Salary Cap: Penguins Salary Cap Thread: We suck again summer edition

[Randy Butternubs]

It is asininely close (literally $8,158 in cap space), but I was able to make a full roster with these signings:

-Jarry: 3 years at $5 million
-Varlamov: 2 years at $2.5 million
-Bunting: 5 years at $5 million
-Frederic: 3 years at $2.5 million
-Rodrigues: 3 years at $3.5 million
-Brown: 1 year at $2.5 million
-O'Connor: 2 years at $800k
-Poehling: 2 years at $1.2 million
-Bonino: 1 year at $1 million
-Soucy: 3 years at $3 million

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Bunting-Malkin-Rust
Frederic-Rodrigues-Brown
O'Connor-Poehling-Carter
Bonino-Nylander

Pettersson-Letang
Soucy-Petry
POJ-Rutta
Ruhwedel

Jarry-Varlamov

This isn't me saying this is what I'd necessarily want to do, but it just shows that you can build a really strong 3rd line while not leaving any other holes on the roster if you're smart with your money in free agency.

Used the above as a basis for the below:

 

[Gurglesons]

Used the above as a basis for the below:

I mean, I’m fine with it. But the Boston trade is absurd and isn’t happening.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I mean, I’m fine with it. But the Boston trade is absurd and isn’t happening.

Yeah, we're giving them too much.

Also, I'd prefer Nicolas Roy over ERod. I'm just not sure what it'd take to pry Roy out of Vegas.

 

[Empoleon8771]

There is no acceptable outcome where Granlund is on the Penguins 3rd line next year. Even if you surrounded him with appropriate pieces to address his weaknesses, he's still not going to be worth $5 million a year under any circumstance and he'll prevent the Penguins from addressing other areas of their roster.

I think a Frederic-Rodrigues-Granlund line could work in theory, but I'm not going to force Malkin to have to play with some Heinen caliber scrub to figure that out. Just pay to get out of Granlund's deal, stop overcomplicating the issue.

 

[Gurglesons]

There is no acceptable outcome where Granlund is on the Penguins 3rd line next year. Even if you surrounded him with appropriate pieces to address his weaknesses, he's still not going to be worth $5 million a year under any circumstance and he'll prevent the Penguins from addressing other areas of their roster.

I think a Frederic-Rodrigues-Granlund line could work in theory, but I'm not going to force Malkin to have to play with some Heinen caliber scrub to figure that out. Just pay to get out of Granlund's deal, stop overcomplicating the issue.

We don’t have the assets to do what the GM said and pay to get out of Granlund’s deal, acquire a top tier goaltender, and build back forward and defensive depth.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

We don’t have the assets to do what the GM said and pay to get out of Granlund’s deal, acquire a top tier goaltender, and build back forward and defensive depth.

Dubas says hold my Bud Light

 

[Peat]

I have major questions about the defense they have now if it's not up to snuff with that.

This team shouldn't have issues moving the puck from their defense with who they have on defense.

If Pettersson doesn't regress again when confronted with tough minutes, if POJ and Smith play to their potential rather than the floors we've occasionally seen from them, and the three old guys don't collapse... then should be okay without it being a strength. Assuming they're all fit.

Actually, here's an interesting one

I think it's only an issue if you have too much of one thing. If you need to fit in a Nylander for cap purposes, it works fine. If you have an entire bottom six of Nylanders, that ain't good.

You can always find an alternative for the cap.

The question is whether the skill set adds. The bottom six need some guys who can use the puck but realistically if they're not capable of making life very difficult for their opposition, they're probably not what we need.

 

[Gurglesons]

Dubas says hold my Bud Light

Dubas was a GM for effectively 5 years with an interim tag for an off season and he has never acquired a top end goaltender.

I think people focusing on Ullmark, Helle, or Saros aren’t reading the lines when it comes to Dubas’ historical decision making.

He has a pattern of dealing down in the draft to rid himself of contracts or gather more assets. I think it’s far more likely to see us use the first on dumping Granlund and getting a marginal young forward back for a lower pick or a goaltender and a lower pick than a player like Ullmark or Helle with it.

If Pettersson doesn't regress again when confronted with tough minutes, if POJ and Smith play to their potential rather than the floors we've occasionally seen from them, and the three old guys don't collapse... then should be okay without it being a strength. Assuming they're all fit.

Actually, here's an interesting one





You can always find an alternative for the cap.

The question is whether the skill set adds. The bottom six need some guys who can use the puck but realistically if they're not capable of making life very difficult for their opposition, they're probably not what we need.

Seems like the data is flawed on that chart given the players listed.

 

[Empoleon8771]

We don’t have the assets to do what the GM said and pay to get out of Granlund’s deal, acquire a top tier goaltender, and build back forward and defensive depth.

Yes you do? Just don’t spend #14 on acquiring someone like Hellebuyck.

Trade down with #14 to get out of Granlund’s contract and then use POJ and other picks/prospects to try to get Ullmark.

If you wanted to get especially crazy, you could do something like:

-Granlund and #14 to Philly for #22
-#22 and POJ to Boston for Ullmark (which is a comical overpayment)

You're then sitting with the same amount of cap space (both Granlund and Ullmark make $5 million a year), but your goalie situation is sorted out and you only need to focus on adding forwards and 1 defenseman.

 

[Gurglesons]

Yes you do? Just don’t spend #14 on acquiring someone like Hellebuyck.

Trade down with #14 to get out of Granlund’s contract and then use POJ and other picks/prospects to try to get Ullmark.

If you wanted to get especially crazy, you could do something like:

-Granlund and #14 to Philly for #22
-#22 and POJ to Boston for Ullmark (which is a comical overpayment)

You're then sitting with the same amount of cap space (both Granlund and Ullmark make $5 million a year), but your goalie situation is sorted out and you only need to focus on adding forwards and 1 defenseman.

I don’t think that fits with Dubas’ vision. He said he wanted to focus on now and the future. Reducing us to essentially a 3rd and a 5th in a deep draft doesn’t do that.

 

[Darren McCord]

Bonino is included because the Penguins need an extra C on their roster and Bonino fits how Sullivan wants to use his bottom-6. He seems like an ideal guy to re-sign for dirt cheap to sit in the press box.

Erod, Poehling, Poulin and doc can all play center

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don’t think that fits with Dubas’ vision. He said he wanted to focus on now and the future. Reducing us to essentially a 3rd and a 5th in a deep draft doesn’t do that.

That was just an example of a comical overpayment that could achieve what you were talking about. In reality, it would probably be more like Granlund and #14 for #22 and then using a 2024 2nd plus POJ to get Ullmark. They would still have a 1st, 3rd and 3+ late round picks for both 2023 and 2024 with doing those trades.

Erod, Poehling, Poulin and doc can all play center

Yes and you still want at least 1 of your extra players to be able to play center.

 

[Darren McCord]

Yes and you still want at least 1 of your extra players to be able to play center.

Poulin is an extra player. Getting Erod and Bonino just blocks Poehling or Doc from playing center. Your out of your mind if you dont think sullivan would do this.

Frederic-Rodrigues-Brown
Poehling-Bonino-Carter
DOC-Nylander

 

[Gurglesons]

That was just an example of a comical overpayment that could achieve what you were talking about. In reality, it would probably be more like Granlund and #14 for #22 and then using a 2024 2nd plus POJ to get Ullmark. They would still have a 1st, 3rd and 3+ late round picks for both 2023 and 2024 with doing those trades.

I just don’t see Dubas trading for Ullmark. I honestly don’t see Ullmark moving.

I think Swayman takes a sweetheart deal and they move out pieces like Coyle and Gryz for their cap.

 

[Darren McCord]

I just don’t see Dubas trading for Ullmark. I honestly don’t see Ullmark moving.

I think Swayman takes a sweetheart deal and they move out pieces like Coyle and Gryz for their cap.

They probably sign Swayman to a 1 year deal for cheap and the add that money to his extension like we did with Petts

 

[Gurglesons]

I also don’t understand why Boston would trade for POJ. They have 4 LD signing for 3+ mil right now.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Poulin is an extra player. Getting Erod and Bonino just blocks Poehling or Doc from playing center. Your out of your mind if you dont think sullivan would do this.

Frederic-Rodrigues-Brown
Poehling-Bonino-Carter
DOC-Nylander

Poulin sucks though, as does everyone else from WBS. Poulin had 4 points in 15 total games last year in WBS, no one should be expecting he be a NHL contributor next year. He lost basically this entire year and has seemingly regressed notably.

I don't know why you'd have an issue with re-signing Bonino for like $1 million to sit in the press box. He's not a bad player.

I also don’t understand why Boston would trade for POJ. They have 4 LD signing for 3+ mil right now.

Because they're likely going to trade 2 or 3 of those LD making serious money to become cap compliant. POJ would replace Grzelyck with a similar skillset for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Peat]

I don't know why you'd have an issue with re-signing Bonino for like $1 million to sit in the press box. He's not a bad player.

Because he doesn't think he'll be in the press box. C'mon now Empo. That's right there.

 

[Pancakes]

Unless this trade tracker site I'm looking at is off we haven't made a trade with the Bruins since 2006 lol. And it was for Wade Brookbank.

I certainly can't remember any trades with them in recent memory unless I'm blanking.

Doesn't mean we can't make deals with them but it sure hasn't happened much.

 

[Gurglesons]

Because they're likely going to trade 2 or 3 of those LD making serious money to become cap compliant. POJ would replace Grzelyck with a similar skillset for a fraction of the cost.

So. They are moving their LD to make serious money and then moving out even more players to make even more cap space?

I don't see why if they are moving out Gryz and getting out of Reilly they are moving Ullmark out on top of that.

And even if they move out Gryz and Reilly they still have Lindholm, Forbort, and Zboril.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

So. They are moving their LD to make serious money and then moving out even more players to make even more cap space?

I don't see why if they are moving out Gryz and getting out of Reilly they are moving Ullmark out on top of that.

And even if they move out Gryz and Reilly they still have Lindholm, Forbort, and Zboril.

I'm not entirely sure why, but it seems to me that the majority of HFBruins are expecting/content with getting rid of Griz, Ullmark, and not qualifying Frederick. And a number of them have interest in POJ.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm not entirely sure why, but it seems to me that the majority of HFBruins are expecting/content with getting rid of Griz, Ullmark, and not qualifying Frederick. And a number of them have interest in POJ.

They've lost their minds because of the tragic losses.

I think Gryz gets moved. Frederic like doesn't get qualified.

Ullmark is a different story.

 

[Darren McCord]

Poulin sucks though, as does everyone else from WBS. Poulin had 4 points in 15 total games last year in WBS, no one should be expecting he be a NHL contributor next year. He lost basically this entire year and has seemingly regressed notably.

I don't know why you'd have an issue with re-signing Bonino for like $1 million to sit in the press box. He's not a bad player.

Because he won't. Again you honestly think sullivan will play Doc or Poehling over him. Bonino is a sullivan favorite. I dont understand what you dont get about that.

There are lots of other guys I would rather sign than a 36 year old bonino

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I don't think it really matters, because I don't think DOC or Poehling are much better than Bonino. But I'd prefer they get spots over Bonino because they may get better. I'm not sure that'd be a sure thing based on Sullivan's overuse of older guys, particularly ones he is comfortable/familiar with, like Bonino (or Carter).

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Bonino is a lot like Ruh. In that we can all sit here and talk in serious-faced, rational tones about how harmless and in fact good it is to have a vet you can keep on the bench but still be good enough to do spot duty when called.

...only to be bitterly complaining a year from now because they "somehow" managed to play 70some miserable games with the team. Sometimes even impactful minutes.