'12-'13 Opening Day Roster Wish List

[columbia]

Weber is an RFA.

[Pitts]

Niskanen MUST be signed somehow to a longer deal.

This makes me chuckle when I think of how pretty much everyone felt about him as that throw-in last season.

With that said, the man really changed his game around this season. I would like to see him re-signed (2 years), and hope he keeps up the strong play. Maybe he simply got the message last season.

[Noise]

Why is it that when doing their lineups half the people here switch half the defense & forwards to the opposite side?


Personally, I'd like this lineup when the Pens take the ice in 2012-2013:

Nash - Crosby - Perry
Neal - Malkin - Brown
Parise - Kesler - Doan
Tootoo - Winchester - Clutterbuck

Suter - Weber
Doughty-Letang
Schenn-Byfuglien

Rinne
Schneider

[MRandall25]

Why is it that when doing their lineups half the people here switch half the defense & forwards to the opposite side?


Personally, I'd like this lineup when the Pens take the ice in 2012-2013:

Wayne Gretzky in his prime - Crosby - Mario Lemieux in his prime
Neal - Malkin - Sidney Crosby's clone
Jordan Staal Clone 1 - Clone 2 - Clone 3
Tootoo - The Second Coming of Jesus Christ - Clutterbuck

Suter - Bobby Orr
Doughty-Letang
Hidden spikes at the blue line-Chuck Norris

A 4 x 6 Brick Wall
Schneider

You're forgetting some stuff, I fixed it for you.

[saints11]

In the off season, we need to attone for the errors made on deadline day, when Nashville and Philly stole our thunder and may have paved their way to the cup finals. We never got the bottom six center we needed nor did we acquire the physical experienced d-man. So now, we need to do that again. Since Gaustad didn't sign with Nashville, we need to make a move on either him or Stoll. Since we missed on Grossman, we need to look at Bryan Allen or either of the Nashville duo. I can understand you can't blow up you defense at the trade deadline, but since it blew up itself against the Flyers; now is the time to redo it.

We have made a living with high draft picks for the d-zone, if they are to be ready, it should be now. I don't think anyone would be uncomfortable with Despres
assuming a role, possibly in the top 4. As poor a season that Martin had, I think Orpik has lost a step and when his attempted big hits take him out of position, he can't recover. I think it may be time to re-tool and move at least 2 of the 3 of Martin, Orpik, and Michalek. Of the three, I like Michalek, but, Philly exposed the Pens "slide" d-zone coverage by just holding the puck a little longer and passing around the slide, and killed us. Rather than slide all the time, we need to take the body more, so we need to target the more physical types of d-men. If we keep Letang, Niskanen, and Despres; we have our puck movers, if we keep Engelland, and Michalek....then we need 2 more. Orpik, Martin, Lovejoy, can be used in trade situations.

[Pavel Bure]

I gotta say I feel totally vindicated from ragging on Lovejoy last year where everyone was treating him like some kind of budding start D-man. The guy isn't NHL caliber talent.

[Posterboy]

Jarome Iginla at a bargain price b/c he wants to win a cup. After all, he won Olympic gold on a line w/Crosby...

Doesn't really fill a need though, just wishful thinking.

[KG]

Jarome Iginla at a bargain price b/c he wants to win a cup. After all, he won Olympic gold on a line w/Crosby...

Doesn't really fill a need though, just wishful thinking.

His cap hit is prohibitive though!

[darkstar57]

my 2012-2013 opening day roster wish list.....

A Healthy Roster

[Pens4Life]

Tough but quite realistic wish :
A.Kostitsyn - Malkin - Neal
Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Moen - Vitale - Tangradi
x - Adams

Orpik - Letang
B.Stuart - Despres
Niskanen - Engelland
x - Strait/Bortuzzo

MAF
Harding/Hedberg

[malksby8771]

Jarome Iginla at a bargain price b/c he wants to win a cup. After all, he won Olympic gold on a line w/Crosby...

Doesn't really fill a need though, just wishful thinking.

His cap hit is prohibitive though!

Prohibitive indeed. And yet, it's exactly equal to the cap hits of Paul Martin + Tyler Kennedy. Very easy to fit him in if we move Martin, at least.

[thehockeyguru]

I want to see Morrow.

[pugilist13]

Orpik / Letang
Niski / Jurcina
Engel / Despres
Strait / Campoli

Fleury / Raycroft / or Conklin


Neal / Malkin / Kunitz
Duper / Crosby / Boyes
Vitale / Staal / TK
Moen / Moore / TooToo

I know it wont happen, but i'm diggin that 4th line!

[jimjom]

Jurcina would be awesome. Monster.

[Streaks House]

I'd like to see us trade Martin and sign Suter.

This also doesn't seem like a good plan. You sign Suter or Weber (however unlikely) and Letang almost surely walks when his next contract is due because the Pens won't be able to afford him. I may be OK with that if the guy is Weber but not if it's Suter.

I think the more likely casualty would be Staal if we were to get either Suter or Weber.

Joe Morrow on an entry level contract replaces Letang. Trade Letang next summer. Healthy cap save as well, as AAV of 2 years of Joe Morrow on EL contract < Kris Letang extension.

[The Snapshot]

I'd like to see us trade Martin and sign Suter.

This also doesn't seem like a good plan. You sign Suter or Weber (however unlikely) and Letang almost surely walks when his next contract is due because the Pens won't be able to afford him. I may be OK with that if the guy is Weber but not if it's Suter.

I think the more likely casualty would be Staal if we were to get either Suter or Weber.

Joe Morrow on an entry level contract replaces Letang. Trade Letang next summer. Healthy cap save as well, as AAV of 2 years of Joe Morrow on EL contract < Kris Letang extension.

Normally this kind of thing would make me laugh, but I will say that although I don't endorse it being Letang, the Pens may need to consider moving someone like that in order to infuse some young top-end talent upfront. They have a good core up there, but the cupboard in the organization is bare for the next few years minimum.

Teams in the playoffs have been pretty consistent with having two or three key contributors up front. The Flyers, Devils, Rangers, Preds, Kings, Coyotes all have some top end youth being infused while we sit with our core. I still like our position since guys like Staal, Malkin, Neal, Crosby, etc. are all young - but it appears that youthful energy is benefiting these teams. Henrique, Coturier, Schenn, Boedker, Kreider, Hagelin and more are contributing early.

Maybe part of the answer is to invest by living with the rookie play of Morrow and Despres on D in hopes of having them grow into a bigger role next Playoff. Then add in a top end prospect or two up front that can contribute and grow over the season as well. I still want to redo the 4th line, but that can be done via Free Agency for reasonably priced young veterans.

[stopper40]

please no Adams. please.

[offsides]

please no Adams. please.

I wouldn't miss him either, but getting rid of him will not solve much either. We have bigger isues than Adams.

[DontToewsMeBro]

please no Adams. please.

I wouldn't miss him either, but getting rid of him will not solve much either. We have bigger isues than Adams.

Getting rid of him won't solve much but adding more toughness and size to our bottom six will.

[DelPen]

Trade Martin and kennedy, resign Niskanen and Sullivan and bring in Gaustad:

Staal-Malkin-Neal
Kunitz-Crosby-Sullivan
Cooke-Gaustad-Dupuis
Tangradi-Vitale-Adams

Orpik-Letang
Michalek-Niskanen
Engellend-Despres

[SolidSnake]

I'm really hopeing that I'm wrong but I think as long as DB is the coach here, you're gonna see Adams here.