Penguins Offseason

[Eaglealum]

To change topics a bit, the Pens drafted local boy Sam Lafferty from Hollidaysburg in the 4th round!!! Congrats Sam!!!

[Aoki11]

I'm excited about Lafferty, he will work hard in Junior and hopefully flourish in Pittsburgh.

Hornqvist will have more than 25-30 goals in Pittsburgh and that's a guarantee. If paired with the right personnel he will be highly effective.

As for Spaling, he will add obvious depth and another great penalty killer.

Bye bye to Neal and his inconsistent sporadic play. Also bye to his woeful playoff performance.

[abpk2903]

I think there is a market for MAF. He is a cup champion, winningest goaltender since the entire year lockout, if Brodeur retires he has the most wins of active goaltenders, and coming off a great regular season with a good postseason. Plus if a team takes a chance with him and he is horrible next year, his contract is up anyways. The toughest thing about trading him is the limitations available with his contract. Here is a deal that I think could make sense from both parties:

-MAF, James Neal, and (Bennett, Dupois, or Sutter)

For

-Rinne and Roman Jusi

Even with Rinne and their defensemen, Nashville isn't going anywhere unless they find 30-50 goals from forwards in this offseason.

Fleury and Neal are approx. $10 million a year in cap space. Rinne and Jusi are about $11 million. Add in Bennett, Dupper, or Sutter and the pens free up a few million in cap space with the deal as well. With Weber and Seth Jones, Nashville will still be solid at defense and now have some punch up front. Fleury will finally get to play in front of a defensive oriented club.

This would give the Pens about $17 million in cap space to resign FA and test the market for new ones. Defense would be sured up with Letang, Martin, Maatta, Jusi, Bortozzo, and young talent on the way. This can all be spent at rebuilding the forward position.

I think this will work. Less than 1% chance it happens.

Well I got the teams right and I got one of the players right but didn't my prediction didn't come entirely true. I had a feeling going into the offseason that Nashville really needed a player like Neal. They are one of the best few defensive teams in the league but they just couldn't net the puck.

You know what you got in Hornqvist. He is a good skater, defensively responsible, and a good complementary offensive player. I expect him to score his typical 20-25 goals next year and maybe get a few more assists (only because Malkin is going score 30+ and being on his line means he will get a lot of those assists). In Nashville, he was the go to guy. He got the most PP time, double shifted late in close games, and basically had the offense centered around his play. He won't have that in Pittsburgh but in return he will be gifted a dozen or so goals by 71 next year.

The trade is an upgrade in depth, speed, grit, and locker room presence.

It comes at the loss of one of the best snipers in hockey.

[theoneandonly]

It's rumored the Pens are interested in Nikolai Kulemin which would be a great addition, in my opinion. He has been misused in Toronto so don't look much into the last 2 years as far as production. He has a very good on and off ice relationship with Malkin and could potentially help fill the void left by James Neal. It seems like chemistry is as important as anything when assembling top lines in the NHL (as proven by 14-87-9) so getting a guy on the cheap that Geno has chemistry with could prove to be very beneficial for the Pens.

[Aoki11]

Kulemin played with Malkin at Magnitorsk and on OLY team. Kulemin is a similar player to dupuis or Kunitz, only he is more established than they were before they came to Pittsburgh. He is a replacement for Jussi if and when he leaves.

[Manfred]

There will be lots of room, for lots of new guys, after the housecleaning today. Going to need a scorecard next season, for sure.

[theoneandonly]

Kulemin played with Malkin at Magnitorsk and on OLY team. Kulemin is a similar player to dupuis or Kunitz, only he is more established than they were before they came to Pittsburgh. He is a replacement for Jussi if and when he leaves.

Except Kulemin is only 27 and a former 30 goal scorer... not really much in common with the type of game they play either. Jussi is good as gone as well... no way he is back.

Lets face it... Playing alongside Evgeni Malkin is going to lead to inflated stats. He did it for James Neal and can do it for Kulemin. Neal was/is a very ordinary player when he doesn't have someone setting the table for him. I'm not saying they (Neal/Kulemin) are comparable players but the opportunity is going to be there for Kulemin to put up some numbers.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic but I'm on board with the moves so far and the ones that seem imminent. Going to be a fun few days/weeks watching what unfolds.

[Aoki11]

Except Kulemin is only 27 and a former 30 goal scorer... not really much in common with the type of game they play either. Jussi is good as gone as well... no way he is back.

That's exactly what I was saying, so thank you.

I am more upset at the possibility of losing Jussi than I am of losing Niskanen. Niskanen wasn't great in the playoffs, on the other hand, Jussi was. I don't always "agree" with Konjo, but I think some of the stuff he's saying is resonating. Especially when he says that playoff performances are a big deal. That's obvious: what I'm saying though is that it was clearly exhibited in the kings playoff run. Justin Williams is my perfect example. The Pens need to focus on keeping players like that and bouncing players who aren't. No konjo this doesn't mean fire all your stars, it just means do what Ruth is doing. Sit down, evaluate your players, don't let reg season point totals or accolades blind you. Look deep into playoff performances. He saw Neal, and made the move an I am happy.

Kulemin reminds me of Neal, look at Neals point totals before he came to Pittsburgh, now look at Kulemins. Of course his stats will be inflated with the prospect of playing with Malkins, but who's wouldn't? So who cares?

I also saw a rumor that the pens are interested in Brodeur. Absolutely horrible idea. He's now a backup, at age 42, way at the end of his career. The pens already have a great backup in zatkoff, and an established starter in Fleury.

[theoneandonly]

I'm not going to argue with you Aoki but you said he was similar to Kunitz/Dupuis and I don't really see any similarities but I suppose that is a matter of opinion.

Saying that Malkin inflates peoples stats was more of a knock on James Neal than it was directed to Kulemin. I think you took that out of context a little bit or I didn't word it right. I loved James Neal when he played like he was capable of and hated him when he played like an idiot... I was just saying I don't really think he is going to be hard to replace.

I don't want to see them lose Jussi either but his play in the playoffs came as a double edged sword... they just can't afford him. When they are as tight against the cap as they are they have to anticipate losing players like Jussi every year. The key is finding comparable players at a better value to replace them...

I wouldn't call Zatkoff a "great backup" personally but I'm on board with staying away from Brodeur unless he comes at veterans minimum... but that won't happen.

[abpk2903]

Well you have to make the playoffs first. With the new playoff system, that is not a guarantee.

There is no way of telling who was playing injured and healthy in the playoffs. I personally wouldn't put a lot of stock into playoff performance. Last year Jokinen couldn't find the ice in the playoffs and this year he was one of the Penguins better players. I would get the best and players available for the system the Pens plan on implementing (that they can afford).