A 2017 Expansion draft would accelerate Penguins long-term goaltending decision
NHL expansion in Las Vegas is certainly going to happen with the NHL’s target date being the 2017-2018 season. Quebec City also under consideration is considered a longshot. From Pierre LeBrun of ESPN on two critical elements of the potential expansion draft rules. [I: “Teams will have the option of either protecting seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie in total; or go with the option of protecting eight skaters (whether they’re defensemen or forwards) and one goalie.”] [II: “First- and second-year pros — those are players playing pro hockey at any level — will be exempt from the expansion draft; the bottom line is that if they are signed and playing pro hockey, they’re exempt in their first two
Dwayne Allen, Ladarius Green to emerge on Steelers radar?
With Heath Miller’s surprise retirement, the Steelers gain an additional $4 million in cap space and also save $4.5 in cash (Miller’s 2016 base salary). Even if Miller had returned, drafting a tight end in round 1 was going to be a possibility, but with Miller now retiring, dipping into the free agent market becomes much more of a priority than the Steelers would have envisioned with 32 year old Matt Spaeth, who has all of six receptions the last three seasons, and second year player Jesse James as the only immediate replacements for Miller. Here’s a look at the group of tight ends who could hit the open market on March 9. Coby Fleener (6-6, 250), Indianapolis Colts 27
Latest Chatter: Penguins had discussions about Scott Hartnell around the All-Star break
The NHL’s trade landscape right now with 11 days to go before deadline is a situation of sellers waiting for one buyer to set the market. Last February the Nashville Predators set the market early with the Cody Franson trade. This season it’s been more of a cat and mouse game between the buyers and sellers. It’s also been a trade landscape that features potential rentals like Andrew Ladd who are expected to be available but have yet to be officially put on the market. Therefore it’s been slow moving. Buyers don’t yet know what the prices are going to be. For the Penguins they have not closed the door on making a high level or low level move before
Penguins Trade Talk: Jiri Hudler
LATEST PENGUINS TRADE TALK The Penguins during the summer prior to the Phil Kessel acquisition had identified five to six trade targets among top-6 wingers. Plan-A from Jim Rutherford was Phil Kessel, followed by a group of others the Penguins had engaged in trade discussions for. Patrick Sharp, T.J. Oshie, Jeff Skinner were three of the primary names aside from Kessel and during the draft weekend as the Kessel talks hit a roadblock for a short-period, the Penguins started to engage in talks [hide] with the Flames about Jiri Hudler. Hudler was coming off a great season, 31 goals and 76 points, and Calgary’s asking price was as expected steep. Names that interested the Flames included Matthew Murray who was
More Suitors emerging for Neil Walker
Pirates GM Neal Huntington and his cohorts have felt finding a trade for Neil Walker may not happen until after the New Year but one way or another he is as good as gone and will be moved before spring training. With some dominos starting to fall a trade could come much sooner as in this week as [hide], suitors are emerging for Walker on the trade front with the Winter Meetings coming to an end. The Cubs signing of Ben Zobrist has the New York Mets kicking the tires on Walker. The LA times reports Walker is among several trade targets for the Angels. The Nationals are also interested in Walker after missing out on Zobrist. The Baltimore Orioles
Pirates have checked in on Scott Kazmir
The Pirates this off-season have been linked to multiple reclamation projects. The Pirates have an offer on the table to Trevor Cahill and the Tribune-Review reported Tuesday the Pirates are also interested in Justin Masterson, who they have had interest in the past but whose best days are behind him. Pirates GM Neal Huntington, though, hasn’t ruled out signing a second/third-level type free agent pitcher. The Pirates are in on lefty Scott Kazmir, Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned, and Huntington has a close relationship with Kazmir’s agent Greg Genske, who represents Francisco Liriano and Starling [hide] Marte, among many others. Genske is said to be looking for a contract just north of what he landed Francisco Liriano last winter from
Jacques Martin under consideration to replace Todd Richards in Columbus?
If the Penguins were to make a coaching change at somepoint this season, speculation has been rampant in the past week that Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux has already decided [hide] Jacques Martin would be the Penguins interim coach with Rick Tocchet staying on board as an assistant coach. Martin, though, is coveted elsewhere. The 0-6 Columbus Blue Jackets giving serious consideration to firing Todd Richards, have had significant internal discussions about Martin. One reason there hasn’t been a coach change in Columbus yet is most executives believe the Blue Jackets are going back and forth on whether to make the risky move of hiring John Tortorella. Some execs feel Tortorella is a possibility but it won’t be a surprise if
Huntington all but rules out asking Neil Walker to switch positions
Photo: David Hague Neil Walker has likely played his last game as a Pirate but if he sticks around one more season, the Pirates out of respect for the process don’t plan to ask Walker to change positions.[hide] “It would be awfully tough to ask a free agent to be to move positions,” said Neal Huntington on 937 The Fan today. “Not something we’ve approached with him. Not plan A for us due to respect we need to give Neil Walker [with pending free agent]. Just might not be right thing for Neil Walker or right thing for the Pirates.” Walker’s trade value this off-season is a mystery because some teams believe there’s a chance Pittsburgh will DFA him than
Steelers bringing in multiple kickers for workouts this weekend
Steelers bringing in multiple kickers for workouts this weekend Josh Scobee was at the facility on Friday and is still with the team but whether he makes it through the weekend as a Steeler remains to be seen.[hide] After two missed field goals in Thursday’s loss, Scobee has now missed four field goals and one extra point in three games. Concerned about Scobee’s mental state right now, the Steelers are bringing in multiple kickers for workouts this weekend. Three of the kickers coming in for workouts tomorrow are Randy Bullock, Kai Forbath and Chris Boswell. Bullock was just released by the Houston Texans after missing a field goal and extra point in week 3. Bullock was 30-35 last season for
Steelers trying to trade Dri Archer?
LATEST STEELERS RUMORS [hide] Dri Archer’s offensive snaps in week 2 — Zero — The 2014 third round pick continues to have no role in the offense, prompting speculation in Steelers circles today that Archer could be released as early as today with the Steelers needing to clear a roster spot for Le’Veon Bell by 4:00 p.m. The Steelers, though, would like to try to trade Archer first, Gerry Dulac wrote during his chat in the Post-Gazette today. Dulac writes in his chat: “What I think the Steelers will try to do first is trade him to get one of those two draft picks from 2016 they traded away to get Brandon Boykin and Josh Scobee. Believe me, they are