Ryan Wilson: Shopping for bargains Shopping for bargains

I'm all about the "battle", RW. Players must come ready to do just that every game IMO. Battling is contagious, you can see it in every level of hockey. When some players are giving it their all every shift, or "battling", it can spread through the lineup that game.

I understand why we traded Horny but IMO he was the Pens biggest battler, so I didnt like losing his attitude in the lineup.

Also....I'd absolutely take Kahun back on the cheap. I dont recall having a problem with his effort levels with the eye test. In fact, my eyes liked what I saw a lot of nights from him.

...and I'm ready to move on from Sheary...at 700k you could do worse though...

@MattStratt: This is definitely a situation where I'll defer to JR and Sully. He's passed the stats and eye test at all three of his stops and has now been thrown away by three different teams. I'd love to have him back, but he doesn't meet the usual criteria that cause players to be stupidly cast aside for no reason: he's not tiny, and he's not a defensive liability, so at this point I have to trust that there's a reason he's not sticking.

If we bring him back I'll trust that whatever his issue is isn't viewed as a deal breaker, but if we don't bring him back I'm not going to lose sleep on this one. The situation smells.

...and I'm ready to move on from Sheary...at 700k you could do worse though...
- MattStrat

We've gotten to the point where Sheary would be a huge upgrade for the bottom 6. We need more than Sheary can provide in the top 6, but at least he might score on the third line.

@MattStratt: This is definitely a situation where I'll defer to JR and Sully. He's passed the stats and eye test at all three of his stops and has now been thrown away by three different teams. I'd love to have him back, but he doesn't meet the usual criteria that cause players to be stupidly cast aside for no reason: he's not tiny, and he's not a defensive liability, so at this point I have to trust that there's a reason he's not sticking.

If we bring him back I'll trust that whatever his issue is isn't viewed as a deal breaker, but if we don't bring him back I'm not going to lose sleep on this one. The situation smells.
- Victoro311

It does, it reeks. I thought he, Geno and Rust were very, very good together and I cant see how the coach or GM wouldnt agree haha. I also think that JR is just thinking in terms of lines and thinks his top 6 is set.

I dont get the premise of the article. Its not bargain shopping when you are looking at signing bottom 6/pair players for $1-2M.

Bargain shopping was getting a plus player like Namestnikov, Fast, Barrie, Turris, etc for what they went for. Get Haula or Granlund for $2.5M and it would be a bargain. Get Hoffman for under $5M and it will be a bargain.

We've gotten to the point where Sheary would be a huge upgrade for the bottom 6. We need more than Sheary can provide in the top 6, but at least he might score on the third line.
- Victoro311

Yeah exactly and this is why I wouldnt lose sleep if he's signed again on the cheap....but I am ready to not have him around anymore, for good, as well haha.

Yeah exactly and this is why I wouldnt lose sleep if he's signed again on the cheap....but I am ready to not have him around anymore, for good, as well haha.
- MattStrat

He’s neither bad nor good enough to merit the time and energy put into arguing about him on this board so I’m kind of just ready to move on haha.

Why not take a run at Liane? Rust, Petts, ++
Not sure if we have enough to trade for him, but that would make for a great top six. Just an idea...

He’s neither bad nor good enough to merit the time and energy put into arguing about him on this board so I’m kind of just ready to move on haha.
- Victoro311

hahaha that is also a factor in my readiness....poor o'le MadMike if the Pens re-sign him...

Why not take a run at Liane? Rust, Petts, ++
Not sure if we have enough to trade for him, but that would make for a great top six. Just an idea...
- pier6687

This is a great idea!

Why not take a run at Liane? Rust, Petts, ++
Not sure if we have enough to trade for him, but that would make for a great top six. Just an idea...
- pier6687

Doesn't Winnipeg also want multiple first round picks?

Doesn't Winnipeg also want multiple first round picks?
- stevens87

I'd say a 2022 and 2023 1st plus Rust and Petts will get it done....you down? hahaha

I'd say a 2022 and 2023 1st plus Rust and Petts will get it done....you down? hahaha
- MattStrat

For a guy who is still only 22 and potential 50 goal scorer? Absolutely!

I'd say a 2022 and 2023 1st plus Rust and Petts will get it done....you down? hahaha
- MattStrat

Those two and two firsts is a bit much. Winnipeg has a really hard time keeping/attracting talent, so I think a top 4 D and a 2nd line winger both with term would be quite valuable to them. I'd throw in that 2022 1st but anything more than that is crazy talk.

The Jets are in a tough spot where they know they need to move him but they need to save face. I can imagine there would be major hesitation in sending him to the Pens where it is the perfect situation for him to succeed.

For a guy who is still only 22 and potential 50 goal scorer? Absolutely!
- stevens87

You caught me by surprise here because it was intended as a joke for you. You've seemed pretty bullish about not mortgaging any more future for the Sid and Geno era, which it seems you think is done winning.

You caught me by surprise here because it was intended as a joke for you. You've seemed pretty bullish about not mortgaging any more future for the Sid and Geno era, which it seems you think is done winning.
- MattStrat

The big reason, like I said, he is still only 22 years old. He could be a great player for the team for years, even after those two are no longer here. Now, if they trade for a player who is 29, then no! Most likely his best years are behind him.

I guess the big reason is I have no confidence JR can make a trade to get maximum value.

Look at the trade with Toronto. They were trying to dump salary and they did after the trade by sending Andreas Johnsson to Jersey for Joey Anderson.

If JR wanted to make the Kapanen trade then it should have included Johnsson.

For giving up a 1st round and a prospect would seem reasonable to me.

I think GMJR focuses more on need than on scoring bargains. Aside from perhaps Koekkoek the Pens simply don't need any of these players. They are already stacked at forward and do not need to add any more forwards, even at league minimum prices.

I think the only other position that GMJR is going to fill is a veteran goalie and he is going to save all remaining cap space he has for this position, to get the best available. I don't think he wants to go into the season with Jarry and DeSmith as the top two goalies in the organization.

Sheary shouldn't have been traded for in the first place. Time to turn the page and not bring him back.

Wow.. RW actually suggesting a return of Sheary... I think he is just broken with JJ gone and not having a whipping boy.

Sign Chara

I don't want Sheary back here at any price

You just KNOW he will end up being back with Sid instead if trying other options and when he'd not he'll be falling down and losing puck battles on the 3rd line

No Thanks, That ship has sailed

The big reason, like I said, he is still only 22 years old. He could be a great player for the team for years, even after those two are no longer here. Now, if they trade for a player who is 29, then no! Most likely his best years are behind him.

I guess the big reason is I have no confidence JR can make a trade to get maximum value.

Look at the trade with Toronto. They were trying to dump salary and they did after the trade by sending Andreas Johnsson to Jersey for Joey Anderson.

If JR wanted to make the Kapanen trade then it should have included Johnsson.

For giving up a 1st round and a prospect would seem reasonable to me.
- stevens87

Do you know why Johnsson only fetch a 3rd?

Because NOBODY else wanted him

It only takes 1 other team to justify the price of Kapanen, especially if he was the guy that JR wanted (Young, Fast, Right Handed, RW, with scoring touch and some jam in his game) on a cheap contract with RFA control

Johnsson is NONE of those things

Was he bluffed? Maybe, but he got the guy he obviously wanted the cost of that sometimes is overpaying for it. Not getting Kapanen does not mean signing Jesper Fast and thinking it's the same thing. It also doesn't mean signing Craig Smith (once again, assuming he even wanted to come here). They are not the same players

He also got back more that I thought Murray was worth in trade, so consider it a wash