Pittsburgh Penguins Off Season News.

• GoPens

  

  Pens sign Craig Adams to a 2 year deal. Good signing. Need him on the penalty kill.
  
  http://post-gazette.com/pg/11160/1152574-100.stm
• End of Line

  

  There was a rumor flying around that Rupp had been re-signed.
  
  As long as Talbot and Dupuis aren't re-signed I'll be happy.
• GoPens

  

  There's so many centers on the team now, I just don't them signing Talbot. I love Max, but his production hasn't been worth his cost since the Cup year.
  
  In other news, I love the fact that they hired Billy Guerin as player development coach. He didn't play for the Pens for a long time but he has certainly embraced the team and city.
• End of Line

  

  Vitale or Letestu can slide in at the #4 spot at a cheaper price.
  
  What I want to see done:
  
  Kuntiz-Crosby-TK
  Neal-Malkin-Jussi Jokinen (3.00 UFA)
  Cooke-Staal-Tangradi
  Rupp-Vitale-Adams
  Letestu
• GoPens

  

  I like those lines but when they got him it seemed like they were really looking forward to teaming up Crosby and Neal.
• End of Line

  

  Kuntiz and Malkin don't mesh that well together and Sid/Kuntiz has chemistry. Why not spread the wealth and have Neal be put on Geno's wing?
• Heretic

  

  What is Malkin's injury status? Like how long will it be until he's all good, since didn't he rip both ACL and the other ligament there?
• rock_knutne

  Heretic;797709 wrote:What is Malkin's injury status? Like how long will it be until he's all good, since didn't he rip both ACL and the other ligament there?

  Malkin said he would have been able to play in this years Stanley cup finals if the Pens made it that far. Every report I've seen on him is that he's ahead of schedule.
• rock_knutne

  Tyler Kennedy may have priced his way put of Pittsburgh, his agent is demanding $2 million a year and he's not worth that.
• rock_knutne

  Also, the Pens extended contracts for all coaches top to bottom through out the organization which is good but they need to hire either a coach or consultant to revamp that dismal power play.
• End of Line

  

  rock_knutne;797836 wrote:Malkin said he would have been able to play in this years Stanley cup finals if the Pens made it that far. Every report I've seen on him is that he's ahead of schedule.

  
  Even if he was ready for the SCF I personally would have sat him out for the series.
• End of Line

  

  Rumor has it that Talbot went on a Montreal radio station and said that he wants a 4 year contract extension.
  
  Good luck with that, Shero will never give a bottom 6'r a 4yr deal. Say hello to UFA Talbo.
• GoPens

  

  No way will Shero give a 4 year deal. Unless Max is willing to take a paycut I think he's gone.
• End of Line

  

  Yeah, Max is gone right now.
• rock_knutne

  Rumor also has it that Talbot is willing to give a "hometown" discount. I don't understand why some of you are so against him, he's a great role player and leader on and off the ice. BTW, it was Talbot who was a major factor in the Tampa series, Talbo seems to pick up his game in the playoffs, something you want on the squad.
• GoPens

  

  I said I love Max and what he brings. Unfortunately he hasn't brought enough goals since the Cup year for what he's getting paid, and the Pens have a lot of young (and less expensive) talent ready to come up.
• End of Line

  

  Max hasn't played to his contract the past 2 years. He made 1,050,000.
  
  In 08/09 he had 12(g)/10(a) for 22 points
  09/10 he had 2(g)/5(a) for 7 points
  In 10/11 he had 8(g)/13(a) for 21 points.
  
  For the money he's making he needs to produce more.
  
  Lets look at alternatives for the 4th line center job.
  
  Mark Letestu-14(g)/13(a) for 27 points at a 500K. His new contract is 600K
  
  Dustin Jeffrey- 7(g)/5(a) for 12 points in 25 games @ a 500K cap hit
  
  Joe Vitale-9(g)/21(a) for 30 points in the AHL. When he was called up to the big club he made Max look like a scrub
• rock_knutne

  The_Crosby_Show;800686 wrote:Max hasn't played to his contract the past 2 years. He made 1,050,000.
  
  In 08/09 he had 12(g)/10(a) for 22 points
  09/10 he had 2(g)/5(a) for 7 points
  In 10/11 he had 8(g)/13(a) for 21 points.
  
  For the money he's making he needs to produce more.
  
  Lets look at alternatives for the 4th line center job.
  
  Mark Letestu-14(g)/13(a) for 27 points at a 500K. His new contract is 600K
  
  Dustin Jeffrey- 7(g)/5(a) for 12 points in 25 games @ a 500K cap hit
  
  Joe Vitale-9(g)/21(a) for 30 points in the AHL. When he was called up to the big club he made Max look like a scrub

  
  That's laughable!
  
  Vitale is a midget and IMO would struggle to finish an entire NHL season. Letestu has shown flashes of brilliance but other than being a strong faceoff guy he hasn't showed much. The jury is still out on Jeffrey who I would like to see produce at that level for an entire NHL season.
  
  All I'm saying is that Talbot wants to be in Pittsburgh, he's an integral part of the team and his role is not to produce a ton of points, when the entire roster is healthy Talbo is a fourth line guy that can move up to fill in when needed.
• End of Line

  

  Why? It's fucking true.
• rock_knutne

  BTW, look at Talbot's career numbers:
  
  http://espn.go.com/nhl/player/stats/_/id/2249/maxime-talbot
  
  Other than his first year where he saw limited action and 09/10 when he was injured coming off of shoulder surgery, his numbers have been consistent for a fourth line player, which he pretty much is.
• rock_knutne

  The_Crosby_Show;800721 wrote:Why? It's ****ing true.

  Again, let's see Vitale play entire NHL season........which will never happen because he's probably a career AHL'er at best. A lot of these guys that get called up to the big team because of injuries always over acheive when they get there, which they shortly come back to reality. I'm not buying Vitale as a viable option in the Pens line-up.
• End of Line

  

  rock_knutne;800729 wrote:Again, let's see Vitale play entire NHL season........which will never happen because he's probably a career AHL'er at best. A lot of these guys that get called up to the big team because of injuries always over acheive when they get there, which they shortly come back to reality. I'm not buying Vitale as a viable option in the Pens line-up.

  Lets see, you would rather a 4th line center who can barely get to 20 points making 1.050mil a season, than a player can put up 20-25 points that makes league minimum. Ok......
• rock_knutne

  The_Crosby_Show;800878 wrote:Lets see, you would rather a 4th line center who can barely get to 20 points making 1.050mil a season, than a player can put up 20-25 points that makes league minimum. Ok......

  No, I want a guy who's proven his worth to the team in more than just scoring goals. Talbot can do multiple things, Vitale can not. If Talbot is looking for more than the $1 million he already makes, then I agree with you, but IMO, that doesn't seem to be the case. He's worth every bit of $1 million a year.
• GoPens

  

  Goodbye Max. He rejected a 3 year contract from the Pens.
• End of Line

  

  I'm not surprised.
  
  Thanks for the game 7 memories, max.
  
  I bet if Rock was still here he would have a heart attack lol.