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

[Le Magnifique 66]

Euuu no.. Keep away from the pens Tarasenko would be ideal honestly.. He plays big and shows up in the playoffs

Agreed.. Tarasenko, Kane, Toews those guys should not be anywhere on our lists. Need young players that will give 110% night in night out

 

[Zbynek]

Wonder what the cost for Ryan Graves will be. Dude's a tank.

But man does that Granlund trade ever hurt our cap so much. Even if Bones, Heinen, Archy, Dumo, Kulikov, and Jarry all walk, that's only like 11 mil of cap freed up. You still need a 1 Goalie and three bottom-6 pieces at least.

Dream scenario for me is Granny + CDS + 1st to Winnipeg for Helle. Leaves you room to sign a Graves and a quality depth guy.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah, it's pretty much impossible to overstate just how stupid the Granlund deal was. Just god awful.

 

[Gurglesons]

Wonder what the cost for Ryan Graves will be. Dude's a tank.

But man does that Granlund trade ever hurt our cap so much. Even if Bones, Heinen, Archy, Dumo, Kulikov, and Jarry all walk, that's only like 11 mil of cap freed up. You still need a 1 Goalie and three bottom-6 pieces at least.

Dream scenario for me is Granny + CDS + 1st to Winnipeg for Helle. Leaves you room to sign a Graves and a quality depth guy.

We have 20 mil in cap and get 24 mil if we just buy out Granlund.

 

[Zbynek]

We have 20 mil in cap and get 24 mil if we just buy out Granlund.

Ah that's true, I wasn't counting Zuck and our RFAs.

I wanted to keep Zucker with how he played this season but at this point I'm open to any new-look strategy from the new GM. Pull off a trade to replace Jarry and I'll be happy.

Ya know... even with the Sleepy Granlund thing there's more potential cap room this summer than any other summer in a long time. Not the worst situation for a new GM to walk into really.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

It was his moves but also his lack of moves. Refusing to upgrade our goaltending was a huge mistake as well.

I don’t know how anyone had any faith in this clown after the expansion draft. The majority of people didn’t even criticize him at the time. It’s mind boggling. This isn’t a case of hindsight; it was common sense and objectivity.

Memory failing me...
I thought most (if not all) of us found his protecting Carter, and losing both McCann and Tanev to be a stupid move. We all knew that Seattle would never take Carter.

I don't think staying with DeSmith/Jarry was necessarily the wrong move. Remember DeSmith was battling Jarry for #1 the year before his signing.

I can blame him for not making a move during this season, when Jarry was constantly injured and DeSmith clearly couldn't handle #1 duties. His GM approach was always passive.

Besides, if we had a better bottom 6 (blame Hextall), and if our D didn't keep pinching in and giving up constant odd man rushes (blame Sully) would go a long way in making our goalies look good.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

When the premiere (realistic) talents in UFA are buys like Bunting and Zucker, I don't think cap space really f***in' matters all that much tbh. Maybe they can throw an absurd contract at somebody like Meier or Bertuzzi if they hit UFA, but there's gonna be a bidding war for those guys and a team in the Pens' position is gonna have to bump up the AAV or term even more in order to lure the biggest fish on the market to Pittsburgh.

As for the whole Hellebuyck or Saros stuff; I don't think the 14th overall and a guy like Ty Smith, or a C-tier prospect like Poulin is gonna get it done.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

When the premiere (realistic) talents in UFA are buys like Bunting and Zucker, I don't think cap space really f***in' matters all that much tbh. Maybe they can throw an absurd contract at somebody like Meier or Bertuzzi if they hit UFA, but there's gonna be a bidding war for those guys and a team in the Pens' position is gonna have to bump up the AAV or term even more in order to lure the biggest fish on the market to Pittsburgh.

As for the whole Hellebuyck or Saros stuff; I don't think the 14th overall and a guy like Ty Smith, or a C-tier prospect like Poulin is gonna get it done.

I believe Meier RFA and it takes 10 million lol, not going to happen

I'd be open in bringing in a Bertuzzi instead of extending Zucker for example

 

[StaalForOne]

Memory failing me...
I thought most (if not all) of us found his protecting Carter, and losing both McCann and Tanev to be a stupid move. We all knew that Seattle would never take Carter.

I don't think staying with DeSmith/Jarry was necessarily the wrong move. Remember DeSmith was battling Jarry for #1 the year before his signing.

I can blame him for not making a move during this season, when Jarry was constantly injured and DeSmith clearly couldn't handle #1 duties. His GM approach was always passive.

Besides, if we had a better bottom 6 (blame Hextall), and if our D didn't keep pinching in and giving up constant odd man rushes (blame Sully) would go a long way in making our goalies look good.

There was an article that came out saying if Carter were claimed in the expansion draft he would retire instead of play. We used that to our advantage by protecting him anyway. Smallest brain move possible.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I believe Meier RFA and it takes 10 million lol, not going to happen

I'd be open in bringing in a Bertuzzi instead of extending Zucker for example

I've never thought very highly of Bertuzzi but he impressed me down the stretch and in the 1st round for Boston. That being said, he's probably gonna be the most sought after guy on the market as far as forwards go. Expect to be paying him like $6.5 million AAV or something absurd.

And that's assuming the new FO group doesn't just keep one or multiple of Zucker, Dumo and Jarry around. Which doesn't exactly seem impossible, especially if Sullivan has as much input as many think.

 

[Zbynek]

When the premiere (realistic) talents in UFA are buys like Bunting and Zucker, I don't think cap space really f***in' matters all that much tbh. Maybe they can throw an absurd contract at somebody like Meier or Bertuzzi if they hit UFA, but there's gonna be a bidding war for those guys and a team in the Pens' position is gonna have to bump up the AAV or term even more in order to lure the biggest fish on the market to Pittsburgh.

As for the whole Hellebuyck or Saros stuff; I don't think the 14th overall and a guy like Ty Smith, or a C-tier prospect like Poulin is gonna get it done.

The D-market aint bad at all. I would happily take a Gavrikov, Graves, Soucy, Severson, Orlov etc...

We don't need a top-6 guy. A win this year at UFA is adding a new goalie, a good d-man and good depth forward.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I've never thought very highly of Bertuzzi but he impressed me down the stretch and in the 1st round for Boston. That being said, he's probably gonna be the most sought after guy on the market as far as forwards go. Expect to be paying him like $6.5 million AAV or something absurd.

And that's assuming the new FO group doesn't just keep one or multiple of Zucker, Dumo and Jarry around. Which doesn't exactly seem impossible, especially if Sullivan has as much input as many think.

If they keep Jarry and Dumo around, they will be saving me a lot of free nights next season!!!

The D-market aint bad at all. I would happily take a Gavrikov, Graves, Soucy, Severson, Orlov etc...

We don't need a top-6 guy. A win this year at UFA is adding a new goalie, a good d-man and good depth forward.

I'm open for us being aggressive on Gavrikov and Orlov and I'd try to shop Petry.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The D-market aint bad at all. I would happily take a Gavrikov, Graves, Soucy, Severson, Orlov etc...

We don't need a top-6 guy. A win this year at UFA is adding a new goalie, a good d-man and good depth forward.

This team needs a scoring line winger who can put the puck in the net, a partner for Letang (or Petry, if they put Petts on the top pairing), an entire 3rd line based on how Sullivan's gonna utilize that group (shutdown 3rd), and a starting goalie.

I'm not saying they can or should go for all of that in UFA, opposite actually, but there's a lot of issues with this roster and not as much cap space to do it as people are theorycrafting. You gotta imagine Sullivan pushes to keep one or both of Zucker or Dumo as he adores them on and off the ice. I don't think the team's enamored with the idea of paying Jarry a market value deal, but looking around at the guys realistically available to this team, I can easily see them just shrugging and keeping Jarry for another couple of years because of familiarity.

 

[Zbynek]

I would seriously rather go to war with UFA goalie scraps than give Jarry another contract.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'd try to see what the price of Vejmelka is. I don't know that he'll be a certain upgrade over Jarry (I think he would, but that's just my opinion) but he wouldn't be Jarry, and that's all I'm really hoping for.

 

[pistolpete11]

Their cap space should be used to take on contracts like Ullmark/Swayman or Gibson. Guys who are making money that their team needs/wants to dump, but are still good players.

 

[vodeni]

Listening to DK’s podcast this am re the mobility of our defense corp: “this defense can’t move the way you need a defense to move in 2023” lol…so forwards too old and bottom six sucks, goaltending sucks and defense can’t move…what else is there Lol? Where’s the coaching criticism? Gallant and Sullivan have a lot in common, including their love of vets….

you are really desperate for hockey if you listen to his BS on that stupid podcast

 

[Malkinstheman]

For Goalies next year i would try to look at something like this:

Trade
Adin Hill
Keith Kinkaid

Kinkaid will be in the AHL but hes a good option for a third string. Ideally you can get a Saros or Helle as the starter. If you cant trade for one then I guess you need to roll the dice on Varlamov/Raanta

 

[Phil68]

I'm saying the issue is more with coaching than actual mobility. Rutta just was on a three time cup finalist. Petry is the same quality as Ekblad at skating. Letang, POJ and Pettersson are all good skaters.

I really agree. Right now it is a system's issue more than a personnel issue. Not to say better help is not required, however 95 points Crosby, 84 points Malkin, euu the pens should easily have made the playoffs. If you're going to Keep Guentzel with the pens, he should be playing with Malkin. Why ??? at this point bigger body to provide time and space for Guentzel works. Same for Crosby.

 

[SEALBound]

Listening to DK’s podcast this am re the mobility of our defense corp: “this defense can’t move the way you need a defense to move in 2023” lol…so forwards too old and bottom six sucks, goaltending sucks and defense can’t move…what else is there Lol? Where’s the coaching criticism? Gallant and Sullivan have a lot in common, including their love of vets….

Letang can move, Petry can move, POJ can move, Smith can move, Freidman can move, Rutta is no slouch, Pettersson is fine...with the exception of Dumoulin, I'm not sure who he's referring to? And he can be gone and they can add Smith so...of all things, not sure the dmen roster is an issue. Defensive schemes, perhaps.

I've never thought very highly of Bertuzzi but he impressed me down the stretch and in the 1st round for Boston. That being said, he's probably gonna be the most sought after guy on the market as far as forwards go. Expect to be paying him like $6.5 million AAV or something absurd.

And that's assuming the new FO group doesn't just keep one or multiple of Zucker, Dumo and Jarry around. Which doesn't exactly seem impossible, especially if Sullivan has as much input as many think.

Agreed, I liked his game a lot but I think he's looking at $7mil+ maybe more to a desperate team. So I go back and ask myself, what's better - Zucker @5mil or Bertuzzi at $7.5mil?

Zucker is a lynchpin for me at the moment when discussing gues like Bertuzzi. If Zucker is willing to take a bit of a cut and come back at say, $4mil, then you do it and be done with it. Focus money on the bottom 6. If Zuck wants the $6mil or so, then I think you move on and find the best possible replacement. Problem is, the minute you walk from Zucker, your instant top 6 need is exactly what Zucker brings.

Dumo and Jarry should be gone - 100%

I would seriously rather go to war with UFA goalie scraps than give Jarry another contract.

Depends on the contract. $1mil, 1yr? I'd ride with Jarry again. $5mil x 5yr? No.

 

[molon labe]

After a coach and a goalie we're going to need a legitimate stud top 6 to produce their own bacon and some meddling bottom 6 that can do so occasionally. Several things to do this Summer and time is ticking. Could see Colorado in the mix on JT Miller now too.

Really, really have no interest in Zucker. Granlund needs to be shipped out in the goalie deal with a sweetener or just bought out. I'd be shocked if Sid and Geno both carry their lines the same way next year. Not that I don't see them producing I just think it might eventually come at the cost of having them on the same line.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

you are really desperate for hockey if you listen to his BS on that stupid podcast

I listen to him to, but if our D has any issues, it’s compounded by our stupid “pinch at all costs” system.

I would seriously try:
Petts - Letang
Smith - Petry
POJ - Rutta

That’s a decent mobile bunch and the left side is all young.

I’d focus more on having a faster bottom 6. People forget that defense involves 5 players, not 2!

If we can move Petry, sure, but he really isn’t the problem.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Agreed, I liked his game a lot but I think he's looking at $7mil+ maybe more to a desperate team. So I go back and ask myself, what's better - Zucker @5mil or Bertuzzi at $7.5mil?

Zucker is a lynchpin for me at the moment when discussing gues like Bertuzzi. If Zucker is willing to take a bit of a cut and come back at say, $4mil, then you do it and be done with it. Focus money on the bottom 6. If Zuck wants the $6mil or so, then I think you move on and find the best possible replacement. Problem is, the minute you walk from Zucker, your instant top 6 need is exactly what Zucker brings.

Assuming the prices you listed will get deals done, would you have Zucker AND Bertuzzi on this team? Or is it one or the other in your mind?

 

[SEALBound]

Jake-Sid-Rust
Zucker-Malkin-Rakell
Woods-Granlund-Athansiou
DOC-Poehling-Nylander
Puustinen

Pettersson-Letang
POJ-Petry
Smith-Rutta
Rudwedel

Swayman
CDS

Woods -$3.5mil
Athanasiou- $3.5mil
DOC-Poehling-Nylander-Puustinen-Smith - $950k average
1st for Swayman - $3mil

$2.5mil in cap space. Bought out Jeff Carter. Cap hit remains, roster spot open

Cake.

 

[Pens1566]

Their cap space should be used to take on contracts like Ullmark/Swayman or Gibson. Guys who are making money that their team needs/wants to dump, but are still good players.

Yeah, I think you're more likely to get better results from buying cap casualties from strapped teams at bargain prices than overpaying in a bidding war on the UFA market.

Cap flexibility is king.