I'm sure he did.

God I hate that sign.
- PhillySportsGuy

god i hated him so much haha just some goofy looking bozo who always got up your ass and scored timely goals, usually in ridiculous manners.

that being said, the dude was a total class guy through and through. even on the ice, he was annoying as hell but never really dirty. impossible not to respect him.

he was a hell of a player for you guys, on virtually any line he was slotted. he does the things necessary to make any line better.

i have to admit though. while i still think getting out of his contract was a good thing, and the return may have been somewhat questionable, i never would have thought hed still be kicking this good. i thought the decline would have started by now. i still think when it comes, itll come fast, but to his credit, he hasnt shown any indications of it being this season.

Has he really been there for 11 years?? Holy poop
- funmaster18

Yeah -- he's an '04. It's not that he is declining or anything, but the Pens just look like a team that has maxed out

It's not a crime; they got their Cup, played in another final. But sometimes, you just gotta acknowledge that the window is either closing or closed

An old saying I like about sports is that you are either building or declining. Lying to yourself about which you are can be devastating

Has he really been there for 11 years?? Holy poop
- funmaster18

right?!?

poops going fast.

not to wax on pseudo-existentially, but everything is just so goddamn fleeting.

I agree with what you just said -- I understand if you want to move a guy, any guy

But taking back a player who was, at best, in decline and who actually makes more in salary while under contract...even though I understood the why and agree with it in principle for the long-term savings, it's still a tough, tough deal to swallow
- AllInForFlyers

Even if you remove my emotional ties to Hartnell, it was just poor asset management. I bet Columbus could move Hartnell for a 2nd round pick now if they wanted to. Flyers would be lucky to trade Umberger if they paid half his salary and attached a 4th rounder to him.

kunitz poop eating grin was hilarious Sunday. I only say that because we beat them. If we were losing, I would have killed him myself.

I'm really intrigued to see what the market will be for Christian Ehrhoff this summer considering the year he had. I really hope the Flyers show interest because I believe he may not get ridiculously overpaid like Niskanen and Orpik. I hope the Flyers kick the tires.

Even if you remove my emotional ties to Hartnell, it was just poor asset management. I bet Columbus could move Hartnell for a 2nd round pick now if they wanted to. Flyers would be lucky to trade Umberger if they paid half his salary and attached a 4th rounder to him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Definitely, if they wanted to move Hartnell tomorrow, they could

If I was a GM, you couldn't give me Umberger for anything less than a high second included, and even then I still wouldn't because I'd rather have the contract slot

I agree with the points to just trade for pick(s) or get more if you take back a bad contract. Long way to go before the 2017/18 season which is when Umberger will be off the cap. VL would still be on the Cap then, but Pronger's hit would be gone.
- jstross

Even if Umberger's contract was 2 years, I could understand the trade. After next season, Jake, BSchenn, Couts and Raffl are all due for raises (Coburn was too before the trade). Umberger is still on the books after next season.

I'm really intrigued to see what the market will be for Christian Ehrhoff this summer considering the year he had. I really hope the Flyers show interest because I believe he may not get ridiculously overpaid like Niskanen and Orpik. I hope the Flyers kick the tires.
- ravishingone

his health has just been typically atrocious. but really, his on ice play hasnt been bad at all. his numbers are low, because he really wasnt given any powerplay time. i think that falls more on the coaching staff than him. the dude still has a cannon.

I'm really intrigued to see what the market will be for Christian Ehrhoff this summer considering the year he had. I really hope the Flyers show interest because I believe he may not get ridiculously overpaid like Niskanen and Orpik. I hope the Flyers kick the tires.
- ravishingone

He'll arguably be the top defenseman available in free agency. The market will be there for him, and unless he wants to sign cheap again somewhere, he'll likely be overpaid. Defenseman are at a premium.

Even if Umberger's contract was 2 years, I could understand the trade. After next season, Jake, BSchenn, Couts and Raffl are all due for raises (Coburn was too before the trade). Umberger is still on the books after next season.
- PhillySportsGuy

He'll be bought out for the last year, at a minimum

I understand if they bring him back next year -- I probably wouldn't, but I understand if they do

god i hated him so much haha just some goofy looking bozo who always got up your ass and scored timely goals, usually in ridiculous manners.

that being said, the dude was a total class guy through and through. even on the ice, he was annoying as hell but never really dirty. impossible not to respect him.

he was a hell of a player for you guys, on virtually any line he was slotted. he does the things necessary to make any line better.

i have to admit though. while i still think getting out of his contract was a good thing, and the return may have been somewhat questionable, i never would have thought hed still be kicking this good. i thought the decline would have started by now. i still think when it comes, itll come fast, but to his credit, he hasnt shown any indications of it being this season.
- stayinthefnnet

I can tell you what will happen. Hartnell will be productive for 3 more season, then, in his contract year, he will fall apart and someone on this site will be like "see! I told you so!"

The someone is no one in particular. I just know it will happen.

I can tell you what will happen. Hartnell will be productive for 3 more season, then, in his contract year, he will fall apart and someone on this site will be like "see! I told you so!"
- PhillySportsGuy

Won't be me; I own my stuff

The only way this isn't horrific is if Hartnell isn't brutal for two years

Why didn't Marner play in the WJC? Was he injured?

Why didn't Marner play in the WJC? Was he injured?
- JAKEw1234

Canada had plenty of skill upfront, he's pretty much a guarantee for the 2016 squad.

He'll arguably be the top defenseman available in free agency. The market will be there for him, and unless he wants to sign cheap again somewhere, he'll likely be overpaid. Defenseman are at a premium.
- MJL

I met him days before he was drafted by the Sharks. I was in Germany on an exchange program through school. He was just hoping to get picked and he was a late rounder. Now he's someone who is the best defensive free agent one year. Crazy. My friend from the program is still friends with ehrhoff to this day and tried to convince to sign with the flyers last year

right?!?

poops going fast.

not to wax on pseudo-existentially, but everything is just so goddamn fleeting.
- stayinthefnnet

It's really hard to believe it's been that long. I feel like it was just yesterday there was controversy surrounding him coming to the NHL

Yeah -- he's an '04. It's not that he is declining or anything, but the Pens just look like a team that has maxed out

It's not a crime; they got their Cup, played in another final. But sometimes, you just gotta acknowledge that the window is either closing or closed

An old saying I like about sports is that you are either building or declining. Lying to yourself about which you are can be devastating
- AllInForFlyers

The good thing for the pens is they either keep a star player or bring back what would probably be a sweet return. Win/win

It's really hard to believe it's been that long. I feel like it was just yesterday there was controversy surrounding him coming to the NHL
- funmaster18

He and Ovechkin really are two of the most accomplished Russians to ever play in the NHL -- they don't get enough credit for what they've done, IMO

He and Ovechkin really are two of the most accomplished Russians to ever play in the NHL -- they don't get enough credit for what they've done, IMO
- AllInForFlyers

Don't forget zherdev

I can tell you what will happen. Hartnell will be productive for 3 more season, then, in his contract year, he will fall apart and someone on this site will be like "see! I told you so!"

The someone is no one in particular. I just know it will happen.
- PhillySportsGuy

if he stays productive for three more years, then definitely good for him. he deserves it as a likable dude. i really cant see it though. but hey, im no expert.

although i get your point. people love themselves a good self confirmation bias fueled by recency.

It's really hard to believe it's been that long. I feel like it was just yesterday there was controversy surrounding him coming to the NHL
- funmaster18

It'd probably be wise to look at moving him, still playing good, they can get a very solid return stay competitive without "tanking" to rebuild.

Don't forget zherdev
- funmaster18

HA!

Canada had plenty of skill upfront, he's pretty much a guarantee for the 2016 squad.
- ob18

Oh he didn't make the team? Do you see that as a flag in any way at all? It seems surprising that he wouldn't.

It'd probably be wise to look at moving him, still playing good, they can get a very solid return stay competitive without "tanking" to rebuild.
- ob18

Pens trade malkin to buffalo for the first overall. Crosby/McDavid