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.

He is planned on missing at least until December. Not need to rush him back.

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.
- Tojo.

Franson said he wasn't a good fit in NSH because they needed a LH dman and he admitted he never played the left side due to the relative lack of RH dmen.

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.
- SuperHenderson13

I heard Franson is open to a 1 year 3.5~ deal with a contender. All we have to do is move Scuds. We then can keep Kunitz and if Bennett shines, Kunitz can be moved at the deadline or after the season to make room for Maatta's deal. He'll need to be moved anyway. Franson can walk and cash in with a ring on his finger.

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.
- SuperHenderson13

I'd also be happy if Ehrhoff returned.

His return date is December, about half the season
- Pens_Burgh

Doesn't really matter, as the previous poster mention LTIR only helps while the player is out. You can't bank it. So if Fehr comes back after 42 games, if we haven't used the 1M in cap space while he was out, it's now gone.

His return date is December, about half the season
- Pens_Burgh

http://dkonpittsburghspor...-trade-sutter-to-canucks/

Yohe said he talked to Rutherford and he told him Fehr is progressing well and the timetable is now 4 to 5 months and he may be ready for the opener. Just better not end up like Maatta.

404error ‏@404ResponseCode 38m38 minutes ago

wild prediction: the Pens trade for Shattenkirk. rumored to be in play (why?) and Rutherford mentioned a F for D trade as a possibility now.

caveat, this is not a rumor, this is nothing but some random persons random prediction, but good lord that's the perfect fit for our D.

404error ‏@404ResponseCode 38m38 minutes ago

wild prediction: the Pens trade for Shattenkirk. rumored to be in play (why?) and Rutherford mentioned a F for D trade as a possibility now.

caveat, this is not a rumor, this is nothing but some random persons random prediction, but good lord that's the perfect fit for our D.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

The price will be sky high.

He is planned on missing at least until December. Not need to rush him back.
- jfkst1

His original estimate was 4-6 months from June 3 (Date of his surgery), which would be October 3-December 3. Rutherford said in his press conference that they spoke with his doctors on Friday and that Fehr's recovery is going extremely well and they reduced the timetable to 4-5 months which would then be between October 3-November 3. So depending where he falls in there, it might not be that much time missed in the regular season. I am sure they will not rush him, so I am guessing towards the end of October.

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/07/28/penguins-trade-sutter-to-canucks/

Yohe said he talked to Rutherford and he told him Fehr is progressing well and the timetable is now 4 to 5 months and he may be ready for the opener. Just better not end up like Maatta.
- Tojo.

I don't think elbows are as sensitive as shoulders as far as re-occurrences...

Doesn't really matter, as the previous poster mention LTIR only helps while the player is out. You can't bank it. So if Fehr comes back after 42 games, if we haven't used the 1M in cap space while he was out, it's now gone.
- Willaged

I'm sure it will be put to good use before Fehr comes back, even if it's a game or so before. Not really worried about it TBH

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/07/28/penguins-trade-sutter-to-canucks/

Yohe said he talked to Rutherford and he told him Fehr is progressing well and the timetable is now 4 to 5 months and he may be ready for the opener. Just better not end up like Maatta.
- Tojo.

... 4-5 months is December-January. No way he's here opening night.

The price will be sky high.
- Nucker101

No doubt. I am over confident in JR at the moment though lol.

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.
- SuperHenderson13

Did Ehrhoff sell his house yet?

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
- Willaged

I agree Fransen isn't a top pairing guy like those guys. He is a solid second pairing RH guy though. That's really all we need. Letang and Maatta have to be our difference makers on D, potentially Pouliot at some point.

Personally I wouldn't sign Franson. Whatever he could bring in as an offensive threat with questionable defensive acumen Pittsburgh already has in Letang, Dumoulin, Pouliot, and to some extent Cole. Maatta should be solid. Lovejoy could be solid.

I would target a few defenders shy of 30 who could play top minutes. Vlasic in SJ or Jani Hakanpaa in St. Louis.

... 4-5 months is December-January. No way he's here opening night.
- Pens_Burgh

4-5 months from today is December/January, but the 4-5 months is from when he had the surgery which was almost 2 months ago.

... 4-5 months is December-January. No way he's here opening night.
- Pens_Burgh

Like pensfan1103 said, that's from June, not now. Timeline is Early October to early November.

No doubt. I am over confident in JR at the moment though lol.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

What do you think the price is? Not sure they'd want Perron back.. It would have to be Kunitz, Bennett and a dman swap of Lovejoy + a pick or Clendening (don't want to give him up). Hornqvist imo is untouchable.

4-5 months from today is December/January, but the 4-5 months is from when he had the surgery which was almost 2 months ago.
- PensFan1103

Gotcha. Thought it was 4-5 from now. We may be looking at 400-800k in LTIR space I would think.

Personally I wouldn't sign Franson. Whatever he could bring in as an offensive threat with questionable defensive acumen Pittsburgh already has in Letang, Dumoulin, Pouliot, and to some extent Cole. Maatta should be solid. Lovejoy could be solid.

I would target a few defenders shy of 30 who could play top minutes. Vlasic in SJ or Jani Hakanpaa in St. Louis.
- Johnny Wrath

I don't think SJ is letting Vlasic go, but I totally agree, if we acquire a second pairing guy he needs to be a guy who is strong defensively, positionaly sound and is able to insulate Pouliot. I just don't see Franson being that guy.

I don't think SJ is letting Vlasic go, but I totally agree, if we acquire a second pairing guy he needs to be a guy who is strong defensively, positionaly sound and is able to insulate Pouliot. I just don't see Franson being that guy.
- Willaged

I would love Vlasic, not sure the price it would take on him. SJ's D is pretty solid with Martin, maybe they're looking for a forward? I don't want to give up Perron, but I think that's where the conversation would probably start.

EDIT: Vlasic makes only 4.25 for the next three years, pretty cap friendly hit. He also wears an A.

Personally I wouldn't sign Franson. Whatever he could bring in as an offensive threat with questionable defensive acumen Pittsburgh already has in Letang, Dumoulin, Pouliot, and to some extent Cole. Maatta should be solid. Lovejoy could be solid.

I would target a few defenders shy of 30 who could play top minutes. Vlasic in SJ or Jani Hakanpaa in St. Louis.
- Johnny Wrath

I actually see Fransen more as a defensive defenseman who can move the puck. Kind of like Martin with less skating but more size, physical play. Or what I'd hoped Despres would become. His advanced defensive stats were very good.

Just give Pittsburgh the cup now! They swapped 3rd line centers based on a useless corsi stat. And paid $2million for a 4th liner. Haha.

No doubt. I am over confident in JR at the moment though lol.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Call me when Shattenkirk becomes a Canuck