You seem to have a better idea of the Russian players then most of us do. Do you think Tikhonov and Plotnikov are top 6 answers or 3rd liners? They seem like tweeners to me and I don't want two tweeners playing with Malkin though one is fine.
- Tojo.

If many here are labelling Kunitz and Dupuis as tweeners due to age... wouldn't you prefer these two Russian tweeners, being under half the cost of those two and younger?

My apologies. What do you want then?
- Victoro311

You must have missed all my sweet deals I've made.

never.

although i must ask, dont you get bored posting the same picture over and over?
- stayinthefnnet

Nope. It's in the clipboard on my phone ready for pasting 24-7

Hey
Not trolling..

I guess the only reason why anyone would give up assets for Sharp or anyone else in his position is to get the guy before anyone has a chance to. If the Pens want him bad enough then they will do just that..... no??

Good luck in the offseason. I will go back to being a douche during the season

Enjoy your summer
- rrentz

I could see paying real assets for... a Kessel who is a rare talent even though he is also overpaid.

Sharp is pretty good. But you can get relatively close to what Sharp is in free agency.

and the trade market is just like the free agent market. Teams are bidding for the player in trades just like in FA, except theyre dealing away assets instead of just bidding money.

So no. The trade market isn't that different from free agency. Either you win the bidding war or you don't. Any team that wants that player has a chance if they pay enough. In either market.

So i'm saying that the Pens *shouldn't* get caught up on Sharp so bad that they fixate on him and give up a good prospect AND pay him that kind of money. There are a lot of players who could fill the lineup just like Sharp.

With the lack of tradable assets the Pens have, I'd rather them take their chance waiting out for value on the FA market. And if they somehow whiff on every single viable option, then i'll understand.

You must have missed all my sweet deals I've made.
- Feds91Stammer

Must have. I feel left out...

...because then we'd have 2 Kunitz's, one at almost twice the price...duh!? lol

Must have. I feel left out...
- Victoro311

Well all the other guys loved my deals. I think the favorite offer was Nyquist and a 3rd for Dumoulin, Bennett, and next year's 1st or something like that.

- Feds91Stammer

The picture is kind of getting old man, I get your whole thing and all but at the end of the day Maatta, Pouliot, Dumoulin, Cole are not for sale. Harrington maybe but not likely. Lovejoy and Scuderi you can just have if you want them, free of charge, we'll even keep paying Scuderi about a million of his salary if you want. I think we even wnat to hang onto Jeff Taylor for now, if he improves at the same rate as last year this year he will be at Mike Reiley's level when he's done college. So who's left Clarky, Reid Mcneil, Alex Boak and Harrison Ruopp could all be yours for the right price.

I love your posts, you always give an idea of what you see in a player when you're talking about them.

Two things really excite me about the idea of signing Tikanov and creating a Russian line are;
first the two incoming will have a lot to prove. They'll want to prove to themselves that they could have always played in the NHL and not just in some second rate league. Malkin also ties into this as he is proudly Russian, and dominating in the NHL with two of his fellow country men will/should be a point of honour for him (them).
Secondly related to the first is the story line of all of that. Is anyone seriously not interested in what a pure Russian line can do? We haven't seen one in what decades? Also this mixture of players forms a complete and complimentary line. Superstar, big rugged winger, and quick two way player.

Anyone here think Malkin has something to do with the orchestration of this?
- stackthepads

Glad you enjoy them. Analyzing players and player combinations is one of my favorite things to do

I agree with you that these two guys will be coming out balls to the wall. They're use to being top tier players in the KHL, and now they're coming into a new league after establishing a career elsewhere as the new kids on the block. They're not gonna take being seen as desperation filler players lightly. Not only do they have something to prove, but they're also going to be contract years (or at least Plotnikov will). They need to play well in order to earn the type of contract they're use to having in the KHL.

Malkin definitely had a hand in this one way or another. What I hope happened was that Rutherford targeted these guys and then tapped Malkin as an asset to help recruit. If what happened was that Geno wanted a bunch of his buddies to come across the pond and play hockey puck with him, I'm fine with that, but it doesn't display the organizational strength and savviness that the first scenario does, which is something I've been desperately looking for proof of for a long time.

Well all the other guys loved my deals. I think the favorite offer was Nyquist and a 3rd for Dumoulin, Bennett, and next year's 1st or something like that.
- Feds91Stammer

Harrington and Bennett and no first maybe, we'll throw in Jaiden Lindo

Harrington and Bennett and no first maybe, we'll throw in Jaiden Lindo
- Dcoms

Haha well at least I offered fair value.

Well all the other guys loved my deals. I think the favorite offer was Nyquist and a 3rd for Dumoulin, Bennett, and next year's 1st or something like that.
- Feds91Stammer

I think it was Scuderi, not next year's first.

Well all the other guys loved my deals. I think the favorite offer was Nyquist and a 3rd for Dumoulin, Bennett, and next year's 1st or something like that.
- Feds91Stammer

My God you're a wizard! You've identified the one and only asset the Penguins have been lacking: a third round pick! This is the Bhagavad Gita of trades!

I think it was Scuderi, not next year's first.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yeah that was it.

My God you're a wizard! You've identified the one and only asset the Penguins have been lacking: a third round pick! This is the Bhagavad Gita of trades!
- Victoro311

Guess you guys solved that top 6 already.

I really don't. Anything I know you can easily figure out on your own. I've just been paying as much attention as I can to these guys so I can be as informed as possible.

Plotnikov I am almost positive will be in the top 6. I don't want to drive this comparison into the ground because it keeps being made, but he really reminds me of the Russian Patrick Hornqvist but meaner and with a better shot. His physical play will translate well into smaller NA ice.

Tikhonov I see more as a top 9 guy. From everything I've gathered he is a very responsible two way player and his offensive game is built on a tenacious forecheck. He seems to have a pretty accurate shot and has good enough hands/hockey IQ to create offense for himself and facilitate for others. I think what you're looking at is a more offensively gifted Pascal Dupuis. If he meshes with one of our centers then he can be a phenomenal compliment, and if he doesn't, then he'll be a phenomenal depth guy with the ability to slot up with injury.

As for this fabled Hammer and Sickle Line that we all have a hard on for now, it could work and it could not. A pure scoring wing would look awful good on the other wing with Malkin's play making ability and Plotnikov's bull-doggedness, which Tikhonov is not. But then again, a line that consists of Malkin and two defensively responsible forecheckers that can score could be just as lethal.
- Victoro311

Thanks. I can read the reports, but I'm not sure how the offensive numbers translate.

I'd still like to see them add a goal scorer, but I'd be happy if the rest of the roster is filled with guys like this. And if the all Russian line works, giving Sid and Hornqvist a goal scorer and Perron to the 3rd line works too.

Sid, Geno, Hornqvist, Perron, and a sniper as sure top 6. Then Plotnikov, Tikhonov, Soderberg, Dupuis, Comeau, Bennett, and Sundqvist to fill out the rest of the lineup would be pretty incredible.

If many here are labelling Kunitz and Dupuis as tweeners due to age... wouldn't you prefer these two Russian tweeners, being under half the cost of those two and younger?
- Guile

Yes, yes I would.

Guess you guys solved that top 6 already.
- Feds91Stammer

We definitely made some strides today

All seriousness though, ignoring draft picks, we can't give up Dumoulin unless the deal is one that the Pens just can't say no to, or else we're stuck playing Lovejoy in a top 4 role and Scuderi in a permanent top 6 role, and that's just a nightmare. Now, ignoring Dumoulin, we also can't afford to give up next year's first unless, once again, the offer blows us away. Nyqvist is just not the type of player that justifies giving up both of those assets at the same time. With hopefully only one hole left in our top 6, we can relax a bit and not make a panic move like mortgage the future for Nyqvist.

Guess you guys solved that top 6 already.
- Feds91Stammer

Not at all, but giving up Maatta/Pouliot for a top 6 F just creates another hole on the roster. FWIW, I think you provide very reasonable trade proposals.

We definitely made some strides today

All seriousness though, ignoring draft picks, we can't give up Dumoulin unless the deal is one that the Pens just can't say no to, or else we're stuck playing Lovejoy in a top 4 role and Scuderi in a permanent top 6 role, and that's just a nightmare. Now, ignoring Dumoulin, we also can't afford to give up next year's first unless, once again, the offer blows us away. Nyqvist is just not the type of player that justifies giving up both of those assets at the same time. With hopefully only one hole left in our top 6, we can relax a bit and not make a panic move like mortgage the future for Nyqvist.
- Victoro311

Nyquist and 19th overall for Pouliot

Not at all, but giving up Maatta/Pouliot for a top 6 F just creates another hole on the roster. FWIW, I think you provide very reasonable trade proposals.
- jfkst1

Well I have 2 holes in my top 4

This Jeff Taylor kid looks like a steal as a 7th round pick. He is top 75 in scoring as a freshman defenseman and was the 6th highest scoring defenseman in division 1 http://www.uscho.com/stat...division-i-men/2014-2015/.

And as a 15 year old kid he was putting strength training videos on youtube and they are impressive for a 15 year old kid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zowQ2LxX7k

And anyone who wants to trade Pouliot is crazy, look who he's ranked with http://www.hockeysfuture....-spring-ranking/#/slide/4

Well I have 2 holes in my top 4
- Feds91Stammer

Not trading Pouliot unless it's for a better player of the same age and there is only 5 to pick from.

Well I have 2 holes in my top 4
- Feds91Stammer

Maybe for Dylan Larkin and the #19

Maybe for Dylan Larkin and the #19
- Dcoms