Salary Cap: 2016-17 roster-building part IV | Contract chart, cap info in post #1

[mpp9]

Yeah, short of finding an ideal situation to pick up a talented player on the cheap again, I'm all for just adding another support player like Hagelin with maybe a bit more polish/finish to his game.

At the very least, someone who can get Kunitz away from 87/71. I'm not gonna hate on #14 for the rest of the playoffs, but I'm starting to get worried they're going to let him play out his contract.

 

[Shady Machine]

Yeah, short of finding an ideal situation to pick up a talented player on the cheap again, I'm all for just adding another support player like Hagelin with maybe a bit more polish/finish to his game.

At the very least, someone who can get Kunitz away from 87/71. I'm not gonna hate on #14 for the rest of the playoffs, but I'm starting to get worried they're going to let him play out his contract.

Yeah that is a concern. I'd like to think JR knows better and will move him, but he's had a solid conference finals and hasn't look out of place with Geno. It would be a mistake to assume that can be repeated for another year.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Kunitz had a very respectable series. But I think Rust is the wing that makes that line work, right now. Didn't he and Malkin skate together a ton while they were both recovering from injury? They seem on the same page.

He could be a viable long term solution there if they could upgrade Malkin's LW.

 

[Shady Machine]

Kunitz had a very respectable series. But I think Rust is the wing that makes that line work, right now. Didn't he and Malkin skate together a ton while they were both recovering from injury? They seem on the same page.

He could be a viable long term solution there if they could upgrade Malkin's LW.

Oh yeah replace Rust with Fehr and that line blows again. Kunitz is doing a lot of nice things though.

As for Rust with Geno, I'm not sold yet. This is a kid playing on a hot streak. I think over an 82 game season, we could be frustrated often with him flubbing chances. We'll see though. He's a great energy player for sure.

 

[mpp9]

They both serve their purposes. Kunitz is making some good passes again finally. And Rust is hitting gaps and using his speed and shoot everyone mentality.

Not sure we want either player next to 71 at the start of next season though. Rust still has blinders on most of the time, and that will drive his center mad over an 82 game season.

I hope we sell high on Kunitz.

 

[Riptide]

Yes but his qualifying offer is 3.9MM which the Pens certainly won't match. Once they don't match, he becomes UFA. I suspect he knows he's not worth 3.9 and will negotiate with the Pens on a short term low money "prove it" deal and it will be announced right after he becomes UFA.

He can sign that type of contract any time - he doesn't have to wait till he's a UFA. However, I think he'll go to FA just to see what the market is like. I think we have a pretty good chance of signing him as long as we're willing to offer 2-2.5m. Pretty sure he'll get some better offers... but I could easily see him turning down some money for a chance to win, and more importantly a chance to continue developing. He's come a long way since we acquired him, and spending more time with Martin and Gonch can only help him. And long term, that will increase his earning potential.

Bottom line? I think we sign him. But it's not the end of the world if he walks.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah... it's iffy. But it's also simply a matter of what the team can fit in, as they seem adamant about keeping HBK together. So a guy like Rust will likely have to be heavily relied upon to hold down the fort. And again... so long as that LW position is upgraded... that could work. His finish is questionable, though. And sorta always has been. Didn't look it that last two games... but that's the last two games.

And yeah... I hope they sell high on Kunitz, too. I appreciate what he's mostly-brought these playoffs. But it's fleeting. He's pouring it all out. You can't outrace time and he's no Jagr.

 

[Shady Machine]

Yeah... it's iffy. But it's also simply a matter of what the team can fit in, as they seem adamant about keeping HBK together. So a guy like Rust will likely have to be heavily relied upon to hold down the fort. And again... so long as that LW position is upgraded... that could work. His finish is questionable, though. And sorta always has been. Didn't look it that last two games... but that's the last two games.

And yeah... I hope they sell high on Kunitz, too. I appreciate what he's mostly-brought these playoffs. But it's fleeting. He's pouring it all out. You can't outrace time and he's no Jagr.

Agreed. I guess it depends what the upgrade looks like. Rust can play LW too, so if we like him with Geno, it doesn't have to be a LW that we acquire, although that might be preferable.

Since Kuhn established himself, I've also thought he might be an interesting fit with Geno if the RW was legit. There's always Wilson too as a Kunitz type of guy or guys like Simon, Guentzel, or Sprong.

I definitely think 1 winger upgrade is needed, but we at least have some interesting kids to take a look at. It beats the hell out of the Mike Comrie signings.

 

[Riptide]

At the very least, someone who can get Kunitz away from 87/71. I'm not gonna hate on #14 for the rest of the playoffs, but I'm starting to get worried they're going to let him play out his contract.

With how he's played the last couple weeks? That's a very likely scenario. Unless we're acquiring someone with a little more offense to give, and he's the guy we're moving out (such as the rumored Kunitz for Kessel/Sharp/Oshie deals last summer), I don't see him going anywhere. And certainly not for futures or to make cap room.

 

[KIRK]

Yeah, short of finding an ideal situation to pick up a talented player on the cheap again, I'm all for just adding another support player like Hagelin with maybe a bit more polish/finish to his game.

At the very least, someone who can get Kunitz away from 87/71. I'm not gonna hate on #14 for the rest of the playoffs, but I'm starting to get worried they're going to let him play out his contract.

Kunitz will be a sell high situation this summer, assuming they're willing.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Kunitz playing well this past series is a double-edged sword. On one hand, he helped the team make it to the Cup finals. On the other hand, it might fool the Pens' brass into thinking they need to keep him around instead of dealing him this summer.

Ideally, I'd still like to see them free up cap space by trading Fleury and Kunitz, and letting Lovejoy walk. That extra cap space could go a long way toward adding that extra top six forward.

 

[KIRK]

Kunitz playing well this past series is a double-edged sword. On one hand, he helped the team make it to the Cup finals. On the other hand, it might fool the Pens' brass into thinking they need to keep him around instead of dealing him this summer.

Ideally, I'd still like to see them free up cap space by trading Fleury and Kunitz, and letting Lovejoy walk. That extra cap space could go a long way toward adding that extra top six forward.

There would be more space than just what you'd need to add a top six forward from that, but yes . . . move Fleury and Kunitz (Fehr too) and let Lovejoy walk.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Kunitz will be a sell high situation this summer, assuming they're willing.

Agreed, but he would still need to be replaced. JR would have to ask for picks and go hard after a UFA. But I have a feeling the guys and management love him so much he finishes his last contract year here.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

There would be more space than just what you'd need to add a top six forward from that, but yes . . . move Fleury and Kunitz (Fehr too) and let Lovejoy walk.

I have a feeling they would move Fleury before Kunitz if they had the choice.

Fehr I'd still give him a shot, he was hurt to start the year and that didn't help him. Let's see next year what he can bring

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Full marks to Kunitz for bringing it this series, but we'd be stupid not to move him while his value's highest.

Guy's been garbage for a year and a half. This is a dream scenario to trick some gullible GM into thinking he's a net positive asset, not to reassess his value to this team.

 

[mpp9]

Full marks to Kunitz for bringing it this series, but we'd be stupid not to move him while his value's highest.

Guy's been garbage for a year and a half. This is a dream scenario to trick some gullible GM into thinking he's a net positive asset, not to reassess his value to this team.

One can hope recency bias and his pending UFA 2017 contract is going to net us enough value for management to see the light in moving him.

If we could move MAF for an upgrade at forward, Kunitz for a 2nd and have three 2nd rounders to restock the prospect pool, it'd be an awesome offseason.

 

[KIRK]

Full marks to Kunitz for bringing it this series, but we'd be stupid not to move him while his value's highest.

Guy's been garbage for a year and a half. This is a dream scenario to trick some gullible GM into thinking he's a net positive asset, not to reassess his value to this team.

Brouwer, with one year left on his deal, got Oshie. Not saying Kunitz gets you that, but it's no longer just a dump for a 4th.

Agreed, but he would still need to be replaced. JR would have to ask for picks and go hard after a UFA. But I have a feeling the guys and management love him so much he finishes his last contract year here.

You don't need to limit yourself to free agency.

 

[DesertPenguin]

We're in really good shape for next season. Kunitz should probably be moved, but honestly a Kunitz - Malkin - Sprong line wouldn't be bad if it's stacked up like this:

Sheary/Wilson - Crosby - Hornqvist
Kunitz - Malkin - Sprong
Hagelin - Bonino - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Cullen/Sundqvist - Rust

Ideally Kunitz goes out and another Hagelin type comes in. Do you guys think Rust could play LW? I'd be game for sliding Hagelin up with Geno and letting Rust play the speedy forchecker with Bonino and Kessel.

 

[66-30-33]

Full marks to Kunitz for bringing it this series, but we'd be stupid not to move him while his value's highest.

Guy's been garbage for a year and a half. This is a dream scenario to trick some gullible GM into thinking he's a net positive asset, not to reassess his value to this team.

Kunitz and Fleury for Virtanen and Hansen.

 

[KIRK]

We're in really good shape for next season. Kunitz should probably be moved, but honestly a Kunitz - Malkin - Sprong line wouldn't be bad if it's stacked up like this:

Sheary/Wilson - Crosby - Hornqvist
Kunitz - Malkin - Sprong
Hagelin - Bonino - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Cullen/Sundqvist - Rust

Ideally Kunitz goes out and another Hagelin type comes in. Do you guys think Rust could play LW? I'd be game for sliding Hagelin up with Geno and letting Rust play the speedy forchecker with Bonino and Kessel.

I'm not sure I'd be slotting Sprong over Rust on a line with Malkin, at least not today.

 

[DegenX]

Not sure if anyone saw this or not, but Talbot is KHL bound

 

[DesertPenguin]

I'm not sure I'd be slotting Sprong over Rust on a line with Malkin, at least not today.

Rust is an asset to this team, obviously, but I don't think he brings out the most in Malkin. Rusty plays a fast, straight line game and plays it well, but Geno needs someone who can think and see the game on his level. You could, actually, run this out next year though:

Sprong - Malkin - Rust (wings interchangeable)

Sprong and Malkin can play that high level offensive game while Rust works his butt off backing up the D, racing to pucks and creating havoc.

 

[HandshakeLine]

A question for the CBA posters/lawyers: are we bound by the CBA to submit or decline to submit a QO before signing an RFA? Or could we just negotiate an extension for Schultz at a lower cap hit while we still have his rights regardless?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Not sure if anyone saw this or not, but Talbot is KHL bound

I wish Max well, but the KHL is really struggling right now, and Russia's a fairly... dodgy place at the moment. It certainly wouldn't be my league of choice.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

A question for the CBA posters/lawyers: are we bound by the CBA to submit or decline to submit a QO before signing an RFA? Or could we just negotiate an extension for Schultz at a lower cap hit while we still have his rights regardless?

Pretty sure that we don't qualify, he goes to free agency and then we can sign him for a reasonable cap hit. That's how it would have to go, but I think the Pens can talk contracts with him the whole time because he's a RFA. idk if they'd be doing that during a cup run.

I think he re-signs for something reasonable. He's going to the cup final after years with Edmonton and his career being in jeopardy. Schultz has gotten a taste of not sucking horribly and fits here.