I think if schultz signs here he will have a bigger role. he was good at the power play and we desperately need a right handed defensemen.
- martox

I get that you think he could have a bigger role and I don't disagree with you, I'm a big fan of Shultz and would take him over Pouliot in a second, the problem is that the organization doesn't see it that way and has already made it clear that Pouliot is going to get a 25-30 game window to try to establish himself, signing Shultz or any player similar to Shultz would hinder that and would make no sense. They can't give Pouliot a 25-30 game window and give Shultz a solid role with the team without using Shultz & Pouliot as a 3rd pairing which they also already shown they don't trust and have no interest doing.

ruth has even said he is trying to bring schultz back but I agree that schultz isn't NEEDED but what if pouliot fails? would you want warsofsky to be our 6th d man? if someone got hurt would you want warsofsky as your 6th d man?
- martox

If Schultz is legitimately generating minimal interest from other teams, a very cheap one year deal might work well for both player and team. Schultz goes back to an environment he know he can thrive and if he knocks it out of the park he's back to making 4+ mil as soon as next year. If Pitt decides Schultz is part of the long term plan, they don't have to worry about protecting him because there's no term to protect.

Schultz coming back is good for the team any way you slice it. I'm comfortable with Warsofsky as a 7th d, but I think there's a big jump between him and Pouliot. And for people worried about DP, well if he's as good as people say then he should be able to win a spot over Cole or Schultz. Even if he doesn't, as a 7th d he'll have plenty of opportunities to play. This is the Penguins and we get banged up all the time. If he's good enough in injury relief that The Old Man doesn't feel the need to get another d man like he did last year at the deadline, that means he's taken the step forward and we can count on him to at least be a bottom pairing guy in 2017 when Daley leaves if he's not taken in expansion.

Could have sworn someone said Sheary was... but doesn't really matter. Wilson then, or Sund... point was we had players to send down for a week or however long it is to make Vesey fit.
- Guile

Im almost positive Sheary is on waiver exempt ELC. His first NHL contract was last year.

Wilson is not waiver exempt

Edit: took a look at cap friendly and they have Wilson waiver exempt and Sheary as not but that makes no sense because Wilson got extended along with Rust and Kuhnhackl and Sheary's still on ELC...

Im almost positive Sheary is on waiver exempt ELC. His first NHL contract was last year.

Wilson is not waiver exempt

Edit: took a look at cap friendly and they have Wilson waiver exempt and Sheary as not but that makes no sense because Wilson got extended along with Rust and Kuhnhackl and Sheary's still on ELC...
- Victoro311

Exempt status has to do with age and games played which is why Sheary is waiver eligible and Wilson is exempt. Their contracts have no impact on it.

Exempt status has to do with age and games played which is why Sheary is waiver eligible and Wilson is exempt. Their contracts have no impact on it.
- jaydogg1974

I always thought it was ELCs are waiver exempt and everything else is not... Why isn't Rust waiver exempt then? He and Wilson are the same age I thought.

If Schultz is legitimately generating minimal interest from other teams, a very cheap one year deal might work well for both player and team. Schultz goes back to an environment he know he can thrive and if he knocks it out of the park he's back to making 4+ mil as soon as next year. If Pitt decides Schultz is part of the long term plan, they don't have to worry about protecting him because there's no term to protect.

Schultz coming back is good for the team any way you slice it. I'm comfortable with Warsofsky as a 7th d, but I think there's a big jump between him and Pouliot. And for people worried about DP, well if he's as good as people say then he should be able to win a spot over Cole or Schultz. Even if he doesn't, as a 7th d he'll have plenty of opportunities to play. This is the Penguins and we get banged up all the time. If he's good enough in injury relief that The Old Man doesn't feel the need to get another d man like he did last year at the deadline, that means he's taken the step forward and we can count on him to at least be a bottom pairing guy in 2017 when Daley leaves if he's not taken in expansion.
- Victoro311

I'm with you. If pouliot and Schultz are on this team as a 6/7d then I can't imagine a situation where they both don't play 60 games because of injuries.

I also think Sullivan could rotate the 7d into different pairings during the regular season if it's a guy like Schultz or pouliot.

I always thought it was ELCs are waiver exempt and everything else is not... Why isn't Rust waiver exempt then? He and Wilson are the same age I thought.
- Victoro311

I think it's the games played. Had Wilson not been injured, he would likely not be exempt either.

I always thought it was ELCs are waiver exempt and everything else is not... Why isn't Rust waiver exempt then? He and Wilson are the same age I thought.
- Victoro311

Either way... this would be just a temp send down for cap shenangins with either.

Yeah, the cap aint gonna allow that to happen. Really excited about Scott Wilson this year. Cullen and Hudler are luxuries but they still bring a lot at (potentially) low cost.

I wish Kuhnhackl was waiver exempt...he'd be my first choice to send back to WBS. Not a bad 4th liner...but probably, what, the 14th best forward?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Kuhnackl is valuable. He isn't a problem.

I always thought it was ELCs are waiver exempt and everything else is not... Why isn't Rust waiver exempt then? He and Wilson are the same age I thought.
- Victoro311

Because at age 24 the cutoff for waiver eligibility is 60 games, Rust has 78 which makes him waiver eligible and Wilson has 28 which makes him waiver exempt. I have to double check the elc part but I'm pretty sure that contract is irrelevant as far as type of contract, the only effect that contract has is that there is also a year restriction from when they sign their first NHL contract (not elcs). By my understanding McDavid will become waiver eligible once he plays his 10th game regardless of whether he's still on his elc or not.

I get that you think he could have a bigger role and I don't disagree with you, I'm a big fan of Shultz and would take him over Pouliot in a second, the problem is that the organization doesn't see it that way and has already made it clear that Pouliot is going to get a 25-30 game window to try to establish himself, signing Shultz or any player similar to Shultz would hinder that and would make no sense. They can't give Pouliot a 25-30 game window and give Shultz a solid role with the team without using Shultz & Pouliot as a 3rd pairing which they also already shown they don't trust and have no interest doing.
- jaydogg1974

I haven't read anything Rutherford has said as Pouliot playing is set in stone. He has openly talked about wanting Lovejoy and Schultz back, both of whom would start ahead of DP on the depth chart.They just don't think they can afford either.

Rutherford only said they are comfortable giving DP that spot. And if they can't sign anyone, they should be. But this team is focused on winning another Cup and if there is an improvement that can be made they will do it. They are one injury from having DP pkaying with another inexperienced D on their 3rd pair.

Yohe had some interesting tid bits on his QA.

He has a gut feeling we'll extend Bonino mid season and protect him. I can't overstate how incredibly flawed I think this plan is and yes I know a lot of people on here disagree with me.

He also thinks that if Vesey shows interest in the Pens Rutherford won't resiprocate it because he's so happy with the kids. This is the type of closed minded homerism that got us in trouble the last time. I love the WB5 a ton but that's just crazy talk.

Because at age 24 the cutoff for waiver eligibility is 60 games, Rust has 78 which makes him waiver eligible and Wilson has 28 which makes him waiver exempt. I have to double check the elc part but I'm pretty sure that contract is irrelevant as far as type of contract, the only effect that contract has is that there is also a year restriction from when they sign their first NHL contract (not elcs). By my understanding McDavid will become waiver eligible once he plays his 10th game regardless of whether he's still on his elc or not.
- jaydogg1974

Thanks.

Yohe had some interesting tid bits on his QA.

He has a gut feeling we'll extend Bonino mid season and protect him. I can't overstate how incredibly flawed I think this plan is and yes I know a lot of people on here disagree with me.

He also thinks that if Vesey shows interest in the Pens Rutherford won't resiprocate it because he's so happy with the kids. This is the type of closed minded homerism that got us in trouble the last time. I love the WB5 a ton but that's just crazy talk.
- Victoro311

if that last part is true then he needs to be fired right now.

Yohe had some interesting tid bits on his QA.

He has a gut feeling we'll extend Bonino mid season and protect him. I can't overstate how incredibly flawed I think this plan is and yes I know a lot of people on here disagree with me.

He also thinks that if Vesey shows interest in the Pens Rutherford won't resiprocate it because he's so happy with the kids. This is the type of closed minded homerism that got us in trouble the last time. I love the WB5 a ton but that's just crazy talk.
- Victoro311

I'd agree with you on Vesey, not on Bonino. Having Malkin, Crosby, and HBK spread out is what makes our team special, aside from the speed. Bonino is also the youngest center on the roster other than Sundqvist.

I've run some early calcultions and so long as they continue to use their younger wings for the bulk of Malkin and Crosby's line, they should have no problem keeping Bonino. So long as they can get 3 guys out of Sheary, Rust, Wilson, Sprong, Guentzel, and Simon, they can still fill out the roster and keep or replace Hornqvist. Since that formula has already won a Cup and their are potentially more talented wings being added in Sprong and Guentzel, I'd stay the course with that route rather than spend on a wing and go back to 2 scoring lines.

Demers to FLA at 4.5 per. Should start to move the defensemen. I'd expect Cullen and Schultz to both sign somewhere today.

new blog

I'd agree with you on Vesey, not on Bonino. Having Malkin, Crosby, and HBK spread out is what makes our team special, aside from the speed. Bonino is also the youngest center on the roster other than Sundqvist.

I've run some early calcultions and so long as they continue to use their younger wings for the bulk of Malkin and Crosby's line, they should have no problem keeping Bonino. So long as they can get 3 guys out of Sheary, Rust, Wilson, Sprong, Guentzel, and Simon, they can still fill out the roster and keep or replace Hornqvist. Since that formula has already won a Cup and their are potentially more talented wings being added in Sprong and Guentzel, I'd stay the course with that route rather than spend on a wing and go back to 2 scoring lines.
- Tojo.

I'm open to bringing back Bonino even though my gut reaction is let him walk. I think extending him in the middle of the season so we have to waste a protection on him is fubar when we can just extend him after expansion and not have to waste a protection