Salary Cap: Pens Salary Cap Thread: If we score 6 we win, its science!

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think we'll just keep trading second round picks and marginal prospects for deadline help and that will be that.

Hextall won't move the first unless we look amazing

Pretty much. I don't really value the 1sts this team will be getting very highly, so I don't care if they hold 'em or move 'em, so long as the guy coming back isn't like, Zucker or Kap-caliber.

Hextall seems pretty shrewd when it comes to trades. I am not a fan of Carter for 2 more years given his age and all that, but he's been as good as you can expect of a 3C. Rakell's not a big production guy but he's a really good fit with Sid and Jake. Matheson and Marino out, Petry and Rutta in has been solid too.

-edit- It's the signings I'm not too stoked with. Two more years of an ancient Carter. Two more years of Kap, though he's much less aggravating in a reduced 3rd line role and given PK time. McGinn's deal is no bueno. He pretty much ensured nothing significant changes for the rest of the era by signing lengthy deals with Rust, Rakell, and landing Petry who has three years left.

 

[Gurglesons]

Pretty much. I don't really value the 1sts this team will be getting very highly, so I don't care if they hold 'em or move 'em, so long as the guy coming back isn't like, Zucker or Kap-caliber.

Hextall seems pretty shrewd when it comes to trades. I am not a fan of Carter for 2 more years given his age and all that, but he's been as good as you can expect of a 3C. Rakell's not a big production guy but he's a really good fit with Sid and Jake. Matheson and Marino out, Petry and Rutta in has been solid too.

-edit- It's the signings I'm not too stoked with. Two more years of an ancient Carter. Two more years of Kap, though he's much less aggravating in a reduced 3rd line role and given PK time. McGinn's deal is no bueno. He pretty much ensured nothing significant changes for the rest of the era by signing lengthy deals with Rust, Rakell, and landing Petry who has three years left.

Deals that he signed may actually prove to be very advantageous if the cap goes up in a way we are heading.

I don’t see it happening with what Q4 and Q1 are projecting to be like in the US and Canada, but regardless if the cap goes up by 10ish mil this team is going to have a lot of cash to bring in somebody.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Why are people so quick to want to get rid of POJ? He is a 23 year old former first round pick who has 3 points and a +5 in 6 games. He is getting better every game and isn’t going to return anything of value in a trade.

I’m not even saying he’s that good, but pretty sure it is too early to tell. He had good numbers in WBS last year too.

Because Smith is better than POJ and POJ being in the NHL means Smith won't be in the NHL.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Deals that he signed may actually prove to be very advantageous if the cap goes up in a way we are heading.

I don’t see it happening with what Q4 and Q1 are projecting to be like in the US and Canada, but regardless if the cap goes up by 10ish mil this team is going to have a lot of cash to bring in somebody.

Yeah, fair point. If the cap jumps and Hextall has no plans to keep Blueger, Zucker, and Dumo around, the team will definitely have some cash to play with. I still think Dumo's probably a lock to re-sign. Zucker seems loved in the room and by Sully so unless he bombs out this season, I think he'll be back. Poehling's play is gonna determine Blueger's future, imo.

-edit- Skimming the FA crop; Kane can eat shit and rot. Ditto for Toews. Doubt ROR or Tarasenko hit the open market, and I don't think they're worth chasing. Don't think Bertuzzi leaves Detroit. Patches would've been phenomenal several years and serious injuries ago, but not anymore. Doubt Pasta hits UFA, and if he does, he'll be like $11 million AAV. Timo Meier is interesting.

 

[Gurglesons]

Yeah, fair point. If the cap jumps and Hextall has no plans to keep Blueger, Zucker, and Dumo around, the team will definitely have some cash to play with. I still think Dumo's probably a lock to re-sign. Zucker seems loved in the room and by Sully so unless he bombs out this season, I think he'll be back. Poehling's play is gonna determine Blueger's future, imo.

I think Zucker and Blueger are gone. Dumo maybe stays given his size.

Blueger being included in a trade hypothetically and the internal things we’ve heard about him after the last two playoffs makes me think the org views him like they did ZAR, McCann, and Tanev.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think Zucker and Blueger are gone. Dumo maybe stays given his size.

Blueger being included in a trade hypothetically and the internal things we’ve heard about him after the last two playoffs makes me think the org views him like they did ZAR, McCann, and Tanev.

Yeah, I got no attachment to any of the three. I think Dumo's totally f***ing cooked, I think Blueger's nothing special, and Zucker just can't avoid injury long enough to settle into a role and make an impact.

I still think Dumo will be back on legacy more than anything. Zucker's health probably decides whether he's back. Blueger, I agree, is probably on the outside now that the team's got Poehling and like DOC waiting.

 

[Gurglesons]

Yeah, I got no attachment to any of the three. I think Dumo's totally f***ing cooked, I think Blueger's nothing special, and Zucker just can't avoid injury long enough to settle into a role and make an impact.

I still think Dumo will be back on legacy more than anything. Zucker's health probably decides whether he's back. Blueger, I agree, is probably on the outside now that the team's got Poehling and like DOC waiting.

My thing with Zucker is he looks like what Hextall has tried to get us out of in the top six.

The top nine of this team isn’t built around undersized, fast, fiesty forecheckers anymore at least when we look at the pieces Hextall has added.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

My thing with Zucker is he looks like what Hextall has tried to get us out of in the top six.

The top nine of this team isn’t built around undersized, fast, fiesty forecheckers anymore at least when we look at the pieces Hextall has added.

If he's re-signed, I think the things that keep Zucker around are Sully going to bat for him, his cap hit will probably be $2 million lower than it is now, and the fact that he's likely viewed as a victim of circumstance more than anything like a bad fit.

I'd really like to see the team move on from Dumo, tbh. I just don't know who the defensively-minded partner for Letang would be. Not that I think it's a high bar to clear or anything replacing Dumo.

 

[Gurglesons]

If he's re-signed, I think the things that keep Zucker around are Sully going to bat for him, his cap hit will probably be $2 million lower than it is now, and the fact that he's likely viewed as a victim of circumstance more than anything like a bad fit.

I'd really like to see the team move on from Dumo, tbh. I just don't know who the defensively-minded partner for Letang would be. Not that I think it's a high bar to clear or anything replacing Dumo.

I agree. Dumo makes no sense to retain and I’ve been arguing that we should’ve traded him for two years now.

I don’t see Zucker taking that type of cut. Maybe on a one year deal, but I find it hard to believe we give him another shot given the injury history. Feel like if they are taking a hail Mary on a player like that it’ll be Hextall’s boy JVR.

I would probably prefer Blueger over Carter but that boat has sailed unless Carts retires.

 

[DearDiary]

Because Smith is better than POJ and POJ being in the NHL means Smith won't be in the NHL.

Smith skipped to the NHL without playing a single AHL game. I see only positives if he can get 15-20 games in there to improve, while POJ raises his value

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I agree. Dumo makes no sense to retain and I’ve been arguing that we should’ve traded him for two years now.

I don’t see Zucker taking that type of cut. Maybe on a one year deal, but I find it hard to believe we give him another shot given the injury history.

I would probably prefer Blueger over Carter but that boat has sailed unless Carts retires.

I don't know. Zucker seems pretty happy/comfortable here. I don't see him getting anything close to what he's getting now, and if he does, I hope like hell it isn't here.

It'd be nice to see Blueger get a long stretch at 3C with wingers like Heinen and Kap, but I feel like Sully just kinda won't ever budge from using him as the grunt work defensive 4C.

It's honestly hard to really bitch about Carter. I hate his contract and I hate that Sully leans on a dude his age too much, but he's effective more than not.

I think we'll see pretty much the same forward corps from here on out as far as the era goes. I think this will be the forwards a calendar year from now;

Jake-Sid-Rakell
Zucker-Geno-Rust
Heinen-Carter-Kap
DOC-Poehling-McGinn

 

[Gurglesons]

I don't know. Zucker seems pretty happy/comfortable here. I don't see him getting anything close to what he's getting now, and if he does, I hope like hell it isn't here.

It'd be nice to see Blueger get a long stretch at 3C with wingers like Heinen and Kap, but I feel like Sully just kinda won't ever budge from using him as the grunt work defensive 4C.

It's honestly hard to really bitch about Carter. I hate his contract and I hate that Sully leans on a dude his age too much, but he's effective more than not.

I think we'll see pretty much the same forward corps from here on out as far as the era goes. I think this will be the forwards a calendar year from now;

Jake-Sid-Rakell
Zucker-Geno-Rust
Heinen-Carter-Kap
DOC-Poehling-McGinn

I just don’t see it. Hextall specifically made moves this off season to continue to carve out cap. To just turn around and sign the same players seems odd to me.

 

[SEALBound]

With the exception of Heinen, I would be just fine letting all of our UFAs go this off season. I would try to use the savings of Dumo-Zucker-Bleuger to look for another Top 4 LD. Potentially Ryan Graves or Carson Soucy (my pick). Hopefully then, you can pair someone with Letang and run a defense like:

Pettersson-Letang
Ruuta-Petry
Smith-Soucy

In that scenario, you could even look at a guy like Severson or put in Rudwedel or Freidman. Or...

Smith-Letang
Pettersson-Petry
Soucy-Rutta

Potentially even adding Pickering into the mix Point all being, either way, those are moves are in line with Hextall and Burke's thinking and could go a ways in cutting some fat on the back end while still providing a good defense that continues to cover up previous weaknesses.

Forwards are looking VERY light in terms of impact players that will come at a reasonable price. But...

Jake-Sid-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Tarasanko
Heinen-Carter-Kapanen
DOC-Poulin-McGinn

Soucy-Letang
Pettersson-Petry
Smith-Rutta

TJ/CDS

Does work if you give out modest contracts.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I just don’t see it. Hextall specifically made moves this off season to continue to carve out cap. To just turn around and sign the same players seems odd to me.

Has Hextall ever really gone out and chased big FAs? Just going through his list of signings on capfriendly the only big one that jumps out is Hextall bringing JVR back to Philly after his stint in Toronto by signing him to that godawful 5yr, $35 million deal.

I just don't see the guy chasing anybody significant in FA. I'm not saying I don't want him to, I just kinda get the opposite feeling about the guy than you do in that regard. If Zucker and Heinen aren't re-signed, I think he'll probably go and grab two other lukewarm middle-6 guys for like $7 million combined.

I think he was shrewd with the Geno and Letang deals. I don't know that he really went out looking to shed cap as much as he tried to reshape the complexion of the blueline a bit.

 

[Gurglesons]

Has Hextall ever really gone out and chased big FAs? Just going through his list of signings on capfriendly the only big one that jumps out is Hextall bringing JVR back to Philly after his stint in Toronto by signing him to that godawful 5yr, $35 million deal.

I just don't see the guy chasing anybody significant in FA. I'm not saying I don't want him to, I just kinda get the opposite feeling about the guy than you do in that regard. If Zucker and Heinen aren't re-signed, I think he'll probably go and grab two other lukewarm middle-6 guys for like $7 million combined.

I think he was shrewd with the Geno and Letang deals. I don't know that he really went out looking to shed cap as much as he tried to reshape the complexion of the blueline a bit.

I'm not implying that is what he will do, but he seems to be slowly churning through Rutherford's pieces and turning them into cheaper deals.

Maybe he resigns Zucker if Zucker takes a huge pay cut, but I just don't see Zucker having that type of mindset. I see no way in hell Heinen takes a pay cut here and I imagine he bolts for the biggest deal he can get.

I imagine what we do is sign a LD or bottom six forward and then use the cap and some minor assets to bring in a player on a bigger contract that a cap team can't afford.

I would imagine our roster in 2022-23 at this point to look more like..

Guentzel - Crosby - Rakell
Trade - Malkin - Rust
Signing - Poulin - Carter
WBS - Poehling - McGinn

Trade / Signing - Letang
Pettersson - Petry
POJ / Smith - Rutta

Jarry
Desmith

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Potentially even adding Pickering into the mix

Haha I like the optimism but no way in hell that happens.

 

[McGroarty2]

Yeah, fair point. If the cap jumps and Hextall has no plans to keep Blueger, Zucker, and Dumo around, the team will definitely have some cash to play with. I still think Dumo's probably a lock to re-sign. Zucker seems loved in the room and by Sully so unless he bombs out this season, I think he'll be back. Poehling's play is gonna determine Blueger's future, imo.

-edit- Skimming the FA crop; Kane can eat shit and rot. Ditto for Toews. Doubt ROR or Tarasenko hit the open market, and I don't think they're worth chasing. Don't think Bertuzzi leaves Detroit. Patches would've been phenomenal several years and serious injuries ago, but not anymore. Doubt Pasta hits UFA, and if he does, he'll be like $11 million AAV. Timo Meier is interesting.

I'm fairly confident that Kane ends up a Ranger.

 

[dogthateats]

Because Smith is better than POJ and POJ being in the NHL means Smith won't be in the NHL.

I agree with that. It just feels like we should make room for those type of players rather than trade them away when their value is low

 

[Pens x]

If Dumo was 23 years old and played the exact same way, he’d be buried in the AHL under Sully.

 

[SEALBound]

Haha I like the optimism but no way in hell that happens.

I said POTENTIALLY!!!

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

I know it’s super early but I’d like to see a goalie refresh next season.

 

[Andy99]

I know it’s super early but I’d like to see a goalie refresh next season.

Jarry hasn’t been as consistent as I had hoped either…

 

[66-30-33]

I know it’s super early but I’d like to see a goalie refresh next season.

There is nobody in UFA, we would have to get Gibson or something and it would be more of the same thing.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Biggest need is a defensive D-man to play top pairing LD. Dumo ain't it anymore and neither Pettersson or Pojo are good enough to be that on a contender.

 

[Gurglesons]

Biggest need is a defensive D-man to play top pairing LD. Dumo ain't it anymore and neither Pettersson or Pojo are good enough to be that on a contender.

Tbh I think we go Pettersson- POJ - Smith at this point we look better than we do now with Dumo.

Realistically what I’d do is go..

Rutta - Letang
POJ - Petry
Petts - Smith

Even if it was just for a couple games to see what we got without Dumo.