Off Season Moves Thread

[Jim]

I was looking at it more as if this guy could be a Letang replacement in 4 years... it is tough to give him up for a borderline top 6 or someone that barely belongs in top 6 like a few of the names that have been discussed lately.

[skullman80]

Kuhnhackl just was re-signed to a 1 year NHL deal at $575K.

Looks like its a two way deal, 575k at the NHL level.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?i ... t-penguins

[The U]

In regards to the rumors and Rutherford interviews over the past few days:

*I always thought adding a 1st or 2nd round pick in this draft was a pipedream. Not sure how that would be accomplished given our lack of assets. Anything picks/prospects that we have in our system will be used to acquire a winger(s), I'm not sure that leaves much room for acquiring draft picks this weekend.

*I don't mind Scuderi but at his age and cap hit, there is no way in the world he should be on this team next year. Right after the season ended we were hearing that it was all but guaranteed that he would be gone via buyout or trade. Now we are hearing that he is likely to stick around. Rutherford needs to build up his trade value so he can't dump on the guy or say anything negative about him right now. Saying that he's played well, he's a good D, and we would love to have him back is basically all that he can say right now. I just really hope it isn't true.

*With the draft, trades, and free agency right around the corner, lets not forget the organization's biggest weakness: scoring. Last offseason I was really excited to see guys like Downie, Carcillo, Spaling, etc brought onto the squad. I really thought that overall team toughness, grit, and our bottom 6 was the biggest issue. I'm completely off of that now. The team needs youth, speed, and scoring. I don't think I want to see us revert back to the "softest team in the NHL" again but finding guys with skill has to be priority. Too bad this free agency class is garbage.

*I've said this many times and I've been ripped over it, but I will say it again....Over the past 2 seasons we have seen Orpik, Niskanen, Ehrhoff, Martin, and Despres leave the organization for "free". I realize that contending teams don't trade away good defensemen right before playoff runs but that is a pretty decent group that left town and netted us basically nothing in return. I'm not advocating trading Orpik at the deadline 2 years ago or moving our best Dman in Paul Martin this past March before the playoffs but it's too bad these guys just walk away and our organizational needs (draft picks, scoring wingers, depth, etc...) remain unfilled.

*Sutter is gone. The only way this team can swing a trade to get a scoring winger back in return is if Sutter is part of the package. I'm fine with that.

[King Colby]

It's gonna be pretty funny when in next season's off-season thread we are talking about the dire need to improve the garbage 3rd and 4th lines.

[mikey]

It's gonna be pretty funny when in next season's off-season thread we are talking about the dire need to improve the garbage 3rd and 4th lines.

Yeah, I'm excited for that discussion. And, by extension, how bad this new third line center is...whoever that may be...as he won't hit the magical points or hits threshold in all likelihood...

[thehockeyguru]

I just dont see how one can say Skinner shouldn't be explored because of concussions and in the same breathe defend keeping letang. If you think Skinner has health issues than the same should apply for Letang.

I think Pens fans over value Letang because they look past the injuries. I would loved to have seen the Pit Nyr series with a healthy letang. But if him having concussion problems is the new norm, when do you cut ties? Do you do it while you can still get something for him? It's a legitimate question.

What if his next concussion God forbid results in something similar to Marc Savard? You not only lose Letang you get nothing back.

So, are you saying we should have cut ties with Crosby when he was dealing with concussion symptoms for a year and a half? That's the risk you take when you invest in a player. Letang clearly brings something to this team that they sorely lacked going down the stretch and into the playoffs. I'm willing to give him an off-season and fresh start in camp to see if he's going to be ok.

You realize that there is a difference between 1 bout of symptoms and 5 separate occurrences?

[thehockeyguru]

In regards to the rumors and Rutherford interviews over the past few days:

*I always thought adding a 1st or 2nd round pick in this draft was a pipedream. Not sure how that would be accomplished given our lack of assets. Anything picks/prospects that we have in our system will be used to acquire a winger(s), I'm not sure that leaves much room for acquiring draft picks this weekend.

*I don't mind Scuderi but at his age and cap hit, there is no way in the world he should be on this team next year. Right after the season ended we were hearing that it was all but guaranteed that he would be gone via buyout or trade. Now we are hearing that he is likely to stick around. Rutherford needs to build up his trade value so he can't dump on the guy or say anything negative about him right now. Saying that he's played well, he's a good D, and we would love to have him back is basically all that he can say right now. I just really hope it isn't true.

*With the draft, trades, and free agency right around the corner, lets not forget the organization's biggest weakness: scoring. Last offseason I was really excited to see guys like Downie, Carcillo, Spaling, etc brought onto the squad. I really thought that overall team toughness, grit, and our bottom 6 was the biggest issue. I'm completely off of that now. The team needs youth, speed, and scoring. I don't think I want to see us revert back to the "softest team in the NHL" again but finding guys with skill has to be priority. Too bad this free agency class is garbage.

*I've said this many times and I've been ripped over it, but I will say it again....Over the past 2 seasons we have seen Orpik, Niskanen, Ehrhoff, Martin, and Despres leave the organization for "free". I realize that contending teams don't trade away good defensemen right before playoff runs but that is a pretty decent group that left town and netted us basically nothing in return. I'm not advocating trading Orpik at the deadline 2 years ago or moving our best Dman in Paul Martin this past March before the playoffs but it's too bad these guys just walk away and our organizational needs (draft picks, scoring wingers, depth, etc...) remain unfilled.

*Sutter is gone. The only way this team can swing a trade to get a scoring winger back in return is if Sutter is part of the package. I'm fine with that.

I want GMJR confirm that neither Dupuis nor Kunitz are figuring into the top 6 this season.

I'm fine with moving Sutter if you have a 3rd line of kunitz spaling dupuis

[meow]

It's gonna be pretty funny when in next season's off-season thread we are talking about the dire need to improve the garbage 3rd and 4th lines.

Yeah, I'm excited for that discussion. And, by extension, how bad this new third line center is...whoever that may be...as he won't hit the magical points or hits threshold in all likelihood...

Or face-off win percentage.

[FLPensFan]

I just dont see how one can say Skinner shouldn't be explored because of concussions and in the same breathe defend keeping letang. If you think Skinner has health issues than the same should apply for Letang.

I think Pens fans over value Letang because they look past the injuries. I would loved to have seen the Pit Nyr series with a healthy letang. But if him having concussion problems is the new norm, when do you cut ties? Do you do it while you can still get something for him? It's a legitimate question.

What if his next concussion God forbid results in something similar to Marc Savard? You not only lose Letang you get nothing back.

So, are you saying we should have cut ties with Crosby when he was dealing with concussion symptoms for a year and a half? That's the risk you take when you invest in a player. Letang clearly brings something to this team that they sorely lacked going down the stretch and into the playoffs. I'm willing to give him an off-season and fresh start in camp to see if he's going to be ok.

You realize that there is a difference between 1 bout of symptoms and 5 separate occurrences?

According to an article last year, he has only been diagnosed with 3 concussions: The Sutton Hit, the Fraser Hit, and the Niskanen Elbow this past pre-season. Skinner Concussions

It's a risk, but honestly, any player out there can have a career ending injury at any time. Yes, Skinner is more susceptible to concussions after having a few, but he also fits a lot of other qualities we need. I still think Skinner is and should be the top target for the Penguins. Skinner and Kapanen in the top 6 would give this team the added speed they need up front.

[Defence21]

I just dont see how one can say Skinner shouldn't be explored because of concussions and in the same breathe defend keeping letang. If you think Skinner has health issues than the same should apply for Letang.

I think Pens fans over value Letang because they look past the injuries. I would loved to have seen the Pit Nyr series with a healthy letang. But if him having concussion problems is the new norm, when do you cut ties? Do you do it while you can still get something for him? It's a legitimate question.

What if his next concussion God forbid results in something similar to Marc Savard? You not only lose Letang you get nothing back.

So, are you saying we should have cut ties with Crosby when he was dealing with concussion symptoms for a year and a half? That's the risk you take when you invest in a player. Letang clearly brings something to this team that they sorely lacked going down the stretch and into the playoffs. I'm willing to give him an off-season and fresh start in camp to see if he's going to be ok.

You realize that there is a difference between 1 bout of symptoms and 5 separate occurrences?

According to an article last year, he has only been diagnosed with 3 concussions: The Sutton Hit, the Fraser Hit, and the Niskanen Elbow this past pre-season. Skinner Concussions

It's a risk, but honestly, any player out there can have a career ending injury at any time. Yes, Skinner is more susceptible to concussions after having a few, but he also fits a lot of other qualities we need. I still think Skinner is and should be the top target for the Penguins. Skinner and Kapanen in the top 6 would give this team the added speed they need up front.

I'm okay with Skinner, as he's very young, fast, and highly skilled -- all qualities this team needs. His stats were way down last year, but he also has nowhere near the talent around him that the Penguins have and won't be much more than the fourth or fifth best forward on the team if all are healthy. Just as slotting a player up the depth chart often hurts his production, slotting a player down the depth chart often can help his production. He won't be the top target when he is on the ice, leaving him with some open space to make things work.

What would be going in the direction of Carolina, do you think?

[slappybrown]

So given the cap announcement and teams like PHX close to 20MM shy of the floor, please God can we dump Scuderi?

[Clams Herbert]

I think now that the cap has been announced, the moves and signings are coming since everyone knows exactly what they have to deal with.

[thehockeyguru]

I just dont see how one can say Skinner shouldn't be explored because of concussions and in the same breathe defend keeping letang. If you think Skinner has health issues than the same should apply for Letang.

I think Pens fans over value Letang because they look past the injuries. I would loved to have seen the Pit Nyr series with a healthy letang. But if him having concussion problems is the new norm, when do you cut ties? Do you do it while you can still get something for him? It's a legitimate question.

What if his next concussion God forbid results in something similar to Marc Savard? You not only lose Letang you get nothing back.

So, are you saying we should have cut ties with Crosby when he was dealing with concussion symptoms for a year and a half? That's the risk you take when you invest in a player. Letang clearly brings something to this team that they sorely lacked going down the stretch and into the playoffs. I'm willing to give him an off-season and fresh start in camp to see if he's going to be ok.

You realize that there is a difference between 1 bout of symptoms and 5 separate occurrences?

According to an article last year, he has only been diagnosed with 3 concussions: The Sutton Hit, the Fraser Hit, and the Niskanen Elbow this past pre-season. Skinner Concussions

It's a risk, but honestly, any player out there can have a career ending injury at any time. Yes, Skinner is more susceptible to concussions after having a few, but he also fits a lot of other qualities we need. I still think Skinner is and should be the top target for the Penguins. Skinner and Kapanen in the top 6 would give this team the added speed they need up front.

I was referring to Crosby's one bout of concussion symptoms. I said earlier that Skinner has 3 confirmed concussions and as a result wouldn't want him. To compare Crosby's situation and Letang's is really silly.

[thehockeyguru]

I'm perplexed by our supposed interest in Sharp. He seems like a minimal upgrade over Kunitz at this point in his career.

[Bioshock]

Reports out of Russia that Sergei Plotnikov will sign with the Pens

[Avyran]

Reports out of Russia that Sergei Plotnikov will sign with the Pens

Please let this be true.

[Bioshock]

Plotnikov no longer on Lokomotiv's roster this morning.

[Gaucho]

Yes, please.

[Avyran]

A very quick report on Plotkinov, though I bet mikey or someone else will be able to give more.

25 years old (born in '90), 6'2", 200 lb. Has played last 3 years in KHL. Was Russia's leading scorer in the 2014 World Championships. If his KHL stats were converted to an 82-game season (they have a 60-game; he's missed 4 to 10 games each season), he'd be around a 50-point scorer: around 20 goals, 30 assists. He has some skill, a decent shot, and some physicality. Seems to play with a bit of an edge / passion, and is a bit undisciplined.

[mikey]

Plotnikov, if true, isn't that exciting of a player for me...this isn't really a skill grab. It's a third line upgrade perhaps (which is good)...I'm more excited for the attention paid to these players that are over there...when you don't have assets and you don't like free agency, you gotta get creative...

[Gaucho]

TASS reports it's a done deal ... take it with a grain of saltski.

[mikey]

I believe this to be done as well. Might not be announced officially until next week, but all signs suggest that this is done.

[meow]

I kind of like this move. Glad to see the Pens thinking outside the box a bit. I like the idea of this type of move more than the actual move itself. Plotnikov doesn't skate very well, so I'm not exactly sure if this is going to work out. He does have somewhat of a rough-and-tumble style to his game, so I hope that translates to NA.

[Tico Rick]

The plotnikov thickens...

[Tico Rick]

If he doesn't skate well yet can still put the puck in the net, maybe the smaller NHL surface will help his game.