#BringBackRust
- Guile

The beer league super hero!

My problem is pens picking a guy off waiver that no other team wanted and now is playing 2nd line with geno while bennett sits... if that was the case then pick up heatley or richards or even seto.... someone who at least use to score..

Once comeau comes back and before trade deadline I'd run

Perron sid horn
Kuni geno comeau
Spaling sutter bennett
Arc lap downie

Now downie and spaling are interchangeable imo.

But if pens can swing a trade for the likes of tlusty and/or jagr (he will be a pen) and send away spaling and/or sutter...

Perron sid horn
Tlusty/bb Geno bb/jagr
Kuni sutter/spaling comeau
Arc lap downie

Would be decent playoff lines

But who knows what they are going to do... but it's fun to think
- nh4442

The reason Bennett is not playing is because he's timid after his injuries and won't go to the dirty areas. He's been working on that solely in practice the past week or so. He will be back in the lineup in time. Also Jagr will not be a Pen.

Coasting through regular season hasn't seemed to work in pens favor last few years. Maybe a little adversity throughout the year will allow them to adjust in playoffs better!

The fact that so many of the stat army are ready to throw in the towel makes me appreciate my own powers of observation.

I don't see how anyone can expect the forward depth to improve when the most important depth forward (Sutter) is still on the team dragging everyone down. He is a horrific waste of cap space and a negative asset at this point. I suspect there are plenty beyond Rutherford that have a greatly inflated opinion of Sutter's value as well. The only two conceivably valuable players to move in terms of cap hit and perceived player value are Sutter and Spaling.

The fact that so many of the stat army are ready to throw in the towel makes me appreciate my own powers of observation.
- Grinder47

Well said.

What does everyone think of Pirri in FLA? Any way FLA drops out of the playoff race and sells?

Was thinking Pens could use a vet forward too. Just a been there, done that guy that can calm/rally the troops when games get edgy. I guess kind of like a Billy G.

Was watching CHI/ARI last night and would love Doan but obviously cap/assets prevent that.

The fact that so many of the stat army are ready to throw in the towel makes me appreciate my own powers of observation.
- Grinder47

Powers? You are super hero, eyetest man!

I don't see how anyone can expect the forward depth to improve when the most important depth forward (Sutter) is still on the team dragging everyone down. He is a horrific waste of cap space and a negative asset at this point. I suspect there are plenty beyond Rutherford that have a greatly inflated opinion of Sutter's value as well. The only two conceivably valuable players to move in terms of cap hit and perceived player value are Sutter and Spaling.
- jfkst1

I just hope Sutter isn't completely destroying his trade value. If anybody is scouting him (I'm sure they are), it's going to be a hard sell. Spaling probably less so....however he's a dime a dozen player. If they can ship his contract out, I'd do that in a heartbeat too.

Powers? You are super hero, eyetest man!
- usethe1-2-2

You have them too just fight away from the lines, bars, blue and red circles in different quadrants and be the hockey fan you were meant to be.

I just hope Sutter isn't completely destroying his trade value. If anybody is scouting him (I'm sure they are), it's going to be a hard sell. Spaling probably less so....however he's a dime a dozen player. If they can ship his contract out, I'd do that in a heartbeat too.
- madmike71

Yeah, that would make sense given how worthless he has been. But then again, many NHL GMs make poor decisions on the regular too. Sutter was a required piece in the Kesler talks last year (along with Pouliot). I'm sure someone out there doesn't have such a negative opinion of him as we do.
I feel the same exact way on Spaling. Outside of his versatility, he is a very average player on all accounts and probably overpaid. It doesn't help that he was the add-in on the Neal trade and probably an inadequate one at that. I definitely think a prudent GM would move both Sutter and Spaling and bring in upgrades. But at the very least, Sutter needs to be moved if at all possible.

You have them too just fight away from the lines, bars, blue and red circles in different quadrants and be the hockey fan you were meant to be.
- Grinder47

I should have called you blind man

I just hope Sutter isn't completely destroying his trade value. If anybody is scouting him (I'm sure they are), it's going to be a hard sell. Spaling probably less so....however he's a dime a dozen player. If they can ship his contract out, I'd do that in a heartbeat too.
- madmike71

If Sutter is going to be moved, its going to be during the offseason. I can't see them moving him this year due to their simply not being many 3C's available on the trade market & the Penguins lack of assets to obtain one without severly overpaying.

As I've said before, I think the Penguins need to basically roll with what the have now & plan to be aggressive this coming offseason. The following isn't a perfect line-up, but losing Harrington for 3months of David Winnik isn't going to correct the every roster hole and turn the Pens into the Cup favorites.

Kunitz-Crosby-Perron
Comeau-Malkin-Hornquvist
Downie-Sutter-Bennett
Spaling-Lapierre-Adams

Letang-Martin
Ehrhoff-Despres
Scuderi-Pouliot
Bortuzzo

Yeah, that would make sense given how worthless he has been. But then again, many NHL GMs make poor decisions on the regular too. Sutter was a required piece in the Kesler talks last year (along with Pouliot). I'm sure someone out there doesn't have such a negative opinion of him as we do.
I feel the same exact way on Spaling. Outside of his versatility, he is a very average player on all accounts and probably overpaid. It doesn't help that he was the add-in on the Neal trade and probably an inadequate one at that. I definitely think a prudent GM would move both Sutter and Spaling and bring in upgrades. But at the very least, Sutter needs to be moved if at all possible.
- jfkst1

Apparently, Edmonton wanted him in the Perron trade, but the Penguins turned them down.

I think Sutter can be moved, but the (?) is the return. Is it a 1st round pick, an older roster player, a younger roster player w/ RFA years remaining, or lower round picks (ie, a 2nd or 3rd)? I have no idea, but I think he could be moved for something.

Apparently, Edmonton wanted him in the Perron trade, but the Penguins turned them down.

I think Sutter can be moved, but the (?) is the return. Is it a 1st round pick, an older roster player, a younger roster player w/ RFA years remaining, or lower round picks (ie, a 2nd or 3rd)? I have no idea, but I think he could be moved for something.
- s0rcerer1984

Anyone can be moved for something. Well.. almost anyone. Kings couldn't give away Mike Richards.

Apparently, Edmonton wanted him in the Perron trade, but the Penguins turned them down.

I think Sutter can be moved, but the (?) is the return. Is it a 1st round pick, an older roster player, a younger roster player w/ RFA years remaining, or lower round picks (ie, a 2nd or 3rd)? I have no idea, but I think he could be moved for something.
- s0rcerer1984

(frank) I would have done sutter for perron straight up. Keeps our 1st and give pens wiggle room...

Now I do hope he goes

Anyone can be moved for something. Well.. almost anyone. Kings couldn't give away Mike Richards.
- znagle

According to the Caps blog they are very high on Richards.....ouch

Anyone can be moved for something. Well.. almost anyone. Kings couldn't give away Mike Richards.
- znagle

Its just the years that kill you with Richards. He would be overpaid as a 3C, but could probably be moved if not for the remaing 5 yrs.

Sutter will have 1 yr left at $3.3M; Some team will be willing to take him on at some price, hoping that if he is used properly he will produce a better result.

(frank) I would have done sutter for perron straight up. Keeps our 1st and give pens wiggle room...

Now I do hope he goes
- nh4442

It was just a rumor I read; Whether it is true or not, I have my doubts.

Edmonton needs C's, but they've also been wanting to get bigger. Sutter doesn't seem to fit that mold.

In any case, if they are still interested he could always be moved at the draft.

According to the Caps blog they are very high on Richards.....ouch
- nbartley9

They're mostly just high.

Apparently, Edmonton wanted him in the Perron trade, but the Penguins turned them down.

I think Sutter can be moved, but the (?) is the return. Is it a 1st round pick, an older roster player, a younger roster player w/ RFA years remaining, or lower round picks (ie, a 2nd or 3rd)? I have no idea, but I think he could be moved for something.
- s0rcerer1984

Like some others, I honestly believe he's the key to success. Or I should say, TRADING him is the key to the Pens success. That line is just getting killed every game and he's the main culprit.

According to the Caps blog they are very high on Richards.....ouch
- nbartley9

Saw that

Like some others, I honestly believe he's the key to success. Or I should say, TRADING him is the key to the Pens success. That line is just getting killed every game and he's the main culprit.
- madmike71

100% in agreement. Rutherford can claim he wants to improve the depth all he wants but until he improves at the 3C position, all other upgrades are just paying lip service to actual forward depth improvement.

If the Pens turned down Perron for Sutter, then Rutherford is an idiot. That would be the biggest steal of the year.

EDIT: It is also encouraging to the fact of other franchises being run by morons (MacTavish) who overvalue Sutter's ability.

According to the Caps blog they are very high on Richards.....ouch
- nbartley9

Read that too. Sounds more like the blogger remebers Richard from Philly circa 2009, not Richards from LA circe 2014.

Also, he mentions the Kings could retain some salary, which they are desperate not to do w/ Wiliams, Stoll, Clifford, Pearson, & Toffoli all up for new deals. Kopitar in 2016 too.

Chicago is in the toughest Cap posistion going forward, but LA isn't all that far behind due to the quality of the players that are hitting UFA/RFA.

100% in agreement. Rutherford can claim he wants to improve the depth all he wants but until he improves at the 3C position, all other upgrades are just paying lip service to actual forward depth improvement.

If the Pens turned down Perron for Sutter, then Rutherford is an idiot. That would be the biggest steal of the year.
- jfkst1

Just to be clear, I read that on a blog from TIOPS or Rossi or something. It was one of those sources that I read, but really more for the entertainment than for any belief that the substance is accurate. And as I said, I have my doubts about the info. making sense.

Anaheim is looking for a top 4 defenseman...

Martin/Bennett to ANH for Palmieri/Smith-Pelly

Anaheim gets their top 4 d-man for a playoff run, plus get a hometown kid who needs a fresh start.

Penguins get youth in both their top 6 and bottom 6. Palmieri's game would mesh really well with Crosby, and Smith-Pelly adds some physicality to the bottom 6, with the added bonus of having some skill. It also gives the Penguins some wiggle room with the cap.