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

[ColePens]

Believe JR is looking for that younger long term, most likely core pieces at the 3C and top 4 D positions. But he doesn't need to get them all in this one off season, though.

C's = Sid, G, X, younger inexpensive 4C's in the system already
Wingers = Jake, Phil, Horny, Rust, Sheary, Sprong, etc.
D = Letang, Dumo, Schultz, X, Maatta, Cole, etc.
G = Murz, Jarry, Gus.

Thats your key, core guys atm and the X's are the spots i'm talking about.
You can afford to take from the wingers row or the back end of the D row to try and get your X's.

At the same time, building up the farm so when guys are due raises, you'll have cheap guys behind them.

Yep good breakdown. Also one of the reasons why I want to stay away from the Radulovs/Oshies/etc. of the world unless they have interest in a 1 year deal just for a chance at the Cup. That ain't happening, though. Keep it young, fast, skilled, and loaded with depth. That is working wonders for us. Screw the big time name/flashy deal.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Yep good breakdown. Also one of the reasons why I want to stay away from the Radulovs/Oshies/etc. of the world unless they have interest in a 1 year deal just for a chance at the Cup. That ain't happening, though. Keep it young, fast, skilled, and loaded with depth. That is working wonders for us. Screw the big time name/flashy deal.

Agree.

I added to my post a bit about keeping the roster flexible enough so you can always be shopping for those X's i talked about.

Why i think JR will dip in to FA'y if he doesn't get long term solutions via trade BUT still keeping roster flexibility.
Things like Bones @ close to 5 for 4yrs or so i don't see JR doing at all.
If he can convince guys to come in or back on 1/2/3 year deals for cheaper, thats the way i see him going about it.

 

[66-30-33]

What would Petrovic cost the Pens from Florida? tough D that can skate well.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

What would Petrovic cost the Pens from Florida? tough D that can skate well.

This is the guy that got his ass kicked 3x by Evander Kane in 1 game in 2015-16.

I doubt he'd cost much to get, but I don't necessarily think that's a good thing either.

Edit:

Honestly, as much of an idiot Luke Schenn is, he's 1.5m for a cap hit, a right handed shot, physical and loves to block shots and is a fairly ok skater. With purpose, he could be a solid bottom pairing guy with Cole.

 

[hagelin1381]

I don't want the Pens to commit big money to a winger in free agency.. especially not Oshie.. If you're expecting him to score 30+ again.. well good luck with that. Good player, but not going to be worth the contract he is going to get

 

[Son Goku]

We should stick to drafting well. When Mcdavid signs that next contract it's going to trickle down, he's gonna set a bar.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

 

[Peat]

Can't see getting a 3C as a long term piece as you're gonna run into the problem of him wanting to be a 2C somewhere else (that or not being good enough to be long term).

It's why I like the idea of a top 6 wing who can shuffle across. Feel like it would be a lot easier to keep that player happy.

 

[deakka]

Reading the DK article, JR wanna trade our 1st so bad.
He rather not trade away players or prospects, but he will if the return is right.

he talks about top 4 D and maybe a 3C. So i guess our 1st would have to be involved if he dont wanna include other pieces.

Lets see of we survive the day, and if we do, it would not surprise me to get the "we have a trade" at the 31th pick.

Edit: wrong thread.

 

[billybudd]

What would Petrovic cost the Pens from Florida? tough D that can skate well.

I don't really understand what they're doing since the shenanigans in the front office, so it's hard to say.

If you're asking if they'd trade him for Pouliot, that's entirely possible so long as it's not a salary increase (doubt it is, but I'm not sure of DP's bonuses).

 

[Shrimper]

So, realistically, we only need a 3C, D and Backup G, right?

 

[WayneSid9987]

So, realistically, we only need a 3C, D and Backup G, right?

Pretty much yea.
You could get all of them in FA'y but JR likes trading for guys with term more than paying big bucks in FA'y.

Can't see getting a 3C as a long term piece as you're gonna run into the problem of him wanting to be a 2C somewhere else (that or not being good enough to be long term).

It's why I like the idea of a top 6 wing who can shuffle across. Feel like it would be a lot easier to keep that player happy.

When i say long(er) term, i mean the vet guys(just under Sid/G's age) who've been top C's elsewhere and they haven't won diddly squat.
Guy like Duchene would be the happiest NHL player ever playing 3C here.
But in the mean time, signing acceptable 3C's to moveable contracts is the next best thing.
Re-up'ing Bones to an immoveable contract is no bueno.

 

[Iron Tusk]

Pretty much yea.
You could get all of them in FA'y but JR likes trading for guys with term more than paying big bucks in FA'y.

Which is the right thing to do. Free Agency is the worst.

 

[bigkam]

So, this has been said but bears repeating. We have a lot of guys who have played an insane amount of hockey over the last two seasons. As much as I want to see guys like Bonino come back, we really could use an infusion of younger, more-rested players to make a third run. This also applies to our defense corps, although getting a rested Letang back will certainly help. I'm hoping GMJR is on the same page here.

 

[Captain Hook]

I personally don't want to go the tough guy route but I wonder if King is a guy JR will pursue considering JR's comments about adding toughness a while back.

 

[exHornet]

Each of our guys needs a month off this season, at least the ones who haven't missed big time with injuries. Kessel, for example, hasn't missed a game in forever. He should go to St. Lucia for a month next winter. Schultz and Maatta need time off during the year. Malkin and Sid need to get some rest at some point, although Malkin had a month off last year. The guys in WBS better be ready to play.

 

[Ogrezilla]

None of our guys will miss time unless they are hurt.

 

[davemess]

D shouldn't be too tricky to fill, its really a bottom pairing guy we are looking for so that shouldn't be overly expensive in the Free Agent market. I do think its a spot where GMJR can add some of the toughness he has been talking about.

A cheap/decent backup goalie shouldn't be that hard to find, my guess would be that Jarry gets the backup job so whoever we are signing is more likely to a marginal NHL backup more AHL starter level. Rather than a guy that's a settled NHL backup and could step up and play 30+ games.

3C is going to be a major problem, there are not a lot of options in the UFA market that could fill the role that we need our 3C to do - basically Bonino, Thornton & Hanzal are about it. So if we are going to trade our 1st round pick I think this is where we might do it, to go and get somebody via a trade.

I also think what happens with the 3C could determine whether we need to go and get a FO guy to play 4C.

 

[froods]

Yea, we have no reason to sign or trade for any wingers. Maybe bring Kunitz back for one year on the cheap if we wants, but that's it.

 

[WayneSid9987]

^(DaveMess)Thats why i said i bet JR can't wait to talk to FA's around the league on june.25th or 26th.
If he can't swing a deal for a 3C/LW hybrid guy or an upgrade on D, i'm sure he'll be contacting quite a few UFA's to see if they'd like to come and try and win a Cup here for a little lesser $. Sorta like how Brian Campbell gave the Hawks that sweetheart deal last summer.

 

[Nakawick]

Hainsey falls in the over 35 contract rules. He may just be looking for one last 10mil deal over 3 years from someone. Daley is a better fit for our system but he is 34 and could be looking for a 10mil deal as well. Bones could be looking for 20mil. I would be surprised if any of them were back next year for us.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Did what it's worth, I heard on the radio yesterday that JR loathes the idea of trading more 1st round picks, so I honestly doubt that pick #31 gets traded.

 

[ColePens]

Hainsey falls in the over 35 contract rules. He may just be looking for one last 10mil deal over 3 years from someone. Daley is a better fit for our system but he is 34 and could be looking for a 10mil deal as well. Bones could be looking for 20mil. I would be surprised if any of them were back next year for us.

Then let them all go. We just cannot dabble handing out those deals. And that's okay. That's the art of the salary cap era.

 

[TimmyD]

I know it would never happen but could you imagine if McDavid left as a free agent and signed here for a huge discount? Part of me would want to see that more for all of the rage that would flow on the main boards than anything else hahaha. But back to reality in terms of a 3C I have to assume that is going to come via trade because the only two free agents I know of that would make good 3C's are Bonino and Hanzal. Can anyone fill me in on some other free agents that would be good for our 3rd line or do those two guys pretty much cover the best options?

 

[Deport Ogie]

I still have this unsubstantiated dream that Thornton signs a cheap ring-chase type deal to come be our 3c with Kessel on his wing. The thought of Jumbo passing to Phil Kessel puts me on the verge of tears it is so beautiful.

That being said, there are enough teams out there that are desperate for top 6 centers that any potential UFA is likely to have no shortage of big money offers.