I think the likelihood of him playing with Sid again are very low unless they are decimated by injuries.
- Rinosaur

So there's a very good chance he plays with Sid again haha

I saw I missed Simon talk yesterday. Appropriate it was on a Sheary blog because they had one thing in common. They both had a big year alongside Sid and failed to repeat it.

Simon played about 60% of the time with Sid, but Sid's actual and expected goals for were both about 4% lower with Simon.
- Tojo.

This. I've been saying this about Simon for a while now. He had one decent season with and away from puck, that was it. One season.

What sucks is Buffalo all of the difficult pieces to acquire -- Eichel who's a god damn amazing center, and Dahlin who should become a very solid 1D. Those are the absolute hardest pieces to acquire but they failed at making the rest of the team competitive so now a top 10 C want's to bounce.
- j.boyd919

One thing that is also often forgotten about and is a bit controversial (although shouldn't be) is that the Pens' rebuild actually started in 2003 when they traded up to acquire MAF. While I think in the later part of his time with the Pens he got burned out playing behind the Pens' system (which gave up numerous quality chances against) he was still an amazing goalie who was instrumental in the team turning it around. With a lesser goalie they may never have turned it around.

The Sabres neglected the goaltender position in their rebuild and are in fact still searching for a reliable starter. Unfortunately the Pens are now too, for the first time in Crosby's career with the Pens.

Luck in how the prospects develop is also another important factor. There are numerous first and second round picks that just don't pan out at the NHL level. Then you have players like Letang, who was drafted in the third round and ended up being the best and most important defenseman in the Crosby era.

Geno was a great player. Currently a good player. His current cap hit and unfortunately his next cap hit will provide terrible value for the team. I’m a numbers guy, looking at this through advanced analytics objectively is the only way to come to a logical conclusion. He isn’t the player he once was and the aging curve isn’t treating him well. It’s nice to have all these cushy feelings of the past but this is a business. Cap hits and value Trump all.

I almost typed that with a straight face.

Geno was a great player. Currently a good player. His current cap hit and unfortunately his next cap hit will provide terrible value for the team. I’m a numbers guy, looking at this through advanced analytics objectively is the only way to come to a logical conclusion. He isn’t the player he once was and the aging curve isn’t treating him well. It’s nice to have all these cushy feelings of the past but this is a business. Cap hits and value Trump all.

I almost typed that with a straight face.
- Grinder47

You gave it away early.

So there's a very good chance he plays with Sid again haha
- MattStrat

I walked right into that one lol

I walked right into that one lol
- Rinosaur

Lol pretty much.

Pens seem to have a pretty well defined top 6 entering the year without Malkin. But really 1 injury and who moves up? Short of some great play by a prospect, we're looking at ERod, Heinen, and Simon.

Carolina with an interesting offer sheet to Kotepkenemi... this is why teams don't want to offer sheet. You took at shot at me with Aho, I'm taking one back.

Not sure I fully understand this one as I think Kotepkenemi is good but not good enough to want to offer sheet.

Carolina with an interesting offer sheet to Kotepkenemi... this is why teams don't want to offer sheet. You took at shot at me with Aho, I'm taking one back.

Not sure I fully understand this one as I think Kotepkenemi is good but not good enough to want to offer sheet.
- MacPatty

The $20 signing bonus was the big FU lol

Carolina with an interesting offer sheet to Kotepkenemi... this is why teams don't want to offer sheet. You took at shot at me with Aho, I'm taking one back.

Not sure I fully understand this one as I think Kotepkenemi is good but not good enough to want to offer sheet.
- MacPatty

That's how you get the player. Overpay and hope he gets better. The real reason nobody ever offer sheets.

The $20 signing bonus was the big FU lol
- Rinosaur

Waddell comments too were pretty chirpy. Should turn these two into a good rivalry.

That's how you get the player. Overpay and hope he gets better. The real reason nobody ever offer sheets.
- Tojo.

The beauty is that it's a one year deal. They can sign him for less on a long term deal if he doesn't get better. I have a feeling the player is going to want to be in Carolina over Montreal after this season anyways.

Waddell comments too were pretty chirpy. Should turn these two into a good rivalry.
- MacPatty

I saw those, too. I love it.

The beauty is that it's a one year deal. They can sign him for less on a long term deal if he doesn't get better. I have a feeling the player is going to want to be in Carolina over Montreal after this season anyways.
- MacPatty

I think he will still need to be qualified next year at at least that price.

I think he will still need to be qualified next year at at least that price.
- 10inchTerror

Not if he signs an extension. The talk is that he signs for one year at $6.1M and then agrees to a lower AAV long-term extension. Say he signs for 5 years at $4.2M, he'll essentially be making $4.5M per year for 6 years.

Carolina with an interesting offer sheet to Kotepkenemi... this is why teams don't want to offer sheet. You took at shot at me with Aho, I'm taking one back.

Not sure I fully understand this one as I think Kotepkenemi is good but not good enough to want to offer sheet.
- MacPatty

The Montreal offer sheet was basically just setting the price for Aho. He and Carolina weren't close, so Montreal basically became an arbitrator. There was never a chance that Carolina wouldn't match, which is why Waddell announced they would match it less than 24 hours after it was signed.

The Kotkaniemi offer sheet seems like Carolina cutting off their nose to spite their face. As you said, he's good for sure, but this seems more like Carolina having a pissing match against themselves more than anything.