Salary Cap: Pens Salary Cap: Free Agency, everyone panic!!! Geno talk to the Geno thread only please

[Zirakzigil]

Off season time. New thread time apparently cause @Ugene Magic doesn’t like high page counts.

So how about them Malkin and Letang UFAs? Maybe we should sign one or both.

Geno thread. Keep Geno talk here:

Rumor: - Geno where art thou?

With all the Geno rumors and news, time for its own thread. Keep the Geno talk here please.

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[Le Magnifique 66]

Depending on cost, Dylan Strome would be really interesting if the Hawks let him go

 

[StaalForOne]

Heinen had what felt like the lowest highs and highest lows of any player. He had a few good stretches, and was never bad even when he was off. I also think he call play well with either Carter or Malkin.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I haven no real feeling on Heinen. Just another inheritor of Spaling's vanilla ass crown, I guess? If the QO is cheap (and I think it is?) might as well do it and see what you can sign him for. But I don't think he's anything more than a competant spot-filler.

 

[Ryder71]

Depending on cost, Dylan Strome would be really interesting if the Hawks let him go

NO, just no. We're not even trying at this point I guess.

I haven no real feeling on Heinen. Just another inheritor of Spaling's vanilla ass crown, I guess? If the QO is cheap (and I think it is?) might as well do it and see what you can sign him for. But I don't think he's anything more than a competant spot-filler.

Heinen is infinitely better than Spaling, come now!

 

[StaalForOne]

I haven no real feeling on Heinen. Just another inheritor of Spaling's vanilla ass crown, I guess?

I like Heinen a lot more than Spaling, but I for sure see that comparison.

 

[Ryder71]

I like Heinen a lot more than Spaling, but I for sure see that comparison.

Do you? Good, please indulge me, how are they even remotely close?

 

[ColePens]

Do you? Good, please indulge me, how are they even remotely close?

He had 3 goals in 1 series for the Pens. IMO... that's better than the ghost-town players we've had like McCann and co.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I like Heinen a lot more than Spaling, but I for sure see that comparison.

Exactly. Like he's fine, competant, and in the right role will put up 25-30 points. But he's pretty much the definition of "complimentary piece". He and Rodrigues are perfectly fine depth players that can occasionally hit a streak and will give you their all. Great. Lots of other players do that too.

It's weird. For all the hubub about not signing Geno and only bringing in players to help us win, people sure love some blandass nobodies on this board.

 

[Ryder71]

Vegas is in cap hell.You might be able to get a good player at a low ass price.

 

[StaalForOne]

Do you? Good, please indulge me, how are they even remotely close?

Non physical, skilled enough, but not overwhelmingly so middle six players. Nothing really stands out about any aspect of their game, they are just alright at everything. The one exception to that for me is that Heinen is/was a much better playmaker than Spaling. Heinen can fill in for the top 6 and not look out of place. Spaling's ceiling was closer to 3rd line complementary player.

Heinen is a high end 2-3 line player, Spaling was a low end 2-3 player, but you wouldn't be wrong to call either player vanilla.

 

[Peat]

I haven no real feeling on Heinen. Just another inheritor of Spaling's vanilla ass crown, I guess? If the QO is cheap (and I think it is?) might as well do it and see what you can sign him for. But I don't think he's anything more than a competant spot-filler.

QO is cheap but as ever the danger is the arbitration reward.

If he keeps scoring goals like least season I like the idea, but historically he hasn't, and he really is super vanilla. Like honestly maybe the most vanilla forward I've seen on the Pens since watching seriously.

 

[Pens x]

He had 3 goals in 1 series for the Pens. IMO... that's better than the ghost-town players we've had like McCann and co.

McCann also played against very defensive oriented teams in the playoffs when he was here. Trotz shutdown the entire Pens team, not just McCann.

Say whatever you need to say to justify our bush league GM giving away McCann for free to protect all star Blueger in the expansion draft, a guy that has been a ghost in every playoff game he’s played.

 

[HandshakeLine]

QO is cheap but as ever the danger is the arbitration reward.

If he keeps scoring goals like least season I like the idea, but historically he hasn't, and he really is super vanilla. Like honestly maybe the most vanilla forward I've seen on the Pens since watching seriously.

Yeah, but on the upside, like Spaling, he's probably imminently tradeable if we need to or he gets a higher arbitration award than we'd like.

He'd be a great depth forward for a cup contender at the TDL, but if we're tight up against the cap (which I hope we'll be) he'd be a luxury I'd forgo.

 

[Peat]

It's not okay. But that doesn't mean the goal should be for Malkin to play low event hockey like he's Brian bloody Boyle centering a glorified checking line.

The goal should be to give him competent support so L2 can actually be a good scoring line, as it would be if the brass made it anything other than an afterthought with failed scoring line experiments like Zucker and Kapanen...who were sadly the best of the bunch the last couple years until Rakell was acquired.

Okay, with you now.

I'd agree the goal should be to get Geno the support to get the goals going in.

But the idea that might involve a more defensively strict, lower event game doesn't seem completely unfounded. Geno's best offensive years under Sully have involved his best defensive metrics. Less end to end involves less stresses on him, better defence means more counter-attacking possibilities. Might be counter-intuitive, but I think it might help Geno's offence if done right. Which would also involve high end support really.

Yeah, but on the upside, like Spaling, he's probably imminently tradeable if we need to or he gets a higher arbitration award than we'd like.

He'd be a great depth forward for a cup contender at the TDL, but if we're tight up against the cap (which I hope we'll be) he'd be a luxury I'd forgo.

After two years of ERod, a versatile bottom six winger who slides into the top six without too many problems feels very much a necessity to me!

 

[ChaosAgent]

To make it clearer, nobody cares about defense, least of all the people who bleat about "responsible play".

Don't know if this is a mystery wrapped in an academia that I didn't understand, but if it's a shot at me: stylistically I hate defensive hockey. I don't like the direction the game has taken.

Unfortunately, what I like stylistically and what seems to win games aren't congruent, aside from players with exceptional skating ability.

 

[ColePens]

McCann also played against very defensive oriented teams in the playoffs when he was here. Trotz shutdown the entire Pens team, not just McCann.

McCann absolutely sucked. And I was one of his big fans when he played in Florida.

Don't make excuses when it is convenient and then ignore every other rational argument. At this point we had 4 first round exits. If a guy produced... i'm not going to call him shit. Teddy B is a guy who I love to death but has not produced in the playoffs. 18gp 1g 1a -3

The reality is... I'm only looking at production right now.

 

[HandshakeLine]

After two years of ERod, a versatile bottom six winger who slides into the top six without too many problems feels very much a necessity to me!

Both will give us problems if they're there for a long stretch, IMO. They're very similar players in a lot of ways. Having one is a great luxury and excellent depth. Both is too much. I'd probably go with Heinen because Erod is gonna get paid this week.

 

[Ryder71]

Non physical, skilled enough, but not overwhelmingly so middle six players. Nothing really stands out about any aspect of their game, they are just alright at everything. The one exception to that for me is that Heinen is/was a much better playmaker than Spaling. Heinen can fill in for the top 6 and not look out of place. Spaling's ceiling was closer to 3rd line complementary player.

Heinen is a high end 2-3 line player, Spaling was a low end 2-3 player, but you wouldn't be wrong to call either player vanilla.

I remember Heinen and some of his goals, I can't remember one thing Spaling ever did. I get what you're saying but Heinen is a decided step above.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Blows my mind how much people rag on Heinen and E-Rod.

They both vastly out performed their contracts and both produced in the playoffs. Especially E-Rod, dude had 5 points in 7 games including a huge goal in game 7. Heinen also scored in game 7.

What more do people want from players paid like 1 mil?

 

[Peat]

Both will give us problems if they're there for a long stretch, IMO. They're very similar players in a lot of ways. Having one is a great luxury and excellent depth. Both is too much. I'd probably go with Heinen because Erod is gonna get paid this week.

There I must disagree with you. Heinen is a perfectly cromulent NHL winger. ERod, as a winger, is replacement quality. Heinen will cause problems after too long, ERod has been a problem almost every damn game. The way he suddenly blossomed as centre is very odd to me but he didn't take it back to being a wing.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Don't know if this is a mystery wrapped in an academia that I didn't understand, but if it's a shot at me: stylistically I hate defensive hockey. I don't like the direction the game has taken.

Unfortunately, what I like stylistically and what seems to win games aren't congruent, aside from players with exceptional skating ability.

What, no! I mean that people who want there to be defensive hockey here are also the people that cried about Geno's game 7 performance, when it was one of the better defensive performances a Penguins line has given in the last few years.

I see a lot of posts about two way play and defense winning championship truisms, and yet, nobody wants to actually set up a defensive team or play a Constantine style defensive game. And for good reason-- it's boring. A lot of people just seem to want to bring up defense as an excuse to move Geno or Letang, but at the same time, don't actually notice or appreciate when they turn in excellent defensive performances. That's all.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Heinen was solid but I do wonder if that was as good as it’ll get from him

 

[ColePens]

Blows my mind how much people rag on Heinen and E-Rod.

They both vastly out performed their contracts and both produced in the playoffs. Especially E-Rod, dude had 5 points in 7 games including a huge goal in game 7. Heinen also scored in game 7.

What more do people want from players paid like 1 mil?

Yeah I think the realization is they are both flawed players who deserve to be at the 1m range. Erod'd cold streak was damning because he was on pace to give himself a big payday. But at 1m, he's a solid player. Heinen, too.

Erod gets more flack because how ice cold he went. He went like epic Tyler Kennedy cold. But at 1m.. that's what 1m player does.

 

[Ryder71]

McCann also played against very defensive oriented teams in the playoffs when he was here. Trotz shutdown the entire Pens team, not just McCann.

Say whatever you need to say to justify our bush league GM giving away McCann for free to protect all star Blueger in the expansion draft, a guy that has been a ghost in every playoff game he’s played.

Ghostown... I mean McCann was invisible too long and too often. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for clamoring for such an empty jersey. HE'S PURE TRASH!!!

 

[HandshakeLine]

Blows my mind how much people rag on Heinen and E-Rod.

They both vastly out performed their contracts and both produced in the playoffs. Especially E-Rod, dude had 5 points in 7 games including a huge goal in game 7. Heinen also scored in game 7.

What more do people want from players paid like 1 mil?

I think the big fear is that, honestly, neither one is going to make 1 million this year. Both are probably going to make closer to Carter money than not on the open market. And at 3.2 million or so... well, I'd rather take a chance on finding the next Erod or Heinen than having Erod or Heinen, if that makes sense?