Id be okay with that. Alot of our teams success is going to rely on our PP being absolutely dominant to the point where the bigger teams like CBJ/WSH second guess to avoid penalties. Gonchar may not be very effective 5 v 5 anymore, but that man sure and sh!t can run a PP. Also who better to mentor a player like Pouliot, who I think shows alot of the traits in his game that made Gonchar so good.

Scuderi doesnt help our team anymore, Gonchar could in a limited capacity.
- stackthepads

I think Pouliot will be a more physical player than Gonchar. Gonchar was average defensively, but was an absolute beast on the PP. I think Pouliot is more like a Letang-lite than Gonchar.

Id be okay with that. Alot of our teams success is going to rely on our PP being absolutely dominant to the point where the bigger teams like CBJ/WSH second guess to avoid penalties. Gonchar may not be very effective 5 v 5 anymore, but that man sure and sh!t can run a PP. Also who better to mentor a player like Pouliot, who I think shows alot of the traits in his game that made Gonchar so good.

Scuderi doesnt help our team anymore, Gonchar could in a limited capacity.
- stackthepads

I would like Gonch over Scuds, but having 4 forwards and Gonch on the PP can be deadly against us, let alone 5v5. DP has also been a PP wizard in himself his whole career. Idk, at least Scuds is somewhat capable on defense, just can't move the puck and is overpaid. But who knows Gonch could and probably would fit better in our system. Only way to find out is the practice tryout.

I would like Gonch over Scuds, but having 4 forwards and Gonch on the PP can be deadly against us, let alone 5v5. DP has also been a PP wizard in himself his whole career. Idk, at least Scuds is somewhat capable on defense, just can't move the puck and is overpaid. But who knows Gonch could and probably would fit better in our system. Only way to find out is the practice tryout.
- Pens_Burgh

Malkin is pushing Gonchar pretty hard (see Instagram)... I think it may be a tough to cut him, Geno is too emotionally invested in having Gonchar back on the team.
If Gonchar shows up in his PTO there is no way to cut him without upsetting Malkin.

Dp is not going anywhere he is top 4 from here on out. If gonch don't make it which he won't he will get a job in the organization somewhere which is a good signing n will make geno happy n help outt plotz. Maybe he can help the PP n fire TOCCHET.
- Jordy8

IF he is top 4. Im not sold yet. IH he isnt he is better served top 2 in WBS. Now Gonch and whomever else would have to blow the team away to get signed... but whats the harm in trying? None... thats What.... BOOM

Malkin is pushing Gonchar pretty hard (see Instagram)... I think it may be a tough to cut him, Geno is too emotionally invested in having Gonchar back on the team.
If Gonchar shows up in his PTO there is no way to cut him without upsetting Malkin.
- stackthepads

Eh, that's really just speculating but I could see it. Malkin will be fine either way. I do believe that Gonch might get a position within the organization though.

Does anyone know an exact cap hit we have left?

EDIT: I will check his IG though, after work I kinda scroll through the days post pretty fast so I don't catch much unless it catches my eye

IF he is top 4. Im not sold yet. IH he isnt he is better served top 2 in WBS. Now Gonch and whomever else would have to blow the team away to get signed... but whats the harm in trying? None... thats What.... BOOM
- ChrisMS

Im not sure the DP is ready for top 4 but I am sure he will get very little benefit playing in WBS even with top pairing minutes. Pouliot is too dominant in that league, his issues IMO are with the speed/size of the players at the NHL level.
I would pair him with Lovejoy/Gonchar in the bottom pairing and have him QB the 2nd PP unit.

Im not sure the DP is ready for top 4 but I am sure he will get very little benefit playing in WBS even with top pairing minutes. Pouliot is too dominant in that league, his issues IMO are with the speed/size of the players at the NHL level.
I would pair him with Lovejoy/Gonchar in the bottom pairing and have him QB the 2nd PP unit.
- stackthepads

top pairing wbs > bottom pairing pens. I doubt he'd stay there all season. injuries etc. But if pens depth allows him more time to simmer it can only benefit him. of course gonch wiuld have to blow pens away.

also, anyone who thinks scuds isnt an anchor (pun intended) on the bottom pairing is fooling themselves. pens aint benching almost 4 mil. letang-maatta-cole-gonch-scuds-lovejoy-dumo could be the top 7. and lovejoy sits when all healthy. heard it here first people.

top pairing wbs > bottom pairing pens. I doubt he'd stay there all season. injuries etc. But if pens depth allows him more time to simmer it can only benefit him. of course gonch wiuld have to blow pens away.

also, anyone who thinks scuds isnt an anchor (pun intended) on the bottom pairing is fooling themselves. pens aint benching almost 4 mil. letang-maatta-cole-gonch-scuds-lovejoy-dumo could be the top 7. and lovejoy sits when all healthy. heard it here first people.
- ChrisMS

Normally I would agree with this, but when I watch Pouliot play in WBS he is always dipsy doodling with the puck, the game is too slow at that level for him. The problem Im seeing is when he gets to the NHL he cant play the way he is playing in WBS because everyone is so much better. He needs to adapt his playing style to the NHL level, if he goes back down he is just going to continue Richardin around with the puck to the point that I think it begins to hamper his development.

Gonchar > Scuderi

Gonchar can play Scuderi's 12 mins per night on the PP, everyone else can play 5 on 5 or PK
- TheGame316

Pens pp was terrible from jAnuary on ... If they can find a taker on scuds I have zero issue with gonchar as the number 6 d man getting pp time with letang or pouliot ...

Boston - They lost WAY more than they gained in the off season. I'm predicting strong goaltending, and some character top end guys keep them competitive, but they slide a bit further this year than last. Not playoffs.

Buffalo - O'rielly is a nice add. Sabres couldn't be worse, but how much better will they be? A little? A lot?

Detroit - Green is an okay add for offense from the back end, but I keep expecting the wings ageing core to decline. Another serious injury to Datsyuk. How many times does he come back?

Florida - Smith is a quality add. The biggest thing for the panthers is that their young core is going to be a bit more mature and thus a bit better. Could be an outside shot at the playoffs.

Montreal - Semin...who the heck knows with him. I think the habs regress a bit, but Price can make any team pretty good.

Ottawa - I don't understand the mentality here. If Chicago had managed to keep their entire team aboard with no other big moves, would we assume they'd be worse the next year? Why would it be the case for the sens? Wouldn't the development of their young players make them....better?

Tampa - Condra is a good 3/4th line player. Hands of stone, but the lightning didn't really need to do much anyhow.

Toronto - Obviously rebuilding Parenteau is a buy low guy. If he can find some points with the leafs they could get something back for him at the deadline.

Is this just a polite gesture to Sarge or are they really going to give him a look? How do you have Scuds and Gonchar on the same roster?

Boston - They lost WAY more than they gained in the off season. I'm predicting strong goaltending, and some character top end guys keep them competitive, but they slide a bit further this year than last. Not playoffs.

Buffalo - O'rielly is a nice add. Sabres couldn't be worse, but how much better will they be? A little? A lot?

Detroit - Green is an okay add for offense from the back end, but I keep expecting the wings ageing core to decline. Another serious injury to Datsyuk. How many times does he come back?

Florida - Smith is a quality add. The biggest thing for the panthers is that their young core is going to be a bit more mature and thus a bit better. Could be an outside shot at the playoffs.

Montreal - Semin...who the heck knows with him. I think the habs regress a bit, but Price can make any team pretty good.

Ottawa - I don't understand the mentality here. If Chicago had managed to keep their entire team aboard with no other big moves, would we assume they'd be worse the next year? Why would it be the case for the sens? Wouldn't the development of their young players make them....better?

Tampa - Condra is a good 3/4th line player. Hands of stone, but the lightning didn't really need to do much anyhow.

Toronto - Obviously rebuilding Parenteau is a buy low guy. If he can find some points with the leafs they could get something back for him at the deadline.
- MaxTLimit

Tampa is the top team in the division by a wide margin and the top team is in conference to start the year followed closely by pittsburgh, NYI and WASH all three of which have question marks ( not major but questions none the less)

Boston - They lost WAY more than they gained in the off season. I'm predicting strong goaltending, and some character top end guys keep them competitive, but they slide a bit further this year than last. Not playoffs.

Buffalo - O'rielly is a nice add. Sabres couldn't be worse, but how much better will they be? A little? A lot?

Detroit - Green is an okay add for offense from the back end, but I keep expecting the wings ageing core to decline. Another serious injury to Datsyuk. How many times does he come back?

Florida - Smith is a quality add. The biggest thing for the panthers is that their young core is going to be a bit more mature and thus a bit better. Could be an outside shot at the playoffs.

Montreal - Semin...who the heck knows with him. I think the habs regress a bit, but Price can make any team pretty good.

Ottawa - I don't understand the mentality here. If Chicago had managed to keep their entire team aboard with no other big moves, would we assume they'd be worse the next year? Why would it be the case for the sens? Wouldn't the development of their young players make them....better?

Tampa - Condra is a good 3/4th line player. Hands of stone, but the lightning didn't really need to do much anyhow.

Toronto - Obviously rebuilding Parenteau is a buy low guy. If he can find some points with the leafs they could get something back for him at the deadline.
- MaxTLimit

Tampa is the top team in the division by a wide margin and the top team is in conference to start the year followed closely by pittsburgh, NYI and WASH all three of which have question marks ( not major but questions none the less)

Boston - They lost WAY more than they gained in the off season. I'm predicting strong goaltending, and some character top end guys keep them competitive, but they slide a bit further this year than last. Not playoffs.

Buffalo - O'rielly is a nice add. Sabres couldn't be worse, but how much better will they be? A little? A lot?

Detroit - Green is an okay add for offense from the back end, but I keep expecting the wings ageing core to decline. Another serious injury to Datsyuk. How many times does he come back?

Florida - Smith is a quality add. The biggest thing for the panthers is that their young core is going to be a bit more mature and thus a bit better. Could be an outside shot at the playoffs.

Montreal - Semin...who the heck knows with him. I think the habs regress a bit, but Price can make any team pretty good.

Ottawa - I don't understand the mentality here. If Chicago had managed to keep their entire team aboard with no other big moves, would we assume they'd be worse the next year? Why would it be the case for the sens? Wouldn't the development of their young players make them....better?

Tampa - Condra is a good 3/4th line player. Hands of stone, but the lightning didn't really need to do much anyhow.

Toronto - Obviously rebuilding Parenteau is a buy low guy. If he can find some points with the leafs they could get something back for him at the deadline.
- MaxTLimit

I think he's implying that Hammond won't be that good next year and the team had an extremely rare hot streak. Other teams have gotten better while the send have stayed the same

Is this just a polite gesture to Sarge or are they really going to give him a look? How do you have Scuds and Gonchar on the same roster?
- madmike71

My guess is it's just being polite, but who knows.

Rutherford did it for Jeff O'Neill after he had been out of the league for a couple years.

Normally I would agree with this, but when I watch Pouliot play in WBS he is always dipsy doodling with the puck, the game is too slow at that level for him. The problem Im seeing is when he gets to the NHL he cant play the way he is playing in WBS because everyone is so much better. He needs to adapt his playing style to the NHL level, if he goes back down he is just going to continue Richardin around with the puck to the point that I think it begins to hamper his development.
- stackthepads

I'm personally ignorant on the topic, but I have heard from a lot of people on Pensburgh that Pouliot, Bennett, and Dumoulin couldn't improve at all in playing at WBS anymore.

I'm almost certain we cannot send him down without being forced to buy him out. Read that somewhere last season, or a bit after we were eliminated... (frank)ing Shero contract.
- Guile

Yes that's what I thought also but looking at it now it appears there is no NMC. Maybe it's changed?

Yes that's what I thought also but looking at it now it appears there is no NMC. Maybe it's changed?
- Aussiepenguin

Is it possible the he had a 2 year NMC and a four year very restricted NTC?

Normally I would agree with this, but when I watch Pouliot play in WBS he is always dipsy doodling with the puck, the game is too slow at that level for him. The problem Im seeing is when he gets to the NHL he cant play the way he is playing in WBS because everyone is so much better. He needs to adapt his playing style to the NHL level, if he goes back down he is just going to continue Richardin around with the puck to the point that I think it begins to hamper his development.
- stackthepads

new coach in wbs. could change things up

I'm personally ignorant on the topic, but I have heard from a lot of people on Pensburgh that Pouliot, Bennett, and Dumoulin couldn't improve at all in playing at WBS anymore.
- jfkst1

Have you seen the film 'Once were warriors'?

"Too much weights not enough speed work" - eh, pow!

Now,

"Too many charts & graphs not enough game review" - pow!

Is it really low risk if he helps the team miss the playoffs? (semin)

Is it really low risk if he helps the team miss the playoffs? (semin)
- Garnie

1.1 Million, with the potential to be a top 6 winger.

Yeah... that cost is pretty low risk.

I think he's implying that Hammond won't be that good next year and the team had an extremely rare hot streak. Other teams have gotten better while the send have stayed the same
- drummer829

I'd agree that Hammond won't ever see that sort of hot streak again. I don't think the sens will see a hot streak like that for some time in general. That being said, the team as a whole had a very slow start, and a bit of injury trouble. As for getting better. Another year of the young guys trending upwards is enough improvement for me to feel comfortable. Leaving guys like Neil and Phillips out of the lineup in favor of more capable youth players will go a long way.

The story of the conference though is the Lightning. I look at that roster and I see very few holes. They played so well last year in spite of their top d man missing a good portion of the season. Bishop will also have a stronger season most likely. If he doesn't he has a very good young goalie hot on his heels. What if Drouin breaks out this year? Stamkos had a quieter year last year. It seems likely he will have a better year this year. I would take Condra over Morrow at this stage of his career. I feel that's an upgrade.

The key to Tampa this year will be the young 2nd ( 1st? ) line centered by Johnson. If they play as well as they did last year, Tampa will be so so so dominant. If they improve....They may raise the cup.

I don't think the bottom changes much. I think Boston trends down enough for the upward trend of Florida to pass them.

new coach in wbs. could change things up
- ChrisMS

I dont think the coaching staff has anything to do with it. Pouliot is too good for that league, most nights he isnt facing any competition that requires him to improve his game. Sure he'll get more ice time, and the new coach could teach him some new approaches, but at the end of the day he doesnt have to put in 100% most nights and playing like that will set back his development.
If he is playing with the big club it isnt just about playing time, its also practice time. He will get more competition out of practicing with the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang ect then he would ever face in the minors. Crosby catches him being too cute with the puck he is going to get burned, whos going to burn him in WBS?

I dont think the coaching staff has anything to do with it. Pouliot is too good for that league, most nights he isnt facing any competition that requires him to improve his game. Sure he'll get more ice time, and the new coach could teach him some new approaches, but at the end of the day he doesnt have to put in 100% most nights and playing like that will set back his development.
If he is playing with the big club it isnt just about playing time, its also practice time. He will get more competition out of practicing with the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang ect then he would ever face in the minors. Crosby catches him being too cute with the puck he is going to get burned, whos going to burn him in WBS?
- stackthepads

Agree 100%. An example I heard about Dumoulin was when he turned to retrieve pucks at the AHL he didn't have to look up ice to outlet and could send it blindly without repercussions at the AHL, but that would get him burned at the NHL level.