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

[Rectify]

I don't understand the whole trade Maatta mantra. He played big minutes in the SCF while looking completely competent. He's still only 22 (23 by seasons start) and even if he only improves his speed marginally he will be 100x better.

 

[Peat]

Can't see us being in for one of the Minnesota dmen.

I don't agree with this at all, I think there are a lot more options for defensemen in free agency than there are options for 3Cs in free agency.

This x 10,000.

I don't understand the whole trade Maatta mantra. He played big minutes in the SCF while looking completely competent. He's still only 22 (23 by seasons start) and even if he only improves his speed marginally he will be 100x better.

He's our only big trade chip who people can stomach trading.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Seems like the only D MIN is considering trading is Scandella.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't understand the whole trade Maatta mantra. He played big minutes in the SCF while looking completely competent. He's still only 22 (23 by seasons start) and even if he only improves his speed marginally he will be 100x better.

That's a pretty big if though.

I feel like the Penguins top-4 D is fine if they just make the pairs right. I flat out don't think Letang needs a baby sitter defensemen anymore like Dumoulin, I feel like Dumoulin and Schultz should be stapled to each other. If you put Maatta with Letang, you have a guy who's good defensively who can skate like the absolute wind to help cover any of Maatta's issues. What complaints would people have with the D group if it's:

Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Schultz
Cole-FA Puck mover

Outside of Letang's injury issues?

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I don't know a ton about Faksa, anecdotally he's a young big body and his defensive game is highly considered. If you drop him in as the Pens 3c he probably has 20 goal potential, would you say? Is he Jordan Staal?

The running question with trading a Maatta for a F is that you're still weakening your weak point to strengthen your strong point. I'm not openly against it but it would all be so much easier if you knew who your top 4 replacement is.

I'm openly against it. Knowing a replacement is one thing but say Maatta and Sprong are traded for duchene. 4M for 6M and losing what is likely soon to be a cheap NHL player. Then you're finding a D to replace Maatta so that means free agency or a trade where you're moving someone else out and then replacing them but with no Sprong to help replace them. Then in two years Duchene needs a raise and most of the young guys will be on new contracts by then. All of this with what will probabiy be a weakened D and Letang can't be counted on imo. Maatta being moved for a comparable but more mobile D or packaged for a D upgrade or keep him.

 

[Peat]

The only way I'd move Sprong is if we got someone like Hanifin back or maaaaaaaybe a 1 for 1 with someone who's a genuine top 6 W/C. I'm looking forwards to adding more cheap goalscoring too much for anything else.

 

[Asuna]

i need some news damnit

 

[ColePens]

i need some news damnit

Breaking news - Pens went back to back. Go watch some clips online. Easily will waste your day until draft pops up.

 

[cheesedanish87]

I don't understand the whole trade Maatta mantra. He played big minutes in the SCF while looking completely competent. He's still only 22 (23 by seasons start) and even if he only improves his speed marginally he will be 100x better.

I think its because when he does make a mistake its usually a big mistake, which the average fan sees him get beat on goals like he did against Ryan and Aberg they look at and say he stinks.

Coaches and Gm's are a lot smarter, they look at his whole body of work, not just a couple plays when he didn't look good.

 

[madinsomniac]

Look we need at least two key veteran players who arent burned out by back to back cup runs.... i fully expect two to three young guys to end up contributing by the end too, but there will be injuries and it would be nice for a vet dman and center to be in the fold so we can keep minutes low

 

[Deport Ogie]

Yeah, there's no way I move Maatta + Sprong for Duchene at this point and Burnaby Joe would absolutely expect more than that for him anyway.

I'm with vabm8 here, you move Maatta with some plus if you get back a top 4 upgrade or a superb, cheap option at 3c. I'm damn near the point where you don't move Sprong at all barring some miraculous return.

 

[ColePens]

I'm not usually in the hyping of young prospects, but Sprong seriously looks like the real deal and he's dominating when he should be dominating. I really don't want to move that kid. I think we need to hang on to that one as we will eventually be losing 1 or 2 of Sheary/Rust/Jake way down the line. We won't be able to keep everyone. That's just reality.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

There is no need to deal our top prospect anyway. We don't have GLARING weaknesses/holes. Yeah, we need a 3C but we don't need to trade Sprong to get one. We could use another defenseman but it's not top priority.

I don't see the need to make an aggressive move. If something interesting comes to us, let's do it.

I doubt JR is panicking at all.

 

[redsono93]

I'm not usually in the hyping of young prospects, but Sprong seriously looks like the real deal and he's dominating when he should be dominating. I really don't want to move that kid. I think we need to hang on to that one as we will eventually be losing 1 or 2 of Sheary/Rust/Jake way down the line. We won't be able to keep everyone. That's just reality.

Has Sprong recovered from his shoulder injury last year? Agreed I'd rather not trade him at all.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Idk about that Cole, I don't think Rust will ever be a big money maker and Guentzel just screams "franchise player" to me. I think the Penguins will have to lose one of them because they don't have the roster spot for them, but that could also be extended to other guys like Kessel or Hornqvist.

Has Sprong recovered from his shoulder injury last year? Agreed I'd rather not trade him at all.

Seeing how he tore the Q a new ******* last year, I'd say yeah, he did.

I'm sad that word is blurred out here

 

[Pick87your71Poison]

Yup, what Sprong did last year in the Q after a couple weeks to get back up to speed coming off the injury was absolutely ridiculous, even for that league.

Never know for sure how things will translate, but man is it even harder now to even think about moving on from that upside.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I don't understand the whole trade Maatta mantra. He played big minutes in the SCF while looking completely competent. He's still only 22 (23 by seasons start) and even if he only improves his speed marginally he will be 100x better.

Overblown reaction to mistakes and some ugly **** ups/skating; garbage offensive RS. I doubt he gets traded unless JR can work out a timeshare for Duchene. A 22 year old D with two cup wins and in a top 4 role, he's pretty unique in that regard even if there have been ups and downs and his skating needs work. I think Maatta gets 40% of Duchene going from Colorado fans anyway.

They're probably pretty locked in to this D group and will add to it.

 

[SprootsMasterFlex]

 

[ColePens]

Idk about that Cole, I don't think Rust will ever be a big money maker and Guentzel just screams "franchise player" to me. I think the Penguins will have to lose one of them because they don't have the roster spot for them, but that could also be extended to other guys like Kessel or Hornqvist.



Seeing how he tore the Q a new ******* last year, I'd say yeah, he did.

I'm sad that word is blurred out here

IMO Jake is the one I want to keep the most. Sheary will price himself out of here and I hope we have a replacement. That's why I want a show-me bridge contract for Sheary at like 3x3.3. Rust... is the toss up. If he keeps scoring big goals, some team will vastly over pay him. And it will not be worth it.

 

[SprootsMasterFlex]

 

[Pick87your71Poison]

Overblown reaction to mistakes and some ugly **** ups/skating; garbage offensive RS. I doubt he gets traded unless JR can work out a timeshare for Duchene. A 22 year old D with two cup wins and in a top 4 role, he's pretty unique in that regard even if there have been ups and downs and his skating needs work. I think Maatta gets 40% of Duchene going from Colorado fans anyway.

They're probably pretty locked in to this D group and will add to it.

Yeah the problem for Maatta is everyone is so focused on his skating now that when it causes an issue it becomes magnified, particularly because those are much easier mistakes to identify for most fans than many others like positional mistakes. People will remember that Bobby Ryan goal over most others we gave up because they were already focused on Maatta's skating and it is just such an easier thing to see an issue with than others.

I am not saying that his skating is not an issue and it obviously burns us at times and is something he has to try to improve, but there are many other aspects of playing defense in the zone that Maatta is strong at and better than others guys we have but don't get noticed as easily. There is a reason he had such strong GA numbers over long parts of the season this year... he's an issue off the rush and when his skating is the focal point, but once we are set up in the zone, he is very good in a lot of areas and an effective player at keeping the puck out of the net.

 

[OnMyOwn]

Kane fits the toughness aspect and can play. I'd like him here, but we need centers and d

 

[SprootsMasterFlex]

 

[redsono93]

What do you guys think of Sam Reinhardt as 3C? What would Buffalo want in return? I think Duchene be a crazy asking price looking at maybe cheaper options Thanks

 

[SprootsMasterFlex]

Kane fits the toughness aspect and can play. I'd like him here, but we need centers and d

I'd trade Hags for him. Buffalo saves on the cap but adds a year and adds a good fast complimentary player to their roster. Makes sense for the Pens cap-wise and allows them to add a lot of grit to the roster to protect Sid.