That's was a great 3rd line. I don't think enough has been made over Washington losing that. But Fehr and Dupuis would be a great start to a shutdown line as well.
- Tojo.

The Pens top 9 is as good as any team right now. So many options and so many players that can play up and down the lineup.

I had a huge crush on Kimberly (the pink ranger) when I was a kid.
- jmatchett383

kimberly jo johnson right? She was in a eating disorder video I had to watch in guidance class... even purging she was still a hottie

Then I'd say their analytics department is just fine even before Sam. I can't stop laughing at how great today has been for the Pens.
- jfkst1

It's old though. Sam brings a young and more advanced attitude. He has a night future if he sticks with it.

From GMJR post trade comments it sounds like he's going to run the current D as long as he can get away with it and by the dead line we will see a deal for a legitiment top 4 D to solidify the D for the stretch and playoffs.
- Willaged

I'd rather they free up space and sign Fransen now then dip into their limited stock of prospects or picks for a defenseman at the deadline.

I honestly like that approach. See what develops for injuries and player progression and decide at the deadline. With this forward lineup they have now, I really don't see them at threat of missing the postseason.
- jfkst1

Excatly, and if we go the rental route you can get more player with less cap space.

I honestly like that approach. See what develops for injuries and player progression and decide at the deadline. With this forward lineup they have now, I really don't see them at threat of missing the postseason.
- jfkst1

Excatly, and if we go the rental route you can get more player with less cap space.

I'd rather they free up space and sign Fransen now then dip into their limited stock of prospects or picks for a defenseman at the deadline.
- Tojo.

I think you get a better defensemen than Franson at the deadline. I hear what you're saying about our picks and prospects but the Pens are clearly going all in the next 1-3 seasons... So let's do it!

I believe two teams are still below that cap floor and would take on Salary of the pick coming along with it is right. I still hold out hope Scuderi is brought to NJ

The Pens top 9 is as good as any team right now. So many options and so many players that can play up and down the lineup.
- jfkst1

It really is and really they have 10 good top 9 forwards. And if they actually get a healthy season from Bennett, it's hard to imagine anyone matching Pittsburgh up front.

Trading Bennett or Perron is counter productive (unless Bennett is a part of a bigger deal that lands a big name).

Freeing up Kunitz or Scuderi's cap...who would you guys pick out of the remaining players:

- YouMeAndDupuis9[url]
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=773566

Easy. Franson. And I hope no body would say otherwise. I'm beyond extatic to have replaced Sutter and acquired Fehr, but I think the remaining roster spot on the fourth line should go the WBS guy that wants it the most. I see no reason to sign Santorelli or Stempniak.

Excatly, and if we go the rental route you can get more player with less cap space.
- Willaged

Fehr alone on the LTIR will add ~$1m in cap space by the time he gets back into the lineup. Really good move to show that kind of foresight by Rutherford.

I think you get a better defensemen than Franson at the deadline. I hear what you're saying about our picks and prospects but the Pens are clearly going all in the next 1-3 seasons... So let's do it!
- Willaged

You might, I just like the fit with Fransen as Righty with size and good shot suppression numbers pairing with Pouliot and Cole then as a 5 that can move up on either side. And if the right guy is available now, why trade futures later?

Fehr alone on the LTIR will add ~$1m in cap space by the time he gets back into the lineup. Really good move to show that kind of foresight by Rutherford.
- jfkst1

Looking at 2016 UFA on D I think Dan Hamhuis would be a good target for the Pens. Acquisition cost wouldn't be too high, solid #3 guy, physical edge we need for the playoffs, reasonable cap hit of 4.5, so we'd need about 1.25 in space come the deadline.

Maybe Ace (Sam Ventura) was the one that made this happen. Rutherford said Fehr and Bonino were targeted due to their analytics.
- jfkst1

But if you remember, Rutherford was preaching analytics last offseason as well. He made some sound analytic based decisions like Downie, Goc, Comeau, and Klinkhammer, but then flipped over and flew in the face of analytics when it came to Spaling, Lovejoy, and Lapierre. Obviously it's speculation but when Rutherford has been preaching analytics all year, publicly laments some of his non-analytic based moves or indirectly denounces them through trades or non-signings, I think it's telling that he goes full blown analytics days after Ace (as Aussie calls him) is hired and Fitzgerald leaves. I think Fitz was inherently anti-analytics, Rutherford took his opinion under advisement this year, didn't like the results, told him we were going all in on the analytics approach this year whether Fitzgerald liked it or not, and Fitz walked. Good riddance.

I'd rather they free up space and sign Fransen now then dip into their limited stock of prospects or picks for a defenseman at the deadline.
- Tojo.

Yea, plus you are dealing with non-contenders, so options are limited. Hamhuis is proabably the best rental D man potentially for sale I can think of at the moment. Others like Brian Campbell, Big Buff, GoGo, Michalek, Polak probably wont be for sale or arent good enough to give up anything for. Clitsome is a guy I'd want out of WPG.

You might, I just like the fit with Fransen as Righty with size and good shot suppression numbers pairing with Pouliot and Cole then as a 5 that can move up on either side. And if the right guy is available now, why trade futures later?
- Tojo.

Part of the problem is saving money for Mattaa's extension, which if we want to keep Perron, having Franson on the roster would make for a tight squeeze as Dupuis, Kunitz and Scuderi are all still on the books when Mattaa is due. Yes a rental cost some futures, but doesn't further complete retaining or biggest future/present.

You might, I just like the fit with Fransen as Righty with size and good shot suppression numbers pairing with Pouliot and Cole then as a 5 that can move up on either side. And if the right guy is available now, why trade futures later?
- Tojo.

No one has any reservations about Fransen? Wasn't he healthy scratched in Nashville?

Fehr alone on the LTIR will add ~$1m in cap space by the time he gets back into the lineup. Really good move to show that kind of foresight by Rutherford.
- jfkst1

He'd have to miss half the season which seems unlikely. Rutherford said he's progressing well and they're guessing more like 4 to 5 months which means maybe one month of the season and maybe not even going on LTIR. Add in cost of a replacement and they won't save much. For a month maybe 300k.

No one has any reservations about Fransen? Wasn't he healthy scratched in Nashville?
- dbell646

personally if I had to pick between signing Franson long term or signing Ehrhoff to a 1 year deal again, I'd probably take Ehrhoff.

No one has any reservations about Fransen? Wasn't he healthy scratched in Nashville?
- dbell646

I do. His stock has fallen. I'm not sure he is a huge upgrade over Cole at this point. Neither Nashville or Toronto fans have many good things to say about him. And seeing how long he's sat on the market I think the general sentiment among NHL GMs is the same.

Part of the problem is saving money for Mattaa's extension, which if we want to keep Perron, having Franson on the roster would make for a tight squeeze as Dupuis, Kunitz and Scuderi are all still on the books when Mattaa is due. Yes a rental cost some futures, but doesn't further complete retaining or biggest future/present.
- Willaged

I see what you are saying, but there are other moves they can make to create space if they really want to keep Perron. Most of the roster is signed and there will be somewhat of a cap raise.

I see what you are saying, but there are other moves they can make to create space if they really want to keep Perron. Most of the roster is signed and there will be somewhat of a cap raise.
- Tojo.

And to be clear, I totally see your point in signing Franson now and not wasting assests ala Winnik last year. I just don't fell Franson pushes us over the top, whereas a guy like Hamhuis or Seabrook ( I know, keep dreaming haha) would really bolster our D for the playoffs

He'd have to miss half the season which seems unlikely. Rutherford said he's progressing well and they're guessing more like 4 to 5 months which means maybe one month of the season and maybe not even going on LTIR. Add in cost of a replacement and they won't save much. For a month maybe 300k.
- Tojo.

Also, you do not "save/bank" any money while someone is on LTIR. If Fehr goes on LTIR, it will allow the Pens to go over the cap ceiling by Fehr's cap hit minus the difference between the Pens total cap hit and the Salary Cap ceiling. For example, let's say the Pens add one more forward at $550K and their total cap hit is now $70.825 million, leaving $575K in cap space, if they put Fehr on LTIR that will allow them to have a temprary cap ceiling of $72.825 million. As soon as he comes off LTIR the Pens lose that cap relief and are back to having $575K available in cap space.

He'd have to miss half the season which seems unlikely. Rutherford said he's progressing well and they're guessing more like 4 to 5 months which means maybe one month of the season and maybe not even going on LTIR. Add in cost of a replacement and they won't save much. For a month maybe 300k.
- Tojo.

His return date is December, about half the season

No one has any reservations about Fransen? Wasn't he healthy scratched in Nashville?
- dbell646

I don't. I think Nashville was a poor fit because they were the rare team that had too many righties so they tried him on his off side which didn't work.

The one legit weakness is he's a little slow, but here he'd always be paired with a good skating defenseman so I'd see it balancing out. All are LD are good skaters that don't play well in front of their own net. Fransen is a big RD that while not real mobile does move the puck well and excells in every advanced stat from puck possession to shot suppression to hits per 60.