Why has Tampa Bay leeched off of Pittsburgh?

Question

Granted I know the Pens made it to the Stanley Cup finals but why didn't they swoop in and get red wing players?

Answer 1

So, you condemn the Lightning for getting Penguins players but have no problem as long as they acquire Red Wings players.

Curious, my BWF meter just spiked.

Answer 2

Because almost all of our good players were under contract before free agency started.  Plus, I think Kenny wouldn't trade away negotiation rights to anyone.

Answer 3

Red Wing players don't want to leave.   Actually guys will take less money to play in Detroit.

Answer 4

They went by the Free Agent Market. The Red Wings didn't have half the team going up for Free Agency, the Penguins did. You can only go by who is available. Want to complain about the Red Wings swooping in for Hossa as well?

Answer 5

Pittsbvurgh players play fir their system

Look at the Rangers in 94 AKA Edmonton East:

Mark Messier

Esa Tikkanen

Craig McTavish

Glenn Anderson

Adam Graves

Kevin Lowe

Answer 6

They just happened to end up with a lot of Pittsburgh's players.  It not like they sought out to sign every Penguins player they could.  Its the same as how Atlanta has a ton of former Penguins, and the Rangers used to.

Answer 7

Because Robers and Malone are great players who the Penguins weren't going to resign.  Also the Red Wings didn't have many free agents, and certainly not any of Malone's caliber all their talent has been locked up.

Answer 8

New fan? If so, welcome to Free Agency. I learned love your team, but don't get attached to the players. As we've found they can become easily replaced.

Answer 9

I agree with Morgan.  Do some research on NHL player contracts and free agency, and that will answer your question.

OR

Since you are a bandwagon fan, just start supporting the Lightning, and then you won't feel so "leeched" off.

Answer 10

This question is DUMB!

even for my standards! lol

Answer 11

That was the deal. Malone and Roberts for draft picks. Just right place, right time, right deal.

Answer 12

lionsfan, your an idiot!! i guess not one penguins player took less to stay. by the way, the lions suck!!! but good job for sticking with as sorry team.  tampa took some players the penguins were willing to lose. malone is a good player, but not worth the money he wanted. roberts is way to old and hall.......come on! you can get a hundred players with halls ability.

ruutu was the only lose that i think will have an affect on the team. and he was a 4th liner! so how much of an impact will missing ruutu have? the penguins did great without hossa so i dont think he even should be considered a penguin. so he doesnt count. lionsfan your still an idiot!!! lol

Answer 13

We didn't leech. Pens got things in return. Also, we didn't even end up with many players, so it doesn't matter. We got Malone and Roberts. That isn't a huge amount of players. It is all apart of the game, hun. Just like us losing Danny Boyle. Even though most tampa fans hate our new owners because of it, we all know it is part of the game and has to be done. We move on and wish the guys we traded luck with their new teams.

Answer 14

If you're referring to Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone signing with the Lightning, well they were both set to become unrestricted free agents, and they weren't going to be re-signed, so Pittsburgh traded their rights to Tampa Bay, and both signed with the Lightning.

Answer 15

Because the Penguins are in their conference. If they pick players off the red wings, the penguins are still good. Then when the early playoffs hit, the penguins beat the lightning easily. Then in the Finals it's the Pens and the Wings again (Hypothetically speaking), and the Wings kick the Pens butts again.

Answer 16

Rob Y, chill out, there is nothing wrong with what lionsfan said.  He was correct that Red Wings players dont want to leave and they are willing to accept less than market value to stay on the team.  Why does that statement upset you so much?  And yes, some Pens are willing to accept less money to stay in Pittsburgh as well, but some wont.  Its not a secret that some of the players dont like playing for Therrien.  You are also correct that its not like they lost their best talent.  Most of the guys that did leave werent key players.  That really has nothing to do with what lionsfan said or the question asked though.

To answer the question though, Detroit didnt really have anyone hitting free agency.  You cant steal players if they are not available to be stolen.  Besides, the Pens traded Malone and Roberts rights to Tampa so I wouldnt really consider it leeching.  I mean, they did get a little in return for players they werent going to re-sign anyway.