Do the Pens blow it up?

[thedddd]

Not sure why Staal is in this discussion it proved itself it wasn't going to work. He said no to the only offer the Pens could give and they got the best they could for him.

As for Malkin/Crosby they won't be dealt.

Look at the RFA/UFA's Forwards Who probably are gone: (Kennedy, Jeffrey -both RFA's might get a qualifying offer), Igninla, Morrow, Cooke
Probably Signed: Adams and Dupuis.

D still have another year of Letang and Orpik (if they could deal either it would be great). Orpik to get cap space next year and Letang to get value before he leaves. I see Malkin as the top priority over Letang any day of the week.
The only RFA/UFA are Bortuzzo, Murray and Eaton. With probably only Bortuzzo getting a qualifying offer as a RFA. Murray and Eaton are gone.

After next season will be interesting because currently the only players under contract are: Crosby, Neal, Bennett, Martin and MAF.

 

[thedddd]

With that said above the "blow up" might come naturally due to the player contracts expiring.
But I highly doubt Malkin or Crosby will be dealt.

 

[RobBase]

GD Wings fans are ALREADY blowing up the local radio begging for Malkin. I swear some Wing fans only answer to winning to to BUY big names. It's the fucking 90's crowd who hopped on the bandwagon back when Mike Illitch was running the Wings like the Yankees and I hate them all.

I swear if Detroit sacrifices anymore picks/prospects away for big name players to win now I will lose it.

 

[JustAsking]

I'm not sure how the Staal situation, which is resolved, has much to do with this debate. I don't think paying a third line center that money makes sense...hence the trade. Malkin is 1B center anyway.

Ah, the Pens did offer him 6 mil per. You just said it yourself, you don't pay a 3rd line center 6 mil per. So you are thinking the Pens offered him that deal but he was going to be traded even if he accepted it? That makes no sense, and from the bold above I gather you think just that. The trade happened because Staal said no, not because he was going to make 6 mil per. If Staal accepted the Pens deal, he's your number #2 center (or 1b, whatever you want to call the line between 1st and 3rd line). Staal situation just shows the mindset the front office has regarding Malkin. They tried once to replace him with Staal. It's very quite simple actually.

 

[JustAsking]

GD Wings fans are ALREADY blowing up the local radio begging for Malkin. I swear some Wing fans only answer to winning to to BUY big names. It's the fucking 90's crowd who hopped on the bandwagon back when Mike Illitch was running the Wings like the Yankees and I hate them all.

I swear if Detroit sacrifices anymore picks/prospects away for big name players to win now I will lose it.

Between Malkin or Letang... whomever does get traded, it will be to the West I'm betting.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

You can't go into an 82 game season with a 38 year old and "some up and comer in the system."

Cap is going to make things tough but Pens need another NHL experienced goalie or they need to keep working with MAF.

As far as moving forward, Letang is going to want at least Green money and someone will give it to him be shed defensemen are vastly overpaid in this league so I would move him and hope to get something back because you won't be able to resign him and Malkin moving forward, and Malkin is more worth the money.

 

[JustAsking]

Listening to some post game reactions... DB needed to keep the feet grounding, and I don't think he did. Sid two or three times said 'we deserved better'... no, no one deserves anything in the world of sports. I know they work hard and had unlucky bounces, but, deserve?... boston put just as much effort into the games. Other players saying...'with this team we had'... it seems they were expecting things to happen to them.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Agreed. I noticed the same in the last few months honestly in pressers.

 

[JustAsking]

You can't go into an 82 game season with a 38 year old and "some up and comer in the system."

Cap is going to make things tough but Pens need another NHL experienced goalie or they need to keep working with MAF.

Keep working with MAF. I don't know (tongue firmly implanted in cheek)... MAF your regular season starter... then Vokoun your playoff start. Ha. The Pens should get a new goaltender coach, and work with Fleury with a head doctor this off season. I wonder if players' exit interviews, they will be asked about their confidence level in Fleury.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Trade a broken head for another even. Sometimes a change if scenery helps. See if you can get Price or someone. I just don't think you can go into a full season with 92 and a kid.

 

[JustAsking]

Trade a broken head for another even. Sometimes a change if scenery helps. See if you can get Price or someone. I just don't think you can go into a full season with 92 and a kid.

I can't imagine the Habs (or any Canadian team) wanting Fleury. Esp the Habs... Ryan Miller has a few more years on Fleury... but perhaps swapping those two straight up. Sabre fans, what do you think...

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Don't know if that would work with the cap. What is his cap #

 

[JustAsking]

1.25 mil more than MAF (something like that).. only one year left on it...

 

[thedddd]

1.25 mil more than MAF (something like that).. only one year left on it...

You are correct that much more with one less year.
I doubt any team will want MAF for two years at 5 million. I can honestly see no takers and the goaltending situation will look similiar. They might get lucky with a team needing to get to the cap floor.

I do agree Vukoun and anything else in the system would be bad goalie situation to be in. If Vokoun got hurt they would be in trouble.

 

[beantownmaniac]

I can't imagine the Habs (or any Canadian team) wanting Fleury. Esp the Habs... Ryan Miller has a few more years on Fleury... but perhaps swapping those two straight up. Sabre fans, what do you think...

Pretty sure Sabres fans stated earlier in the week they wouldn't want Fleury and I don't blame them with Miller in goal. The Sabres problems aren't Miller. As for "blowing up" the Pens, seems like a panic move of you ask me. they only had the best record in the East, 2nd in the NHL for the regular season, and made it to the conference finals. Blysma should go. He totally misused Iggy IMO. Tweak the lineup but don't blow up the team.

 

[raptorlife4]

Montreal could go after letang and Fluery. Price and someone else not named Subban going the other way

 

[pixburgher66]

Montreal could go after letang and Fluery. Price and someone else not named Subban going the other way

This is the thought that's gone through my head quite a bit. The only way I see Fleury leaving is packaged with another big name, ala Letang. Now hear me out, FLEURY IS BETTER THAN A LOT OF GOALIES IN THIS LEAGUE. Unfortunately I think he needs a fresh start. I also think Meloche needs to be shown the door. Was a mediocre goalie, and is a mediocre coach. I don't expect to get a lot back for Fleury (like the crazies on The Fan who claim we should get a high first rounder out of him..HAH), but he could make a deal for Letang a big one. I want youth though. The Pens need it in non-D positions. The goalies they have in the system are longshots at best (although they really should give Thiessen a shot, the guy has been one of the best goalies in the AHL two years in a row now). So, I say package Letang and Fleury, get a first rounder (because, scarily enough the Pens have barely any draft picks this year), either a goalie replacement/high caliber goalie prospect (have I forgotten to mention every post that I WANT GIBSON?) or another high caliber prospect, plus a roster player. Maybe even more. Letang is a Norris trophy candidate, and hopefully no one was watching the postseason.

 

[pixburgher66]

Trade a broken head for another even. Sometimes a change if scenery helps. See if you can get Price or someone. I just don't think you can go into a full season with 92 and a kid.

I really wouldn't mind Price. Goodness, they're like the same guy when you think about their history. If the Pens could get a new goalie coach in addition to that, it could be a good fit.

 

[pixburgher66]

Also in regards to the Letang situation, I really feel like it IS the Staal situation. Only difference is that Shero has more options on where to send him w/o the brother situation. I dunno, I liked the return we got for Staal, and Letang's a more valuable player. If Bylsma doesn't go, there's still going to be changes, that's unavoidable. Just waiting for the first domino to fall.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Also in regards to the Letang situation, I really feel like it IS the Staal situation. Only difference is that Shero has more options on where to send him w/o the brother situation. I dunno, I liked the return we got for Staal, and Letang's a more valuable player. If Bylsma doesn't go, there's still going to be changes, that's unavoidable. Just waiting for the first domino to fall.

The Penguins biggest problem is defense. Getting rid of Letang isn't going to make their D any better. I'm sure Shero will make a good deal whether he trades Malkin or Letang. The problem is the Penguins are built to win now. Getting rid of Staal & at least one of Letang or Malkin isn't going to make them better in the short term & might not long term. Shero is in a tough spot.