True, although Hossa looked like he was trying to settle in somewhere and have a chance for a while to win. Who knows. Also Parise's deal, they are paying him for 13 years. Talk about a retirement deal.... and he's home. What could be better?
- znagle

Hossa turned down $7M for 7y from us to sign for only one year in Detroit. We won the Cup thank god

Parise turned down $7M+ for 10y from us só he could be the franchise player in his hometown. Nothing wrong about that. He would be like 3rd-4th star in Pitt.

He would be top 6, Kunitz or Comeau (if he resigns) will slot down.

Perron-Sid-Horn
Sharp-Geno-Comeau
Kunitz-Sutter-Dupuis
Winnik-FA-Downie

Totally a best situation type of team for next year without trading any roster players other than BB and a first for Sharp. Not sure what side he plays either, but that can all be worked out later
- znagle

I know he would be top six, but his cap hit could do wonders for bottom six depth. That's an 11 million dollar third line with not one of those guys producing 25 goals in that spot. That's poor value. Three of this roster is done in two years, Perron still unsigned, you traded away a good asset and a contract controlled player for two years of hope. Sid and Geno will be 30, not done. They will have 5 more years of highly productive play. I dont think this is smart in any way shape or form.

Parise took the bigger payday in his home state and Hossa was going for a cup
- znagle

I read somewhere that Parise never had any interest in playing in Pitt and there wasn't even a discussion about it.

Hossa, was a big loss. Shero waited too long on him and the Pens got stuck with Satan and Feds, sure they won the cup but most of that season the team wasn't that good. It was a miracle they won vs Detroit. I also remember reading there was no way with Hossa the Pens could have extended Orpik and 71 with Hossa on the books.

I don't get the Despres trade, but the Pens playoff success won't depend on it. For all we know Despres was a huge Dbag and they just needed to move on.

I'm afraid to say I'm worried about a possible Scuderi break down moving forward. Despres did a good job with him. Ideally he'll be on our bench but I doubt it.

Pouliot should be playing. He's got game.
- Barnaby36

It will be

Letang-Martin
Hoff-Lovejoy
Scuds-Cole

Scuds has played fine all year, hate to see DP go back down but it's going to happen.

What was the point then. Is BJ really that much better then SD? With the exception f Pouloit, all these other guys are just as big of not more of a question mark as Despres. Maata's shoulder could be one of those nagging injuries that plagues him the rest of his career. I don't feel Dumo or Harrington have more potential than Despres. Does anybody remember Lovejoy playing here? They only got a 5th for him for a reason.
- all-pgh

Because Shero gave him away. Look at what he has done since. We all know the deal wasn't great value, but they feel they gave us a great chance to win now and didn't mortage the future.

Hossa turned down $7M for 7y from us to sign for only one year in Detroit. We won the Cup thank god

Parise turned down $7M+ for 10y from us só he could be the franchise player in his hometown. Nothing wrong about that. He would be like 3rd-4th star in Pitt.
- Barnaby36

Yeah I live in Toledo, every one here is a Wings fan pretty much. Long story short payback was glorious

I read somewhere that Parise never had any interest in playing in Pitt and there wasn't even a discussion about it.

Hossa, was a big loss. Shero waited too long on him and the Pens got stuck with Satan and Feds, sure they won the cup but most of that season the team wasn't that good. It was a miracle they won vs Detroit. I also remember reading there was no way with Hossa the Pens could have extended Orpik and 71 with Hossa on the books.

I don't get the Despres trade, but the Pens playoff success won't depend on it. For all we know Despres was a huge Dbag and they just needed to move on.
- sammy87

If it was a choice between Hossa and Orpik, you ditch Orpik and move other players (Cooke/Kennedy/Fedotenko) to fit Hossa. Penguins missed on that one.

And yes, both Parise and Suter were going to Minnesota from the start, just like Hamhuis was going to Vancouver.

I know he would be top six, but his cap hit could do wonders for bottom six depth. That's an 11 million dollar third line with not one of those guys producing 25 goals in that spot. That's poor value. Three of this roster is done in two years, Perron still unsigned, you traded away a good asset and a contract controlled player for two years of hope. Sid and Geno will be 30, not done. They will have 5 more years of highly productive play. I dont think this is smart in any way shape or form.
- usethe1-2-2

I don't think Dupuis will be ready to start next season, so I viewed him as LTIR. Just my thought, however...

Martin and Ehrhoff walk, thats 9 mil in cap space suddenly freed. Our young D except for Maatta are 2-3 years away from their bigger contracts. We have a window for riding a pretty low cost defense and overloading the forwards.

He would be top 6, Kunitz or Comeau (if he resigns) will slot down.

Perron-Sid-Horn
Sharp-Geno-Comeau
Kunitz-Sutter-Dupuis
Winnik-FA-Downie

Totally a best situation type of team for next year without trading any roster players other than BB and a first for Sharp. Not sure what side he plays either, but that can all be worked out later
- znagle

Would that even work cap wise? Sharp is 5.6, Dupes is 3.75. That takes up what Martin and Hoff make but not much else for the other holes.

Slept on it & still hate the Despres trade.

At best this was a lateral move where the Penguins got a older and more expensive player. At worst, the Penguins actively got worse while losing a lot of long-term potential & cost control as Despres was a RFA.

I've been happy with what the Penguins have done with their bottom 6 F this season. Even liked the Bortuzzo-Cole trade, but Despres for Lovejoy is quite simply a disaster. But lack of return for Despres is just awful.

If it was a choice between Hossa and Orpik, you ditch Orpik and move other players (Cooke/Kennedy/Fedotenko) to fit Hossa. Penguins missed on that one.

And yes, both Parise and Suter were going to Minnesota from the start, just like Hamhuis was going to Vancouver.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, I agree. Hossa and St Louis are my fav non Pens. So wish Hossa would have stayed. I thought Hamhuis would have helped the D issues the last few seasons. Orpik was ineffective his last few years.

I read somewhere that Parise never had any interest in playing in Pitt and there wasn't even a discussion about it.

Hossa, was a big loss. Shero waited too long on him and the Pens got stuck with Satan and Feds, sure they won the cup but most of that season the team wasn't that good. It was a miracle they won vs Detroit. I also remember reading there was no way with Hossa the Pens could have extended Orpik and 71 with Hossa on the books.

I don't get the Despres trade, but the Pens playoff success won't depend on it. For all we know Despres was a huge Dbag and they just needed to move on.
- sammy87

If not 71 definitely 58 and 29.

I agree with this. Did we all forget the depth issue already??

6+ million wingers to go with 8+ million center make for a nice 1.5 lines...

There are plenty of capable 3.5-5 million dollar wings out there that the pens need to keep finding i.e. Perron, Hornquist

I don't think Dupuis will be ready to start next season, so I viewed him as LTIR. Just my thought, however...

Martin and Ehrhoff walk, thats 9 mil in cap space suddenly freed. Our young D except for Maatta are 2-3 years away from their bigger contracts. We have a window for riding a pretty low cost defense and overloading the forwards.
- Guile

I would prefer elite depth compared to what is being proposed. I dont think a Sharp trade is in the books.

Slept on it & still hate the Despres trade.

At best this was a lateral move where the Penguins got a older and more expensive player. At worst, the Penguins actively got worse while losing a lot of long-term potential & cost control as Despres was a RFA.

I've been happy with what the Penguins have done with their bottom 6 F this season. Even liked the Bortuzzo-Cole trade, but Despres for Lovejoy is quite simply a disaster. But lack of return for Despres is just awful.
- s0rcerer1984

This. I'm still sick over it

Would that even work cap wise? Sharp is 5.6, Dupes is 3.75. That takes up what Martin and Hoff make but not much else for the other holes.
- sammy87

Without capgeek, you're guess is as good as mine. It probably wouldn't fit

I would prefer elite depth compared to what is being proposed. I dont think a Sharp trade is in the books.
- usethe1-2-2

I do agree, but what about if we could get Saad instead of Sharp? Highly unlikely I know but sitll

Without capgeek, you're guess is as good as mine. It probably wouldn't fit
- znagle

Well, we are also getting rid of Sutter at the draft

What was the point then. Is BJ really that much better then SD? With the exception f Pouloit, all these other guys are just as big of not more of a question mark as Despres. Maata's shoulder could be one of those nagging injuries that plagues him the rest of his career. I don't feel Dumo or Harrington have more potential than Despres. Does anybody remember Lovejoy playing here? They only got a 5th for him for a reason.
- all-pgh

I believe that is the problem for some people who are distraught over this trade.

Lovejoy isn't the same player he was 2 years ago.

But lack of return for Despres is just awful.
- s0rcerer1984

Other GM's apparently don't share your opinion of Despres' value.

Well, we are also getting rid of Sutter at the draft
- Guile

I do think that unless Sutter recreates his playoff performance from last year, he's going to be our ticket to recouping some draft picks at the draft.

Well, we are also getting rid of Sutter at the draft
- Guile

I think there's a better chance he's extended around that time.

Well, we are also getting rid of Sutter at the draft
- Guile

And Scuderi

I think there's a better chance he's extended around that time.
- hardnosed

Oh dear God... delete that before Bartley sees it and shats himself

This. I'm still sick over it
- Bradlee3

I think we all agree would've been nice for a bigger return but it is what it is now.

The D corp now have an identity.. skilled, smart play first, and puck moving. This does work for teams (Detroit, Montreal) against big, gritty teams (Boston, Wash). It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Also, with Hoff and Martin off the books I'm hoping the pens can extend Perron, sign 1 or 2 of Winnik/Downie/Comeau with slight raises. Goaltending looks to be set with Murray excelling in the AHL and Jarry making the jump there. My D lines would look like this:

Letang - Boychuk
Maataa - Cole
Pouliot - Scuds/Dumo/Love

This. I'm still sick over it
- Bradlee3

I can understand moving on from Despres w/ Pouliot & Maatta in the system, but its just the return that kills me.

Despres may currently be a 5/6, but he is paid like it at $900K per season this year & next w/ 2yrs of RFA after that. He isn't going to break the bank for the next 3 seasons. If you want to move on from him then because you think he isn't worth commiting $3M/yr or so, fine. But don't do it for pennies on the dollar now; get a solid return rather than making some pathetic 'Win Now' lateral panic move for an older, more expensive & possibly worse Ben Lovejoy.

If the Penguins had gotten Lovejoy +, I'd be OK with this after I cooled down. But you are telling me the best return the Penguins could get for Simon Despres was Ben Lovejoy? Edmonton, Arizona, Dallas, Winnipeg, Toronto, or Ottawa couldn't have made a better offer?