First the Free Agents

Arron Asham
Brent Johnson
Richard Park
Steve Sullivan

Sullivan and Park lack the size to compete in the playoffs. Theissen is ready to claim the backup. I would bring back Ash at the right price(similar deal as last year)

2013 Crosby and Staal are Fa's I expect the Pens try to extend both this off season. Next season is Malkin and Letang.

My point...Don't expect much outside spending unless the Pens make a blockbuster trade.

In the System

Simon Despres (D)-He looks ready to me 2012 ETA
Joe Morrow(D)-I was leery of the pick at 1st...Point a game defensemen with rare puck skills. I have a feeling he makes the team out of camp 2012 ETA
Beau Bennett(W)-185 pounds...Right hand shot...Dynamic offensive player...2013 ETA
Eric Tangradi(W)- He has shown improvement...Needs some confidence....2012 ETA
Scott Harrington(D)- Some are calling him the steal of the 2012 draft...Simple game...Very physical 2 way defensemen 2013 ETA
Tom Kuhnhackl- Big aggressive skilled player...Nasty streak...Dominating the OHL playoffs once again 2013 ETA
Ben Hanowski(W)-43 points in 39 games including 23 goals...Just skilled 2014 ETA

I would attempt to trade Martin and Michliak...I would take 4th or 5th round picks if I had too...Free up money for 87 11 71 58 (9 million dollars combined)
If the young defensemen above are not ready...Pens have Robert Bortuzzo and Brian Strait who are ready.

I understand the shitty feeling you have right now...The Pens have some talent(When I say some I mean alot of talent) coming along.

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did they extend kunitz? i thought he was supposed to be a free agent this year.

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This post consists solely of the opinions of the author, and should in no way, shape or form be interpreted as an assertion of fact.

Thats a good question - I still like Kunitz - a lot of energy....FC - like all your moves except Sullivan - I thought he was decent and good on PP. I would also love to see Morrow make this team next year - Filthy has set the standard of playing young guys on playoff teams - we should follow suit.

Pens PP will go down the shitter if Sully leaves.
Park really wasn't brought in to play in the playoffs, he was the 14th skater and used as insurance. He's versatile and a team player. I'm fine with him coming back at the same price and same role.

Asham has played his last game as a Penguin and good riddance. .Mario was pissed at him I'm sure. ASham was invisible and a non factor (outside the cheap blow to the head when the guy was laying face down).

I don't even have to mention BJ and how he sucks.

Martin needs to go, but Michalek plays an underrated game that doesn't garner much attention and people think he sucks, but if you don't notice him that means he's doing his job.

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I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me

The only way we move Martin is if a team is struggling to hit the cap floor and needs to take on a bad contract. Short of that, Martin will likely be on the roster next year.

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Nice summary FC.

I still think we need an emotional, in your face, Guerin or Roberts guy.

I also think the late addition of Sid shouldn't be understated. We were firing on all cylinders when he returned, then we hit our rough patch. Having more time in the offseason and during the season to figure out where everyone should play will help a lot.

But I agree with the previous posts - we have some young guys right on the cusp. With the high dollars we're already or soon to be shelling out for Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Letang, we should be willing to bring some of those guys in rather than potentially endangering locking our big guys up long term because we're spending too much on veterans to fill some roles.

Is there any truth to the rumor that Staal is a locker room issue? If so, do we look to deal him and redirect that salary elsewhere?

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- Dman 29

Staal has been here for what, 6 years now? And I still have no idea what to think of him.

The majority of the time, I feel like Pittsburgh fans grossly overrate him. Yeah, he typically plays good defense (although, maybe not as good as some like to believe), but he seems entirely too stiff and awkward, and never seems to use his size enough on the offensive end to be considered a true core player.

On the other hand, he also has a tendency to come through in big moments (like this playoff series, for example).

So, I really have no idea. I think he's a really good #3 center, probably even the best #3 center in the league. But I can't help but feel like he shouldn't be counted on to be more than that, and certainly shouldn't be paid like a #1, or even a top-tier #2, center.

I was listening to the radio a few weeks ago, and I heard some guest (Bourque?) say that Staal could be a #1 center on some teams in the NHL. I feel like if Staal is your #1 center, then you're probably near the bottom in the standings.

I'd like to keep him a Penguin, but I can't talk myself into breaking the bank for him.

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Despres and Morrow can both play the point on the PP....Its the best part of Morrow's game
Kuni is signed through 2014
I don't live in Pittsburgh...Jordan Staal is an absolute stud.
The Pens hope Tangradi can fill the power forward role like a Guerin or Roberts(Both players are future hall of famers)

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Surely Steve Sullivan isn't the only UFA in the NHL who can work on the PP with the Pens. And surely we can find one who will be younger than 38 next season. His size and age are an issue IMO, especially with regard to a team that will have significant expectations to make a deep run after this year's debacle. I like the guy and I love his energy. And it could be we'd be able to squeeze one more good year out of him, but not at the expense of landing possibly another guy who could have more upside and still be effective on the PP.

Brooks Orpik was our second worst defenseman this year, much worse than Michalek. For anyone that says Orpik can't be traded because he's the only one that brings a physical presence, you're wrong. His gap control has become awful, that physical presence does nothing to clear the front of the net, and when he does try to make the big hit he puts himself out of position. Thankfully, he still offers some trade value on the trade market.

My offseason plan:

Let walk: Park, Sullivan, Asham, and Johnson.

Extend:
Crosby - I expect Crosby's price to remain constant.
Staal - I expect Staal to get 5.5-6 and he's worth every penny going forward. There needs to be a spot for him in the top 6. If there isn't then he needs to be traded prior to the start of the season.
Niskanen - he was one of our best D's over the last half of the season (I know that's not saying much). I think in the low 2's would get it done.

Trade:
Orpik - see above reasons.
Martin - he's so sofffff.
Kennedy - more of a salary move. We can't invest 10M+ in our bottom 6. Could net a significant return if packaged with Orpik.
Lovejoy - he's shit.
Bortuzzo - he's subject to waivers next year and wouldn't clear. I'd imagine the team favours Strait over him.

Sign:
Jarret Stoll - he's overpaid now, but would be a solid addition for a 2 year, 5M deal. He can take over for Staal as 3C and is good in the faceoff dot.
Bryan Allen or Ryan Suter - Suter is the dream scenario for 6.5-7M. I understand that as many as 10 teams will go after him. Bryan Allen actually brings that physical presence that we're missing out of Orpik.
Dan Ellis - former starter, we need someone to push Fleury.

Promote:
Despres and Strait - they're both ready. I believe Strait will serve as the 7th D.
Tangradi - seeing him play over the last bit of the season and playoffs has shown me that he's ready. Bylsma has really fucked with his development.

Lineup:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Staal - Malkin - Neal
Tangradi - Stoll - Cooke
XXXXX - Vitale - Adams
Jeffrey

Suter - Letang
Niskanen - Michalek
Despres - Engelland
Strait

Fleury - Ellis

Propects:
Morrow - he'll start in WBS. If the Pens still want to run 4 forwards on the PP, he will force the coaching staff to bump Letang off by the end of the year. He's that decisive and has that good of a shot.
Harrington - he'll stay with the Knights next year since he's not AHL eligible. I was in the building last night when he scored the GWG to cap off a 4 goal third period. He looks like a less soft version of the Paul Martin of last year.
Bennett - jury is still out.

Draft - I predicted Despres a few years ago. I'm not sure if there's a point in predicting because knowing Shero he'll go D, we'll bitch, and then we'll be wrong.