I would hate this. I need you guys to lose next year for that unprotected 1st but Koivu deserves a cup for everything he's done for us. I'd be torn.

The penguins just missed out on VERHAEGHE. He was my sleeper pick for center.

It doesn't sound like they are bringing Koivu in, they want younger players with legs

Good, that's what I like to hear.

Koivu still has more gas than a lot of youngsters. He's a leader, a good two-way center which can still help a team to win a cup. I can't see a better and cheaper or even for the same price center to sign than him in FA. That's a low risk sign with potential to be very rewarded to any contender.

I'd love to see him playing for Pens, bringing his leadership and talent to our team. He reminds me Matt Cullen in many aspects and I think he'd be useful as Cullen was in our back to back championships.

I'm not going to comment what he has left but he's 37 and they have a stated goal of getting younger.

He's definitely different than Cullen. He will hold you accountable if you're sucking. He may be a few steps slow but he will bring that fire and he still can shut you down defensively. Won't add any offense and will lower your overall team speed but in the right situations he can help a contender win.

You should remember what Matt Cullen did for us with almost the same age when Pens won back to back cups. He was HUGE, specially when Malkin or Crosby was injured. He step up in those situations, in critical moments, including playoffs. I can see Koivu doing the same thing.

I'm not saying he wasn't. But it was a different league then. It was much slower. And Cullin still had legs in very limited roles and the whole penguins roster was younger.

Cullen was not a fast guy either. Ok, faster than Koivu, but not a fast guy for sure. He's better defensively than offensively either. But I agree that Cullen help us more offensively than Koivu could do. On the other hand, I think Koivu is better than Cullen was defensively. That's why I bring Namestnikov, cause he's a fast depth scoring winger which could help us a lot offensively.

Slower, not much slower. And I think Koivu still has legs, specially to play in the bottom-6. He'd be our 4th line center, playing 10, 12 minutes/game. I'm sure he still can handle playing such time.

yes but that assumes Blueger is the 3C. And I like Blueger, but I don't think they view him as a 3C.

I can't see any better options in FA. Blueger deserves one shot as a 3rd C.