We aren't a big enough market to eat his salary and put him on LTIR. Our ownership group would never do that.
- usethe1-2-2

Maybe not. No idea on what the parameters are for Rutherford. If he was authorized to use buyouts though, then perhaps ownership is pretty amendable to doing whatever is necessary to compete.

Only thing I can think of is why is 6 afraid of 7? Cuz 7, 8, 9 but that literally would make no sense
- Pens_Burgh

I thunked the same thing....

Site crashed and my big comment went poof.

Basically, that's an interesting idea but the whole point of moving Scuds is to clear room for Franson on a 1 yr
- Pens_Burgh

I think Pouliot is at least as good as Franson and currently is a Penguin and is slotted correctly. Adding Franson probably would be a better D partner for Ben Lovejoy, and really, by then who the hell cares? Why not just promote Glandening after he continually overperformed at the AHL level?

with briere retiring they did a peice on him on nhl network... he had about a point per game in the playoffs... coincidence> Training/rourtines? Some players come up big in more important games than other players. Luck? maybe. but Hockey is a game of luck as well as averages.
- ChrisMS

I wouldn't call a promotional piece on Danny Briere (where I'm sure they connected him to Theoren Fleury, Marcel Dionne, and the small man's struggle to make it in the NHL) evidence of his being clutch. The "clutch" number in baseball is 0.56% clutch ability and 99.44% other factors. I don't know what the factors are in hockey because it's such a small number as a contributing factor that it can be ignored and nobody loses any ground.

I think Pouliot is at least as good as Franson and currently is a Penguin and is slotted correctly. Adding Franson probably would be a better D partner for Ben Lovejoy, and really, by then who the hell cares? Why not just promote Glandening after he continually overperformed at the AHL level?
- Johnny Wrath

Pouliot is a lefty. Franson plays the right. The point of acquiring Franson would be to give Pouliot a better partner than our only other righty in Lovejoy or a natural left sided in Cole. If we sign Franson, he wouldn't be playing bottom pairing with Lovejoy because they both play the same . Our make up would be as follows:

Maatta-Letang
Pouliot-Franson
Dumoulin-Cole
Lovejoy
Clendening
Erixon

Pouliot is a lefty. Franson plays the right. The point of acquiring Franson would be to give Pouliot a better partner than our only other righty in Lovejoy or a natural left sided in Cole. If we sign Franson, he wouldn't be playing bottom pairing with Lovejoy because they both play the same . Our make up would be as follows:

Maatta-Letang
Pouliot-Franson
Dumoulin-Cole
Lovejoy
Clendening
Erixon
- Victoro311

But you have Cole on the right?

I wouldn't call a promotional piece on Danny Briere (where I'm sure they connected him to Theoren Fleury, Marcel Dionne, and the small man's struggle to make it in the NHL) evidence of his being clutch. The "clutch" number in baseball is 0.56% clutch ability and 99.44% other factors. I don't know what the factors are in hockey because it's such a small number as a contributing factor that it can be ignored and nobody loses any ground.
- Johnny Wrath

only a little of the little stuff... something about how he was lucky to get noticed by some scout etc etc. just one example. Analytics is neat and a nice addition to the nhl. I thank mr wilson for helping educate me on the matter. But with a game of bounces and physicality and injuries and one-on-one battles and horrible reffing where rules come and go... it cant account for everything. "clutch" (might as well be the n word to analyticians) is real.

If Scuderi can't be moved and Franson is willing to sign in the 3.5 mil area for a season, would you consider moving Kunitz to sign Franson and Tlusty? Downgrade from Kunitz wing wise but our forward depth is already great and the move solidifies our defense

if you havent read karash's blog, you should ... will be a great series from a writer that unfortunately needs a bigger HB fan base

But you have Cole on the right?
- Johnny Wrath

Cole can play the left. He's semi-comfortable with it. But I'd rather play him on the bottom pairing if he's on his offside than give him top four minutes with someone who's super inexperienced.

If Scuderi can't be moved and Franson is willing to sign in the 3.5 mil area for a season, would you consider moving Kunitz to sign Franson and Tlusty? Downgrade from Kunitz wing wise but our forward depth is already great and the move solidifies our defense
- Victoro311

no.. you would be selling super low on kunitz and I think he can bounce back. Pens should wait to see who is available to do a camp invite... might be some suprising names out there.

Pouliot is a lefty. Franson plays the right. The point of acquiring Franson would be to give Pouliot a better partner than our only other righty in Lovejoy or a natural left sided in Cole. If we sign Franson, he wouldn't be playing bottom pairing with Lovejoy because they both play the same . Our make up would be as follows:

Maatta-Letang
Pouliot-Franson
Dumoulin-Cole
Lovejoy
Clendening
Erixon
- Victoro311

Exactly right. Upgrades our D for the year and then that 3.5 is off the books after the season. We have to get rid of Scuds after the season anyway. Why not do it now and have a better shot at the Cup now? It's going to cost us to move him no matter what, and his buyout penalty next year is still money we need, especially if Plot hits his bonuses, then we could be (frank)ed and we'd have to cut ties with Perron and replace him with another Comeau.

If Scuderi can't be moved and Franson is willing to sign in the 3.5 mil area for a season, would you consider moving Kunitz to sign Franson and Tlusty? Downgrade from Kunitz wing wise but our forward depth is already great and the move solidifies our defense
- Victoro311

Depends on the return for Kunitz. Either him or Perron is likely gone after this year anyway and Kunitz is much older.

If Scuderi can't be moved and Franson is willing to sign in the 3.5 mil area for a season, would you consider moving Kunitz to sign Franson and Tlusty? Downgrade from Kunitz wing wise but our forward depth is already great and the move solidifies our defense
- Victoro311

Another good suggestion. I'd be open to my idea or this one honestly. Tlusty and Franson on 1yrs?

Kunitz could net us a second more than likely.

If Scuderi can't be moved and Franson is willing to sign in the 3.5 mil area for a season, would you consider moving Kunitz to sign Franson and Tlusty? Downgrade from Kunitz wing wise but our forward depth is already great and the move solidifies our defense
- Victoro311

I would move Kunitz for an iffy forward prospect. The difference is that I would play that young player, not sign Tlusty. I wouldn't sign Franson either. His skill set is already well burnished in Pittsburgh. I would pursue a trade for a top minutes D like a Vlasic or a Hamhuis. Connor Murphy if a miracle takes place.

Fill in the blank, think something could work centered around this?

Kunitz + second + ? for Ryan Ellis

I do know that NASH is pretty set on top 6 wingers.. But it's worth the discussion

Depends on the return for Kunitz. Either him or Perron is likely gone after this year anyway and Kunitz is much older.
- jfkst1

I see perron moved before kunitz. Unless someone bombs training camp I se Perron starting on the third any way... I think duper and kinitz get top 6 jobs (malkin and crosby like em). perron might be the tool to get a d. or a pick. bennett, plot, bonino, ferh.... 2 of the 4 have to be playing really well to do this... or a wbs guy earns a spot...

Another good suggestion. I'd be open to my idea or this one honestly. Tlusty and Franson on 1yrs?

Kunitz could net us a second more than likely.
- Pens_Burgh

now sutter just got moved in a lopsided trade... so I could eat this. But what gm in their right mind would give a second for a guy who plummeted the way he did last season and has 2 years left?

Fill in the blank, think something could work centered around this?

Kunitz + second + ? for Ryan Ellis

I do know that NASH is pretty set on top 6 wingers.. But it's worth the discussion
- Pens_Burgh

Nashville needs centers very, very badly. Ribeiro and Gaustad are in the top three along with... Mike Fisher. They need help at C.

Kunitz may be a top six on a team with no other top six wingers, such as Winnipeg. It's Ladd at LW and then... Chris Thorburn? Drew Stafford?

Keep in mind that as long, long ago as Chris Thorburn seems I hold him in the same "way too old" mental space as Tlusty and Drew Miller.

I see perron moved before kunitz. Unless someone bombs training camp I se Perron starting on the third any way... I think duper and kinitz get top 6 jobs (malkin and crosby like em). perron might be the tool to get a d. or a pick. bennett, plot, bonino, ferh.... 2 of the 4 have to be playing really well to do this... or a wbs guy earns a spot...
- ChrisMS

If Kunitz and Dupuis play like they started last season before their health issues, yeah I can see Perron having difficulty cracking the top 6.

DK filling in for Mark Madden just said the Pens can still buyout Scuderi...I thought it was too late for that? Also said that they are likely waiting for another team to have an injury on D and get desperate....

DK filling in for Mark Madden just said the Pens can still buyout Scuderi...I thought it was too late for that? Also said that they are likely waiting for another team to have an injury on D and get desperate....
- YouMeAndDupuis9

They can't buy out Scuderi without absorbing the % of cap hit. Compliance buyouts are over with; otherwise you would have seen the LA Kings move on from Mike 'I'd take him on my team over Crosby any day' Richards.

If Kunitz and Dupuis play like they started last season before their health issues, yeah I can see Perron having difficulty cracking the top 6.
- jfkst1

duper croz kessel
kuni malk horny

or swap kessel

perron might be better off being the "main" talent on the third.

They can't buy out Scuderi without absorbing the % of cap hit. Compliance buyouts are over with; otherwise you would have seen the LA Kings move on from Mike 'I'd take him on my team over Crosby any day' Richards.
- Johnny Wrath

how the hell havent the nhlpa appealed that crap yet? pity for the la kriminals?

Nashville needs centers very, very badly. Ribeiro and Gaustad are in the top three along with... Mike Fisher. They need help at C.

Kunitz may be a top six on a team with no other top six wingers, such as Winnipeg. It's Ladd at LW and then... Chris Thorburn? Drew Stafford?

Keep in mind that as long, long ago as Chris Thorburn seems I hold him in the same "way too old" mental space as Tlusty and Drew Miller.
- Johnny Wrath

Yeah it won't be a fit unless NSH moves a winger for center help, WPG could be a good fit. Not sure off the top of my head who I would want from their D that would work