Who signs, gets traded, or walks?

Niskanen doesn’t need to be traded at the deadline, he will be a restricted free agent so they can wait. Nor will he be able to walk unless the Pens let him.

As a restricted free agent they should be able to re-sign him at a favorable salary (think goligoski RFA $1.8mil cap hit, likely on a 1 year deal), the question is whether they can afford this with Neal needing a raise. Sure you can bring up one of the AHL guys and save a million, but you really want a 5th defenseman that is a step above the next, so when your top4 has a man down you can plug him in there.

Talking about Niskanen naturally leads us to Despres. The kid has been solid and evolving at a rapid pace. Our problem is we have no room in the top4 for him and I’d hate to see him wasted on 3rd line minutes, I’d rather see him getting top ice time in the AHL then. At some point (likely not just yet) room will have to be made for him on the roster. This should also be taken into consideration when re-signing or trading Niskanen. Despres is not quite on Niskanen’s level, but he’ll get there with time.

I’m a mite disappointed with Sullivan, no pun intended. I was hoping for a bit more production, but he hasn’t been bad. He’s helped the PP and on a team that’s struggled in that discipline that’s gold. He doesn’t bring much to the team except for that and short jokes, but on the plus side he’s been healthy so far, being one of the few not missing a game to date. I’d re-sign him and if possible shave a few bucks off the salary (we need them for The Real Deal!).

Asham has played 41 of 49 so far this season, that’s acceptable. He’s delivered what you expect him to and what he’s paid to do. Hit, fight, play with energy and chip in the odd point once in a while. He has a tendency for upping his game in the playoffs, which is always important on a contender. By and large he’s replaceable, but there’s no point replacing him unless there’s something better in the system, so we might as well re-sign him. As long as he doesn’t pull a Talbot or a Rupp and expect too high a salary.

Park has been good at minimum wage. Can’t ask for more. He’s done everything we could want from him and he’s great depth. He’s got a bit more skill than Vitale which allows us to plug him in higher in the lineup when people go down, but at 4C I’d probably prefer Vitale unless Park is on a good streak. And at the same time, at that salary it doesn’t matter if he misses a few games as the 13th forward. Just like with Asham he’s replaceable, but there’s no reason to replace him. Re-sign if he doesn’t expect too high a salary.

Vitale brings it all and at a bargain price. Add a few inches and a few pounds and he’s the ideal 4th line center. As it is he’s pretty close, and he might even get better since he’s a rookie. Must be re-signed, especially since salary won’t be an issue with his RFA status.

Johnson has had a bad year, but he’s proven himself in the past. His attitude/personality and his ability in previous seasons to step in with no recent match practice and play well is gold in a backup goalie. The only thing that could shake him off the roster is if Bylsma and/or the team has lost confidence in his ability due to a bad season, or if Thiessen is looking better. I’m not familiar with Thiessen, nor the locker room feelings, so I can’t comment either way.

Strait and Bortuzzo have looked good in the handful of games they got at the NHL level. I’d say they’re ready for 3rd line duty, which is invaluable depth to have in the organization. One question is how long the Pens can hang on to them without giving them a regular spot on the NHL roster (my guess is not very long). Another question is whether either of them can knock Lovejoy out of the lineup, who I feel has had quite the sophomore slump this year.

I was surprised to see Tangradi was 0-0-0 in 12 games this season. I thought he’d played well in a limited role and would have expected to see more points up there. He’s been physical, working hard and going to the net, screening the goalie and getting dirty. I’d like to see him get a chance on a scoring line, for the first time since he was acquired I feel he’s ready. He’s reminded me of a mini-Kunitz out there. Sadly, Bylsma appears to believe otherwise.

I’d like to ask what people think of Kennedy’s future on the team. He was great last year, and this was his chance to prove it wasn’t a fluke. He’s been given every opportunity but has for the most part been a non-factor this year. He does have a nice pile of assists, and always plays with energy, but from a second line winger we also need goals. In his favor is the fact that he has one more year on his contract, so unless he’s traded he will get another chance.

I don’t see Shero shipping out any roster pieces until after the season. He won’t want to cause that kind of upheaval from messing with team chemistry in such a significant way. He might try to bring in a scoring threat, if he can find a cheap rental. Kennedy hasn’t really panned out this season and he was one of the main guys we were relying on for secondary scoring.

only reason i see niskanen being traded is because neal needs the money more than nisk. niskanen is the easiest way to free up cap space without hurting the team. only way id trade kennedy would be if it involved getting a better scoring winger. I think the kennedy-staal-cooke line was always great and would love to see it again

Neal – hopefully resigned. That will give us 2 solid top-6 wingers (he and Kunitz) to go along with 2 (hopefully all 3) centers.
Sullivan – we can always try to sign another winger to a 1-year deal. He has been great on the power play, and we could keep him as a PP specialist, and occasional top-9 winger, but he’d have to accept pay along the lines of a part-timer (about what he makes now or less).
Niskanen – I agree either he or Lovejoy will need to be moved (is Nisky a RFA this offseason or an UFA?); but as always, unless we get a great offer (ie Gogo for Neal), then one of them goes in the offseason. Engelland needs to stay because we don’t have another guy like him in terms of physical play.
Park, Asham – I like Asham because he’s physical and can score. Park has been a nice addition. If they stay OK, if they go OK. But they’re both here for the rest of this season.
The young guys – all re-sign. I can’t see another team offering enough to lure them as an RFA. Tangradi still has time to develop. He is still young, and like left-handed pitchers in baseball the “power forward” in hockey can blossom late. Give him regular 3rd-4th line minutes and let him earn his way up for a couple of years. However, if needed as a piece to a trade, he will be gone.

I think it’s still too early to give up on Tangradi. He’s only 22 (about to be 23). Power forwards take a little longer to develop. Ryan Malone didn’t develop until he was 25. Tangradi has all the tools to succeed and he has looked good despite the fact he has had difficulty showing up on the score sheet. Either he needs a fresh start somewhere else through a trade, or he should be given another year.

Neal-stays (5.25mill)
Niskanen-stays (1.75mill)
Sullivan-leaves (Jeffrey and Tangradi step up)
Asham-stays (0.5 mill)
Park-leaves
Vitale-stays
Johnson-stays (not enough money to improve backup position)
Tangradi-stays (has physicality needed in Pittsburgh)
MacIntyre-leaves (replaced with better fighter)
Martin has to get traded to resign Neal, they could trade him and a first round pick for Zach Bogosian

I would let the older forwards test the market for an better offer and then sign any leftover in August to one year deals just keep them in the locker room. Even if we lose them, we can find free agent replacements/ older glory catchers at a bargain. Neal probably fits long term so I would try for 4 years at least to spread out some of the cap hit.

Our defensive depth is the opposite. Quality top-4 d-men are a rarity, as seen 2 summers ago with the opening salvos of wild free agent signings. Best trade bait we have is D-Engo since he has years on his contract, as much as I love the guy. He would probably get top-4 minutes elsewhere and eventually a pay raise from a move so it would benefit all parties in the long run. Especially if we could get a young talent with more than this year under contract and at the NHL level already. Martin has slightly underperformed to his salary and years left so I think he would be too much of a risk to another team, save one hemorrhaging goals from a season-ending injury of a player coming off the books. Martin also has a limited NTC.

Martin trade in the off season, but for Feb 27, Niskanen stays. Kennedy and Tangradi can be the Gogo for last year. We need a top six winger with good scoring touch. Kennedy ca’t do it.Asham, Park,Vitale,Cooke,Dupuis, all similar and its not that they are there for scoring, except maybe Dupuis.
Hence, we need scoring wiingers. Divide the F into 2 groups. The bottom 6 we have great depth, and top six as well, when they are healthy. Since injuries have been a major problem, Kunitz, Neal, Malkin are not enough to win in the playoffs.

I’d swap Martin for Hal Gil in a flash.