rules Spaling turns into a 2nd round pick if we qualify him at 1.5M and someone else signs him at 1.7M. So that is a low risk gamble and if he balks and signs elsewhere everyone gets their wish.
Having fifteen teams contact you about Neal and this being the trade you accept tells me more about Neal than it does about Rutherford.

I'm interested in knowing what all we offered Wpg besides Neal to almost get Evander Kane and if we still have anything left to get him
- gershall13

My guess is price was too steep. Not suprised.

My guess is price was too steep. Not suprised.
- Magicmanmalkin

Me either. If they didn't want Neal then possibly Sutter, Bennett, Dumoulin? Pouliot? 1st rd this year. Something that I wouldn't want to pay most likely

Fleeced would be if Pens included anything more than they did. They obviously didn't win out in this trade, but its not totally bad. Horns is a solid 2 way, 200-foot player. Something Neal couldn't do.
- YzermanIsTheMan

It was a stupid trade.. if that was the best trade out of the 15 teams that offered something for neal... that is pathetic... JR couldnt even get one of their 2nd picks.. screw spaling...

You touched on my concerns about the trade.

I have no problem with them trading Neal I just wanted a really good package of assets. The writing was on the wall. I like Hornqvist. He will definitely help the team. Interesting stat about his lack of playoff production though. My problem is that the Penguins had a prime trading piece and didn't maximize his value in what they got in return. This wasn't like a Kesler situation where he would only go to certain teams and he handcuffed the Canucks on what they could get back. So 15 teams were in contact with JR yet this was all he could muster? He couldn't play those teams against each other or at least two of them who showed the most interest? Remember how Shero played the Rags against JR and fleeced him in the Staal deal. When I first read about them talking to Nashville I assumed at least a high draft pick was involved. Their first, or a flip flop of firsts, or at least one of the second rounders. Maybe even a prospect coming back like a Sissons, Forsberg, or Watson. They added an analytic specialist but according to the chart Spaling sucks at possession. Uh, okay.

JR dropped the ball but considering he hasn't smelled the playoffs the past five years a move like this doesn't surprise me in the least. There is a reason why he hasn't been a winner since '06. He sucks at what he does. My favorite part was him saying the Pens gained cap room. lol Does he have a clue? What was the point in dealing him yesterday then if it didn't save money nor gaining a high pick? God, I hope Botterill isn't learning anything from him. I like Kapanen but the scouts had more to do with that selection than JR even though Kapanen's father playing under JR may have helped a little in the selection.

A lot of time left between now and the start of the season so I'm not panicking but I don't like the beginning of these transactions. He can get some good players during FA. Today should be interesting to see if anything more happens but I'm not getting my hopes up. If he can somehow get rid of Scuderi's deal then that would be a coup.

I do find it funny that some who like the deal are complaining about the ones who have legitimate concerns yet act as if they never ever doubted a personnel move ever in their life. Please.

Good for Nashville now they have a guy who slams other's heads into the glass and another to come around and finish him off with the flying knee.

Change for the sake of change is never a good idea. So far it's happened with the gm, the coach, and now Neal. Hornqvist isn't a good fit except on the power play. Neal was toxic, but these moves aren't making the Penguins better, especially long-term.

You touched on my concerns about the trade.

I have no problem with them trading Neal I just wanted a really good package of assets. The writing was on the wall. I like Hornqvist. He will definitely help the team. Interesting stat about his lack of playoff production though. My problem is that the Penguins had a prime trading piece and didn't maximize his value in what they got in return. This wasn't like a Kesler situation where he would only go to certain teams and he handcuffed the Canucks on what they could get back. So 15 teams were in contact with JR yet this was all he could muster? He couldn't play those teams against each other or at least two of them who showed the most interest? Remember how Shero played the Rags against JR and fleeced him in the Staal deal. When I first read about them talking to Nashville I assumed at least a high draft pick was involved. Their first, or a flip flop of firsts, or at least one of the second rounders. Maybe even a prospect coming back like a Sissons, Forsberg, or Watson. They added an analytic specialist but according to the chart Spaling sucks at possession. Uh, okay.

JR dropped the ball but considering he hasn't smelled the playoffs the past five years a move like this doesn't surprise me in the least. There is a reason why he hasn't been a winner since '06. He sucks at what he does. My favorite part was him saying the Pens gained cap room. lol Does he have a clue? What was the point in dealing him yesterday then if it didn't save money nor gaining a high pick? God, I hope Botterill isn't learning anything from him. I like Kapanen but the scouts had more to do with that selection than JR even though Kapanen's father playing under JR may have helped a little in the selection.

A lot of time left between now and the start of the season so I'm not panicking but I don't like the beginning of these transactions. He can get some good players during FA. Today should be interesting to see if anything more happens but I'm not getting my hopes up. If he can somehow get rid of Scuderi's deal then that would be a coup.

I do find it funny that some who like the deal are complaining about the ones who have legitimate concerns yet act as if they never ever doubted a personnel move ever in their life. Please.
- acdc1206

Thank you!!

Using the 2013 rules Spaling turns into a 2nd round pick if we qualify him at 1.5M and someone else signs him at 1.7M. So that is a low risk gamble and if he balks and signs elsewhere everyone gets their wish.
Having fifteen teams contact you about Neal and this being the trade you accept tells me more about Neal than it does about Rutherford.
- Thunderbolt

It tells me more that Rutherford blows at getting teams into a bidding war against each other.