Completely agreed, I like Orpik and I think he is a great player but we don't have room for him.The Pens should dump Fleury/Orpik/Scuderi/Engelland/Glass as soon as practicable. They are dragging down that team.
Completely agreed, I like Orpik and I think he is a great player but we don't have room for him.The Pens should dump Fleury/Orpik/Scuderi/Engelland/Glass as soon as practicable. They are dragging down that team.
Engelland, Glass, and Orpik are all UFA's so they can all walk. Unless they compliance buyout Fleury (1 year @ $5 million remaining), there's no way someone would take him at that price with the other free agent goalies, so I doubt he gets traded. Idk what the market is for older, worn down, insanely slow defenseman, especially at $3.3 million over the next 3 years, but i'd imagine there's little interest. Plus, let's say that somehow all 3 of them are gone, which won't happen, who do they have on defense? Letang/Martin, Matta/Bortuzzo. Despres(RFA) and Niskanen can both walk. And Martin and Bortuzzo can walk next year. Maybe Pouliot is ready for the NHL, but do you really wanna bank on him and another rookie or possible pylon? Need an insurance plan in case Pouliot isn't ready.The Pens should dump Fleury/Orpik/Scuderi/Engelland/Glass as soon as practicable. They are dragging down that team.
. Actually, it's been Jeff Zatkoff riding the bench for most of the year. I don't think he's on LTIR, but Vokoun barely played this year, if at all. Think he had blood clots in his leg or something along those lines that kept him out. And even if teams would take fleury because he has a cup, since that '09 cup run he's been ABSOLUTE GARBAGE in the playoffs. In 2012 his GAA was over 4 (6 games vs Philly) and it was over 3 last year (idk exact amount he played but PIT played 6 vs NYI, 5 vs OTT, and got swept by Boston). This was his 1st postseason since the 09' run he even had a save% over .900..... I mean sure he has a cup but why would you want him for one year when you can go out and sign miller or hiller or even Bryz for probably less?Good lord, keep Despres. His ceiling is so much higher than most of the other D on that team. And you'd be surprised how many teams are stupid enough to take on a below-average Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. Vokoun has a much higher. EVSV%, and he's just ROTTING on their bench. Even if they CAN'T dump MAF, just start Vokoun instead!
Penguins will not sign Brodeur, they are pressed for cap enough as it is.Either him or Brodeur are probably the two most likely options. Still, keep in mind that hiller might wanna go home and play in the Swiss leagues. I wouldn't be surprised if he signs with someone over there. If he stays in North America then he's their best option as a 1A with MAF, but I wouldn't sign hiller to multi year deal just yet. Give fleury one more chance to make himself look like an NHL goalie come mid-April.
Him and Hiller both made $4.5 million per over the lengths of their last contracts. If that's your arguement, then their only option would be to get a backup who can't or hasn't proven he can start. If I were a fan of them, I wouldn't be comfortable unless they get a Hiller, or a Marty, or even a Bryz. They cannot go into next year with zatkoff as the backup, but if they do they CANNOT go into the playoffs with him as the backup, assuming they get back there.Penguins will not sign Brodeur, they are pressed for cap enough as it is.
Greiss.Him and Hiller both made $4.5 million per over the lengths of their last contracts. If that's your arguement, then their only option would be to get a backup who can't or hasn't proven he can start. If I were a fan of them, I wouldn't be comfortable unless they get a Hiller, or a Marty, or even a Bryz. They cannot go into next year with zatkoff as the backup, but if they do they CANNOT go into the playoffs with him as the backup, assuming they get back there.
Eh, pretty sure the yotes were in the playoffs when smith went down, they fell out by season's end. His numbers also were solid but not so good he instantly can be a 1A. There were a bunch of other backups who put up similar or better #'s in the 20-25 game range. 10-8-5 with a 2.29 GAA and a .920 save% in 25 games. Also went 3-3-4 after smith went down so yeah, when he was a temporary #1, he didn't do too great. He's due more than 700k, but that doesn't mean he can just be thrown into a playoff game and you feel confident.Greiss.
I remember reading somewhere that the Pens have no intention of re-signing Niskanen or Jokinen so they really seem like the big losers so far. The James Neal trade is alright when without Malkin he's putting up average at best numbers and his offensive zone penalties are a major liability.
The cap went down to $69 million, so a lot of teams will prob be trying to trade some of their overpriced players, which is likely why Bollig was traded to the Flames today, especially since Kane & Toews both want $12 million while their teammates are signing cheaper contracts just to stay with the team.
I didn't think the Kesler to Anaheim trade was that great, since Bonino was coming off a year with incredibly high PDO, Sbisa isn't that great, and the guy they took with the 24th overall pick didn't seem too thrilled about playing with the Canucks.
The Toronto trade makes no sense at all unless you count intangibles like grittiness as important. Polak plays weaker minutes and had worse possession numbers than Gunnarsson in tougher minutes. Trading the pick and retaining some of Gunnarsson's salary really puts this trade in St. Louis's favor.
I'm glad the Isles made the safe pick with Dal Colle and then took the risk with Ho-Sang. If it pays off, I think Ho-Sang has the potential to be 10x better than many of the forwards taken before him. Still in the market for a veteran top 4 D, backup / 1A goalie, and a LW for Tavares, so should be interesting to see how Free Agency plays out.
reimer behind toronto defense is bad enough I don't think he'd fare well behind a pittsburgh defense that might lose niskanen and orpik.
Penguins will not sign Brodeur, they are pressed for cap enough as it is.
I'm glad the Isles made the safe pick with Dal Colle and then took the risk with Ho-Sang. If it pays off, I think Ho-Sang has the potential to be 10x better than many of the forwards taken before him. Still in the market for a veteran top 4 D, backup / 1A goalie, and a LW for Tavares, so should be interesting to see how Free Agency plays out.
The goalie issue shouldn't be a big deal. I think they could get by with halak and a backup, just neither of the two they have in Bridgeport. Top 4 D and LW could be a bit tougher, I meanI'm glad the Isles made the safe pick with Dal Colle and then took the risk with Ho-Sang. If it pays off, I think Ho-Sang has the potential to be 10x better than many of the forwards taken before him. Still in the market for a veteran top 4 D, backup / 1A goalie, and a LW for Tavares, so should be interesting to see how Free Agency plays out.
I think what Solace meant was that it was supposed to be in the low $70s, but it didn't happen.the cap went up, it was 64.3 million in 2013-2014
Yeah, it was projected at $71 million but the agreement went down to $69 million, while it looked like a lot of teams planned for more space.I think what Solace meant was that it was supposed to be in the low $70s, but it didn't happen.