You're the GM: Part 3

[Pavel Bure]

Tanner Glass...that don't impress me much. oh-oh-o-ohh

9th in the league in hits should tell you all you need about a guy that would make this team harder to play against.

[thehockeyguru]

That's why I believe we need to add/replace 3 defensemen. I keep Letang, Orpik, and Engelland. Replace Niskanen with a PP specialist / offensive defenseman (unless he can do the job or possibly Despres or Morrow are up to the task), then get rid of M&M and instead add 2 big shutdown defensemen. It's not a complicated formula, IMO.

I completely agree. But I think dealing M&M will be easier said than done. Secondly, I dont see (2) shutdown guys available via free agency that will be reasonable. Kurtis Foster could be your specialist, but he is pretty bad defensively.

[columbia]

That's why Steve Sullivan was such a valuable asset this year. The PP would really suffered in his absence.
I'd rather see him back than any of the "specialist" D, whom the Pens could afford.

[Luckybreak]

That's why Steve Sullivan was such a valuable asset this year. The PP would really suffered in his absence.
I'd rather see him back than any of the "specialist" D, whom the Pens could afford.

Sullivan scored 48pts and was a minus player. He did wonders for the abysmal PP but I really don't want him back. Every pass to the point became a hair raising experience with the potential for a shorthanded rush, and the fact he admitted relying on Letang's skating to bail him out really annoyed me. Besides, the PP should work without Sully given the star power available - this is down to coaching IMO.

I don't think there was much chemistry between Sid/Sully, and when you add Duper there is not much size on that line. I would personally like someone with Neal size/Kunitz grit to play with Sid, someone who can win puck battles and back Sid up should he start 'loosing his cool' again.
The best I saw Sully play was with Staal, I think the size/skill meshed well and they seemed to bring out the best in each other, but the 3C/Staal at wing options do not allow for that.

[sil]

I'm the GM?!?!?

Okay, that works!

Hello Darcy Regier from Buffalo, desperate for a top-6 center and a younger defensive defenseman...

PIT trades C Jordan Staal, D Zbynek Michalek, G Brad Thiessen, 2012 3rd round pick

BUF trades W Drew Stafford, D Robyn Regehr, G Jhonas Enroth, 2012 1st round pick (from Nashville)

Pros - Pens: We get a physical defenseman that can play 2nd or 3rd pairing, a top 6 winger, and a backup goalie that can start 20-25 games and push Fleury, also if Fleury gets hurt we can still win with Enroth in net, and we get another 1st rounder!
Buffalo: We get a #2 center to backup Roy, a top-4 defensive defenseman signed for 3 more years as a replacement for aging Regehr with 1 more year on his deal, and a serviceable backup - who cares Miller is going to start 70 anyway, and we already have our own 1st rounder, who needs Nashville's?

Stafford ($4,000,000)-Malkin ($8,700,000)-Neal ($5,000,000)
Kunitz ($3,725,000)-Crosby ($8,700,000)-Dupuis ($1,500,000)
Cooke ($1,800,000)-Stoll ($4,000,000)-Kennedy ($2,000,000)
Tangradi ($750,000)-Vitale ($550,000)-Adams ($675,000)
13th forward ($600,000)

Orpik ($3,750,000)-Letang ($3,500,000)
Regehr ($4,020,000)-Niskanen ($2,000,000)
Despres ($840,000) -Martin ($5,000,000)
Strait ($750,000) -Engelland ($566,667)

Fleury ($5,000,000)
Enroth ($675,000)

That cap number comes to $68,101,667 and doesn't even speak to the awfulness that is Robyn Regehr. LGP'ers get mad when Orpik blows D to hit someone...well Regehr is about twice as bad at that. Unless Bettman inlcudes some clause that lets the pens spend $4,000,000-$5,000,000 over the cap...this dog ain't gonna hunt.

[sil]

So we're going to trade Staal for a true shutdown center...okay. Looking at possible and realistic trade partners, there's a few possibilities. The two primary targets I'd look at are Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Brodziak...and both COL and MIN are viable trade partners. It's arguable that O'Reilly is a better player than Staal, plus COL wants to keep him with their young core, so we'd have to offer up more to get him. Brodziak had a career year, but he really isn't in the same category as Staal. You could possibly look to try and swap Staal and Martin for Brodziak and Gilbert. We're getting the better defender (and Gilbert is a strong defensive player and can move bodies), but MIN also still lacks a real puck mover on their blueline...which is definitely something Martin excels at. If we made a deal like this, I'd hope we at least get something else in return because I have major doubts that Brodziak can ever come close to matching what Staal is capable of.

FYI, this last deal lowers our cap hit by about $3,000,000 as well.

[Pavel Bure]

my new idea :
re-sign Niskanen on 2 year/ 1.75M per deal..
Trade Martin and prospect for early 1st rounder F who might be NHL ready,sign Mark Stuart to 2year / 3.75M per year deal..
trade Lovejoy... sign Harding for 2 years / 1.2M per year (he could play up to 35games at least,MAF needs some fire under ass..)
Sign Moen 2 years /1.5M per year.. Sullivan,Asham,Park all gone.. Sully was good,but we need someone bigger,more psyhical..

Then : 2nd - 3rd line depends on who we draft
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Draft F/Staal - Crosby - Dupuis
Cooke - Draft F/Staal - Kennedy
Moen - Vitale - Tangradi
x - Adams

Orpik - Letang
Stuart - Niskanen
Michalek - Despres
x - Engelland/Strait/Bortuzzo (Shero/Blysma - they decide thru camp and preseason..)

MAF
Harding

I like the Nisky signing
.
You won't get an early first rounder for Martin and a prospect when that "early" first rounder could be a major point producing player within his first couple years. Who is Mark Stuart?
.
Harding might be looking for a place that will give him a starting job and I really don't believe you spend over 1M on a back up, that's more my philosophy than truth though.
.
I like the Moen signing but I don't like trying to fill out the roster through the draft. NHL prospects aren't slam dunks all the time and rushing them is usually a bad thing. Staal was the exception to that rule.

[Pavel Bure]

As an aside to the people saying we need a PPQB or specialist on the back end there is no one out there that would be cost effective and actually help the PP beyond what Letang can already do and what Sullivan would be able to do at a very cost effective price. More to the point the Pens top 2 lines don't need to be bang and crash happy. Malkin with Kunitz and Neal has plenty of that but Sid came back and was putting up points at almost the same pace as when he left with Dupuis and Sullivan. What this team needs is a very gritty, defensively responsible, grind those ******** down, 3rd and 4th line. The bottom two lines are the ones that are supposed to keep this team being hard to play against. Having Geno and Sid on lines 1 and 2 make them hard to play against already but beyond that, this year the bottom 2 lines were soft soft soft.

The bottom two lines can't play like cream puffs. Vitale was a good start, that kid is going to be a good agitating 4th line center, don't forget he was a rookie this year and was already pissing people off and changing the momentum in some games with his hits and work ethic. That's what you want out of a 4th line grinder. Cooke while I applaud him for changing his style and nearly hitting 20 goals, this team needs Cooke to still play with an edge but within the rules. This year he did not, I'd see if he can be moved at all because at his current incarnation he's an anchor, it's a pipe dream cause of the NTC. Kennedy must be moved, 2M was a good rate when he was penciled into the top 6 with some PP time. Right now he sucks all the life out of the Pens bottom line with his shoot first mentality as opposed to get it deep and cycle. The bottom two lines and mostly the 4th line was a rotating cast of old, injury prone, ineffective players. It really needs revamped.

If Staal is being kept he must be moved to wing on the 2nd line. Keep him with his PK duties but man did he show maturity in an offensive way this year. He hit the net with his shot and it was lethal at that. Pull Campbell off the Bruins for 3rd line center with a nice raise to 1.8M. He PKs, he plays hard, he knows his role. Give Tanner glass a 250k raise for 4th line duty. The guy hits everything in sight (9th in the league this year) and works his butt off. Just the right guy to help the 4th line cycle and be hard to play against. See if you can get Prust for a 200k raise for 4th line duty and you round out your bottom six with Cooke, Campbell, Dupuis, Glass, Vitale, and Prust.

For D see if Gill is willing to come back at his 2.25M price tag to round out the 3rd pairing and PK duties. Sign Andrew Raycroft at a 100k raise for back up duties. Sign Tangradi for 600k as the 13th forward and call Despres up as injuries dictate to fill the spot on D. As much as people are penciling him in for the opening day roster he'll be much better served playing top pairing mins in Wilkes-Barre and doing call up duty for next year. That team is built with a 65,300,000 cap and brings grit as well as versatility.

Team looks like this

Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Sullivan(1.5M) - Crosby - Staal
Cooke - Campbell(1.8M) - Dupuis
Glass(1M) - Vitale - Prust(1M)
Tangradi(600k)

Letang - Orpik
Martin - Michalek
Engelland - Gill(2.25M)
Despres(as needed)

Fleury
Raycroft(750k)

Cap: $65,300,000
Cap used: $64,691,667
Cushion: $608,333

[sil]

As an aside to the people saying we need a PPQB or specialist on the back end there is no one out there that would be cost effective and actually help the PP beyond what Letang can already do and what Sullivan would be able to do at a very cost effective price. More to the point the Pens top 2 lines don't need to be bang and crash happy. Malkin with Kunitz and Neal has plenty of that but Sid came back and was putting up points at almost the same pace as when he left with Dupuis and Sullivan. What this team needs is a very gritty, defensively responsible, grind those ******** down, 3rd and 4th line. The bottom two lines are the ones that are supposed to keep this team being hard to play against. Having Geno and Sid on lines 1 and 2 make them hard to play against already but beyond that, this year the bottom 2 lines were soft soft soft.

The bottom two lines can't play like cream puffs. Vitale was a good start, that kid is going to be a good agitating 4th line center, don't forget he was a rookie this year and was already pissing people off and changing the momentum in some games with his hits and work ethic. That's what you want out of a 4th line grinder. Cooke while I applaud him for changing his style and nearly hitting 20 goals, this team needs Cooke to still play with an edge but within the rules. This year he did not, I'd see if he can be moved at all because at his current incarnation he's an anchor, it's a pipe dream cause of the NTC. Kennedy must be moved, 2M was a good rate when he was penciled into the top 6 with some PP time. Right now he sucks all the life out of the Pens bottom line with his shoot first mentality as opposed to get it deep and cycle. The bottom two lines and mostly the 4th line was a rotating cast of old, injury prone, ineffective players. It really needs revamped.

If Staal is being kept he must be moved to wing on the 2nd line. Keep him with his PK duties but man did he show maturity in an offensive way this year. He hit the net with his shot and it was lethal at that. Pull Campbell off the Bruins for 3rd line center with a nice raise to 1.8M. He PKs, he plays hard, he knows his role. Give Tanner glass a 250k raise for 4th line duty. The guy hits everything in sight (9th in the league this year) and works his butt off. Just the right guy to help the 4th line cycle and be hard to play against. See if you can get Prust for a 200k raise for 4th line duty and you round out your bottom six with Cooke, Campbell, Dupuis, Glass, Vitale, and Prust.

For D see if Gill is willing to come back at his 2.25M price tag to round out the 3rd pairing and PK duties. Sign Andrew Raycroft at a 100k raise for back up duties. Sign Tangradi for 600k as the 13th forward and call Despres up as injuries dictate to fill the spot on D. As much as people are penciling him in for the opening day roster he'll be much better served playing top pairing mins in Wilkes-Barre and doing call up duty for next year. That team is built with a 65,300,000 cap and brings grit as well as versatility.

Team looks like this

Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Sullivan(1.5M) - Crosby - Staal
Cooke - Campbell(1.8M) - Dupuis
Glass(1M) - Vitale - Prust(1M)
Tangradi(600k)

Letang - Orpik
Martin - Michalek
Engelland - Gill(2.25M)
Despres(as needed)

Fleury
Raycroft(750k)

Cap: $65,300,000
Cap used: $64,691,667
Cushion: $608,333

I like it, but I think the cap will still be lower than this...probably close to where it is now, if not lower. Still, I think Gill is overpaid at $2.25. Prust scored 13 goals and 29 points just last season, so I think he see's more than a measly raise. Glass can hit like the dickens, but he's probably one of the 5-worst skaters in the league and makes Tangradi look like a figure skater.

[DelPen]

Get used to Distin Jeffrey as your third line center people and the joy of watching Bortuzzo, Strait, Lovejoy and Engelled fight for 3rd pairing time while Despres is sent to WBS because he doesn't have to clear waivers. Shero misjudged the market with Nick Johnson and should have moved him for a pick, he won't do that with defensive assets again.

[Malkamaniac]

Get used to Distin Jeffrey as your third line center people and the joy of watching Bortuzzo, Strait, Lovejoy and Engelled fight for 3rd pairing time while Despres is sent to WBS because he doesn't have to clear waivers. Shero misjudged the market with Nick Johnson and should have moved him for a pick, he won't do that with defensive assets again.

[columbia]

wat?

[Pavel Bure]

I realize Gill I overpaid but not by much and for what the pens need

[sil]

Get used to Distin Jeffrey as your third line center people and the joy of watching Bortuzzo, Strait, Lovejoy and Engelled fight for 3rd pairing time while Despres is sent to WBS because he doesn't have to clear waivers. Shero misjudged the market with Nick Johnson and should have moved him for a pick, he won't do that with defensive assets again.

Sadly this (in conjunction with the difficulties of moving some of the high priced D) will still be the case even if Staal is moved as it just doesn't clear enough cap to really help. If the salary cap drops...and Shero insists on keeping all of the core intact...our third/fourth forward lines, as well as our D will continue to be shotty...but at least Malkin and Crosby will still vie for Art Ross trophies.

[DocEmrick]

DOCEMRICK WALKS INTO THE PENS FRONT OFFICE

Secretary: Good morning, DocEmrick.

DocEmrick: Good morning.

DOCEMRICK SITS AT HIS DESK AND TURNS ON HIS COMPUTER. HE STARTS TYPING A PRESS RELEASE..

It was announced today that the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded Sidney Crosby for Matt Duchesne, Paul Statsny, and Colorado's next 5 first overall picks. The Penguins have also traded Jordan Staal to San Jose for Logan Couture. Pitsburgh Penguins GM said Monday, "With Crosby always one hit away from a life ending concussion, it was a no brainer (no pun intended)." On Staal, Mr. Emrick stated, "I like Staal, but he wanted a contract that was a little out of our price range." As well, DocEmrick drafted center Alex Galchenyuk in 2011, using Colorado's#1 pick. "Alex adds to our core of talent, and is a premier prospect from the OHL." Galchenyuk finished with 83 pts. in the 2011 season."

Projected Lines:

Neal - Malkin - Duchesne
Kunitz - Statsny - Sullivan
Kennedy - Couture - Cooke
Asham - Adams - Jeffrey

"In relation to the defense, the Penguins decided to make several moves to improve the defensive core this off-season. Paul Martin was packaged with a few picks, and traded back to New Jersey for Volchenkov. Brooks Orpik was sent to Dallas for Martin Fistric, and Trevor Daley. There were rumors that Kris Letang was shopped, but due to his long hair was passed on by multiple GM's."

Projected Defensive Lines:

Letang - Volchenkov
Fistric - Despres
Daley - Lovejoy

"The Pittsburgh goaltending situation looks like it will stay the same. Fleury, who didn't have a stellar gm 2, 3 of the post-season, will be brought back to backstop the Pens new defensive defense look. Mr. Emrick signed Ty Conklin to a one year deal, where he will resume his roll as back-up."

Goaltenders:

Marc-Andre Fleury
Ty Conklin

(everyone took a hometown discount)

[sil]

DOCEMRICK WALKS INTO THE PENS FRONT OFFICE

Secretary: Good morning, DocEmrick.

DocEmrick: Good morning.

DOCEMRICK SITS AT HIS DESK AND TURNS ON HIS COMPUTER. HE STARTS TYPING A PRESS RELEASE..

It was announced today that the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded Sidney Crosby for Matt Duchesne, Paul Statsny, and Colorado's next 5 first overall picks. The Penguins have also traded Jordan Staal to San Jose for Logan Couture. Pitsburgh Penguins GM said Monday, "With Crosby always one hit away from a life ending concussion, it was a no brainer (no pun intended)." On Staal, Mr. Emrick stated, "I like Staal, but he wanted a contract that was a little out of our price range." As well, DocEmrick drafted center Alex Galchenyuk in 2011, using Colorado's#1 pick. "Alex adds to our core of talent, and is a premier prospect from the OHL." Galchenyuk finished with 83 pts. in the 2011 season."

Projected Lines:

Neal - Malkin - Duchesne
Kunitz - Statsny - Sullivan
Kennedy - Couture - Cooke
Asham - Adams - Jeffrey

"In relation to the defense, the Penguins decided to make several moves to improve the defensive core this off-season. Paul Martin was packaged with a few picks, and traded back to New Jersey for Volchenkov. Brooks Orpik was sent to Dallas for Martin Fistric, and Trevor Daley. There were rumors that Kris Letang was shopped, but due to his long hair was passed on by multiple GM's."

Projected Defensive Lines:

Letang - Volchenkov
Fistric - Despres
Daley - Lovejoy

"The Pittsburgh goaltending situation looks like it will stay the same. Fleury, who didn't have a stellar gm 2, 3 of the post-season, will be brought back to backstop the Pens new defensive defense look. Mr. Emrick signed Ty Conklin to a one year deal, where he will resume his roll as back-up."

Goaltenders:

Marc-Andre Fleury
Ty Conklin

(everyone took a hometown discount)

Media Press Conference Transcript:

MEDIA: "Mr. Emerick, what did you like best about Galchenyuk that made you want to draft him"?

DE: "I really like his SHAAAAAWWWWT!"

MEDIA: (Addressing assistant GM Eddie Olczyk)"Mr. Olczyk, what role did you play in this frenzy of moves that took place in Pittsburgh"?

EO: (pointing to an overhead projector with an image of himself working the phones at his desk) "You young assistant GM's out there pay attention to what I did here....."

[Malkamaniac]

Ty Conklin was worse than Brent Johnson this year.

[Fire0nice228]

mega hometown discount when those boys contracts are up eh?

[sil]

Ty Conklin was worse than Brent Johnson this year.

And Fistric and Daley were worse than Lovejoy.

And the Adams, Asham, Jeffrey line would end up playing 2:00 a night based on general suckiness.

[DocEmrick]

Statement from Mr. Emrick's Office,

I first and foremost want to congratulate our coaching staff on the great work they have done with our team. Now, we understand that some of our most passionate fans are upset with our decisions this off-season, which is why we are releasing the Pittsburgh Penguins Extended Cut Roster. Season ticket holders will be eligible to upgrade to our Extended Cut Roster, for only an extra $9.99. The ECR will include past players, such as Marian Hossa, Ric Jackman, Ryan Whitney, and even Ronald Petrovicky.

[columbia]

Jackman? Well, count me in.

[DocEmrick]

MEDIA: (Addressing assistant GM Eddie Olczyk)"Mr. Olczyk, what role did you play in this frenzy of moves that took place in Pittsburgh"?

EO: (pointing to an overhead projector with an image of himself working the phones at his desk) "You young assistant GM's out there pay attention to what I did here....."

[Pens4Life]

my new idea :
re-sign Niskanen on 2 year/ 1.75M per deal..
Trade Martin and prospect for early 1st rounder F who might be NHL ready,sign Mark Stuart to 2year / 3.75M per year deal..
trade Lovejoy... sign Harding for 2 years / 1.2M per year (he could play up to 35games at least,MAF needs some fire under ass..)
Sign Moen 2 years /1.5M per year.. Sullivan,Asham,Park all gone.. Sully was good,but we need someone bigger,more psyhical..

Then : 2nd - 3rd line depends on who we draft
Kunitz - Malkin - Neal
Draft F/Staal - Crosby - Dupuis
Cooke - Draft F/Staal - Kennedy
Moen - Vitale - Tangradi
x - Adams

Orpik - Letang
Stuart - Niskanen
Michalek - Despres
x - Engelland/Strait/Bortuzzo (Shero/Blysma - they decide thru camp and preseason..)

MAF
Harding

I like the Nisky signing
.
You won't get an early first rounder for Martin and a prospect when that "early" first rounder could be a major point producing player within his first couple years. Who is Mark Stuart?
.
Harding might be looking for a place that will give him a starting job and I really don't believe you spend over 1M on a back up, that's more my philosophy than truth though.
.
I like the Moen signing but I don't like trying to fill out the roster through the draft. NHL prospects aren't slam dunks all the time and rushing them is usually a bad thing. Staal was the exception to that rule.

I meant Brad Stuart..

[mikey287]

There seems to be a smattering of people that are determined to make the Penguins worse.

[shmenguin]

i made a flippant remark in another thread about him, but i'll reinforce that here: i don't want any part of brad stuart. he was abysmal in 08 and 09 against us. really un-red wing-like