Salary Cap: 2017-18 Roster Building Thread V | Contract/FA charts in Post #1 | CAP SET at $75M

[Gurglesons]

So is Bones. If it comes down to Hanzal having a higher cap hit, but willing to take less term than Bonino, he's the guy they should target.

Honestly, Bones is the better player versus Hanzal and I honestly don't care about term. We can get rid of him even if it means packaging him with someone as long as we don't pay him over 4.5 mil. Hanzal is the type of player that would get hurt and just simply not be there or a shell of himself. I think it is very telling the Wild GM was willing to come out and say he regrets trading for him.

 

[Andy99]

I wouldn't cringe at all before knowing numbers and term.
Daley has been good for us, and fits what we need - although perhaps not what many dream of.

It is implied - also by Rutherford - that the math will have to fit or he'll look elsewhere.

NB: Being Cullen's age - and having just seen a team with Cully, Hainsey and Kunitz win the Cup - I'd also suggest that people lay off the age fetischism a bit. Doesn't hurt to have A FEW grownups around, as long as they can play.

You do realize we're one of the oldest clubs in the league and still would be with Sid 30, Kessel, 30, Malkin, 31, Horny, 30, Reaves, 30, Letang, 30...

 

[Nakawick]

If we can trade for someone who can replace what Bones does at a reasonable cost and on a reasonable contract, we could make a run at Boyle. That way we have two solid guys, even if Boyle is closer to a 4C, he would be the second of JR's "one or two guys" wish. I am giddy at a Wilson/Sheary/Archibald/Hagelin with Boyle and Reaves line.

 

[Gurglesons]

If we can trade for someone who can replace what Bones does at a reasonable cost and on a reasonable contract, we could make a run at Boyle. That way we have two solid guys, even if Boyle is closer to a 4C, he would be the second of JR's "one or two guys" wish. I am giddy at a Wilson/Sheary/Archibald/Hagelin with Boyle and Reaves line.

Or you just sign Bones and Boyle.

 

[Riptide]

We should not overpay for anyone.

A good week of hockey isn't worth 4 mill a season. The Pens would be wise to move on from Bonino.

This team is much better off paying Bonino 4m then going with a chump #3C next season - even if it means giving him 4-5 years. You front load the crap out of it so that it's easier to move down the line.

5.5m, 5m, 4m, 2.75m, 2.75m. 4m cap hit, and an easy contract to move 2-3 years from now.

 

[888 98 twins]

Honestly, Bones is the better player versus Hanzal and I honestly don't care about term. We can get rid of him even if it means packaging him with someone as long as we don't pay him over 4.5 mil. Hanzal is the type of player that would get hurt and just simply not be there or a shell of himself. I think it is very telling the Wild GM was willing to come out and say he regrets trading for him.

I guess this is where we disagree and we can leave it at that. I don't know if there's a single thing Nick Bonino is better than Martin Hanzal at.

Edit: Except staying healthy.

 

[Gurglesons]

This team is much better off paying Bonino 4m then going with a chump #3C next season - even if it means giving him 4-5 years. You front load the crap out of it so that it's easier to move down the line.

5.5m, 5m, 4m, 2.75m, 2.75m. 4m cap hit, and an easy contract to move 2-3 years from now.

I find it funny how people are talking out their mouth about how we should sign Hanzal who puts up the same amount of points on average of the last couple seasons while playing way more minutes in way more favorable situations.

Go look at Hanzal's point production + power play production in his time at Arizona and realize what he truly is. Bonino is clearly the better player, the younger player, the healthier player, and probably the player more willing to sign here on the cheap.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I guess this is where we disagree and we can leave it at that. I don't know if there's a single thing Nick Bonino is better at than Martin Hanzal.

Edit: Except staying healthy.

Pk
Being clutch
Winning cups
Nicer beard
Better player on 1 leg
Team player

 

[Nakawick]

Or you just sign Bones and Boyle.

It's OK to disagree on moves for a team we ar cheering for. I would rather someone new and fresh and on a shorter contract. We may not be able to fit both. If the big 3 RFA's cost 11 mil and Bones/Boyle cost 7, there is all our bucks spent. But we are moving a wing, we have too many.

 

[mpp9]

Honestly, Bones is the better player versus Hanzal and I honestly don't care about term. We can get rid of him even if it means packaging him with someone as long as we don't pay him over 4.5 mil. Hanzal is the type of player that would get hurt and just simply not be there or a shell of himself. I think it is very telling the Wild GM was willing to come out and say he regrets trading for him.

They're one year apart. Hanzal is a far better possession player. Slightly worse playmaker. Just as good of a goal scorer. And having done so playing on a trash team.

I'll take my chances on him on a short term deal. The Wild need/needed a Crosby/Malkin, not another middle six center. They were never getting past Anaheim/Preds. I'm not gonna write off Hanzal being a hell of a player over one playoff run.

 

[Gurglesons]

I guess this is where we disagree and we can leave it at that. I don't know if there's a single thing Nick Bonino is better than Martin Hanzal at.

Edit: Except staying healthy.

Uh. Career total in points. Career total in goals. While playing less minutes and being force fed less advantageous situations.

Hanzal is basically going to be Brandon Sutter here. We're going to have to sacrifice Crosby's offensive starts to get production from him. Bonino has proven that he can handle heavy defensive minutes and still be a 30 point player. That is worth 4 million x 5 years for this team. Even if it means losing Hornqvist next year. Go all in this year. Replace the hole in the top nine created by Hornqvist with Sprong next year.

 

[molon labe]

Fisher had a decent season last year and can still play. He's married to Carrie Underwood... and he's Nashville's captain. Oh and his team made it to game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Now how likely do you think it is that he'd leave Nashville?

Just no chance he leaves Nashville. It truly doesn't matter what he makes from playing hockey, he is better off financially than any other guy in the league by a fair margin I'd bet. He'll stay on a Cup finalist where the breadwinner of the family works most of the year.

I don't, but I also know that the team is ready to turn itself over to the Subban show. Fisher looked annoyed throughout the finals to be honest at all the circus that inevitably follows Subban around. They both live in Nashville and have a wonderful life there with many celebrity friends as well as young children he obviously wants to come home to... he's also ON a contender so the argument for coming to us is a bit hard to justify.

So yes it's unlikely but I don't believe it would be impossible to convince him to sign somewhere else in the east. You don't know until you ask, and Pittsburgh is not far from Nashville (about an hour flight).

Maybe we get lucky and find a guy who's not ready to hang up the skates yet and wouldn't mind giving it another run on another contender. Again, unlikely I know just curious. Guess we'll find out Saturday how badly Nashville intends to keep their captain in their future plans.

 

[Gurglesons]

They're one year apart. Hanzal is a far better possession player. Slightly worse playmaker. Just as good of a goal scorer. And having done so playing on a trash team.

I'll take my chances on him on a short term deal. The Wild need/needed a Crosby/Malkin, not another middle six center. They were never getting past Anaheim/Preds. I'm not gonna write off Hanzal being a hell of a player over one playoff run.

When has he been a "hell of a player" though? He's been force fed top line minutes on one of the worst teams in the league, has been hurt the majority of his career and in general is the exact type of player you regret giving a contract to.

I get wanting to take a risk, but we know what Bonino brings. We know Bonino can step in if Crosby and Malkin are down for a short time period and we know that he was one of our best defensive players in the last two cup runs.

Also, why isn't Hanzal breaking the bank if Bonino is?

 

[Peat]

I guess this is where we disagree and we can leave it at that. I don't know if there's a single thing Nick Bonino is better than Martin Hanzal at.

Edit: Except staying healthy.

Eating pucks for sure

 

[clutterbox]

I guess this is where we disagree and we can leave it at that. I don't know if there's a single thing Nick Bonino is better than Martin Hanzal at.

Edit: Except staying healthy.

PK, shot-blocking, better on defensive.
Bonino also clutch player and team/locker room guy.

Not saying that Hanzal isn't better or worst player, but each have their own better qualities.

 

[mpp9]

When has he been a "hell of a player" though? He's been force fed top line minutes on one of the worst teams in the league, has been hurt the majority of his career and in general is the exact type of player you regret giving a contract to.

I get wanting to take a risk, but we know what Bonino brings. We know Bonino can step in if Crosby and Malkin are down for a short time period and we know that he was one of our best defensive players in the last two cup runs.

Also, why isn't Hanzal breaking the bank if Bonino is?

If you're worried his numbers will drop in a lesser role, he produces at a rate/60 like a 2C. Unless you think his numbers are going to nosedive, I don't see it. Look up his HERO chart. He's been steady over his career. Bones has actually been a guy who has trended down the past two years. One playoff run doesn't change that.

I think he'll get a shorter term deal BECAUSE of his injuries. I'd much rather give him free agency money on a 2-3 year deal than give Bonino his retirement contract. He has to cash out this summer.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Some (many) may disagree citing potential cost and the fact he misses 15 games every year, but I'd be really happy to have Martin Hanzal. I have no hopes or anything, I'm just saying.

It's usually more than 15 games a season and he's getting older.

07-08: 72
08-09: 74
09-10: 81, 7/7 playoff games
10-11: 61, 4/4 playoff games
11-12: 64, 12/16 playoff games
12-13: 39, lockout season
13-14: 65
14-15: 37
15-16: 64
16-17: 71, 5/5 playoff games

Given that Malkin hasn't hit 70 regular season games in years and that the Pens are an injury prone team it's a pretty big deal.

 

[Hockeyholic]

What about Jeff Zakoff as backup?

 

[SherogoesHAM]

As much as I'd love Duchene, I wouldn't include Sprong in a deal. He is going to be legit. Would rather trade Maatta and 3 1sts than Maatta Sprong and a 1st. Wonder if JR is pushing for Maatta, 1st, and Rust.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

What about Jeff Zakoff as backup?

I think he has another year left on his deal, doesn't he?

I wonder if JR might try to grab a backup off of waivers.

 

[Cherpak]

What about Jeff Zakoff as backup?

Christ no. Murray goes down for any length of time and Zatkoff is who we rely on? No thank you.

 

[888 98 twins]

Eating pucks for sure

PK, shot-blocking, better on defensive.
Bonino also clutch player and team/locker room guy.

Not saying that Hanzal isn't better or worst player, but each have their own better qualities.

I disagree that he is better defensively or on the PK. And I don't care if our 3rd line center doesn't block a ton of shots in the regular season. I believe any player is capable of doing it, and this team has proven that in the past 2 playoff runs.

This past season, Hanzal had 5 more even strength points than Nick Bonino in 9 less games. You guys can talk about zone starts all you want, but Bonino had Phil Kessel on his line 33% of the time last season.

I'm more concerned about Kessel's even strength production with whoever our 3rd line C is over almost any other factor. The pre-requisite is that he needs to be half decent at faceoffs, and needs to be able to kill penalties well. Hanzal also checks those boxes. Rolling 3 top lines at ES will be this team's best chance at a 3-peat, and I've soured on Nick Bonino offensively to the point that I don't believe he'll ever recapture his chemistry with Kessel. I also believe that a Hagelin-Hanzal-Kessel line would be excellent.

 

[clutterbox]

What about Jeff Zakoff as backup?

I think there will be better backups available. I rather bring back Mike Condom if he is willing.

 

[Pens x]

A team is going to offer Bonino stupid money, my guess is 4 years for a total of $15 million. Hopefully JR can sign him for 3 years at around $3.5-3.75 mil.

Go Pens

 

[Nakawick]

Another thing with Hanzal is that he may not want to play 3rd fiddle on a team. He may want a bigger role.