Exactly. Either Fleury waives his clause and gets picked, or he doesn't and Murray gets picked. No reason to worry about the O and D.
- Kineada

we have ED problems on defense too. We might need to trade Maatta if we can. He's too young and has flashed upside that I wouldn't want to lose him for nothing. Young promising defenseman even ones who have regressed still have a lot of trade value. Schultz is going to end the year top 10 in points for defenseman. If he had a long-term contract he would be a must protect, but since vegas only gets 1 year of RFA control they might pass on him.

I'm actually hoping Rust or Hagelin gets picked. As of right now they are unprotected guys if we don't move Maatta. I don't want to lose them, but they are looking like the best path for us.

Schultz is 6th in points for a 1D. Why would green slot ahead of him. Since points is all that matters. He's clearly an upper echelon 1D and doesn't even get 1st power play time. 4th in plus minus too. He should be in the norris conversation and not a 3rd pairing guy.
- sditulli

Who said points is all that matters? We've brought up shot suppression, quality of team mates, quality of competition, and then some. Nice try tho.

Not sure why everyone is sold on him, but was trepidatious about Sheary.

First, for you analytics groupies, he's pretty bad in terms of possession.

Second, he gets overpowered WAY too easily and it terrible on the cycle.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/p.../id/3042083/jake-guentzel

Against the better and more physical teams, he has little to no shots on goal and doesn't get as many points. Against the weaker competition he excels. The proof is in the pudding.
- Rinosaur

He's still young. Has performed at an extremely high level in the AHL. He's currently producing at .5 ppg on a decent sample size. I wouldn't be sold on him yet, but he looks like a NHL player. Mid-6 type guy. I don't see him a driver of a first line, but he looks like a passenger on a 2nd line potential and potentially a driver of a good 3c. He has time to add some muscle and round out his game.

Sheary - Sid - Versteeg (cheap UFA)
Guentzel - Malkin - Sprong
Hagelin - Sundqvist - Kessel
Kunitz - Rowney/Wilson/Kuhnhackl/Rust

Dumo - Letang
Maatta - Green
Cole - Schultz
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah and I have bad ideas. Versteeg is on the third line for the Flames but he's top line for us? Putting Kessel with Sunny is stupid. And Green is overpaid and injury prone.

Not sure why everyone is sold on him, but was trepidatious about Sheary.

First, for you analytics groupies, he's pretty bad in terms of possession.

Second, he gets overpowered WAY too easily and it terrible on the cycle.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/p.../id/3042083/jake-guentzel

Against the better and more physical teams, he has little to no shots on goal and doesn't get as many points. Against the weaker competition he excels. The proof is in the pudding.
- Rinosaur

And he's a rookie who is still figuring things out. He needs to learn how to play against bigger defenses. It's about gaining experience which is not an inherent quality.

solid deal. bring in a guy who is decent... solid 7 if not 6. maybe he even warrents a new deal next year (1 year). an ahl'er and a second for a good pick up is good. hopefully we use our 1st or dp or something for another solid addition. we are not in the "new toy" phase of teams.. we are in the win now phase and need to go for it!

Nice, rolling into the stadium series game against the team I hate the most and sporting the worst defense in the NHL. Who's going to play point on the PP? What a nightmare.
- Dcoms

Nah... I think the worst D in the league is the team we're facing. Especially if they're all healthy.

GMJR was just interviewed on WPXI. he indicated Fleury has not been shopped around. He wanted to keep Fleury, but he could not guarantee Fleury would still be a Penguin after the trade deadline. He will talk to Fleury over the next few days. Lastly, he said that a trade deadline deal would not be affected by the upcoming expansion draft.

I hope GMJR is a good liar!

And he's a rookie who is still figuring things out. He needs to learn how to play against bigger defenses. It's about gaining experience which is not an inherent quality.
- Dcoms

I just don't believe he's physically strong enough to survive the NHL.

I just don't believe he's physically strong enough to survive the NHL.
- Rinosaur

I think Jake still has a chance to be a very good Winger. He can still improve his physicallity and maybe get some pointers from older players - like Horny and Malkin example of their reverse check (where they push back into the D when they go in for a dump in and beat the D) - I'm seeing this play more and more. Jake has the hands and enough speed But needs to work on his stability (he could hit the weights and gain more strength - send him to Gary Roberts).

He could be very/very good if he continues to improve and stays healthy - of couse, I said that about Beau Bennett a few years ago also!

Mike Green 301 games, 188 points since 2012-13
Dmitry Kulikov 296 games, 70 points since 2012-13

You know, just in case anyone thought Mike Green was injury prone, compared to other options people seem to be interested in.

I'm picking up more chatter about a potential Senators-Avs trade involving Duchene. We'll see

From Adrian Dater

I believe the Pens need another D to shore up the team before the playoffs. What does everyone think of Matt Irwin of NSH? He plays the left side, but we don't know how Maattaa will be when he comes back. Irwin played well a few years ago with SJ. He is more defensive minded and plays both penalty kill and 2nd PP. Here is more info from a few years ago in an article about him:

http://www.thehockeynews....ig-role-in-sharks-success

http://thesportsdaily.com...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Good read on Schultz and the expansion draft and his contract situation

Who said points is all that matters? We've brought up shot suppression, quality of team mates, quality of competition, and then some. Nice try tho.
- j.boyd919

So as you've been quoted as saying shots are a garbage stat, wouldn't shot suppression fall into that same category?

Stop with Green its a waste of space and pure trolling. He's obviously a guy JR has no interest in. Tatar made a little sense but also wasn't a guy JR seemed interested in. Its trolling with things that won't happen.
- sditulli

Fixed!

Does everyone still think Shatts will get a 1st for the Blues? Unless the Rags fork out I'm thinking he doesn't go, he stays to try & win a Cup with the Blues then gets $$$$$$$$$$$$.

Thinking higher priced lower echelon players will be trending at the deadline - lots of (read that as some ), 2nd & 3rd round picks floating around!

Can we buy Flower out, then resign him before the expansion draft?

Wtf is going on with the time? Page says its 11:56 when its 6:56???? Is this a time warp? When will Meatloaf exit the freezer & Frank-n-Furter jump to the left???

Mike Green and his 6 million dollar cap hit with one year left is simply not an option for the Pens, nor realistic. Sick of seeing his name around a Pens blog. Let it go people.

EDIT: He's also just not champion material...I dont think he'll do what it takes. This goes beyond his numbers which are good. Talented skilled guy no doubt, but he wouldnt pay the price.

So as you've been quoted as saying shots are a garbage stat, wouldn't shot suppression fall into that same category?
- Aussiepenguin

what are you babbling about?

Mike Green and his 6 million dollar cap hit with one year left is simply not an option for the Pens, nor realistic. Sick of seeing his name around a Pens blog. Let it go people.

EDIT: He's also just not champion material...I dont think he'll do what it takes. This goes beyond his numbers which are good. Talented skilled guy no doubt, but he wouldnt pay the price.
- MattStrat

Him at 6M is a no-go, 4.25M is much easier to swallow. And I don't buy that champion material poop, same was said about Phil Kessel, and dude almost won the Conn Smythe.

Him at 6M is a no-go, 4.25M is much easier to swallow. And I don't buy that champion material poop, same was said about Phil Kessel, and dude almost won the Conn Smythe.
- j.boyd919

Kessel was known to be better and try harder in higher stake games (playoffs and Olympics), it was the mid season laziness most people had a problem with. Even last year in February when the Pens were outside the playoff picture he started coming on when the games were super important.

Mike Green, age 31, salary 6 million dollars, injured 11 times since 13-14, will cost a player, a prospect and a first.
Dmitri Kulikov, age 26, salary 4.5 million(expiring this summer), injured 2 times entire career, will cost a third round pick with salary retained.
In case anyone wants to waste the limited assets we have on points we don't need from the defensive position.

Mike Green, age 31, salary 6 million dollars, injured 11 times since 13-14, will cost a player, a prospect and a first.
Dmitri Kulikov, age 26, salary 4.5 million(expiring this summer), injured 2 times entire career, will cost a third round pick with salary retained.
In case anyone wants to waste the limited assets we have on points we don't need from the defensive position.
- Dcoms

You cant compare those two on the ice though. Its not even close.

So as you've been quoted as saying shots are a garbage stat, wouldn't shot suppression fall into that same category?
- Aussiepenguin

Don't confuse him with facts man.