It's a scientific fact that you only find good players in the top-5 picks. Everything after that is worthless.

I was looking at the sharks salary cap, and they could be a good team to trade with. They have 16 mil to sign Pavelski, Meier, Labanc, Thornton, Donskoi, and Nyquist. They’ll probably let Nyquist and Donskoi walk, but Pavelski could easily get $8+ mil, and Meier and Labanc could get $4+ mil each, which would eat up the rest of their cap space. I wonder if the pens could try to work a deal with the 1st round pick and ZAR or Simon for Meier.
- drummer829

I think Meier is worth more than this, drummer. I'd kick the tires on Nyquist for Geno's wing. Why not?

It's a scientific fact that you only find good players in the top-5 picks. Everything after that is worthless.
- jmatchett383

Oh the irony

The more his name goes without being mentioned, the more I wonder about Schultz.

If they aren't dead set on resigning him I wonder how Winnipeg would value him? Could you get a 1st rounder for him? Could there be a deal around Schultz for Ehlers?

I think Meier is worth more than this, drummer. I'd kick the tires no Nyquist for Geno's wing. Why not?
- Barnaby36

Nyquist would be great if they can afford him. Would need to clear some space as it currently stands.

Where is your statistical evidence? Sid has to play with Simon, Malkin and Kessel are on the same line playing two different styles on their own terms, Letang trying to win the cup himself and Pettersson and Gudbransson are playing sound smart defense and putting up tangible offense. Let’s blame it all on Gudbransson and JJ though. That’s the easy thing to do on paper.
- Grinder47

I don't like when all the blame is put on Jacko tbh. People will remember, I was one of the guys who tried to root for his success since day one here but he's shown he's a 6-7 d-man at best at this point in his carreer and that's why I'm more than willing to move him without hesitation.

In hindsight giving a 5 year deal to a player without even seeing if he fit the team was as dumb as it gets.

Jack Johnson @ $2.75M for 2 years we all could live with.

The more his name goes without being mentioned, the more I wonder about Schultz.

If they aren't dead set on resigning him I wonder how Winnipeg would value him? Could you get a 1st rounder for him? Could there be a deal around Schultz for Ehlers?
- MacPatty

Winnipeg would be an ideal destination for Schultz indeed. I bet they would consider trading for him....but if we trade him we'll miss his game. We won't have a true #2 guy to drive play from the back end.

After watching St Louis I’m not completely sure the post Sid/Malkin era is going to be that bad. Any NHL caliber team that is buying into what the coach is saying and willing to out work the skill on the other side of the redline can win. I mean can you imagine Malkin/Kessel line going up against the 4th line of the blues during that run? It’s so frustrating when you have the skill but not the other sh it. The other sh it is simply a choice.
- Grinder47

Myself and few buddies who played in the QMJHL were talking about this the other night...hockey is a sport that hard work can trump skill.

It's a scientific fact that you only find good players in the top-5 picks. Everything after that is worthless.
- jmatchett383

Its a mathematical fact that after the top 5, and especially the top 10, the chances of a player ever becoming a NHL regular gets smaller and smaller....but you already knew that.

When does the pending-UFA's-can-talk-to-other-teams period begin?

Its a mathematical fact that after the top 5, and especially the top 10, the chances of a player ever becoming a NHL regular gets smaller and smaller....but you already knew that.
- MattStrat

It’s a mathematical fact if you don’t play the midget speed game you don’t win the c........... Oh wait.

The more his name goes without being mentioned, the more I wonder about Schultz.

If they aren't dead set on resigning him I wonder how Winnipeg would value him? Could you get a 1st rounder for him? Could there be a deal around Schultz for Ehlers?
- MacPatty

I'm in favor of moving Shultz if he can't be resigned next year, but struggle with thinking about how the team improves with another option in that spot next year.

Also, I see the logic in needing to acquire assets that benefit the win now window and the #21 overall being statistically unlikely to assist in that goal.

But what about next 2 years? Is that also considered the win now window? I think so.

I ask because I think the value of the #21 overall pick could appreciate in that time frame greater than its value today, even if it isn't NHL ready talent.

This would give Pitt more options next year or the year after if they make a quality selection.

Also, I see the logic in needing to acquire assets that benefit the win now window and the #21 overall being statistically unlikely to assist in that goal.

But what about next 2 years? Is that also considered the win now window? I think so.

I ask because I think the value of the #21 overall pick could appreciate in that time frame greater than its value today, even if it isn't NHL ready talent.

This would give Pitt more options next year or the year after if they make a quality selection.
- mgm986

Yeah, its certainly not unheard of for late 1st rounders, or any rounders for that matter, to take a year or two or more to be NHL ready...but its not a guarantee...its a gamble that they will be.

I probably would take Dion for $1M on this team tbh...but JJ has to go in fact.
- Barnaby36

Wut. Why? Phaneuf is trash.

FWIW.... Rutherford said the 1st rounder is in play. Said he won't trade it for an aging vet, but if he can get a "23 or 24" year old player he'll do it.

Wut. Why? Phaneuf is trash.
- j.boyd919

Because Dion would be better than JJ, albeit maybe just marginally, and 2.25 mill cheaper if signed for 1 mill.

Personally, I'd rather just dump JJ and roll with what they have or sign another D with the space they have by dumping him....and avoid Dion in the process.

FWIW.... Rutherford said the 1st rounder is in play. Said he won't trade it for an aging vet, but if he can get a "23 or 24" year old player he'll do it.
- madmike71

Of course it is, he'd be an idiot not to. Thats not to say he will definitely trade it but he has to see whats out there for it.

Lol wut. We just won back to back cups two seasons ago on him changing things.

Spoiled fans like you give the rest of us a bad name. I appreciate how hard it is to build a team that can win a cup, let alone one that wins back to back. We don’t win those cups without JR, you don’t have to agree with his moves but a real fan of the game would at least give him his due.

Respect goes a long way kid, I’m rooting for you to figure it out.
- stackthepads

I legit just said that it’s hard to win a Stanley cup. You’re right, we don’t win those cups without GMJR. I commend him for pulling all the right strings on those back to back cups but I can respect what he did and also acknowledge that he completely abandoned what he was doing after that and it resulted in the Pens getting their poop pushed in because the roster has been downgraded since the Pens won their last cup.

It’s really not difficult to acknowledge why the Pens succeeded and recognize why they haven’t in the last two seasons. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

When does the pending-UFA's-can-talk-to-other-teams period begin?
- MattStrat

I think it’s a week before free agency

I'm in favor of moving Shultz if he can't be resigned next year, but struggle with thinking about how the team improves with another option in that spot next year.
- mgm986

Really depends on who’s on the left side next to whoever is playing 2RD. If it’s Pettersson I can see a bounce back season for Schultz. If they peg JJ as the 2LD, it’s gonna be a long season of them getting buried in their own zone.

They got one longshot rookie, Almari, who won't be ready this year. Addison is about it in the system. Expect GMJR to sign a few vets July 1st to 2 way deals for depth, or maybe someone like Trotman or Czuczman returning.
- Tojo.

I just looked them up on CF, I really know nothing of the leagues they play in but.

Hollander's stats dont look too hot.
Drozg is a pt/gm in the Q
Bjorquist has decent #'s in NCAA
Olund is the D man I was thinking of...Had 6 g in WB.

I don't like when all the blame is put on Jacko tbh. People will remember, I was one of the guys who tried to root for his success since day one here but he's shown he's a 6-7 d-man at best at this point in his carreer and that's why I'm more than willing to move him without hesitation.

In hindsight giving a 5 year deal to a player without even seeing if he fit the team was as dumb as it gets.

Jack Johnson @ $2.75M for 2 years we all could live with.
- Barnaby36

I really knew nothing of JJ when the Pens signed him other than he u se to be decent but I dont have time to follow other teams so i just figured he would be a fine mid pairing dude. I didnt start really following the games until Nov but I would read here every once in a while and everyone trashing the dude. Then I saw them in CO in Dec.....Me and my client were like wow that 73 really sucks he's all over the ice. Yeah maybe he's a WB call up...Oh so thats JJ!

Really depends on who’s on the left side next to whoever is playing 2RD. If it’s Pettersson I can see a bounce back season for Schultz. If they peg JJ as the 2LD, it’s gonna be a long season of them getting buried in their own zone.
- j.boyd919

Yea, Shultz or any RD's success depends immensely on JJ not burying their skill set.

I'm more curious about what RD would make sense for Pitt if Shultz left AND their pairing wasn't muted by JJ.

With that said, I'd also be willing to keep Shultz and lose him as an UFA to gain his skills for one more season.

All of this of course depends on JJ being traded or simply not in the line up.

I guess it depends what route they want to take. Stick with Pavelski and possibly lose Labanc or Meier, or go with Meier and Labanc and lose Pavelski. If Pavelski gets 7, Meier gets 6, and Labanc gets 5 (all low numbers) that’s $18 mil. If I’m a rival, I’m throwing offer sheets at Meier and Labanc for sure. Avs could do that no problem
- drummer829

Unfortunately that’s not the way it works. The comparables for Labanc and Meier aren’t guys in their 30’s like Pavelski, it’s other guys around their age. It’s going to happen all over the league. In Colorado Rantanen isn’t going to take 5 just so he makes less than NateMac, that kid is going to get paid handsomely