I think ultimately the bulk of the forces that will take on the White Walker army will be made up of Dothraki, Unsullied, Second Sons, Iron Born, and maybe even the Lannisters/Freys once they wake the (frank) up and realize who the true threat/enemy really is.
- SimpleJack

I got no idea how that ends. Very odd for essos soldiers to fight a Wessos fight. I don't see danerys as a hero. Wouldn't be surprised if somehow John sacrifices himself to save the kingdom. Maybe a marriage to a white walker princess (rumors a stark did that before)

Your players play well on the same line though. That's a big reason the pens split them all up. Even though it was a short trial period, kessel didn't mesh with Crosby or malkin. I think it's pretty obvious that Kane and panarin can play together
- jchst22

I agree with the chemistry factor between Panarin and Kane, but IMO Kane(like Crosby) has shown he can carry just about anyone and make it a successful scoring line, so i would rather spread out the depth to create mismatches. Same concept/strategy that has kept Toews and Kane apart in recent years.

There's a couple cheap options I'd take a flyer on. Helm's aight. I'd also look into Grabner, Stalberg, and Eaves if JR wants to sign a UFA. No one expensive and try to keep it to a one-year soldier of fortune contract.
- Victoro311

Yea, he's coming off a decent contract and has played quite well. Grabner and stalberg would be my 2 picks to round out the bottom 6

I agree with the chemistry factor between Panarin and Kane, but IMO Kane(like Crosby) has shown he can carry just about anyone and make it a successful scoring line, so i would rather spread out the depth to create mismatches. Same concept/strategy that has kept Toews and Kane apart in recent years.
- SimpleJack

It also didn't help that Toews had a "down year" in scoring. If Hossa stays healthy and they can resign Ladd for cheap, they'll have a great 1-2 punch. Then Shaw centering a 3rd line won't be bad either.

I shudder at the thought, but it would not shock me. I am curious is to what happens with the lads from the iron islands...will the dragons wipe them out? I wonder who the next great villain will be, man do I miss the Red Viper. They could do a whole season on him, and I would be happy.
- Thorny

Still have Baelish as the "undercover" super villain. He's been instrumental in just about every major event in Westros, most of them with evil intentions. Now he's just taking Winterfell. And he also still has his little puppet Robin Arryn(who will no doubt grow more and more evil and twisted, though at the same time mentally weak like Joffery was). Might he his character develop further.

Concerning Vesey, can the pens wait til mid August and keep over $4mil in cap space for the slight possibility he might choose to play here?

Concerning Vesey, can the pens wait til mid August and keep over $4mil in cap space for the slight possibility he might choose to play here?
- jchst22

Vesey would get an ELC. Probably a max ELC, but an ELC none the less. Think Panarin. Pens would only need ~1 mil in cap space to sign him. Pretty easy to come up with a mil.

Yea, he's coming off a decent contract and has played quite well. Grabner and stalberg would be my 2 picks to round out the bottom 6
- drummer829

Those are my first two choices as well especially since they can both play either wing. Versatility would be key in a cheap UFA signing.

Dums was a rookie this past season wasnt he? I think they have RFA right to him for the next 4 years? Same with Murray...I think they will get a bridge deal done with each.
- Thorny

Dumoulin is already on his second contract and will be only 2 years from UFA when this deal expires, so I'd assume they'll lock him up in a deal similar to Oli. Murray might get a bridge deal but even that will be 3.5-4m I'd like to keep HBK together if they have near the same success next year, but if they do Bonino more than doubles his 1.9M

Just no reason to risk a bad contract when we already have so many good, younger players who will need that money soon, especially since this forward core proved they can win a Cup.

Vesey would get an ELC. Probably a max ELC, but an ELC none the less. Think Panarin. Pens would only need ~1 mil in cap space to sign him. Pretty easy to come up with a mil.
- Victoro311

Didn't Schultz do the same thing and get $3+? Maybe I'm mistaken

I got no idea how that ends. Very odd for essos soldiers to fight a Wessos fight. I don't see danerys as a hero. Wouldn't be surprised if somehow John sacrifices himself to save the kingdom. Maybe a marriage to a white walker princess (rumors a stark did that before)
- sditulli

I could see her playing the role of villain and turning into a reincarnation of her father. I could also see Jon Snow being revealed as a Targaryen and that throwing a monkey wrench in the whole thing, possibly leading to a union between himself and Daeny. The possibilities are endless. What if the White Walkers complete the cycle of Winter taking over the world again, as it did before, freezing everything over and taking out a wild, evil, out of control Daeny empire? Ever since episode one we've been told "Winter is coming", and for the most part the human minds have taken it for granted, become greedy/corrupt, and fought among themselves. Ultimate lesson learned/shock ending. I would love it. Just imagine a giant zombie dragon that breathes ice beams....

Didn't Schultz do the same thing and get $3+? Maybe I'm mistaken
- jchst22

No, he signed a two year max ELC, but it was loaded with performance bonuses and then Edmonton gave him two mammoth one year deals back to back.

There's ways to technically pay someone above max ELC, but for the first year, all that matters is that ELC cap hit. Then teams can worry about the bonuses later.

There's a couple cheap options I'd take a flyer on. Helm's aight. I'd also look into Grabner, Stalberg, and Eaves if JR wants to sign a UFA. No one expensive and try to keep it to a one-year soldier of fortune contract.
- Victoro311

Cullen retires, kuni traded for 3rd, flower traded for picks, sign Schultz at 2yrs@3mil (then trade DP to Dallas for Nish) if they can't get Schultz you trade his rights for a 6 or 7th and keep DP, with cap space go after Okposo or Boedker and the lineup is set

Edit: go after Enroth to back up murray

I feel ya. I still watch MLB, though
- schoobs2731

You must be easily entertained

Um shut up and go change your diaper old man. WTF are tiddly winks you dinosaur, never heard of them?
- Dcoms

That figures moron

Let's say the Pens continue with the three scoring line model...

HBK
XXX/ Sid/ Horny
XXX/ Malkin/ Kunitz
Knuckles/ Sund/ Rust

Still have Sheary, Wilson, Fehr, and Bennett... Who is going to go to make room for a free agent signee? Personally, I see the off season being extremely boring for us because other than a LW, we're solid all around and have depth... Just my opinion.

No, he signed a two year max ELC, but it was loaded with performance bonuses and then Edmonton gave him two mammoth one year deals back to back.

There's ways to technically pay someone above max ELC, but for the first year, all that matters is that ELC cap hit. Then teams can worry about the bonuses later.
- Victoro311

Got it. Thanks

It also didn't help that Toews had a "down year" in scoring. If Hossa stays healthy and they can resign Ladd for cheap, they'll have a great 1-2 punch. Then Shaw centering a 3rd line won't be bad either.
- drummer829

My dream lines would have Ladd with Toews and Schmaltz(who just signed and depending on camp/preseason might slot in the top 6), Shaw centering Panik and Kane(Kane and Shaw have played together before, Kane makes everyone look good and this line could be like Saad-Shaw-Kane in 2014 because Panik has the tools and the speed though in a vacuum Saad is superior), and Panarin with Anisimov and Hossa. Desjardins, Kruger, and whoever else on the 4th line. That's only possible if Crawford is traded though, and thats a rather unpopular opinion right now though personally i see no other option to maintain roster depth.

Let's say the Pens continue with the three scoring line model...

HBK
XXX/ Sid/ Horny
XXX/ Malkin/ Kunitz
Knuckles/ Sund/ Rust

Still have Sheary, Wilson, Fehr, and Bennett... Who is going to go to make room for a free agent signee? Personally, I see it the ofg season being extremely boring for us because other than a LW, we're solid all around and have depth... Just my opinion.
- hipcheck_goalie

You guys are absolutely fine at forward. No need to go out and add IMO, your youth and speed are your strength. If anything try to upgrade on defense.

Got it. Thanks
- jchst22

No problem. Bonuses complicate everything. You can bet that whoever Vesey signs with will be paying him cerca 4 million, but on paper his cap hit will be 925k or whatever a max ELC is.

You guys are absolutely fine at forward. No need to go out and add IMO, your youth and speed are your strength. If anything try to upgrade on defense.
- SimpleJack

Do you know the total amount of $ Hawks will/are paying Panarin in bonuses?

Do you know the total amount of $ Hawks will/are paying Panarin in bonuses?
- tpcg402

Believe its 2.6mil or so this upcoming season but not 100% certain.

You guys are absolutely fine at forward. No need to go out and add IMO, your youth and speed are your strength. If anything try to upgrade on defense.
- SimpleJack

Defensive depth is certainly our biggest question mark going into next season. Our top 4 is pretty much set with Letang, Dumoulin, a hopefully healthy Maatta, and Trevor Daley. After that, if we can resign Schultz our bottom pairing is strong. If not, Cole can play the right side and DP-Cole should be serviceable. After that, though, we have zilch. We have a 50/50 guy in Bengtsson who could challenge for a spot in camp, or who could struggle to carve out a spot for himself in WBS. No one knows anything about him so he can't be counted on for depth. Then we have Prow who looks like he needs to bake in the AHL for at least a year maybe two and can be counted on even less. After that we have AHL vets like Erixon, Olesky, and O'Niel who aren't NHL caliber players.

Say we resign Schultz and keep DP. That gives us 7 NHL defensemen, but then (frank) all after that. When injuries hit, we could be royally screwed. Issue is I don't know how to fix this short of acquiring near-NHL ready prospects who can hang out in the AHL until injuries hit and not completely poop the bed. Its unrealistic to go out and sign NHL players and try to carry 8-9 NHL defensemen on the roster at once. It won't fit under the cap.

https://www.facebook.com/...s/posts/10154412339935809

For you facebook people out there, so awesome. I got chills.

Believe its 2.6mil or so this upcoming season but not 100% certain.
- SimpleJack

Thanks. At the end of the day that is still a good deal for that kind of production.