You're the GM: Part 3

[npv708]

Breaking News:
After a disappointing exit in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins announce the resignation of General Manager Ray Shero, who will be replaced by YOU. You have your work cut out for you. The salary cap for the next season is approximately $68 million dollars. Currently we have $59,566,667 locked up in 18 players:

1) We need you to resign any unrestricted free agents that you feel will help the team win the cup next year.
We have 5 Ufa's this offseason and 2 Rfa's. It's your choice who we keep.
Ufa's: Arron Asham, Brent Johnson, Richard Park, Steve Sullivan, Brad Thiessen
Rfa's: Matt Niskanen, Cal O'Reilly

2) We need you to sign other free agents from across the league on July 1st.
Here are some helpful lists for reference. Please disregard the rankings and only sign players who will help this team out and fill a need.
Upcoming UFA's: http://www.capgeek.com/ufa_finder.php

3) Also, feel free to make any trades or any other transactions, including any coaching changes to help gear up this team for its next run to the cup and remember, try to keep this realistic with years and numbers included.

4) Here is a handy tool to help with your calculations.
http://capgeek.com/cap-calculator/?acti ... team_id=26
(Note: 64.3 Million Dollars was the cap for 2011-2012, its project by many to be in the 68-69 Million range)

Thank You and Good Luck.

[Noise]

-Contract extensions for Crosby & Staal
-Re-sign Sullivan & Niskanen
-Fire Bylsma
-Ditch Lovejoy
-Shop some of the defense, see what's out there.
-Call Ryan Suter, Shane Doan, Matt Carle, & Zach Parise. See what it'd take to get them on the Penguins. . . it never hurts to ask.
-If any of them can be had for the right price & fit under the cap, do so, possibly even making deals to clear cap space to sign them.

[npv708]

First things first, Dan Bylsma, Gilles Meloche, and Todd Reirden...You're fired.

I'd like to take this time to also announce the new coaching staff that will be leading your Pittsburgh Penguins into the 2012-2013 Season:

First, there's head coach Bob Hartley, a former Stanley Cup winner with the Colorado Avalanche, Hartley will implement a system with very aggressive play from his forwards and safe stay at home play from his blueline.

Hartley will now be flanked by Assistant Coach Tony Granato and Assistant Coach Bill Guerin, while former Penguin goalie Ken Wregget will be taking over the duties as the new Goaltender Coach.

"As the new GM as the Penguins, I noticed a few weaknesses with the team throughout the season and definitely into the playoffs, but there were two spots that concerned me the most; grit and defense. That's why, this summer, I will work on bringing in free agents that will make this team tougher to play against physically and will be frustrating to forwards around the crease."

Here's the current lineup of the Penguins, without any free agent additions heading into next year:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Neal - Malkin - x
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
x - Adams - Vitale
Jeffrey
x

Letang - Orpik
Martin - Michalek
Engelland - x
Lovejoy

- First thing I would do is re-sign Matt Niskanen to a reasonable contract of 2 million over the next 2 years.
- Second thing, I'd attempt to sign Jason Arnott to play 3rd line Center on a 1 year, 2.25 million dollar deal , in attempt to add grit to the third line, while providing Jordan Staal a chance to play alongside James Neal and Evgeni Malkin
- Next, I would sign Jordan Tootoo to a 2 year contract worth 1.25 each year.
- At the draft, I would attempt to trade away Ben Lovejoy, Dustin Jeffrey, and a pick to the Sharks in order to bring in a big and steady stay at home defenseman that hits hard. In return the Penguins would receive defenseman Douglas Murray (2.5).
- Lastly, I would look to bring in one of Martin Biron or Johan Hedberg to back up Marc Andre Fleury, while providing a veteran influence for him between the pipes for around 1 million on a one year deal)



Your 2012-2013 Opening Night Lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Neal - Malkin - Staal
Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Cooke - Arnott - Kennedy
Tootoo - Vitale - Adams

Letang - Orpik
Murray - Martin
Michalek - Niskanen
Engelland

Fleury
Biron/Hedberg

If the cap is set around 68 Million dollars, this will leave the Penguins with very little cap space, but would make the team significantly more difficult to play against.

[Hawkeynut]

- Keep coaching staff as is.
- Make a pitch for W Ryan Smyth as a veteran winger option.
- Resign Nisky to a decent pay raise.
- Make a pitch for Travis Moen to replace lost Matt Cooke grit.
- Fire a 1 year deal at Marty Turco to do backup duty.
- Have Lovejoy and Despres fight out the #6/7 spot on D

Just a quick batch of ideas. I have always liked Smyth and Turco.

[Gaucho]

Har De Har Hartley.

[npv708]

Har De Har Hartley.

What's your gripe with Hartley? Do you really fault him for not winning as the coach of the Thrashers?

[neophool]

Trade for Scuderi.

[KG]

1. Fire Bylsma and the staff. Bring in a veteran respected non-players coach. Brent Sutter type. Bring in Rick Tocchet as an assistant.

2. We need to add more grit up front. Sign Paul Gaustad to a 3 year contract.

3. Sign Brandon Prust to a 3 year contract.

4. Sign Travis Moen to a 2 year contract.

5. Sign Johan Hedberg to a 1 year contract.

6. Trade Matt Cooke to the Wild for a 3rd round pick.

7. Trade the rights of Matt Niskanen to the Islanders for a 4th round pick

8. Trade Ben Lovejoy to Edmonton for a 4th round pick

9. Re-sign Kennedy to a 1 year deal.

Keep Martin/Michalek and the rest of the core in tact as I think some tweaks and coaching change will right this ship more so then totally re-tooling the lineup.

Neal/Malkin/Staal
Dupuis/Crosby/Kunitz
Kennedy/Gaustad/Moen
Tangradi/Vitale/Prust

Letang/Orpik
Michalek/Martin
Despres/Engelland

MAF
MOOSE

[Pavel Bure]

Shipping out Lovejoy, Kennedy, Jeffery, Adams.

This is what I'm going to war with.
Forwards
Sully, he brought exactly what we expected and lets face it made that PP run.
.
Tootoo, we all know what this guy brings, hard nosed, hard working, and less reckless with his play in the last couple seasons. You tell him what to do and he does it... hard
.
Moen, flat out warrior, up there in age yes but brings the veteran presence and does whatever is needed
.
Glass, hits everything in sight and works his butt off, hard to play against.
.
Tangradi, this is your time kid, injuries are going to happen, take the bull by the horns or you're just not gonna make it
Defense
Nisky, despite what some have said he's in no position to ask for bigger money than he's already making. His NHL career up to this point has been nothing short of inconsistent. He's showing signs of becoming a solid guy but until he puts it together for a long period of time he can't command the money. Good guy to bring back for the 3rd pairing with the flashes he was showing.
.
Sarich, got a nice contract from Calgary, good skater, good one on one, and will lay guys out. As much as people say defense does not equal hitting and I agree but the hitting/physical element is sorely lacking in the Pens D. It's needed so teams don't treat our back end like marshmallow fluff.
Goalie
Biron, like him or not the guy is a solid back up, has a good team attitude, and not too long ago was a starter in this league.

[Bioshock]

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Zach Parise ($6.500m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Steve Sullivan ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Eric Tangradi ($0.900m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m) / Richard Park ($0.600m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Joe Vitale ($0.550m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Deryk Engelland ($0.567m) / Kris Letang ($3.500m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.500m) / Ryan Suter ($6.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.840m) / Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
Carl Sneep ($0.850m) /

GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Brad Thiessen ($0.600m)

SALARY CAP: $68,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,731,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,268,333

I also fire the whole coaching Staff and start over again with Rick Tocchet

[Pavel Bure]

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Zach Parise ($6.500m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Steve Sullivan ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Eric Tangradi ($0.900m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m) / Richard Park ($0.600m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Joe Vitale ($0.550m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Deryk Engelland ($0.567m) / Kris Letang ($3.500m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.500m) / Ryan Suter ($6.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.840m) / Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
Carl Sneep ($0.850m) /

GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Brad Thiessen ($0.600m)

SALARY CAP: $68,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,731,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,268,333

I also fire the whole coaching Staff and start over again with Rick Tocchet

Wow I don't like that D or back up goalie at all. Pretty much Letang and Suter with a bunch of rookies and 3rd pairing guys.

[Coy and Vance]

The first move i would make is get rid of the blue uniforms and bring back the diagonal PITTSBURGH jersey as your 3rd. Second move I would make is trade Paul Martin and Dustin Jeffrey to Calgary for Curtis Glencross and 2nd and 4th rounder. Sign Ryan Suter, Travis Moen and Jordan Tootoo.

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Glencross-Malkin-Neal
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Moen-Vitale-Tootoo
Adams

Suter-Letang
Orpik-Michalek
Niskanen-Despres
Engelland

Fleury
Hedberg

[Rylan]

The first move i would make is get rid of the blue uniforms and bring back the diagonal PITTSBURGH jersey as your 3rd. Second move I would make is trade Paul Martin and Dustin Jeffrey to Calgary for Curtis Glencross and 2nd and 4th rounder. Sign Ryan Suter, Travis Moen and Jordan Tootoo.

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Glencross-Malkin-Neal
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Moen-Vitale-Tootoo
Adams

Suter-Letang
Orpik-Michalek
Niskanen-Despres
Engelland

Fleury
Hedberg

I like this except I don't think that much money needs spent on defense. But solid bringing back Hedberg.

[Bioshock]

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Zach Parise ($6.500m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Steve Sullivan ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Eric Tangradi ($0.900m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m) / Richard Park ($0.600m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Joe Vitale ($0.550m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Deryk Engelland ($0.567m) / Kris Letang ($3.500m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.500m) / Ryan Suter ($6.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.840m) / Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
Carl Sneep ($0.850m) /

GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Brad Thiessen ($0.600m)

SALARY CAP: $68,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,731,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,268,333

I also fire the whole coaching Staff and start over again with Rick Tocchet

Wow I don't like that D or back up goalie at all. Pretty much Letang and Suter with a bunch of rookies and 3rd pairing guys.

Lol, yeah. I just want Parise

[Rylan]

Yea Bioshock, as with my problem with overpaying the defense, Holy Offensive Overload Batman.

[Bioshock]

Yea Bioshock, as with my problem with overpaying the defense, Holy Offensive Overload Batman.

Lol, my next lineup will be my serious one.

[npv708]

Yea Bioshock, as with my problem with overpaying the defense, Holy Offensive Overload Batman.

Lol, my next lineup will be my serious one.

But Parise and Sid are totally like BFF's. Parise will come here and play for free.

[duke66]

2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins
FORWARDS
James Neal ($5.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m)
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Paul Gaustad ($2.500m) / Tyler Kennedy ($2.000m)
Steve Sullivan ($1.500m) / Jason Arnott ($2.000m) / Joe Vitale ($0.550m)
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($3.500m) / Ryan Suter ($5.000m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.000m) / Zbynek Michalek ($4.000m)
Deryk Engelland ($0.567m) / Simon Despres ($0.840m)
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Johan Hedberg ($1.000m)
------
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,881,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $418,333

[Bioshock]

How about this?

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Zach Parise ($6.000m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Jordin Tootoo ($1.200m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m) / Dominic Moore ($1.100m) / Ian Laperriere ($1.100m)
Richard Park ($0.550m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Brooks Orpik ($3.750m) / Kris Letang ($3.500m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.500m) / Ryan Suter ($6.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.840m) / Deryk Engelland ($0.567m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.550m) /

GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Martin Biron ($0.900m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $68,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $67,781,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $218,333

[Rylan]

2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins
FORWARDS
James Neal ($5.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m)
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Paul Gaustad ($2.500m) / Tyler Kennedy ($2.000m)
Steve Sullivan ($1.500m) / Jason Arnott ($2.000m) / Joe Vitale ($0.550m)
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($3.500m) / Ryan Suter ($5.000m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.000m) / Zbynek Michalek ($4.000m)
Deryk Engelland ($0.567m) / Simon Despres ($0.840m)
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Johan Hedberg ($1.000m)
------
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,881,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $418,333

Sullivan on your 4th line is a wasted roster spot. Overpaying Arnott to be your 4th line center is just burning money. Suter for anything lower than 6.0M will absolutely shock the hell out of me,

[Rylan]

How about this?

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Zach Parise ($6.000m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Jordin Tootoo ($1.200m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m) / Dominic Moore ($1.100m) / Ian Laperriere ($1.100m)
Richard Park ($0.550m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Brooks Orpik ($3.750m) / Kris Letang ($3.500m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.500m) / Ryan Suter ($6.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.840m) / Deryk Engelland ($0.567m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.550m) /

GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Martin Biron ($0.900m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $68,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $67,781,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $218,333

While better. No way you get rid of M&M plus this whole exercise is moot considering the cap will likely remain the same entering next season. But again, an overpaid 4th line with an overpaid defense. Defense is one of the few positions where you can get quality play for a quality value. You do not need high priced guys to form a good defense. I thought Engelland and Niskanen were 2 of the more consistent players this season. They also are 2 of the cheapest.

[duke66]

2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins
FORWARDS
James Neal ($5.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m)
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Paul Gaustad ($2.500m) / Tyler Kennedy ($2.000m)
Steve Sullivan ($1.500m) / Jason Arnott ($2.000m) / Joe Vitale ($0.550m)
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($3.500m) / Ryan Suter ($5.000m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.000m) / Zbynek Michalek ($4.000m)
Deryk Engelland ($0.567m) / Simon Despres ($0.840m)
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Johan Hedberg ($1.000m)
------
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,881,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $418,333

Sullivan on your 4th line is a wasted roster spot. Overpaying Arnott to be your 4th line center is just burning money. Suter for anything lower than 6.0M will absolutely shock the hell out of me,

guess i'm not hired.

[Streaks House]

How about this?

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.725m) / Evgeni Malkin ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Zach Parise ($6.000m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Pascal Dupuis ($1.500m)
Matt Cooke ($1.800m) / Jordan Staal ($4.000m) / Jordin Tootoo ($1.200m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m) / Dominic Moore ($1.100m) / Ian Laperriere ($1.100m)
Richard Park ($0.550m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Brooks Orpik ($3.750m) / Kris Letang ($3.500m)
Matt Niskanen ($2.500m) / Ryan Suter ($6.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.840m) / Deryk Engelland ($0.567m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.550m) /

GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Martin Biron ($0.900m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $68,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $67,781,667; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $218,333

While better. No way you get rid of M&M plus this whole exercise is moot considering the cap will likely remain the same entering next season. But again, an overpaid 4th line with an overpaid defense. Defense is one of the few positions where you can get quality play for a quality value. You do not need high priced guys to form a good defense. I thought Engelland and Niskanen were 2 of the more consistent players this season. They also are 2 of the cheapest.

I like it outside the 4th line, and Dominic Moore. Moore would provide for the Pens a few of things they could upgrade: strong in the face-off circle, can be a pest/agitate opposing players, as well as provide some offense from time to time. Ideally, I'd like to see the 4th line become younger, quicker, more of a threat to score. Didn't Ian Laperrière retire due to post concussion syndrome? Glad you didn't include Adams, I don't think he is the same player at this point in his career, seems to have lost a step and can't really do anything on offense. I'd replace Laperrière with Tangradi at a similar cost and try to address an Arron Asham replacement internally.

[offsides]

After reading this thread I now have more respect for how RS must spend a lot of his time. Pretty good\intersting stuff guys.

[Nizzy]

--------------------------------------------------------
RFA (previous salary cap hit)
UFA (previous salary cap hit)
AHL/PROSPECT

2012-13
--------------------------------------------------------
Kunitz (3.725) Malkin (8.7) Neal (5.0)
Sullivan (1.5) Crosby (8.7) Dupuis (1.5)
Cooke (1.8) Staal (4.0) Tangradi (.850)
Jeffrey (.575) Vitale (.550) Player (##)
McDonald (##)
Street (##)

Forward Salary Cap Totals: 36.9

-Kennedy (2.0) Trade
-Adams (.675) Trade / Waive
-Asham (.775) Contract Expires
-MacIntyre (.6) Contract Expires
-Park (.550) Contract Expires

--------------------------------------------------------
Orpik (3.75) Letang (3.5)
Niskanen (2.5) Michalek (4.0)
Engelland (.567) Despres (.840)
Bortuzzo (##)
Strait (##)
Morrow (##)

Defense Salary Cap Totals: 14.317

-Martin (5.0) Trade
-Lovejoy (5.0) Trade / Waive

--------------------------------------------------------
Fleury (5.0)
Player (##)

Goaltender Salary Cap Totals: 5.0

-Johnson (.6) Contract Expires

--------------------------------------------------------
Current Total: 56.217
Salary Cap: 64.3
Cap Space = 8.083

Still need to sign 7th and possibly 8th defenseman, another forward for a depth someone for 3rd-4th line duties or a 2nd line winger cheap, a backup goalie. This is with the cap staying the same. This also shows we should have enough space to sign Letang at 6M, and Staal at 6M-6.5M and still be okay. I think if we use anymore cap space it should be for a mid-priced defenseman at the deadline next year.

--------------------------------------------------------

Forwards

My logic for the Forwards is that we still where scoring 4 goals or more during the stretch of the end of the season and playoffs. I really think the offense is the last of our problems at the moment. Putting blame on Crosby/Malkin for getting "out scored" doesn't sit right with me. How are you going to blame your offense for only scoring 5 goals when the defense/goalie is letting up 8? This is the same offensive core that one a cup + with a 40 goal scorer added. The main concerns however our that at some areas we are under sized, and that we don't have enough scoring talent on the 4th line. You look at a team like Philly and they have Talbot and Read on their 4th line, two 20 goal scorers. I think if you remove Adams, Asham, and Park (what did they have a combined 10 goals all year?) and play Vitale, Jeffery, maybe try out this McDonald RW whose been playing well in the minors as the captain, age 27 I believe. Bylsma doesn't believe in his young players enough in my opinion, I hope this changes. I'm pretty sure that they would put in more goals, and some of them would do just as well on the P.K. Adams has clearly lost a bit and it showed.

I want the team to be bigger. During game 6, 3rd period, there was a shift with Sullivan-Crosby-Kennedy. So 5'11 Sidney gets to play with two 5'8-5'9 guys? Give this guy someone bigger to play with. I say only keep one of Kennedy or Sullivan. Kennedy proved my point again after coming back from injury. He comes back, and in his first 1-2 games always has a 2 goal game. Then he goes completely invisible for 7-8 games at a time. I have to go back and look at the boxscore sometimes because I honestly wonder if he even played some nights he was so invisible. He did this when he first scored 2 goals vs Ottawa in Europe for the opener, then goes invisible again. This is the type of player he is. He needs to go. It's been like this for over 4 years now. He isn't worth 2.0M when hes invisible and undersized.

Its time Tangradi gets a real shot. Not 6 minutes a night on the 4th line with Craig Adams. Tangradi is BETTER playing with BETTER players. He was great, using his size for adding some space when he played with Staal. Maybe keep him with Staal. I saw the line of Kunitz-Crosby-Tangradi 2 preseasons ago in a game vs Toronto. Tangradi was amazing. Sure it was just a preseason game but he was hitting, cycling, being a problem infront of the net. Maybe try him with Crosby, but I hope he doesn't have the Malone effect where he can't keep up. It makes me so upset when people say tangradi doens't produce. Bylsma sticks him with Adams and expects what? For him to put in goals when all Adams can do is dump? Tangradi needs a real chance, and I'd like to see a different coach use him properly. I can't stand Bylsma not giving these younger players a chance. Anyone remember when he just went and checked Kovalchuk at the blue line with a big hit, still had the composure to grab the puck, take it into the zone, and set up a nice goal? He can't do that with Adams all the time. Bylsma is seriously ruining this kid. Not everyone on the team can play this dump-n-chase style. You need some bigger guys around the net. You can't have 4 lines of the same exact stuff Disco.

I think it will be a good idea to sign a 3rd/4th line combo type player for under 1M. However go into the season and see how some of these younger guys do. McDonald seems like he has a lot of character as the WBS captain running 2 years. What else is Tangradi going to do in the minors? He's shown he's a PPG player with top 6 minutes there. Kid needs to play with one of our ***** *****'ed top 3 centers to produce. If he doesn't get top 9 just please trade the kid and watch him put in 30 with some other team. Moulson 2.0 if you let him go. Moulson, PF, put with a playmaking center... These PF's need time at the pro level to adjust and get some consistent minutes on the top line around the net to get their footing right and things like that. Give Tangradi a good 20 games without moving him, then if still no goals? See yah, but I think he will perform. Go into the season with more of these younger guys, see how they do, then at the deadline address what you can if anything is needed. I don't think anyone like Kuhnlhackl, Bennett, Hanowski, Uher, etc are even close to being nhl ready. Probably 2-3 years away for all of them.

People really think we are getting Dustin Brown? It's the biggest pipedream ever. The Kings aren't trading their captain, the guy who was so clutch in taking out the Canucks, for anything less than Staal or Neal. Brown will be re-upped for sure with LAK. People really think we are getting Parise? We don't have the money. Yeah we can have Parise for 6M maybe, but we lose one of Staal or Letang. We have Parise its called Neal, and at probably less money than Parise would cost. Our offense is fine guys. Seriously.

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Defense

Our defense looked a lot better to me once Martin was gone. I felt he had a waterfall effect on the defensive core. Like, giving an honest judgement of the guy you look at this games in the series and: Couldn't win puck battles, wasn't grabbing open players around the net, wasn't hitting/checking at all, when he would take the puck out he wouldn't get it deep enough, just hit it to their blue line and Flyers would come right down and score while we set up our line change. You look at all that and think well is he the number 6th man? No, he's paid to be a number 1, to give you a calm style of play/good positioning for 20+ minutes a game for 5 Million. He simply doesn't fit this system. Needs to go, even if we don't get anything back. Just get rid of him.

Despres is too good not to be in the NHL next year. Not sure where he should be in the lineup though. Niskanen should be brought back as he has a decent all around game. Some physical-ness, some-offensive talent, at times him and Engelland where our best pairing when you factored in consistentcy. I think he deserves a 2 year deal with a slight raise. As far as Orpik goes, I know he wasn't the same this year. However he still deserves an offseason to try and get into better shape or do whatever he needs to do, and then another whole season with the team. If he is still the same for next playoffs/just terribad during the regular season then try to move him if you can, however right now I say give him another year. For Michalek I thought he looked so much better once Martin was gone. Michalek might not be worth the 4 Million but he's way closer to value than Martin is to his 5 Million. Michalek was at least checking/getting back to his shot blocking. It's still all there, just need to find this guy a consistent line mate and keep them together.

Now it great really interesting when you talk about after the top 6. I think Lovejoy showed why he's not able to play in the majors. He was just so dreadful vs the 40 year old in Jagr. Jagr scored that goal on Lovejoy, and Lovejoy's stick was above Jagr's head, and Lovejoy tried to block Jagr's turn around shot with his skate. It was so embarassingly bad. He will never be more than a number 7 with this current team and Strait/Bortuzzo both have higher upside. Lovejoy gets traded for a late rounder/waived and picked up by some team like Minnesota or the Islanders or something. I'm not sure whats going to happen with Strait/Bortuzzo. They have to make the team or clear waivers to go back to the minors. I think Bortuzzo is younger/bigger. However Strait could be a model of Scuderi on the bottom pairing. It's a really tough call, I guess whoever looks better going into the season is the number 7.

I'd say you roll with this defense going into the season see how it goes and make a trade if needed. We aren't getting Weber, we aren't getting Suter. Sarich was an interesting idea. Remember we need money for Staal and Letang raises soon. We can't afford another 6M dollar defenseman. I feel like Defense was our biggest problem but team defense/system needs to change. We looked the best in games 4 & 5 when our offense stayed back longer. We didn't cheat up. Then in game 6 when we were down we started doing it again. Fix the defense/defensive system and you'll see better all around team results.

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Goaltending

Fleury was bad in these playoffs. I think he showed a lot of mental fatigue. His best games were 4 & 5 after he had 3 days to rest. I think that stretch when BJ was hurt and Theissen was just awful really hurt MAF in how much we had to use him up. It's like he's been playing playoff hockey for a lot longer. Lets get real we aren't trading him. He was sick in 2009, guess what? Our defense hasn't been as good since then. We spent 9M for Martin/Michalek when Scuderi/Gill cost less and out performed them in multiple playoffs since then too. We have to get our defense better for MAF. He let in some really terrible goals but I think he will turn it around if we can get a backup to take 25 regular season games. I like the Ellis idea, maybe that Sanford from the BJ's. I don't know. Just not Theissen please. At 28 or whatever he is, his glove is insanely slow. He's a great nice person but just not NHL caliber. We just need a backup that can keep MAF sharp and make him realize his job might be at jeopardy if he doesn't perform. He didnt have that at all this year.

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Coaching

Really would be interested in hearing more about this Hartley guy, I kind of want Bylsma gone. Disco, great coach, just not great for this team anymore. I can only imagine how many times they've heard "get to our game" . P.K. Coaching was so bad this year. How can we not get someone to find a way to use Malkin, Crosby, and Neal on the same PP? It's unreal. Someone mentioned Tocchet for a change of pace. Could be interesting.

I know Disco is coming back and I guess he deserves another chance. It's such a shame was talking to the old man and he said you know when Badger Bob was the coach and something happened like this he wouldn't just stand around like Bylsma and keep his arms crossed. He would be writing stuff down on a notepad, then all the time the Pens would come out in the 2nd period and score right away. Disco seemed so lost after some of these post games. I didn't see any changes until after game 3 when we were too deep. He didn't call timeouts at any good times, it didn't make sense in game 2. Then he used it with 30 seconds left and down 2? Joke or ? I really think Mario and or Shero stepped in after game 3 and said this is whats going to happen...

Bylsma on hot seat next year. I'm fine with him having another year but we really need to atleast go deep into the 2nd round next year and not lose to another lower ranked seed again.

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Thanks for making this thread again NPV, I was waiting for it since the 0-3 10 days ago lol.