Salary Cap: 2014-15 Roster-building Thread XI | All UFA and Trade proposals here | Cap SET: $69M

[Jag68Sid87]

“You have to trust what they can do in the future,†Botterill said. “We want to add depth at forward. The fact that we have defensemen that we're comfortable with on entry-level contract us will allow us to use more (cap space) on forwards.â€

Wow. It's like what most of us wanted, in a nutshell.

I mean, it's always been the most logical course of action and yet it's still great to finally read it coming from management.

 

[IcedCapp]

If Orpik, Neal and Adams are gone next year, the locker room will, superficially, appear much better. (I say superficially because I only assume that those three are boils on the ass of society, I have no real idea)

 

[Ogrezilla]

So if we land Kulemin the top six would be set, no? Unless the concerns about Bennett force another move.

I'd like to see another trade, maybe two. Kunitz, Dupuis...we should still try to move them.

We at least need to get someone who can push Bennett for that spot, and I don't want it to be Dupuis. Someone like Setoguchi would be good if we can't get a more proven top 6 guy.

 

[Asuna]

So the defense could look like this:

Letang - Martin
Despres - Bortuzzo
Dumoulin - Samuelsson/Harrington/Scuderi

Damn. Most people didn't think it could happen, but that's pretty cool to hear.

Also makes sense about what Rutherford said about possibly trading for a veteran dman during the season. Just in case the kids don't do as well as expected.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I do like hearing how the new regime understands really ****ing simple concepts.

This sentence may be my favorite thing I've read all offseason

"Defenseman Brooks Orpik, the franchise's longest-tenured player, is not being targeted for a new contract."

Thank you, whoever.

If only this philosophy was applied sooner.

Shero's plan, or what I thought it was supposed to be, coming to fruition only because they removed Shero and Bylsma. Naturally.

 

[Waffle Fries]

Amen, WF. It's so simple and yet DB/Shero were ****ing idiots.

Absolutely. This should have at least started in 12-13. At least they get it now.

If Orpik, Neal and Adams are gone next year, the locker room will, superficially, appear much better. (I say superficially because I only assume that those three are boils on the ass of society, I have no real idea)

I honestly believe that Orpik was the biggest issue in the locker room. His attitude pissed me off, I can only imagine how the players felt hearing him criticizing them and never taking any blame himself.

 

[SaintLouHaintBlue]

If Orpik, Neal and Adams are gone next year, the locker room will, superficially, appear much better. (I say superficially because I only assume that those three are boils on the ass of society, I have no real idea)

I thought Orpik was well respected in the locker room?
Honestly, I don't have any bitter feelings towards him - thanks for '09.

He's just several years past his sell-by date, and now is a great time to part ways.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

If Orpik, Neal and Adams are gone next year, the locker room will, superficially, appear much better. (I say superficially because I only assume that those three are boils on the ass of society, I have no real idea)

That and the weird favouritism, and other stuff, from Bylsma leaving. That couldn't have been good for the room.

So the defense could look like this:

Letang - Martin
Despres - Bortuzzo
Dumoulin - Samuelsson/Harrington/Scuderi

Damn. Most people didn't think it could happen, but that's pretty cool to hear.

Also makes sense about what Rutherford said about possibly trading for a veteran dman during the season. Just in case the kids don't do as well as expected.

I'd expect some struggle with the workload at some point... and probably an injury or two to make that worse.

 

[Michael8771*]

keep in mind he's almost certainly not getting any significant top powerplay time. 50 points would be damn good.

I wouldn't sneeze at 50 considering all the other intangibles. Although I do think Geno will help elevate his production.

 

[Asuna]

That and the weird favouritism, and other stuff, from Bylsma leaving. That couldn't have been good for the room.




I'd expect some struggle with the workload at some point... and probably an injury or two to make that worse.

For sure. But they'd have Maatta and Pouliot coming back as well. Still some depth there. Get them experience now, and ready for the playoffs.

 

[IcedCapp]

I thought Orpik was well respected in the locker room?
Honestly, I don't have any bitter feelings towards him - thanks for '09.

He's just several years past his sell-by date, and now is a great time to part ways.

I honestly don't know. From the outside, he always seems to blame others and deflect criticism. But that might be okay in this room. Athletes are weird.

 

[iFishyHD]

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Patric Hornqvist ($4.250m)
Nikolai Kulemin ($3.500m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Radim Vrbata ($4.750m)
Nick Spaling ($1.750m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.800m) / Beau Bennett ($0.900m)
Adam Payerl ($0.627m) / Joe Vitale ($1.000m) / Jayson Megna ($0.975m)
Brian Gibbons ($0.750m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Paul Martin ($5.000m) / Kris Letang ($7.250m)
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Simon Despres ($0.950m)
Derrick Pouliot ($0.863m) / Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
Philip Samuelsson ($0.925m)
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BURIED
Craig Adams ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $67,034,167; BONUSES: $665,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,965,833

Banking on a lot, but let the kids play. Still room to get a cheap UFA defenseman nd Harrington could be called up.

 

[Michael8771*]

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Patric Hornqvist ($4.250m)
Nikolai Kulemin ($3.500m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Radim Vrbata ($4.750m)
Nick Spaling ($1.750m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.800m) / Beau Bennett ($0.900m)
Adam Payerl ($0.627m) / Joe Vitale ($1.000m) / Jayson Megna ($0.975m)
Brian Gibbons ($0.750m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Paul Martin ($5.000m) / Kris Letang ($7.250m)
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Simon Despres ($0.950m)
Derrick Pouliot ($0.863m) / Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
Philip Samuelsson ($0.925m)
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BURIED
Craig Adams ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $67,034,167; BONUSES: $665,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,965,833

Banking on a lot, but let the kids play. Still room to get a cheap UFA defenseman nd Harrington could be called up.

While I like the blue line, we need at least one more veteran there. I'd love to get Stralman but he's likely gonna be too costly. Also, there's not enough toughness in that line up. We need a Downie or some such player.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I think Glass and Adams were big issues, too. Glass seemed rather angry at his benching, and he seemed to have a sense of entitlement. I suppose Bylsma planted that in him, but still.

It SHOULD be a different, VASTLY different room next year.

Bringing in a Kulemin is good for the room, imo. It reminds the room one more time how important Geno is to this franchise. When guys are brought in with direct ties to our two superstars, it can only be a good thing for the hierarchical structure of the dressing room.

What about Iggy, though? Should we give him another try? Wouldn't the sequel be much better under Johnston?

I wonder if he falls under what Rutherford described as top-end, or is he a specific role?

 

[Sideline]

Harrington should be getting more love in these projected rosters. The guy is a hockey player. He's got high end stick and body position skills. He wont wow you, but if you watch him play 20 games you realize he's a special player in his own way.

 

[IcedCapp]

I do think you shouldn't trade Neal without doing something for Malkin.

I think some issues are overblown. But he was clearly close to Neal and his a very emotional guy. Everyone needs a friend.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

While I like the blue line, we need at least one more veteran there. I'd love to get Stralman but he's likely gonna be too costly. Also, there's not enough toughness in that line up. We need a Downie or some such player.

Well, with both Maatta and Pouliot likely to start off on LTIR, there is room for Scuderi.

And yeah the fourth line needs a boost for sure.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Here's something I haven't seen anybody mention. Keep Jussi if we can't get someone like Hemsky. Jussi is a kind of like a poor man's Neal. He's also able to shift all around the line-up from the first through 3rd lines at wing or center, and he's the kind of guy that Bennett could take the spot from so we aren't completely roadblocking him.

I honestly just thought of that, and I don't even know if I actually would want to keep Jussi. Its just a thought. If Hornqvist is going to play with Sid, I think there are worse options than Jussi for replacing Neal. Especially if we are worried about pure production.

 

[Michael8771*]

Harrington should be getting more love in these projected rosters. The guy is a hockey player. He's got high end stick and body position skills. He wont wow you, but if you watch him play 20 games you realize he's a special player in his own way.

I'd play Harrington before I would Dumoulin.

 

[SUBdrewgANS]

Does anyone else follow the penguins Facebook page? People there are actually upset that glass is not returning to the team.. Among other outrageous things.. It's pretty unbearable.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Here's something I haven't seen anybody mention. Keep Jussi if we can't get someone like Hemsky. Jussi is a kind of like a poor man's Neal, and he can play center if we ever need him to. He's also the kind of guy that Bennett could take the spot from so we aren't completely roadblocking him.

I honestly just thought of that, and I don't even know if I actually would want to keep Jussi. Its just a thought. If Hornqvist is going to play with Sid, I think there are worse options than Jussi for replacing Neal.

I don't think Rutherford likes him very much. He went out of his way to get rid of him in Raleigh.

Let Jussi move on. He's part of the soffness this team needs to eliminate.

 

[Michael8771*]

Here's something I haven't seen anybody mention. Keep Jussi if we can't get someone like Hemsky. Jussi is a kind of like a poor man's Neal, and he can play center if we ever need him to. He's also the kind of guy that Bennett could take the spot from so we aren't completely roadblocking him.

I honestly just thought of that, and I don't even know if I actually would want to keep Jussi. Its just a thought. If Hornqvist is going to play with Sid, I think there are worse options than Jussi for replacing Neal.

I like JJ and I wouldn't mind keeping him. But JR seems as if he's letting that ship sail. In addition to Kulemin I'D TRY for Vrbata. Of all the other names mentioned he'd be at the top of my list.

 

[Ogrezilla]

I'd play Harrington before I would Dumoulin.

I'd use training camp to make that decision

 

[Ogrezilla]

I like JJ and I wouldn't mind keeping him. But JR seems as if he's letting that ship sail. In addition to Kulemin I'D TRY for Vrbata. Of all the other names mentioned he'd be at the top of my list.

I'd still take Hemsky over either. I'd take Vrbata over Jussi too. But I do wonder if moving Neal changes JRs thoughts on Jussi at all.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Does anyone else follow the penguins Facebook page? People there are actually upset that glass is not returning to the team.. Among other outrageous things.. It's pretty unbearable.

most Pens fans love Glass and Adams. And Orpik and Scuderi. We are far from the norm. There's a reason guys like Steigy, Rossi and Yohe have jobs, and that's because most people don't know enough about hockey to realize they are idiots.