B21 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Just heard an interview with Jason Botchford on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh where he stated that sources have told him the Pens and Canucks have had multiple discussions about a deal involving Kesler for Brandon Sutter and Simon Depres. Talks began prior to the Olympics. The Canucks are asking for more (a pick?) while the Pens have so far balked at that. At first I was thinking...huh? That said, it's no secret Shero loves the "3-center" model. He was willing to give Jordan Staal $6 million per year for 10 years. Sutter has been solid but not spectacular. So there's that. Then I thought about the salary cap and came back to....huh? But.....Sutter is RFA next year and due a qualifying offer of $2,700,000. Kesler is due $5,000,000 for two more seasons after this so it's not an "OMG" gap. Arbitration could push that higher. At the end of day, not a huge difference. Have to say, I'd be a big fan of a deal like this as long as whatever else Vancouver is looking for is not a 1st round pick or one of our top D prospects. The Pens have enough moving parts (injuries, AHL, outright waiving) to make a move like this work and stay under the cap until the playoffs. So Pens fans? Yea or Nay? I'm a yea. Then again - could be just speculation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FD19372 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 If that's the case, then by all means the Flyers will jump in, and outbid you for him . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Shero was also in Buffalo with the rest of the NHL GM's and scouts this week for the Sabre's Fire Sale. Who knows who he could be looking there, there is so much up for grabs. With the state of Letang, if they think he's done for '14, they could go after defense. Kesler, great player but would he be willing to be third line center? I wouldn't want to bring someone in like him and move him to wing, look what happened last year bringing in Iginla and playing him in a different position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Shero was also in Buffalo with the rest of the NHL GM's and scouts this week for the Sabre's Fire Sale. Who knows who he could be looking there, there is so much up for grabs. With the state of Letang, if they think he's done for '14, they could go after defense. Kesler, great player but would he be willing to be third line center? I wouldn't want to bring someone in like him and move him to wing, look what happened last year bringing in Iginla and playing him in a different position. I think he would. Botchford mentioned that he does not want to play wing but thinks he would be OK with a 3rd line center role. He have to waive his NTC to come here and he would do that knowing the #1 and #2 center spots are kinda filled right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Wow... I don't know. I don't think Kesler is what they need. Sutter is a good defensive center, and the cap difference... I want a scoring winger for Crosby. I don't think Kesler is it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Rob Rossi reported previously that the Pens offered Sutter and Pouliot to Vancouver prior to the Olympics. Apparently before Letang's situation developed according to Rossi. So that's old news and already passed on I guess. Nobody heard this till now though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 Rob Rossi reported previously that the Pens offered Sutter and Pouliot to Vancouver prior to the Olympics. Apparently before Letang's situation developed according to Rossi. So that's old news and already passed on I guess. Nobody heard this till now though. That I would not do. I like Depres. I like Pouliot a lot more. I can barely live with adding a 2nd round pick or mid-level prospect if that is what Vancouvers is/was looking to be added to sweeten the pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 @B21I don't want Kesler at all. I don't think he's that much of an upgrade to justify the cap hit and Depres, who I think has enough going for him that we need to give him time to mature. Let alone Pouliot who appears to be worth the first round selection he garnered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 @B21I don't want Kesler at all. I don't think he's that much of an upgrade to justify the cap hit and Depres, who I think has enough going for him that we need to give him time to mature. Let alone Pouliot who appears to be worth the first round selection he garnered. I want him if the price is right. It's not that I don't like Sutter but Sutter can't carry a line the way Kesler can. I've been saying for the past few weeks that we need to upgrade the 3rd line by adding a winger but if you can improve the center position by that much...and I think Kesler is that much better than Sutter...then I'm OK with that, too. Depres + Sutter is OK. Depres + Sutter + 2nd....barely OK. Depres + Pouliot....no way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 I want him if the price is right. It's not that I don't like Sutter but Sutter can't carry a line the way Kesler can. I've been saying for the past few weeks that we need to upgrade the 3rd line by adding a winger but if you can improve the center position by that much...and I think Kesler is that much better than Sutter...then I'm OK with that, too. Depres + Sutter is OK. Depres + Sutter + 2nd....barely OK. Depres + Pouliot....no way.Kesler replacing Sutter would upgrade the offensive factor of the third line, but at what cost. I think if the 'nucks are asking for a roster player, a prospect and a first rounder, their asking too much. If they brought in Kessler, who would he play with? He may need quality players on his line, would he work out with Pyatt and Jokinen/Bennet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I wonder if even 1% of the Pens thinking is related to keeping Kesler away from the Wings. First, we have never seen the Wings in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but history tells us they could be tough in the playoffs, should they make it. Even a Zetts-less Wings squad will be formidable. Kesler would be the pefect fit to fill in for Zetts, both gritty and offensively gifted. I don't think the Pens would do or not do a move based on this, but keeping Kesler away from a Eastern Conf contender is definitely a nice throw in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 @jammer2I don't see it. Just too much to give and for what? Worrying about a team on the cusp? Nah... And don't forget it would cost the Wings to get him too. A lot apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I wonder if even 1% of the Pens thinking is related to keeping Kesler away from the Wings. First, we have never seen the Wings in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but history tells us they could be tough in the playoffs, should they make it. Even a Zetts-less Wings squad will be formidable. Kesler would be the pefect fit to fill in for Zetts, both gritty and offensively gifted. I don't think the Pens would do or not do a move based on this, but keeping Kesler away from a Eastern Conf contender is definitely a nice throw in.I can't see that being the reason, just because of the cost. Do you think a team would be willing to give up a roster player a prospect and a #1 pick just to keep a player from another team? I don't think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 @nossagog I don't think it would motivate a team to make the decision to be involved, but it could factor in wanting to up the ante a bit, if a bidding war breaks out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Things heating up... The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly ponying up in their efforts to lure Ryan Kesler out of Vancouver. Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported a proposed deal between the Pens and Canucks that he credited to multiple sources. “A proposed deal would send Kesler to the Penguins in exchange for Brandon Sutter, two 2014 draft picks — likely a first- and third-round — and the Canucks' choice of defensemen Simon Despres or Brian Dumoulin,” Rossi wrote on Saturday. Rossi continued to say that it is possible the deal could involve another player going in either direction, but that Penguins' GM Ray Shero was only looking to acquire Kesler. I don't have a problem with anything but the 1st... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) IThings heating up...The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly ponying up in their efforts to lure Ryan Kesler out of Vancouver.Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported a proposed deal between the Pens and Canucks that he credited to multiple sources.“A proposed deal would send Kesler to the Penguins in exchange for Brandon Sutter, two 2014 draft picks — likely a first- and third-round — and the Canucks' choice of defensemen Simon Despres or Brian Dumoulin,” Rossi wrote on Saturday.Rossi continued to say that it is possible the deal could involve another player going in either direction, but that Penguins' GM Ray Shero was only looking to acquire Kesler.I don't have a problem with anything but the 1st...I do, way too much, give them Despres and Sutter and a third, maybe the first but not both. And not Dumoulin.See what the sabres want for moulson, and put him with crosby Edited March 3, 2014 by nossagog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I don't get the pursuit of Kesler. It's a luxury at this point for the Pens. For Kesler to be effective, he would need decent wingers, no? They need to find a Dupuis replacement, not a 3rd line center. He's a quality player, so I get the interest, but seems like they have more pressing needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I don't want him at all. Not for Depres, not for Dumoulin... Certainly not for a first.. Only way to do this is Sutter (who I like actually) and a third. They won't go for it, and I don't want to give more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Sutter and a third would not be close to what they want, that's almost an insult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 I don't want him at all. Not for Depres, not for Dumoulin... Certainly not for a first.. Only way to do this is Sutter (who I like actually) and a third. They won't go for it, and I don't want to give more. Aside from what it might take to get him, I think Shero is thinking long term - at least past this season. He's be quoted as saying he's really not looking for a 'rental'. Sutter is RFA next year and due a qualifying offer of $2.7 million. I think he's RFA for two more years which would put him over $4,000,000 by that final year and then...who knows. We'd have Kesler for $5,000,000 for two more seasons after this one. He's a proven scorer which is a big advantage over Sutter and is as good if not better defensively. I agree though...Sutter, either Depres or Dumoulin and a 1st is too much (I'm OK w/ the Depres/Dumoulin option). We'd still have Pouliot, Harrington and Don't get me wrong - I like Sutter. But Kesler would be a big upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 @nossagog I know it is. And I know they wouldn't. But I think anything more is too high a price for a third line center. I felt they were willing to pay Staal too much too. It's just not smart money for a third line center. Especially when you have no scoring winger for your best center and you have half a dozen AHL players cycling through each line. So let's look at the business side of it... you give Sutter $2.067 million, and Depres $840,000 for Kesler. Who else you going to can to keep under the cap? You have to bring up another defenseman.. and they haven't put Letang on LTIR yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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