Pittsburgh Penguins

[Carcillo]

How do you see the addition of Martin as asst coach helping Niskanen? He was always highly touted but still never seems to break out.

Lets first wait and see if Niskanen is still a Pittsburgh Penguin once the training camp is over. Penguins are still over the cap and have to do some roster moves. Niskanen is the prime candidate to be moved for cap relief.

[Carcillo]

Glass scores on a slapper from the LW circle. Fleury for a glove on it, & popped up behind him, he gloved it again behind his back...

https://twitter.com/LGP_netwolf/stat...60198294454272

Unfortunately, he didn't know he had it, and it fell out of he glove and in. Saved it twice, but couldn't keep it out.

https://twitter.com/LGP_netwolf/stat...60497167986688

Good to see nothing's changed since last years playoffs. ****ing Fleury!

[Dennis4022]

Lets first wait and see if Niskanen is still a Pittsburgh Penguin once the training camp is over. Penguins are still over the cap and have to do some roster moves. Niskanen is the prime candidate to be moved for cap relief.

I think they will move Jokinen instead of Niskanen. But of course i don´t know it.

Niskanen did great since joining the Pens, but he will never be a good fantasy player.

[Carcillo]

I think they will move Jokinen instead of Niskanen. But of course i don´t know it.

Niskanen did great since joining the Pens, but he will never be a good fantasy player.

I wouldn't mind having some grittier and faster on the roster instead of Jokinen but moving JJ over Niskanen isn't really a smart thing to do. The bottom-6 forward group is weak as it is so JJ serves an important role for the team. He's also the guy who can play next to Geno on the 2nd line if that turns out to be too much, too soon for Bennett. There's no one else besides JJ to push Bennett for that role in the organisation currently. D'Agostini, Jeffrey etc. are bottom-6'ers.

Meanwhile Niskanen can be replaced with either Despres, Bortuzzo, Dumoulin or even Maatta and the team is probably stronger than it is with Niskanen there. Would be pretty stupid to move JJ over Niskanen IMO.

Also we saw last season that Jokinen has negative trade value (Pens got him for free and Carolina even kept part of the salary). Niskanen on the other hand should have some value. Rather move the guy that is easier to replace from within the organisation and fetches a better return; that guy is Niskanen.

[deantime419]

I don't know the ins and outs of the salary cap, but would it help to send down Despres/Bennett for a few games to start the year similar to what the Flyers did with Schenn the other year?

[Carcillo]

I don't know the ins and outs of the salary cap, but would it help to send down Despres/Bennett for a few games to start the year similar to what the Flyers did with Schenn the other year?

Schenn had a lot of potential bonuses on his deal that dropped off the moment he wasn't able to play full season. Despres and Bennett doesn't have any potential bonuses so can't work around this cap issue the same way Flyers did a few years ago.

[deantime419]

Thought that might be the case.
And you need 22 on your active roster? Can't go down to 21 to start the season?
According to capgeek, moving Glass would also create enough cap room.

[Carcillo]

Thought that might be the case.
And you need 22 on your active roster? Can't go down to 21 to start the season?
According to capgeek, moving Glass would also create enough cap room.

23 is the maximum roster size but you can have less players too. So teams can go into the season with only 21 or 22 players. That is a way for Pens to get under the cap without having to trade anyone.

However simply sending down Glass isn't enough. You can only get cap relief by burying contracts up to $925k so that wouldn't clear enough cap space. Would require some other roster move as well.

[Carcillo]

Vokoun will be out long-term which means Niskanen is safe for now. Vokoun will go to LTIR and that'll solve the Pens' cap situation. There's no need to move Niskanen or anyone else right now. I'd prefer them to move Niskanen still but the management and coaching staff seems to like Nisky over Despres so he's most likely not going anywhere.

To all you Bennett owners: DO NOT panic if he's sent down with Despres before the season starts. That may be needed to get the cap situation in order before Vokoun goes to LTIR but Bennett will be up the moment Vokoun goes to LTIR. Bennett and Despres are the only waiver exempt players on the roster so that's an easy way to do some cap maneuvering.

Whether or not Despres will be recalled too remains to be seen. I have no idea about that right now. Bortuzzo seems to have passed him on the depth charts right now and if Niskanen stays it would mean Despres would be an extra D-man along with Engelland. That wouldn't make much sense but I don't think playing in AHL benefits him either anymore. He should be on the roster over Niskanen but that doesn't look likely at this moment so Despres may be a victim of a numbers game and his waiver exempt status.

[mister_mcgoo]

Crosby: things that make you go hmmmmmm:

https://twitter.com/ROOTSPORTSPIT/st...12243063640064

[pensfan]

A few thoughts on the penguins roster after game 1 of the season:

Neal's injury not only opens the door for Bennett to get some time with Malkin, but also opens up a spot on the top PP unit - this time could go to Bennett also, but will likely help Martin as he was set to lose his spot to letang when he returns.

It also could help despres who was sent down for cap reasons, but should be recalled once Neal goes on IR.

Maatta will likely be returned to junior when Letang returns...maybe sooner if Despres is recalled

Kobasew could also be in line for some top 6 minutes if Bennett or jokinen struggle...might be worth tracking in super deep leagues...

Neal's injury is really unfortunate, but there are lots of moving parts on this roster and lots of potential fantasy dark horses waiting in the shadows to capitalize on the opportunities it creates. Can't wait to watch tonight's game to see who steps up!

[wendelclark17]

update from morning skate:

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 7m
Rob Scuderi, James Neal and Beau Bennett are absent from #Pens morning skate.

Scuderi going down could be a real big blow for the Pens. he has been fantastic in the games I have watched so far this season. The game against the leafs changed after he left injured.

[Shake]

Well, you can tell the playoffs are in sight. Fleury back to giving up horrible goals

[0PucksGiven]

Lets see if Fluery can get a SO hatty

[forumname]

Malkin's looking hungry!