re: NHL Free Agency Thread

I like the Niskanen deal. It's an overpay, particularly in term, but he was the Pens best defense and by far the best defenseman on the market. You have to put up cash to get talent. I don't really care about his boxcar stats, which are certain to decline, I care that he drives possession and he's an active defender. He's been the Pens' best blueliner for three season now, and he's just entered his prime.

Taken with the Orpik deal, I at least see the plan. I don't like it, but I at least see it. The Caps front office has decided that the D corps has been a huge problem, and they went all-in to upgrade. That's fine, I just wish Brooks f'n Orpik wasn't part of the solution. But they will use them to bridge to their prospects.

I think they saw a team that was above average in goals scored and below average in goals allowed, so they moved to shore up the D.

But now they only have about $1.5 million to spend to prevent Laich, Kuznetsov, or MoJo from being your opening night 2C. None of whom, you will note, is primarily a center.