pi2000

With the current state of the NHL I think he fills a large role next season. If this was 10 years ago he'd need some more bake time, but this modern NHL puts a premium on slick skating defensemen, which is what Guhle is. His speed alone will make up for his mistakes. I see him starting on the third pair eventually moving up to second or top pair.

If that's the case I'd rather draft D at 8 and keep their prospects. It would take #8 overall, a second and Bailey or similar to land a top 4 young D. Which is too much to give at this stage of the rebuild IMO.

They only way they get a young top 4 dman in return is if they include a top prospect or two. I hope they don't give that up just to immediately fill a spot vs being patient and building the right way.

I very much agree with all of this. Well stated.

Yeah I know why the nets are there. It was more fun when they weren't there tho, more pucks in the stands is good for the game. Or leave the nets in place, but allow pucks to stay in play. For the playoff format why not just use a lottery? Set the odds by were you finish in the standings. Will prevent tanking right?

1 thru 16 seeding for the playoffs. 1 v 16, 2 v 15, etc... Rewards teams for having good seasons, and final 2 are the best two remaining teams.

Moving Fluery would help, but they only have 3 defensemen under contract next season. Not sure what they have in the pipeline, but they'll need to lean on some ELCs for certain. Looking over their roster, at some UFAs, you have to imagine Botterill will try to poach some of "his" guys if they become available... A guy like Matt Cullen, IMO, would be a great add, even at age 40. He can still skate, would be a huge upgrade over Gionta IMO. Then there's guys like Daley, Hainsey, Bonino, Kunitz... I could see atleast 2 of those guys filling important roles in BUF.

Without Bylsma this team takes a step back as they learn a new system. I expect them to struggle the first half of the season, turning it around down the stretch as they get comfortable with their roles in the new system, but finishing just outside of the playoffs. I also expect scoring from guys like Ristolainen, Eichel, Reinhart to drop off because Bylsma's system was suited to them and predicated on them having success. I expect an uptick in RORs production and Okposo's because as veterans, they'll quickly adapt to the new system. And (hopefully) with some defensive help on the 3rd and 4th lines, ROR won't need to be on the ice as much. The PP also takes a step back, but I expect the PK to improve. Lehner's sv% comes back down to average as some new 3rd/4th line role players play better defensively, suppressing shots against, but they'll still give up some scoring chances unless they completely overhaul the blueline (guys like Bogo, Gorges replaced).

Take the nets down above the glass. Remove the instigator penalty. 80s sized goalie equipment.

Is he really a cap expert tho? Next season the Pens have only 13 skaters under contract, with only $12m in cap space to fill 12 spots on the roster. They have $52m, over 70% of their cap, tied up in only 9 players. $38m, 50% of their cap, is going to 5 players.... Crosy, Maklin. Kessel, Letang, Fluery.

Botterill knows he has the job, so he's already started the evaluation process... doesn't need to wait for a formal announcement.

no

I somewhat agree with this... but he didn't have infinite assets to fix the defense the same way he did the forwards. He spent most of those assets on offense and goaltending.. and they were largely successful transactions IMO. The Kulikov injury really set them back... and who knows if Murray would still have a job if Eichel and Kulikov stayed healthy. I think years down the road when we look back at Murray's tenure we'll come to appreciate the aggressive moves he made and realize he was the right GM for that period in Sabre history. ..but if (when) the Pens win, they're still in the playoffs, so nothing really changes anyway. Unless they just don't want it to be a distraction at the tail end of this series... but still, it's an assitant that's getting a new job, not the actual GM.

Like I said before, he's a roll of the dice, we don't really know what we're getting. IMO he has a better chance of being the next Gragnani or Benoit, than the second coming of Brian Campbell.

Murray was never given a chance to fix the blueline. There was such a lack of skill on the forward ranks when he took over that he needed to use all available assets to fix what was one of the historically worst offenses the league has ever seen. He succeeded at fixing the offense IMO (Reinhart, Eichel, Kane, O'Reilly, Okposo, Nylander, Fasching), top PP unit in the league, etc... His goal this offseason was to fix the defense... but he wasn't given that chance. If given the chance I believe he would've succeeded, but for whatever reason Pegula didn't think he was the right guy, so be it. So to opine about how he failed to fix all the team's problems in 3 years is foolish IMO, because he simply wasn't given enough time to do so.

Good, they need a president.

woolley

Trading picks and prospects are moves made by teams on the verge of contending for a Cup. BUF isn't even a playoff contender at this point. They need to continue to build the right way through the draft and developing their prospects. A couple UFA signings would go a long way toward shoring up the D... making it at least a playoff worthy team without mortgaging the future.. Remember, the goal isn't just to sneak into the playoffs... the goal is to contend for years down the road, and you don't do that by trading away promising young prospects and top 10 draft picks to plug holes just so you can sneak into a playoff spot.

clearly, Botterill is visible..

Antipin hasn't even signed yet, and he's an unknown quantity. Kulikov is as good as gone IMO. Gorges probably gets one more year in the bottom pairing. UFA - Risto McCabe - Bogo Guhle - Gorges Antipin With Borgen, Stephens, draft pick, Fitzgerald, Austin all in the pipeline. UFAs... Stone, Del Zotto, Shattenkirk, Alzner, Smith. I'd even consider older vets like Oduya, Daley, Hainsey, Shultz, Quincey, etc... There will be UFA options, no need to panic and start making trades.

Trading Kane or Reinhart or the 8th overall for immediate help on defense would be a panic move and a mistake that would set this franchise back years. This team is not that far off that they need to trade a top forward or top 10 overall pick to make the playoffs next season. I hope Botterill is smart enough to realize that.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N337RE/history/20170504/1813Z/KPIT/KBUF

LOL! That's clearly a fake! Here's the original....

He's had injury issues the past 2 seasons, why give him guaranteed money for 2018 right now when you don't have to? What if he re-injures his foot, or doesn't fully heal? The team knows more about his foot situation than you or I do.

Only 1 point for Eichel and non for O'Reilly?!?!?! I thought Bylsma was holding them back?