Shero states he plans to trade a defenseman or two

[meecrofilm]

Well yeah, obviously it'd be ideal if we could keep both of them for as long as we needed, but the numbers dictate a move must be made.

[IanMoran]

Best case scenario...

Shero finds a team that needs to take on salary just to reach minimum salary and is willing to do so with Martin

[DelPen]

I'm interested to hear why some people are inclined to put Bortuzzo in the "don't trade" pile. I mean this in an entirely non-confrontational way. I didn't think he embarrassed himself when called up this year, but he certainly wasn't as good as Despres. I also would rate Strait higher than him given that Strait didn't embarrass himself in the playoffs, even when many other Pens did.

However, I haven't seen any WBS games, and I know from checking in occasionally on Bombulie's WBS blog that Bombulie thinks Bortuzzo doesn't have anything left to prove at the AHL level and will be playing in the NHL somewhere (PIT or otherwise) next year.

What am I missing with regards to Bortuzzo's game?

Pretty much his size. 6'4" will come in handy if the NHL keeps allowing obstruction. He has a lot of potential still to tap. Despres is the only other really big defensemen in the system. All thing being equal I keep him especially considering he will not clear waivers (Lovejoy and Strait might) and you couldn't redraft a player like him in the 6th or 7th round.

[DelPen]

Best case scenario...

Shero finds a team that needs to take on salary just to reach minimum salary and is willing to do so with Martin

St. Louis might just be that team. Or Detroit. And Martin would actually be really better off under Hitch or Babcock.

Wings have like $19 million to spend on 3 or 4 players, and the Blues have $28 million to sign the same #.

[sil]

Best case scenario...

Shero finds a team that needs to take on salary just to reach minimum salary and is willing to do so with Martin

St. Louis might just be that team. Or Detroit. And Martin would actually be really better off under Hitch or Babcock.

Wings have like $19 million to spend on 3 or 4 players, and the Blues have $28 million to sign the same #.

Based on the Wings fans I know...and how much flack they've given me over Martin...I might die laughing if we traded Pauly to them.

[JoseCuervo]

I'd rather have strait than bortuzzo, but it's pretty much a preference when comparing the two. They're very similar players, and both would likely be lost on waivers which is likely why shero plans trading a defenseman. There is a logjam for the bottom pairing especially if they resign niskanen.

[columbia]

Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib

Pens D Paul Martin just told me that he played the first three games against the Flyers with concussion-like symptoms.

[MRandall25]

^^ That makes a lot of sense

[Avyran]

Continuing the quotes from Yohe about Martin...

Martin said nothing to trainers until after Game 3. At that point, he was shut down for the rest of the series.

Martin is fully recovered from the concussion and is working out every day in Minnesota.

Martin said he hopes he isn't traded and wants to show Pittsburgh "what kind of a players I am capable of being."

[Trip McNeely]

If will be pretty hilarious if Paul Martin comes back this year and is our best defenseman. Sort of like how Matt Niskanen was a whipping boy last year. THis board will go

[Rylan]

Paul Martin is historically a solid defenseman. As such, I am more inclined to give him a second chance. I feel comfortable with the defense (except I would wish for a better 6th d-man but what can you do). I just think it is overpayed and as such people will use that as a reason to despise a player or group.

[MRandall25]

Paul Martin could win the Norris next year, and there would still be people here who hate him.

[mikey287]

I've withstood all along (certainly not alone) that he's a good player...maybe just not a good fit. This seems like as good of a time as any to say this, I have a weird feeling gnawing at the back of my brain that Brooks Orpik is the guy that goes...even though it doesn't make that much sense, I just have a weird inkling...probably nothing though...hopefully...

[FallenHero96]

I don't dislike Martin but as was said, he is just overpaid for what he brings. On this team cap space is tight and that 5 mil could be much better used, especially when we have like 4 other D that are capable.

[lemieuxReturns]

If will be pretty hilarious if Paul Martin comes back this year and is our best defenseman. Sort of like how Matt Niskanen was a whipping boy last year. THis board will go

Well it would not be out of the question. I am a big-time Martin basher for sure, but he was an excellent d-man in NJ and I remember how bad Gonchar was for his first season with the pens. Maybe Martin just needed two seasons to settle down into the system. who knows.

[AlexPKeaton]

I would like Martin if he played good. It is that simple, and nothing personal.

[Rylan]

Orpik has just been with the Pens for so long it would suck to see him go.

[lemieuxReturns]

Paul Martin is historically a solid defenseman. As such, I am more inclined to give him a second chance. I feel comfortable with the defense (except I would wish for a better 6th d-man but what can you do). I just think it is overpayed and as such people will use that as a reason to despise a player or group.

You must mean a third chance

[FallenHero96]

I would think it more likely they trade Martin than Orpik, not even because of money but because of the toughness factor. No other D we have plays like that.

[lemieuxReturns]

I would think it more likely they trade Martin than Orpik, not even because of money but because of the toughness factor. No other D we have plays like that.

Engelland and Letang both play pretty physical hockey also...but yea, i agree that Orpik's toughness plus leadership stare are unreplaceable.

[MRandall25]

I would think it more likely they trade Martin than Orpik, not even because of money but because of the toughness factor. No other D we have plays like that.

I'd say it's kinda hard to play "tough" when you're experiencing concussion symptoms for at least the first 3 games of the playoffs.

[lemieuxReturns]

I would think it more likely they trade Martin than Orpik, not even because of money but because of the toughness factor. No other D we have plays like that.

I'd say it's kinda hard to play "tough" when you're experiencing concussion symptoms for at least the first 3 games of the playoffs.

umm... Martin never plays tough PERIOD. He may be a good d-man in some eyes even a great one in others, but i think no one would ever venture out and say he plays tough.

[MRandall25]

I would think it more likely they trade Martin than Orpik, not even because of money but because of the toughness factor. No other D we have plays like that.

I'd say it's kinda hard to play "tough" when you're experiencing concussion symptoms for at least the first 3 games of the playoffs.

umm... Martin never plays tough PERIOD. He may be a good d-man in some eyes even a great one in others, but i think no one would ever venture out and say he plays tough.

Depends on your definition of "tough".

[Rylan]

Playing through concussion symptoms is tough.

[Letang Is The Truth]

Playing through concussion symptoms is ignorant.