The Pens Thread

I agree Crow. I was going to add something along those lines in my last post, but didn't want to stir up the "we need better wingers" crowd more than I already did by saying Dupuis is a top-6 guy. When you take out guys on their entry level deals and guys that had their deals limited because of being a RFA, I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who would be better value. I also agree you expect closer to 18 goals from him than 25, but he's scoring at an even better pace this year.

Well I guess it didn't take them very long to decide to give Bennett a look. I think it is a great move. See what you have before the deadline. Now the question is, what line do you put him on? I still think the Malkin line needs someone to do the dirty work and from what I have read about Bennett, it's not going to be him. I would put Kunitz back with Malkin and Neal.

Shero is at the Wild-Avalanche game tonight. Let the rumors begin.

Probably looking at that Parise guy.

But seriously, I would think that the Pens will wait a little while to see how Bennett looks before they look to make a trade. There are a couple of players on both the Avs and Wild that I wouldn't mind having on the Pens, though.

Tangradi is playing tonight. Wouldnt that be funny if he lit the lamp.

Setoguchi is now skating on the 3rd line and is making $3M ... I would imagine with the Wild being in salary cap trouble next season, that they would be interested in shedding his salary.  Not saying the Pens are or should go after him, but he's the guy who stands out to me as someone the Wild would be looking to move.  I don't see anyone on the Avalanche that fits that description.

On another note, Martin Havlat and his $5M/year salary has been demoted to the 4th line in San Jose.  The Pens can't afford to take his salary on ... he still has two more years left on his current deal after this season ... but I've gotta believe the Sharks would like to move him.  Don't be surprised if someone with cap room makes a move for Havlat. 

With the new CBA teams can keep some salary on their books. Say the Sharks can't find a trade partner for Havlet and his 5 million cap hit they could keep 1.5 on their books and trade him to a team that will keep only get credited with 3.5 million of his 5 million cap hit. I think the Leafs/Coyotes made a trade this year that involved the leafs keeping salary.

I saw an article that suggested Shero might have been looking at Setoguchi or maybe Bouchard of the Wild. Bouchard has a concussion history so there is that. Setoguchi did put up solid numbers while playing with a good center in Joe Thornton. No reason to think he could return to that 20-30 goal range playing with Malkin or Crosby. Reasonible cap hit at 3 million as well and his contract is up after next season which is the same year Malkin and Letang need extensions. So if Setoguchi doesn't work out Shero isn't stuck with him. It was rumored a few weeks ago that the Penguins and Wild talked about trading for Setoguchi and they wanted Despres. If that is the case I hope Shero doesn't make the trade unless there are other pieces involved.

I think Despre has really driven his stock upward this year and its only going to go higher so I dont think Shero would give him up to take a chance on Setoguchi. Setoguchi is intriguing though but I think theyll wait and see how Bennet does before they decide what moves they may/will make.

Id maybe swap TK for Bouchard. I think TK's time is coming to an end. 

As good as a role player Cooke is, are they getting tired of the unwanted attention he brings and could they be shopping him? 

Bennett is reportedly starting on the 3rd line tonight. That seems really weird. Guessing Cooke starts with Malkin/Neal? Unwanted attention or not you can't move Cooke because of the Senators GM and Owner. A bunch of other players and coach have came out and stuck up for Cooke about the Karlsson play. That should speak volumes when a player of Cooke's history is being defended by other NHLers. Moving Cooke because of this play would make as much sense as moving Crosby and Malkin and Torts and Milbury publicly "attacked" those 2 last year.

Unwanted attention or not you can't move Cooke because of the Senators GM and Owner

The unwanted attention started as soon as he cut karlsssons ankle and there are plenty who share Murry's opinion.

Moving Cooke because of this play would make as much sense as moving Crosby and Malkin and Torts and Milbury publicly "attacked" those 2 last year.

Bad comparison as they are two completely different situations.

Im not saying they should trade but I would think at some point the front office will get tired of trying to defend him.

Murray is the same GM that said he was going to make sure his line up of goons to get even with Crosby after battling Foligno after Foligno keep running MAF 3 or 4 times in a game last year. Murray cries to the media a lot. If every time he did that and teams took actions against their players because of it there would be a lot of new players in the NHL.

If the pens didn't move Cooke before, they aren't going to do it now. He was actually hurting the team before, taking penalties and getting suspended for long periods of time. That's what really matters. Not Murray whining because his star got hurt on an unfortunate play. And honestly, if the NHL chose not to have a disciplinary hearing over something Matt Cooke did, then I Don't think many people outside of Ottawa think there is anything to this story.

I can't take anything Murray says seriously.  He sounds like Sylvester the cat.

Did somebody say Milbury? The coach and GM of the Islanders about 8 years ago. The guy that took them down to the bottomest bottom feeder? The guy that thinks he knows about players potential, yet had the Islanders in last place every year he was there? Completely destroyed the team? And he's gong to comment on Malkin and Crosby? Oh, okay, he knows waht he's talking about. Good hockey man. Couldn't stand him in the NHL and hatehim even worse as a broadcaster. I might like him a little if he knew what the the huck fe was talking about! How does a guy that knows zilch about hockey get a nice job like that? Will wonders never cease? Amazing!
What would be funnier than Tangradi scoring tonight would be Tanner Glass getting a goal tonight! 

Obviously by now everybody knows the NHL isn't going to punish Cooke for a legal hit. I didn't like the play, but I would of found it highly unlikely any player would do that to another player on purpose. I thought the NHL might come up with a new Cooke rule. No skates are allowed to leave the ice.....

Wasn't Crosby out for most of the last 2 years? Did Shero or Lemieux comlain about Steckel's hit? Or anybody on the Penguins? It's a rough game and sch!t happens! Or how about when Crosby and Malkin were both out at the same time? Any complaining by the Penguins? Ummmm, I forget....

CUP4PENS   

   


         

"Eat another donut you fat pig."

Who will get a goal next- TK, Boychuk, or Bennett?

I don't think there's any question about the upside of Despres. He's a good defenseman right now as a rookie....What is the upside of Setoguchi who's been in the league? I think Setoguchi would be intriguing, but definately not worth a Despres....
Ummm, I'll go with Boychuk as the goal scorer? I don't like Kennedy much (he will never get $2 MIL again), but it would be neat if Bennett scored in his 1st game.

CUP4PENS  

The unwanted attention started as soon as he cut karlsssons ankle and there are plenty who share Murry's opinion.

Honest question...Who? Outside of the Senators I have not seen anybody upset about what Cooke did besides fans of the Bruins who are still upset about Savard.

I'm surprised to see Bennett on the 3rd line. I don't mind Cooke on the second line. I said I would start the season with Cooke there, but I want to see Bennett with Crosby or Malkin. I understand it. They don't want to put too much pressure on him so soon,  but part of me just wants to throw him in there and see what he can do. Granted with how Bylsma handles the lines, it might not take too long before he gets a shot in the top 6.

With the new CBA teams can keep some salary on their books.

Really? Wow. I didn't know that. That changes things quite a bit.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a big market team with cap space for this year (like Detroit) trade for a guy like Havlat and then buy him out. 

I give Fleury grief, and he goes out and plays his best game of the season. Not a good game overall. 4th line was good, as were Martin and Orpik again. The top lines left a lot to be desired tonight.