I think Beleskey would be great on the Pens.

How much do you think Beleskey will actually get and for how long of a contract? Where will he end up?
- so_buzz11

I read somewhere on Twitter the ducks have him an offer and he immediately refused it and he wants something around 5 mil.

RW mentioned Frolic - Who is a very good player.

What is your view on other UFA's from WPG - Drew Stafford or Curtiss Glencross?

These guys would be more affordable and have top 6 potential.

but the guy said best player in the deal....
- GardinerExpress

You of course twisted my words. I said "future" star.

That's right, I believe Maatta has a very good chance at being the better player all things considered. Not now of course, but I don't believe Kessel is worth the risk of losing Maatta. Like OP said, Maatta is the type of D that you build a D around.

so kessel is a dbag because he has scored more than perron, and MIGHT be going to his 3rd team in what 9 years?

How many teams has Hossa played for? Is he a dbag?

I just think it's funny when an armchair gm calls out a player like he know's him personally. back to moms basement with you!
- GardinerExpress

i dont think hes a douche. i dont think hes a great defender, or necessarily well rounded, but whatever. hes good at one thing, but hes very very good at it.

its just tough. i dont think kessel can ever be the best player on a cup winning team. but with what he is paid, it will be hard for him to be on a team with a player that is better than him.

Washington poached the Pen's UFA d-men last year. What if the Pens got Jay Beagle ($1.1M) or even Fehr for around $2.5M as some good bottom 6 guys this year?

ill guess right around 5 years, 27.5 mil. something like that.

id love him, but for that. just no. for some reason i feel like he might get more than frolik.
- stayinthefnnet

I think $5.5/yr is probably about right. I think the Pens could only get him if he would take a deal for one year (maybe at $5.75M) to play with two of the best players in the world and see if he gels with the Penguins.

Of course, we would have to lose Scuds and Kunitz and Sutter and probably more.

So it's bad 5 years from now when Kessel starts to decline and maatta/Pouliot and the 1st round pick are in their prime
- drummer829

Teams are either rising or falling. The Pens have been spinning there wheels for the last two years. If they pass on Kessel they will continue to do so and most likely will over pay and the deadline for players with half the skill. I'm a pen and leafs fan and I really believe Kessel is undervalue and could be a steal.

I read somewhere on Twitter the ducks have him an offer and he immediately refused it and he wants something around 5 mil.
- drummer829

The way things are going/sounding - it would be pretty tough for the Pens to get Beleskey unless he wanted to play here.

by that logic the leafs would be unwise to trade Morgan Rielly for any pen including crosby/malkin?

yeah you are right, that is stupid.
- GardinerExpress

Not at all...

Kessel's talent does not make up for Maatta's expected growth and good contract situation this year.

Malkin or Crosby's talent would make up for Reilly's.

I think $5.5/yr is probably about right. I think the Pens could only get him if he would take a deal for one year (maybe at $5.75M) to play with two of the best players in the world and see if he gels with the Penguins.

Of course, we would have to lose Scuds and Kunitz and Sutter and probably more.
- so_buzz11

yeah but my thinking is this. the only reason i think guys would come in for a 1 year deal with the pens at a manageable rate is if theyre hoping to do really well stat wise and then cash in next year.

guys like belesky and frolik are benefiting already from the really weak crop. belesky has that strong playoff run too. belesky can get that 5 plus mil a year deal already, and long term. he doesnt need to have that one year pump up run with 87 or 71

Teams are either rising or falling. The Pens have been spinning there wheels for the last two years. If they pass on Kessel they will continue to do so and most likely will over pay and the deadline for players with half the skill. I'm a pen and leafs fan and I really believe Kessel is undervalue and could be a steal.
- BadWaffle

i dont know if i'd call him a steal, especially considering toronto doesnt have to trade him.

at the end of the day, we'd have to part with 2 of our better prospects and probably more.

i just dont think kessel solves our problems.

and the leafs wouldnt consider trading their best player for a young d-man that missed 62 games last year.
- GardinerExpress

IF! And he's not btw, the leafs would find a way to put him on the pens if they offered Maata, they would bend over backwards to make it happen. Those two players won't be involved in the same trade.

yeah but my thinking is this. the only reason i think guys would come in for a 1 year deal with the pens at a manageable rate is if theyre hoping to do really well stat wise and then cash in next year.

guys like belesky and frolik are benefiting already from the really weak crop. belesky has that strong playoff run too. belesky can get that 5 plus mil a year deal already, and long term. he doesnt need to have that one year pump up run with 87 or 71
- stayinthefnnet

I do agree, but as I mentioned in an additional post. What if Beleskey wants to come play on the Pens (Malkin, Crosby, good chance at winning a cup, he grew up 380 miles away from Pittsburgh [bet you didn't know that!])
He is just 27 - get the great one year deal and play well and then he can pretty much do whatever he wants!

yeah but my thinking is this. the only reason i think guys would come in for a 1 year deal with the pens at a manageable rate is if theyre hoping to do really well stat wise and then cash in next year.

guys like belesky and frolik are benefiting already from the really weak crop. belesky has that strong playoff run too. belesky can get that 5 plus mil a year deal already, and long term. he doesnt need to have that one year pump up run with 87 or 71
- stayinthefnnet

What scares me about Belesky is he had his career year ... 22-10-32 isn't great shakes in 65 games. This is a break out season for the dude and now people are talking 5 to 5.5 million for him? Frolik is more skilled and while he doesn't have that huge year on his resume, he certainly has more on his resume. Frolik is a better investment.

So with all this talk (more like heated debated) about whether to sign Frolik or trade for Kessel. I made two teams on cap just for fun to compare the two. I did not trade Maatta or DP for Kessel. Enjoy.

Kessel Team - https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6935

Frolik Team - https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6950

Teams are either rising or falling. The Pens have been spinning there wheels for the last two years. If they pass on Kessel they will continue to do so and most likely will over pay and the deadline for players with half the skill. I'm a pen and leafs fan and I really believe Kessel is undervalue and could be a steal.
- BadWaffle

he's undervalued at $8 mil per year??

i mean i know i haven't watched him as much as you, but i mean... how undervalued could he possibly be?

Washington poached the Pen's UFA d-men last year. What if the Pens got Jay Beagle ($1.1M) or even Fehr for around $2.5M as some good bottom 6 guys this year?
- so_buzz11

I have no interest in Beagle, but I like Fehr a lot. He's solid defensively and can play 3C or top 6 wing. And he won't be too expensive either (I'd guess ~$3.5m/yr.).

So with all this talk (more like heated debated) about whether to sign Frolik or trade for Kessel. I made two teams on cap just for fun to compare the two. I did not trade Maatta or DP for Kessel. Enjoy.

Kessel Team - https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6935

Frolik Team - https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6950
- mmonana120

That deal for Kessel won't get it done........and for that I'm glad. Don't want him here.

I don't think Sutter alone gets Hudler, but I like that team.

What scares me about Belesky is he had his career year ... 22-10-32 isn't great shakes in 65 games. This is a break out season for the dude and now people are talking 5 to 5.5 million for him? Frolik is more skilled and while he doesn't have that huge year on his resume, he certainly has more on his resume. Frolik is a better investment.
- Oneonta Penguin

agreed.

i think frolik is worth 4 mill. but id be willing to give him the 5 per most likely. im not happy about it. but i just think its what may have to be done.

i like his 2 way game the more ive looked into him. hes young. and i think malkin will squeeze more out of him, whereas with belesky i think you will be paying him and hoping he matches what he did this year, at his best case scenario.

That deal for Kessel won't get it done........and for that I'm glad. Don't want him here.

I don't think Sutter alone gets Hudler, but I like that team.
- madmike71

I agree, I don't think it gets Kessel either but a Toronto Blogger came in here and said he offered that deal up, so I ran with it since it was not either of our D prospects.

I'm on board for Frolik. Also Would love to have Hudler and Tikhonov.

Get it done GMJR!

agreed.

i think frolik is worth 4 mill. but id be willing to give him the 5 per most likely. im not happy about it. but i just think its what may have to be done.

i like his 2 way game the more ive looked into him. hes young. and i think malkin will squeeze more out of him, whereas with belesky i think you will be paying him and hoping he matches what he did this year, at his best case scenario.
- stayinthefnnet

Yohe was on MM today and specifically talked about Belesky. Pens management thinks his style does not work with Sid or Malkin. They, unlike previous ground, feel that not everyone can play with those two and thrive. Yohe also mentioned that GMJR feels Tlusty would play well with either start.

I have no interest in Beagle, but I like Fehr a lot. He's solid defensively and can play 3C or top 6 wing. And he won't be too expensive either (I'd guess ~$3.5m/yr.).
- jfkst1

I think Fehr is good (as I said - if Sutter is gone). The one problem with Fehr is that he had some injuries at the very end of the year. He actually played on the 4th line for Wash. in the playoffs in a limited role.
Beagle played great in the playoffs and is great on face-offs (60%) and can play C or RW and is actually very good on the PK (I believe 2nd in PK time of Washington forwards). He can hit a little also. I think Beagle would be better than Winnik or Downie for the money.

Yohe was on MM today and specifically talked about Belesky. Pens management thinks his style does not work with Sid or Malkin. They, unlike previous ground, feel that not everyone can play with those two and thrive. Yohe also mentioned that GMJR feels Tlusty would play well with either start.
- mmonana120

I was going to mention that. I could def see Ruth going after Tlusty.

So with all this talk (more like heated debated) about whether to sign Frolik or trade for Kessel. I made two teams on cap just for fun to compare the two. I did not trade Maatta or DP for Kessel. Enjoy.

Kessel Team - https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6935

Frolik Team - https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6950
- mmonana120

I said Kessel could be a steal but there is no reason to pull out a gun. Time to put down you ps4 controller or better yet the pipe you been smoking. The leafs can do better in free agency.