GDT: Let the Free Agency Madness begin

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Agree. I'm still holding out hope that the EK interest is just leverage in Pesce negotiations. Keep Pesce on a mid/long term deal and trade away Skjei or keep him as own rental and have a stacked D this year with him or Orlov on 3rd pair. EK is not a long term answer at RHD (and a risky short term option too) and with Burns being old and Morrow a question mark in the pipeline we really should be keeping Pesce long term. LHD is set with Slavin a career Cane most likely and Orlov then Nikishin in place.

However all that said, this current FO has done a pretty damn great job of managing RHD the last 5 years. Pesce, Faulk were in place already but outside of that they have hit on Dougie, TDA, Burns, Chatfield. Bear and Coghlan the only disappointments but neither came with any risk or significant cap implications. If EK doesn't work out and we don't extend Pesce I'm not horribly worried about what happens. Also helps having Slavin for the top pair RHD to play with as he'll make almost anyone look at least decent.

Karlsson would be a legitimate medium-term option (with 4 seasons remaining). Morrow theoretically would succeed Burns in 2 seasons, but if that doesn't pan out, you could acquire the successor via trade. Considering the Orlov presence, be fine with either EK or Pesce, honestly.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Karlsson would be a legitimate medium-term option (with 4 seasons remaining). Morrow theoretically would succeed Burns in 2 seasons, but if that doesn't pan out, you could acquire the successor via trade. Considering the Orlov presence, be fine with either EK or Pesce, honestly.

EK was good last year but before that he was absolutely terrible and he comes with significant injury concerns. He is not in any way a reliable medium or long term option, and will come with a large cap hit even with retention. If we got him maybe we get lucky and get 1-2 good years out of him but I have zero confidence in getting 4 good years out of him.

 

[spockBokk]

No idea who Mark Madden is, other than seemingly a Pittsburgh sports radio blowhard, but I suppose it’s something, around 10mins in:

Madden Monday (7/17)–Erik Karlsson update; Pirates woes; NFL signings | Podcast Network

podcast.triblive.com

He’s been “told” Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina”…

Brent Burns is a “jerk” (if the shoe fits I guess…)

 

[Brock Anton]

We would’ve pulled out of talks weeks ago if that were the case.

 

[Svechhammer]

No idea who Mark Madden is, other than seemingly a Pittsburgh sports radio blowhard, but I suppose it’s something, around 10mins in:

Madden Monday (7/17)–Erik Karlsson update; Pirates woes; NFL signings | Podcast Network

podcast.triblive.com

He’s been “told” Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina”…

Brent Burns is a “jerk” (if the shoe fits I guess…)

EK has a full NMC that he would need to waive to be traded. If any of this drivel was correct, any discussion about being traded to the Canes would have been a non-starter.

 

[Lempo]

The man dresses up as a pirate. Carolina has Blackbeard. Madden is a bullshitter.

 

[DaveG]

No idea who Mark Madden is, other than seemingly a Pittsburgh sports radio blowhard, but I suppose it’s something, around 10mins in:

Madden Monday (7/17)–Erik Karlsson update; Pirates woes; NFL signings | Podcast Network

podcast.triblive.com

He’s been “told” Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina”…

Brent Burns is a “jerk” (if the shoe fits I guess…)

he's an idiot that thinks they know a lot more than they do, which for the Pittsburgh sports media isn't really narrowing it down much.

 

[WreckingCrew]

he's an idiot that thinks they know a lot more than they do, which for the Pittsburgh sports media isn't really narrowing it down much.

FTFY!

 

[Borsig]

Burns has a ranch in tx with zebras and guns and deer and is hockey dad to Jarvis and svech. I call BS on Burns being a prick.
Unless of course you don't like guns and zebras ans Jarvis and svech

 

[NotOpie]

I guess Rizzo attending at Canes development camp may have caused some delay beyond the initially reported July 9th plus there was lots of other moving parts to both teams' off-season, and then on Jul 5th a new door (the 2nd buyout window) was opened for PHI when Cates filed for arbitration. Then Cates got signed on July 10th meaning that Tony could be bought out between July 13th to 15th.

The fact that the Rizzo rumor came from a fairly unreliable Philly source led me to believe it was never accurate. All along, I thought that Wall would be the prospect (Penn St boi). Given what Rizzo's done at Denver, I'm not so sure he isn't considered a better prospect by the org. than by the fanbase.

I think if Drury wants a trade him in a deal for Kuz at 50% works

I think Drury is probably over his "trade request", but I do feel he's likely an asset in most of our trade proposals. It makes sense as that would make room for Pono or Rees.

No idea who Mark Madden is, other than seemingly a Pittsburgh sports radio blowhard, but I suppose it’s something, around 10mins in:

Madden Monday (7/17)–Erik Karlsson update; Pirates woes; NFL signings | Podcast Network

podcast.triblive.com

He’s been “told” Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina”…

Brent Burns is a “jerk” (if the shoe fits I guess…)

There was no hint of a Karlsson/Burns rift anywhere that I could find.....just that they didn't work well together on the PP. And, frankly, if Karlsson's requirement to waive his NMC is to go to a Cup contender, his addition doesn't automatically make Pittsburgh one. They still have a goaltender situation that's basically a tire fire.

 

[Bub]

The fact that the Rizzo rumor came from a fairly unreliable Philly source led me to believe it was never accurate. All along, I thought that Wall would be the prospect (Penn St boi). Given what Rizzo's done at Denver, I'm not so sure he isn't considered a better prospect by the org. than by the fanbase.

I think Drury is probably over his "trade request", but I do feel he's likely an asset in most of our trade proposals. It makes sense as that would make room for Pono or Rees.

There was no hint of a Karlsson/Burns rift anywhere that I could find.....just that they didn't work well together on the PP. And, frankly, if Karlsson's requirement to waive his NMC is to go to a Cup contender, his addition doesn't automatically make Pittsburgh one. They still have a goaltender situation that's basically a tire fire.

Unless they're really selling him on the "Come go for a Cup with Sid and Geno and LeTang! No one else has these guys!" line.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

No idea who Mark Madden is, other than seemingly a Pittsburgh sports radio blowhard, but I suppose it’s something, around 10mins in:

Madden Monday (7/17)–Erik Karlsson update; Pirates woes; NFL signings | Podcast Network

podcast.triblive.com

He’s been “told” Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina”…

Brent Burns is a “jerk” (if the shoe fits I guess…)

The situation with EK and Hoffman and their wives still comes to mind for me, with how friggin weird that whole thing got I can't believe that anyone was completely innocent, both players included, and I'm not sure I want that in the locker room. From everything we've seen from Burns the past year IF this rumor is true that he doesn't like Burns then that helps reaffirm my opinion on EK in the locker room... But grain of salt and all.

 

[LakeLivin]

Agree. I'm still holding out hope that the EK interest is just leverage in Pesce negotiations. Keep Pesce on a mid/long term deal and trade away Skjei or keep him as own rental and have a stacked D this year with him or Orlov on 3rd pair. EK is not a long term answer at RHD (and a risky short term option too) and with Burns being old and Morrow a question mark in the pipeline we really should be keeping Pesce long term. LHD is set with Slavin a career Cane most likely and Orlov then Nikishin in place.

However all that said, this current FO has done a pretty damn great job of managing RHD the last 5 years. Pesce, Faulk were in place already but outside of that they have hit on Dougie, TDA, Burns, Chatfield. Bear and Coghlan the only disappointments but neither came with any risk or significant cap implications. If EK doesn't work out and we don't extend Pesce I'm not horribly worried about what happens. Also helps having Slavin for the top pair RHD to play with as he'll make almost anyone look at least decent.

EK was good last year but before that he was absolutely terrible and he comes with significant injury concerns. He is not in any way a reliable medium or long term option, and will come with a large cap hit even with retention. If we got him maybe we get lucky and get 1-2 good years out of him but I have zero confidence in getting 4 good years out of him.

If the Borg trades for Karlsson I've gotta believe it's their version of "going all in" for a Cup with an emphasis on the next 2 years. I say "their version" because while it might cost a little down the road, I can't see them doing anything that would impact longer term competitiveness to the extent that some teams have done at recent trade deadlines.

 

[Svechhammer]

Unless they're really selling him on the "Come go for a Cup with Sid and Geno and LeTang! No one else has these guys!" line.

Unfortunately for the Pens, that's pretty much all they have and as such they missed the playoffs last year and would be a borderline team even with EK this year.

 

[Chrispy]

No idea who Mark Madden is, other than seemingly a Pittsburgh sports radio blowhard, but I suppose it’s something, around 10mins in:

Madden Monday (7/17)–Erik Karlsson update; Pirates woes; NFL signings | Podcast Network

podcast.triblive.com

He’s been “told” Karlsson is “vehemently against going to Carolina”…

Brent Burns is a “jerk” (if the shoe fits I guess…)

Mark Madden a pro wrestling announcer who now does sports radio in Pittsburgh because he's been fired from both announcing pro wrestling and covering it.

To some of you: yes, he's really that Mark Madden.
To the rest of you: you're happier naive.

 

[User13452]

 

[spockBokk]

Link to video of you are inclined to watch:



Friedman doesn’t say they need to move Teravainen for Karlsson, just that they have talked to teams about the possibility if they need space.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

hopefully GMMG doesn’t get to our number

 

[geehaad]

Sounds like they’re doing what we’ve gotten accustomed to — having terms in mind and sticking to them without chasing the deal — but there’s potentially some intel for us in learning that TT might be traded as one of the proverbial balls in the air.

Allow me to over-think this for a moment…

In getting EK, let’s assume Pesce’s departure is a necessity. IIRC, they have ~$4.5M with Kochetkov buried, so shedding Pesce would give them $8.5M. With only that available, they’d need ~30% of EK’s salary retained. Given that they just gave Orlov $7.75M, perhaps they value EK at more than $8.5M and don’t want to give up assets to have him retained at 30%.

If they are bearish on TT while entering the final year of his deal, perhaps they’re trying to offload a bit of his salary in a hockey trade while bringing in a guy more suited for the bottom-/middle-6. Shedding TT’s $5.4M for a 3rd liner making $3.5M would give the lineup more continuity (wrong word, just go with it) and give them more cap space to require less retained on EK’s salary…perhaps even being able to bank a small amount of cap before the TDL.

We now return you to more sane lines of thinking…

 

[Lempo]

We now return you to more sane lines of thinking…

Acquiring all available defensemen?

 

[NotOpie]

We now return you to more sane lines of thinking…

I'm sure @geehaad already knows this, but.....if you're looking for sanity then HF26 might be a wrong turn....

 

[AD Skinner]

If we have to subtract turbo and Pesce to get last years karlsson we come out ahead, but if we get karlsson from two years ago and have to lose those two to do it, I’m not sure we didn’t get worse

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

If they are bearish on TT while entering the final year of his deal, perhaps they’re trying to offload a bit of his salary in a hockey trade while bringing in a guy more suited for the bottom-/middle-6. Shedding TT’s $5.4M for a 3rd liner making $3.5M would give the lineup more continuity (wrong word, just go with it) and give them more cap space to require less retained on EK’s salary…perhaps even being able to bank a small amount of cap before the TDL.

Another consideration is that we'd be paying Skjei $5.25M to be a 3rd pairing defenseman, because even moving Pesce, we'd have:

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-EK
Skjei-Chatfield.

Maybe the Canes are more bullish on Skjei or would rather have more depth on defense.

I don't think the EK to Carolina will happen because I think Dubas has more at stake and will give be willing to give up more. Crosby, Malkin and Letang only have so much time left and Dubas being new, will want to make a splash.

Personally, if we move TT, rather than a cheaper 3rd line option, I'd much rather use that for a higher end forward.

Oh, and I also wouldn't move TT until Aho has signed an extension.

 

[Highest Boss]

 

[Blueline Bomber]

That pretty much matches the report from a couple days ago about how Carolina is simply sticking around the Karlsson talks to see if we could acquire him for cheap, but it's basically forcing Pittsburgh to negotiate against themselves.

Pittsburgh has to offer a deal that's expensive enough to beat Carolina and satisfy SJ, while still being cheap enough to hedge against the possibility that Karlsson falls back down to Earth.