Value of: Kunitz and Fleury

[Headshot77]

Some optimistic candidates:

Benoit Pouliot
Justin Abdelkader
Darren Helm
Colin Wilson
Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Blake Comeau
Andrs Lee

The whole Eastern Conference thing probably deep-sixes most of those right off the bat though.

I'd love to get Abdelkader, but isn't his cap hit really high?

 

[Riptide]

I really don't understand why the Penguins fanbase is so eager to get rid of Fleury. It never hurts to have two NHL starting goaltenders because one of them WILL get hurt at some point, just look at the case study going on in LA for proof of that.

Kunitz is on his last year, and is actually playing well enough to justify his current cap hit so far this season. Getting rid of Fleury and Kunitz does little to help this season, which for all intents and purposes we should be "all in" to defend our championship.

I suspect we trade Fleury in the offseason and we either let Kunitz walk or sign him to the Cullen deal (1 year, 1 mil until you retire)

A) Because we're (mostly) greedy *******'s (*******ettes?) who always want more top 6 talent and/or good prospects.
B) Look at his last 6 playoffs
C) Matt Murray
D) Because of C and the upcoming expansion draft and MAFs NMC.

I would have moved him in June. Yes having 2 #1 goalies isn't a bad thing... but I would have been a lot more comfortable with the expansion draft knowing that MAF's NMC was already handled. As for the insurance he provides, I'm pretty sure that we could have picked up a goalie from somewhere (Halak, Niemi, etc) for something very reasonable to provide that insurance who wouldn't have that NMC that is causing PIT fans to worry about how the MM/MAF situation will end.

 

[mpp9]

I'd love to get Abdelkader, but isn't his cap hit really high?

Same cap hit as Hornqvist. The term is a little scary though. 6 more years.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Same cap hit as Hornqvist. The term is a little scary though. 6 more years.

Ya no thanks at that term, I'd rather keep the cap space and see who is available next summer.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Kunitz is on his last year, and is actually playing well enough to justify his current cap hit so far this season.

I'd love to get Abdelkader, but isn't his cap hit really high?

Not for what he brings, IMO. Big, mean, two-way forward on the right side of 30 who scores 40+ points per.

 

[Riptide]

Not for what he brings, IMO. Big, mean, two-way forward on the right side of 30 who scores 40+ points per.

"Right side of 30" ?? He turns 30 in a couple months.

There's certainly some risk there. He'll be 35 when he starts the season in the final year of that contract. Besides, DET just signed him to that contract... so why would they be moving him?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

"Right side of 30" ?? He turns 30 in a couple months.

There's certainly some risk there. He'll be 35 when he starts the season in the final year of that contract. Besides, DET just signed him to that contract... so why would they be moving him?

Yep. That doesn't counter what I said though. Try to find a 29 year old who brings what Abdelkader does in FA for 4.25 mil per. It's a reasonable salary now, and by the time Abdelkader's 35, it will be a relative drop in the bucket. There is some risk, but no more than there is for any player signed long-term, IMO.

As for trading him right after they signed him...Anaheim dealt Hagelin to us less than half a year after they signed him to a 4 year deal. It happens.

 

[KIRK]

I really don't understand why the Penguins fanbase is so eager to get rid of Fleury. It never hurts to have two NHL starting goaltenders because one of them WILL get hurt at some point, just look at the case study going on in LA for proof of that.

Kunitz is on his last year, and is actually playing well enough to justify his current cap hit so far this season. Getting rid of Fleury and Kunitz does little to help this season, which for all intents and purposes we should be "all in" to defend our championship.

I suspect we trade Fleury in the offseason and we either let Kunitz walk or sign him to the Cullen deal (1 year, 1 mil until you retire)

Did I read that correctly?

 

[mpp9]

Abdelkader seems to get quite a bit of PP time. He's not getting that here so he may be closer to a 30-35 pt guy under those circumstances.

As for the term, Hornqvist will be in his mid thirties by the time he finishes his next contract with us. And we can only hope he signs for something close to his current salary.