Qualifying Offers

[Mr. Colby]

Can anyone tell me what the deadline is for QO's?

The only date/time I've seen anywhere is yesterday at 5pm. If that's true, who did the Pens qualify/not qualify?

[mikey287]

Yes.

Pittsburgh qualified: Bortuzzo, Grant, Niskanen, Sneep, Strait, Tangradi, Veilleux
Did not: Modig, O'Reilly, Picard, Pierro-Zabotel, Valabik
Not sure: Cheverie

No surprises in the least, very standard procedure as far as QO's go. Minor league vets walk, prospects and Niskanen retained.

[sil]

Yes.

Pittsburgh qualified: Bortuzzo, Grant, Niskanen, Sneep, Strait, Tangradi, Veilleux
Did not: Modig, O'Reilly, Picard, Pierro-Zabotel, Valabik
Not sure: Cheverie

No surprises in the least, very standard procedure as far as QO's go. Minor league vets walk, prospects and Niskanen retained.

Other than Niskanen and perhaps Tangradi...you think any of those gents will be signed longer than one year?

[mikey287]

No.

[Digitalgypsy66]

J. Bomb has a great wrapup of who/what/why RFAs were/were not qualified: http://blogs.citizensvoice.com/penguins/?p=4724

A good read, as always, especially if you aren't a daily follower of the WBS Pens.

[Mr. Colby]

Thanks lads. Couldn't find this shizz anywhere

[DelPen]

I could see Strait and Bortuzzo sign multi-year (2 or 3 years like Engellend and Lovejoy did) one-way deals closer to the minimum which would save a little bit on cap but more importantly might prevent a team from claiming them through waivers.

Chances are, if you suck you would take these guys but you might not want to pay them $500K to play in the AHL if you need to send them down, better teams that can afford to do that probably don't need them. Penguins can use the depth still and not worry about the cost of paying one-way delas in WBS.

[Defence21]

No.

I assume this answer was to the question of whether anyone other than Niskanen/Tangradi would receive more than a year. You don't suppose a guy like Bortuzzo might get 2 years, 2 way, league minimum?

[JoseCuervo]

No.

I assume this answer was to the question of whether anyone other than Niskanen/Tangradi would receive more than a year. You don't suppose a guy like Bortuzzo might get 2 years, 2 way, league minimum?

I doubt bortuzzo would sign a 2 year, 2-way contract. If you want to give the players incentive to stay, you need to go with a 1-way deal

[mikey287]

No.

I assume this answer was to the question of whether anyone other than Niskanen/Tangradi would receive more than a year. You don't suppose a guy like Bortuzzo might get 2 years, 2 way, league minimum?

Yes it was, and no I don't. Bortuzzo will be 24 towards the end of this season. The only way he should be taking a two-year deal at this point is if the second year is one-way. That is, if he's serious about being an NHL player. Every game is an audition for the rest of his life, taking a two-way deal for two years just caps his earning power for a year of his prime. Whether that's here in the Penguins organization or elsewhere or abroad. As strange as it may sound, he has to think long-term with this - so a one-year deal is the max he can take without getting promises (contractual or otherwise) that suggest he can afford to do otherwise. At least, that's my approach if I'm his agent.

[Mr. Colby]

I would assume Cheverie was qualified otherwise what was the point in acquiring him? Plus with Johnny, Thiessen, and Munroe all UFAs all we have is Kileen

[mikey287]

I would assume Cheverie was qualified otherwise what was the point in acquiring him? Plus with Johnny, Thiessen, and Munroe all UFAs all we have is Kileen

Under normal circumstances I would agree, but it could have been a contract limit issue for Phoenix. Teams are only allowed 50 players under contract, they (Phoenix) might be near the limit and wanted to dump one. Personally, I wouldn't qualify him, but given the lack of minor league depth we have and the lack of creativity we have to find more, I think we will and pencil him in to be the backup in WBS.

[Mr. Colby]

I would assume Cheverie was qualified otherwise what was the point in acquiring him? Plus with Johnny, Thiessen, and Munroe all UFAs all we have is Kileen

Under normal circumstances I would agree, but it could have been a contract limit issue for Phoenix. Teams are only allowed 50 players under contract, they (Phoenix) might be near the limit and wanted to dump one. Personally, I wouldn't qualify him, but given the lack of minor league depth we have and the lack of creativity we have to find more, I think we will and pencil him in to be the backup in WBS.

True. The 50 contracts thing crossed my mind but I wasn't sure if it applied at this time of year. Seems like that's the only reason Cheverie would be included in the deal... though you'd have to think they want Killeen to get some playing time in WBS this season so unless they're planning on going with Cheverie and Killeen in WBS (don't see that happening), I'd figure on Cheverie either going to Wheeling or not being qualified

Not that it really matters, both of these guys are garbage anyway.

[IanMoran]

I remember being so excited about Tangradi when that trade happened. I know this has said 9999 times, but its kind of sad to see how much he's just become an after-thought. Hopefully he can become a Mike Rupp type of player

[Mr. Colby]

I don't have much issue with Tangradi at this point - he looked a lot better down the stretch. I have no problem slating him in on the 4th line with maybe some 2nd PP minutes and giving him the opportunity to earn more ice time

[IanMoran]

I don't have much issue with Tangradi at this point - he looked a lot better down the stretch. I have no problem slating him in on the 4th line with maybe some 2nd PP minutes and giving him the opportunity to earn more ice time

Yes to 4th line, have to see how roster ends up shaping up with 2nd PP

[DelPen]

Give Tangradi a 2 year, $1 million contract so at least he will be getting decent money on the 4th line. When you get past the lofty expectations people had for him and just see that he can play a grinding game and not suck that's what you need on the 4th line. He has the talent too to fill in a top 6 spot if needed for small stretches.

Tangradi-Vitale-Adams is a solid 4th line and bring in some vets for some competition at camp.

[Mr. Colby]

Not sure if I'm sold on a Cooke-Sutter-TK-Tangradi-Vitale-Adams bottom 6... not tough enough

[mikey287]

Not sure if I'm sold on a Cooke-Sutter-TK-Tangradi-Vitale-Adams bottom 6... not tough enough

Some people might consider this trolling a small handful of people here, but it's very serious. Engelland could probably fill in on the LW of the fourth line for toughness and we wouldn't miss a beat. Like it or not, his days are numbered on our blueline...it's just a matter of if it's a double-digit number or not...

Also, there's plenty out there to make it a little tougher...

Tanner Glass is a slower player, but he's actually shown me that he's pretty smart. Aware defensively. Big hitter. Friendly kid too off the ice in my experience.

Brandon Prust, probably the best pound for pound fighter in the league (if you're into that kind of thing), good defensively for a 4th liner, agitates. Downside: seeking Kennedy money.

Brad Winchester and Taylor Pyatt can be programmed to hit, but I don't think it's their MO all the time. They aren't natural born killers, and are slow. Better offensively (but we're talking a difference of like 10 points a season) than say a Glass...

Add Joey Crabb to that too, he can play PK fairly well as I recall.

Always options for that, it just depends on what you want...toughness, physicality, speed, skill, faceoff specialist, PK specialist, etc. it's all out there...

[lemieuxReturns]

Brandon Prust, probably the best pound for pound fighter in the league (if you're into that kind of thing), good defensively for a 4th liner, agitates. Downside: seeking Kennedy money.

I like Prust but not at the 2 million he is looking at trying to get.

[DesertPenguin]

That's a pretty solid group, grit wise. If you want it to be grittier you either need to move kennedy, or replace adams. Remember though, we need guys that can work the pk. Sutter, cooke, dupuis and adams are it right now. Move adams and you either need to rely on vitale, or bring in a guy that can work the pk.

I'm not against dumping CFA, I think he's slowing down, but you need to replace the little things he does with someone.

[mikey287]

The thing about Adams is that dumping him is not really an option because no one will give us anything for him. You can squeeze him out of the lineup by adding 12 better guys and keeping him as the 13th. But "dumping" him isn't really the route to go...for a couple reasons. Minor note, but Adams will be on the team to start the year. How he's used is up for debate if anyone wants to.

[Mr. Colby]

I'd have no problem subbing in Engo up front... how much worse is he than Asham at this point in his career?

Point is we need to get a little tougher to play against regarding bottom 6 forwards - the ones I posted are not intimidating.

I would love to see Parise and Latendresse brought in to play top 6, create an excellent 2-way line in Cooke-Sutter-Dupuis, and supplement Adams and Vitale with a guy like Prust or someone that punishes you. Tangradi can fight for time on that line if he continues to play physical and be willing to drop em.

TK is fine but I'd rather have Latendresse on 2 and Duper on 3.

[Idoit40fans]

Adams strength on the PK was that he was right handed...that advantage should have disappeared when he became unable to win faceoffs, but it was certainly still perceived. In any case, Sutter replaces everything he does and is better in every way...with the exception that you'll actually miss him if he hurts himself blocking a shot.

[tfrizz]

Adams strength on the PK was that he was right handed...that advantage should have disappeared when he became unable to win faceoffs, but it was certainly still perceived. In any case, Sutter replaces everything he does and is better in every way...with the exception that you'll actually miss him if he hurts himself blocking a shot.

Not to mention Vitale is right handed, and is better than Adams in so many ways.