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

[Empoleon8771]

I'll die on the hill that McCann should've been protected over Carter. But not because I was a fan of McCann, because I think you could've gotten something better than an absolutely worthless 7th rounder and a C-tier prospect without the expansion draft deadline looming over the trade talks.

They should have protected Tanev over Carter and just let McCann be the expansion draft casualty.

I'll say this non-stop until I'm blue in the face. McCann just didn't have a spot here. He's a scoring line winger playing on a team that already had 2 top-6 scoring line LWers. The Penguins would be in a dramatically better spot with their 3rd line today if Tanev was on it, while McCann wouldn't have fit at all with how Sullivan would have used his 3rd line.

 

[SEALBound]

I'll die on the hill that McCann should've been protected over Carter. But not because I was a fan of McCann, because I think you could've gotten something better than an absolutely worthless 7th rounder and a C-tier prospect without the expansion draft deadline looming over the trade talks.

I will agree with this but will also take on the opinion of Emp that suggests he NEVER would have become what he is now with Seattle, here. Never. He would have been exactly who he was here had we kept him.

If you protect McCann, you let Seattle have one of Tanev or Carter. If they take Carter, we still have a $3mil anchor in Tanev on the 4th line so. Overall, it was a very poorly managed expansion draft by Hextall.

I don't know what the best-case scenario is either. I guess, it would be protect McCann, Seattle takes Tanev, you don't resign Carter. Or you trade McCann somewhere and get back an asset worth protecting. I don't know, then maybe McCann becomes your 3C? Which he didn't look great at.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

They should have protected Tanev over Carter and just let McCann be the expansion draft casualty.

I'll say this non-stop until I'm blue in the face. McCann just didn't have a spot here. He's a scoring line winger playing on a team that already had 2 top-6 scoring line LWers. The Penguins would be in a dramatically better spot with their 3rd line today if Tanev was on it, while McCann wouldn't have fit at all with how Sullivan would have used his 3rd line.

I'm not saying I thought McCann had a future here. I was lobbing scathing criticisms of the guy after he was a no-show in the playoffs for his third trip as a Penguin. I'm saying that I do not believe for a minute that the best return possible was Hallander and a 7th. My issue is not that McCann was one that got away, but that it was a poorly managed asset.

Never understood Sullivan's insistence on making Tanev a 4th liner either, so we agree there. Not that I think Tanev is some stud or anything but he screamed 3rd liner the entire time. But Sully's gotta have his weird obsessions, not the least of which was ZAR-Blueger-Tanev as a 4th line.

 

[Gurglesons]

McCann was worth nothing. That’s why he returned nothing.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

They should have protected Tanev over Carter and just let McCann be the expansion draft casualty.

I'll say this non-stop until I'm blue in the face. McCann just didn't have a spot here. He's a scoring line winger playing on a team that already had 2 top-6 scoring line LWers. The Penguins would be in a dramatically better spot with their 3rd line today if Tanev was on it, while McCann wouldn't have fit at all with how Sullivan would have used his 3rd line.

I still get a kick out of the fact some folks thought McGinn would be an upgrade on what Tanev brought.

 

[Ulf5]

I read Jason and Carly just started an investment firm. Also Carly is a local radio personality and they both are heavily involved in local charities. Buying a home in MN isn't anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I'm not saying I thought McCann had a future here. I was lobbing scathing criticisms of the guy after he was a no-show in the playoffs for his third trip as a Penguin. I'm saying that I do not believe for a minute that the best return possible was Hallander and a 7th. My issue is not that McCann was one that got away, but that it was a poorly managed asset.

Never understood Sullivan's insistence on making Tanev a 4th liner either, so we agree there. Not that I think Tanev is some stud or anything but he screamed 3rd liner the entire time. But Sully's gotta have his weird obsessions, not the least of which was ZAR-Blueger-Tanev as a 4th line.

Tanev, Blueger (before his head was scrambled by Dillon) and any one of McCann, Kapanen or Zucker could have made a really impactful 3rd line. Good combinations of speed, some talent and some grit/defensive acumen.

But that would have required Sullivan not gifting his boy ZAR a permanent spot on that line, effectively neutering its offensive contributions and instead making it basically a defensive 4th line that you hope doesn't get scored on.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Tanev, Blueger (before his head was scrambled by Dillon) and any one of McCann, Kapanen or Zucker could have made a really impactful 3rd line. Good combinations of speed, some talent and some grit/defensive acumen.

But that would have required Sullivan not gifting his boy ZAR a permanent spot on that line, effectively neutering its offensive contributions and instead making it basically a defensive 4th line that you hope doesn't get scored on.

Eh, I think Blueger sucked. I never gave a shit about that dude. I will say they never really gave him a shot to prove whether or not he could anchor a 3rd line though. /shrug -edit- As much as we all love to shit on McCann being a playoff ghost, Blueger's damn near just as bad.

My issue with Tanev in his last season here was that it seemed like he was f***ing up his shoulder every time he hit somebody. I think he would've (should've) been a fine 3rd liner, but I don't miss him.

All told, I'm not the kinda guy who misses any of the guys who have left the team in recent years. Blueger, Kap, Tanev, McCann, etc. I'm just more annoyed at how the dipshit GM navigated the expansion draft. Protecting Carter was donkeybrains shit, I don't care what anybody says. If Seattle wanted to snag a 37 year old because he was playing at a level nobody thought was sustainable, whatever. Good riddance. Just one instance of weirdo GMing from a guy who made it his calling card as GM of this team. I didn't care that he was overly patient or gun-shy, as long as he wasn't actively f***ing up. As his time wound down, he f***ed up more and more often culminating with the absolutely bizarre Granlund deal. That trade was as stupid as the Pouliot draft pick.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

The thought of re-signing Zucker terrifies me. Dude is turning 32 in January and couldn’t stay healthy over the last couple of years until his contract year.

This team needs massive changes, not the lazy ass re-sign everyone approach sleepy had. We don’t need more guys on the wrong side of 30. Hard pass. Short of a one year deal, you walk away.

We have one player in our top six under 30 years old. Let that sink in.

I wouldn't think twice if he's willing to sign a team friendly deal. He's made his money a 3.5 for 2 or 3 would be fine with me.

Has shown he can play with Geno. If he wants 5 goodbye Zooker

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Is he? He shot 13.7% last season and has shot 12.4% over his Penguins' tenure. Put those stats into context of how high scoring was last season, where a lot of players were in the 18% or more range and that's hardly a high percentage shooter.

If anything it just shows how poor the rest of the team was, not how good Zucker is at finishing his chances.

The problem is that players can lose a step or two sometimes out of nowhere at that age. And since Zucker's entire game is built on his wheels, that could be disastrous.

I think the problem is we keep throwing $4.5 to $5.5 million at these middling wingers with the idea that it's "decent bargain", but when you add it up we have a collection of 40-50 point guys who don't really have the ability to create for their line and are entirely reliant on their 35+ year old centers to create chances or nothing happens.

I'd rather the Pens actually look to bring in someone who has more ability to drive a line rather than be a complimentary piece, even if you have to pay an extra $1 million to land him. Better to have a $5.5 to $6 million chance generator and offset that with a league minimum vet or rookie on the 4th line over the Pens paying Zucker $4.5 million to be a complimentary piece and a $1.5 million player on the 4th line

Agreed but in today's age players are performing much better into later years.

Health, nutrition, recovery etc is light years better than it was 10 years ago in professional sports. Sure it's a risk but those risk can pay off.

I sure as hell don't want him back for 5 mil though. Zucker's an interesting situation though. I can see him going to Minnesota or staying here on the cheap.

 

[Pancakes]

Eh, I think Blueger sucked. I never gave a shit about that dude. I will say they never really gave him a shot to prove whether or not he could anchor a 3rd line though. /shrug -edit- As much as we all love to shit on McCann being a playoff ghost, Blueger's damn near just as bad.

Hot take: Blueger didn't suck, and what he did (and does) is useful, but you can't have an entire bottom six of him.

We could live with Blueger not scoring much and just being a reliable penalty killer and defensive guy if the rest of our bottom six could actually score somewhat. Like I think it's ok to have a defensive specialist or two in the bottom six, you just can't build out your entire bottom six that way.

 

[Jacob]

My first choice is Barbashev because he’s youngish and kinda like Rakell in that he’s a skilled guy with a bit of size and can play a grinding game a little bit. Probably go as high and as long as 6 years 5 million for him. Why not. Zucker would be fine but I’d go fewer years.

If we choose to (or have to) keep Granlund we should look at a guy like Tatar or Connor Brown on a short term deal. Might as well give Granlund some talent to play with and just use that line as a 3rd scoring line.

 

[Ulf5]

My first choice is Barbashev because he’s youngish and kinda like Rakell in that he’s a skilled guy with a bit of size and can play a grinding game a little bit. Probably go as high and as long as 6 years 5 million for him. Why not. Zucker would be fine but I’d go fewer years.

If we choose to (or have to) keep Granlund we should look at a guy like Tatar or Connor Brown on a short term deal. Might as well give Granlund some talent to play with and just use that line as a 3rd scoring line.

Conor Brown shouldn't get as much as his last contract coming off his injury. Should be a good buy low candidate. But then again, no one ever claimed NHL gms are rational.
If Barbashev keeps up his hot start, someone will surely outbid us....sigh.

 

[Gurglesons]

Conor Brown shouldn't get as much as his last contract coming off his injury. Should be a good buy low candidate. But then again, no one ever claimed NHL gms are rational.
If Barbashev keeps up his hot start, someone will surely outbid us....sigh.

Barbashev and Brown would be perfect players for this team.

 

[sauce66871]

If there was any way to pry Vejmelka and any one of the Yotes young forwards off them… man would that move do wonders. And by one, I mean impactful. (Schmaltz, Crouse, Maccelli)

 

[Gurglesons]

If there was any way to pry Vejmelka and any one of the Yotes young forwards off them… man would that move do wonders. And by one, I mean impactful. (Schmaltz, Crouse, Maccelli)

I proposed 2 1sts a 2nd and Smith for Schmaltz and Veg.

 

[ZorkEnchanter]

I proposed 2 1sts a 2nd and Smith for Schmaltz and Veg.

We need more ppl to send to waivers?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

If we choose to (or have to) keep Granlund we should look at a guy like Tatar or Connor Brown on a short term deal. Might as well give Granlund some talent to play with and just use that line as a 3rd scoring line.

The biggest hurdle is the coach would have to be willing to use the third line as a "third scoring line" instead of insisting on burying them in D-zone starts.

Theoretically, we could have given Granlund some help this past season if Sullivan was willing to spread out the top six and instead opt for a scoring top 9. But no, he had it set in his mind that the third line MUST be our defensive shutdown line no matter whether we had the players for it or not.

 

[Zbynek]

My first choice is Barbashev because he’s youngish and kinda like Rakell in that he’s a skilled guy with a bit of size and can play a grinding game a little bit. Probably go as high and as long as 6 years 5 million for him. Why not. Zucker would be fine but I’d go fewer years.

If we choose to (or have to) keep Granlund we should look at a guy like Tatar or Connor Brown on a short term deal. Might as well give Granlund some talent to play with and just use that line as a 3rd scoring line.

Sign Barbashev AND Zucker and you almost sort of have an identity.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Hot take: Blueger didn't suck, and what he did (and does) is useful, but you can't have an entire bottom six of him.

We could live with Blueger not scoring much and just being a reliable penalty killer and defensive guy if the rest of our bottom six could actually score somewhat. Like I think it's ok to have a defensive specialist or two in the bottom six, you just can't build out your entire bottom six that way.

Blue didn't suck as a Penguin in totality. He got 71.4% D-zone starts over his time here. If the linemate quality is weak and you're never even on PP2, you're simply not gonna score much with that usage. He didn't get one power play point as a Burgher. Just never given the opportunity to score more.
He barely took PIMs, was one of our best PK'ers, was very solid at ES defense and his lines consistently ended up net positives for the team in difficult roles. +31 in the end.
This year is the only year I'd say he was a liability. He regressed in several ways. Probably a combination of the core muscle injury and something mental.

If your focus is to maximize the top six's output, as it was for Sully, then you need the slave forwards that support them. That was Blueger. He did his job.

 

[Pens x]

I only brought up McCann because this fan base trashed him and defended dumbass Hextall for donating him because of crappy his playoff production, (pretty much every player had horrible production during that same stretch) but now @AuroraBorealis is saying we need to re-sign Zucker, despite his crappy playoff production. Zucker had two assists in the Rags playoff series despite the Pens scoring 32 goals in the series, for example. So now playoff production doesn’t matter?

Which narrative do you want to use?

 

[Pens x]

Sign Barbashev AND Zucker and you almost sort of have an identity.

Sign Barbashev and Bertuzzi.

 

[Pens1566]

Blueger was always heavily overvalued by this forum. He's a dime a dozen guy, and every franchise has several similar players. None of them are special.

 

[Pens x]

Blueger was always heavily overvalued by this forum. He's a dime a dozen guy, and every franchise has several similar players. None of them are special.

This. He was drafted by the pens and people overrated a homegrown product.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Goalie-wise, I think a tandem of Cam Talbot and Joonas Korpisalo would be nice.

Though I think someone told me that Korpisalo would likely be back with LA? Same with Gavrikov? Said person was on the CapFriendly boards so I don't know how reliable that person is.