Confirmed with Link: Penguins Agree To Terms With Matt Cullen (1 year | $800k)

[Shady Machine]

I'm just confused by it. We're over the cap now.

Yeah that's where I'm at with it.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I guess, but he won't be forever.

Knowing this team someone else will be. Everything makes me wonder if they know Dupuis is done and that he'll be on LTIR, tbh.

 

[Mike Lange Version 2]

I honestly could see him there to help Sundqvist learn how to do faceoffs and mentor him, worst case he's insurance if Sundqvist isn't ready. We always have 1, probably more forwards injured. Depth isnt the worst thing to have. Hopefully we offload Scuderi and get a little cap relief. Can't really complain

 

[MeticulouslyDishevel]

i suppose it's not so bad if you assume there will always be 1 guy out. still gonna be restricting nhl time for the younger guys

That's a pretty safe assumption.

 

[drpepper]

Hopefully this means at least one of Kunitz or Dupuis is moving, otherwise the Pens "commitment to youth" looks farcical. Also so much for speed.

 

[Uncle Machete]

It's really not a problem.

If Cullen sucks and Sundqvist lights up the AHL you switch them. Someone claims Cullen? It's OK, he sucks.

Cullen is awesome and Sundqvist lights up the AHL? The roster is ****ing deep as ****. "Worst case" you have a nice trade chip in january.

Sundqvist needs time to adapt? Good, we have a good player in his place.

 

[Shady Machine]

I guess, but he won't be forever.

Right and I'm not trying to have another 5 D after the deadline thing. It just seems risky unless they have a deal lined up to move Kunitz out prior to training camp.

 

[Sam Spade]

Enjoy the AHL, Sundqvist.

#youthmovement

Wasn't expecting this. Rather have him then Adams. For that price and one year he's fine for a depth guy.

Would have rather went after Roy if this is the move but maybe Roy commands more salary.

I guess, but he won't be forever.

Yes he will. I am willing to bet anyone here Fehr plays less than 41 games this season.

 

[StroShow]

How I think the lines will play out


Kunitz - Crosby - Kessel
Perron - Malkin - Hornqvist
Bonino - Fehr - Bennett
Dupuis - Cullen - Plotnikov

------------
Wilson , Sundqvist , Farnham AHL call ups

 

[CrosbytoKessel]

Really confused, what does this mean? Is fehr gonna play wing now? i thought we brought him in to play center??

 

[Shockmaster]

Another fear I have is that the Penguins will trade Perron instead of Kunitz to make the cap work when Fehr is healthy.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

Hopefully this means at least one of Kunitz or Dupuis is moving, otherwise the Pens "commitment to youth" looks farcical. Also so much for speed.

This is my line of thinking. JR said himself he wants a spot or 2 open at camp for young guys to earn there chance because last few years there haven't been any. I think even Bryan Rust said something to this affect (that having spots open would galvanize the young guys knowing there is a legit chance)

 

[Rob Scuderi]

The concern here is that he may be in the AHL even when he does outperform a 38 year old. I think a lot of us are just scared of vets in that sense.

...If Sundqvist outperforms someone and doesn't get a spot then there's a serious problem. The worry with the Pens is always that loyalty to the vets that hurts the young players.

I get that, but at a certain point you jump the shark with it.

If our coach's so misguided that he plays Cullen over Sundqvist when the latter is clearly playing better...then signing Cullen isn't the thing to be concerned with (particularly when it is in advance and none of these things have actually happened).

If Sundqvist doesn't outperform anyone then whatever, it's a semi-block but not horribly brutal...

If he can't outperform anyone how is there a "semi-block" or something say marginally brutal? It would mean he needs time like almost every player who turns (North American) pro which isn't a negative for me.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Really confused, what does this mean? Is fehr gonna play wing now? i thought we brought him in to play center??

Out of Bonino, Fehr, Cullen and Sundqvist only Bonino can't switch to wing. It could be just see who fits where and roll with it.

 

[Jacob]

If Fehr can switch to center at 28 I think Bonino can switch to wing at 27.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

If he can't outperform anyone how is there a "semi-block" or something say marginally brutal? It would mean he needs time like almost every player who turns (North American) pro which isn't a negative for me.

Because the younger player could be better by the end of the season than Cullen, or that NHL experience could set them up better for the next season. Not outperforming the vet in the preseason makes it a semi-block, it's what came to mind, rather than simply blocking the young player who looks better in the preseason. The semi-block at least isn't blatantly stupid and biased, even if it is potentially shortsighted.

 

[Shockmaster]

If Fehr can switch to center at 28 I think Bonino can switch to wing at 27.

Not everybody can make that switch.

 

[Asuna]

I'm just confused by it. We're over the cap now.

This is a good thing.

 

[Asuna]

Hopefully this means at least one of Kunitz or Dupuis is moving, otherwise the Pens "commitment to youth" looks farcical. Also so much for speed.

They said the same thing last year, remember.

 

[Ugene Magic]

If Fehr can switch to center at 28 I think Bonino can switch to wing at 27.

I guess can't isn't the right word. Fehr worked out, from Ducks/Cannucks fans he's very poor on the wing.

Possible.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Another fear I have is that the Penguins will trade Perron instead of Kunitz to make the cap work when Fehr is healthy.

That certainly would be terrifying.

 

[Shockmaster]

This is a good thing.

Not if they still want to keep Kunitz and/or Scuderi.

 

[Waffle Fries]

Right and I'm not trying to have another 5 D after the deadline thing. It just seems risky unless they have a deal lined up to move Kunitz out prior to training camp.

I agree. Or Scuderi. We'll see how it works out.

Yes he will. I am willing to bet anyone here Fehr plays less than 41 games this season.

So we should put ourselves in a difficult cap situation because you don't trust Fehr's ability to stay healthy?

If Fehr can switch to center at 28 I think Bonino can switch to wing at 27.

Bonino can play wing, he's just not as comfortable.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

OK, so maybe they don't feel comfortable that Fehr will be able to start the season and want Cullen in the lineup for the first two months or so.

But then what do you do with Cullen after Fehr is healthy?
Or put it another way, assume everybody stays healthy.

Why do we have to "do" something with him? It's called depth. We'll have other injuries by the time Fehr is healthy.

 

[orby]

This only makes sense to me if Kunitz is being traded for a defenseman, or something of that nature.