Fifth Avenue Forum

so, Pono played two games this season and is likely to play a little next year. Is Koivunen expected to play in the AHL at the least next season? seems like Cruz is a ways off

Zucker to NSH

For a sixth.

Zucker went for a 6th rounder. Wow.

No salary retained.

so, Pono played two games this season and is likely to play a little next year. Is Koivunen expected to play in the AHL at the least next season? seems like Cruz is a ways off

I know nothing but I’ll respond anyways.

If Pono is in the AHL but got 2 games in with Carolina earlier this year I don’t see why he can’t join the big Pens right now. Why wait?

Koivunen is supposed to come over to North America next year I believe. I guess that would be WBS first.

Cruz…yeah…I just assume anybody in NCAA is years away from the NHL. And he’s only a sophomore.

so, Pono played two games this season and is likely to play a little next year. Is Koivunen expected to play in the AHL at the least next season? seems like Cruz is a ways off

Pono should be getting NHL minutes the rest of the season. Koi's ELC kicked in this year but he had a European Assignment clause if he didn't make the NHL team. Doesn't have that for next year. He played in the AHL last season after Karpat's season ended. Cruz can stick around college for two more seasons, but being the best player, leading scorer, and top ten scorer on a Big 10 team your first two seasons of college hockey is nothing to sneeze at.

I think I read the Pens were over the cap after the Jake deal. Maybe ol' Rudebeetle is helping out with that.

Penguins are sellers for the first time in like 20 years and it’s a BUYERS market at this year’s deadline. That’s unfortunate.

isn't it always?

Apologies if a stupid question, I have been pretty checked out all year. But what is the short, mid, long term plans here?

So they are just moving expiring contracts, what does that say about the core pieces? Are they just running it back again next year, sans Jake? Is that the plan here, or massive offseason moves to actually start the rebuild?

Young players and new acquisitions attempt to help the aging (aged) process...there is no other way.

OK so a lot of these returns are pretty lame. Are we fine hanging on to Smith and Eller if we don’t get a decent return. They’re not UFAs. Smith COULD rebound next year and play top 6.

A week ago I wanted them both gone but looking at today’s trades I’m wondering if we hang on to them.

If we trade them away we’ll have to fill their spots next season and the free agency class isn’t all that exciting. We’ll have some money in our pocket but maybe nobody worthy of spending it on.

If zucker fetched a sixth I don't see Smith getting much more than that. Wild honestly.

I'd be ok dumping Smith for nothing as long as they don't have to retain

If zucker fetched a sixth I don't see Smith getting much more than that. Wild honestly.

Smith has another year though

I'd be ok dumping Smith for nothing as long as they don't have to retain

I'm all for the cap room, but who do we spend it on this summer that is better than Smith?

UFA market looks busted, honestly. Jake/Stamkos/Reinhart look like premier players.

At this point someone who doesn't look like his puppy just ran away

I'd be ok dumping Smith for nothing as long as they don't have to retain

I'm all for the cap room, but who do we spend it on this summer that is better than Smith?

Show some sack and nab an RFA.

Isnt the rumor that Smith reallllly doesnt like being in Pittsburgh? Cause thats how it looks on the ice

Yes

oh yeah? well f him then

The rumor that likely came from the same local media that have been totally embarrassing themselves since the guentzel trade went down?

yeah i've not seen that anywhere other than this website and blogger level twitter pages

I'd be ok dumping Smith for nothing as long as they don't have to retain

I'm all for the cap room, but who do we spend it on this summer that is better than Smith?

Show some sack and nab an RFA.

well we don't have the picks to make that work afaik