Confirmed with Link: Pens sign F Nick Spaling to 2-year, $4.4M contract (2.2AAV)

[Giant Yankee Pens]

Adding to that is the new coach and system that's in now, that's the biggest and most important change imo.

 

[mpp9]

I would have preferred one year at similar money and then reassessing next summer while we still have his RFA rights. But it's pretty obvious JR likes the guy and thinks he's going to get better. He might be a steal in year 2. And we'll have plenty of time to extend him.

He hasn't proven enough yet to get a longterm deal at money that would be mutually beneficial to both sides.

Not ideal. But not awful.

 

[mpp9]

Good signing, Shero.

Err, wait, I thought we fired the guy who likes dishing out expensive contracts to bottom six players?

2.2 is not expensive.

 

[billybudd]

The way you get cheaper third liners is that you draft them. In 8 years Shero only drafted 1 such player, which required the second-overall pick.

Salary of the third line necessarily is what it is. I'm far happier paying $9 million for a third line than I was watching Kobasew or Gibbons wasting a roster spot for $800k.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

At least when his deal's up we should have some 3rd line types ready to take his spot on ELCs.

 

[drpepper]

Why do people hate this guy? I don't understand lol. It's a good deal IMO.

I don't hate the guy, but he is the added piece that is supposed to make losing Neal's production palatable (Hornqvist is awesome though).

So looking at his stat line (13G, 32pts) which is great for a third liner, listening to GMJR say that they wanted Spaling and that he's physical and versatile, and hearing something about him from Preds fans (hard worker, character guy) everything seems great. He's defensively responsible and good on the PK, etc, etc.

So I watch some Preds games, look up some highlights, read some news articles and blogs from NsH media and fans.

Spaling is a versatile third liner who played in every situation on the Preds and put up a career year last year.

However, his offensive production came through a great shooting % that he can hopefully stay close to, top 6 minutes, top 6 linemates, and easy zone starts. Even if you believe that NSH is a black hole offensively, Spaling is not going to have top 6 minutes, top 6 linemates, or such easy zone starts in Pittsburgh (unless he gets slotted on Crosby's wing). So his offensive production is likely to decrease.

Plus Spaling has some of the worst possession numbers of Preds's forwards (15th worst out of 16) and although the Preds aren't a great possession team, they are very close to Pittsburgh's 5v5 numbers last year. And because of linemates, easy starts, etc. Spaling should have done better in comparison to his own teammates.

That physicality that GMJR is talking about is largely absent from his game. He's decent along the boards and has a lot of energy. But he doesn't really hit people.

His defense is good but Sutter, Dupuis and Goc are all better. And he only played on Nashville's 2nd unit PK - a PK that was ranked 25th in the league slightly devaluing Spaling as a PK specialist.

Then he takes the team to arbitration and ends up with a two year, 2.2 million contract which would have been easier to handle at 2-2.2 million for a year or at least a three year term.

If he performs close to his production last year then all is well.

If not the Pens traded for Neal ($5 million) for Hornqvist + Spaling ($6.45 million) with only two years of Spaling.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

2.2 is not expensive.

Every penny counts when you're a team like the Pens who is hard up against the cap and still needs upgrades in the top six. Especially when a (IMO) superior player in Dwight King just signed for 300k less.

 

[mpp9]

At least when his deal's up we should have some 3rd line types ready to take his spot on ELCs.

Or we could, ya know, extend him. He's 25. It'd be a nice surprise if any of our forwards aside from Kapanen/Bennett turned into a reliable top 9 player.

 

[Shady Machine]

poor sid...

My bad. I wasn't trying to show line combos there, just roster spots.

 

[Shady Machine]

Um, not that it's a great top six, but how many teams in the league have a better top 6 than the pens? Maybe 5? You guys act like dupuis in the top six now means they can't trade for a wing at the deadline.

Um to be honest, our new bottom 6 is just middle of the pack. Last year it was in the bottom 3, likely the worst. It is a huge improvement, but nothing close to elite.

Edit: I can't read.

 

[Quatro Quatro]

I don't hate the guy, but he is the added piece that is supposed to make losing Neal's production palatable (Hornqvist is awesome though).

So looking at his stat line (13G, 32pts) which is great for a third liner, listening to GMJR say that they wanted Spaling and that he's physical and versatile, and hearing something about him from Preds fans (hard worker, character guy) everything seems great. He's defensively responsible and good on the PK, etc, etc.

So I watch some Preds games, look up some highlights, read some news articles and blogs from NsH media and fans.

Spaling is a versatile third liner who played in every situation on the Preds and put up a career year last year.

However, his offensive production came through a great shooting % that he can hopefully stay close to, top 6 minutes, top 6 linemates, and easy zone starts. Even if you believe that NSH is a black hole offensively, Spaling is not going to have top 6 minutes, top 6 linemates, or such easy zone starts in Pittsburgh (unless he gets slotted on Crosby's wing). So his offensive production is likely to decrease.

Plus Spaling has some of the worst possession numbers of Preds's forwards (15th worst out of 16) and although the Preds aren't a great possession team, they are very close to Pittsburgh's 5v5 numbers last year. And because of linemates, easy starts, etc. Spaling should have done better in comparison to his own teammates.

That physicality that GMJR is talking about is largely absent from his game. He's decent along the boards and has a lot of energy. But he doesn't really hit people.

His defense is good but Sutter, Dupuis and Goc are all better. And he only played on Nashville's 2nd unit PK - a PK that was ranked 25th in the league slightly devaluing Spaling as a PK specialist.

Then he takes the team to arbitration and ends up with a two year, 2.2 million contract which would have been easier to handle at 2-2.2 million for a year or at least a three year term.

If he performs close to his production last year then all is well.

If not the Pens traded for Neal ($5 million) for Hornqvist + Spaling ($6.45 million) with only two years of Spaling.

I agree with a lot of what you said but I really think this is the wrong way to look at that trade. If that trade hadn't have happened, it would have been Neal at 5 million plus someone else we would have signed. So Neal + Glass (6.45) for Hornqvist +Spaling (6.45). Obviously you could have gone after someone like Stempniak but this is the way it should be looked at in my opinion.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Um to be honest, our new bottom 6 is just middle of the pack. Last year it was in the bottom 3, likely the worst. It is a huge improvement, but nothing close to elite.

Yeah, I don't know why some folks are acting like we've suddenly got one of the best bottom sixes in hockey.

We went from absolutely pathetic to solid. The only reason this bottom six looks so good is because it's being compared to one that was absolutely shameful.

 

[Giant Yankee Pens]

Um to be honest, our new bottom 6 is just middle of the pack. Last year it was in the bottom 3, likely the worst. It is a huge improvement, but nothing close to elite.

I said Top Six

 

[mpp9]

Every penny counts when you're a team like the Pens who is hard up against the cap and still needs upgrades in the top six. Especially when a (IMO) superior player in Dwight King just signed for 300k less.

Dwight King has played 2 full NHL seasons. I would imagine that plays a factor.

I know our board seems to have a mancrush on him. But he was pretty meh in the playoff games I saw this year. Lost quite a few board battles despite being 230 lbs.

 

[IcedCapp]

I agree with a lot of what you said but I really think this is the wrong way to look at that trade. If that trade hadn't have happened, it would have been Neal at 5 million plus someone else we would have signed. So Neal + Glass (6.45) for Hornqvist +Spaling (6.45). Obviously you could have gone after someone like Stempniak but this is the way it should be looked at in my opinion.

Yea, but we need to stop making the extra on Neal GLASS. You're the second person who has done this. And while you wrote out Stempniak later, the fact that you put Neal + Glass just taints the discussion.

No one wants Crosby + Glass for ****'s sake, let alone Neal + Glass.

The point is, Neal is arguably better than Hornqvist, marginally more expensive, and you could easily have found better, cheaper options to replace Spaling in this equation.

 

[Shady Machine]

Or we could, ya know, extend him. He's 25. It'd be a nice surprise if any of our forwards aside from Kapanen/Bennett turned into a reliable top 9 player.

We could extend him but Rowdy is right that we may in 2 years have cheaper options and letting him walk may be the best thing. Time will tell.

 

[drpepper]

I agree with a lot of what you said but I really think this is the wrong way to look at that trade. If that trade hadn't have happened, it would have been Neal at 5 million plus someone else we would have signed. So Neal + Glass (6.45) for Hornqvist +Spaling (6.45). Obviously you could have gone after someone like Stempniak but this is the way it should be looked at in my opinion.

By why use Glass versus Stempniak, Winnik, etc? Neal + Stempniak seems better than Hornqvist + Spaling. But then I am not as down on Neal as some and not as up on Spaling.

 

[mpp9]

Um to be honest, our new bottom 6 is just middle of the pack. Last year it was in the bottom 3, likely the worst. It is a huge improvement, but nothing close to elite.

Yeah I'm a big homer when it comes to what we've done this offseason. But I'd say middle of the pack bottom six is fair. But that's all we've really needed. A bottom six that doesn't get owned, provides energy and can score a big goal occasionally.

Getting Sid/Geno with a proper supporting cast takes care of the rest. We're one top 6 forward away from having that.

 

[Shady Machine]

I said Top Six

Yup sorry about that.

 

[Quatro Quatro]

Yea, but we need to stop making the extra on Neal GLASS. You're the second person who has done this. And while you wrote out Stempniak later, the fact that you put Neal + Glass just taints the discussion.

No one wants Crosby + Glass for ****'s sake, let alone Neal + Glass.

The point is, Neal is arguably better than Hornqvist, marginally more expensive, and you could easily have found better, cheaper options to replace Spaling in this equation.

Ok? I never said I wanted Glass. My point was that you're going to have to overpay to get a guy to play on the third line. Glass isn't even a decent 4th liner and he got 1.45. Pouliot had 36 points last year and got 4 million dollars. Where are all of these better and cheaper options?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Dwight King has played 2 full NHL seasons. I would imagine that plays a factor.

I know our board seems to have a mancrush on him. But he was pretty meh in the playoff games I saw this year. Lost quite a few board battles despite being 230 lbs.

As opposed to Spaling's whopping 4 full seasons, only 1 of which he produced 3rd line numbers?

I'm not saying King's a world beater, but he's proven just as much, if not more, than Spaling (including his playoff performances). And if anything, his type of player (huge guy who actually chipped in 15 goals to boot) should be more enticing than an average sized, run of the mill third liner. Yet Spaling is now being paid more than King.

IMO, Spaling should have been paid no more than about $1.8 million on his current term. If they were going to give him $2.2, it should have either been a 1 year deal so he proves himself and is still RFA when the deal is up (I believe), or 3 year deal so it takes out one of his UFA years.

 

[Shady Machine]

Yeah I'm a big homer when it comes to what we've done this offseason. But I'd say middle of the pack bottom six is fair. But that's all we've really needed. A bottom six that doesn't get owned, provides energy and can score a big goal occasionally.

Getting Sid/Geno with a proper supporting cast takes care of the rest. We're one top 6 forward away from having that.

For sure. I'm just not sure I see how we are going to do that. It can be done in theory, but until it happens, this looks like our roster.

 

[Giant Yankee Pens]

Yup sorry about that.

Np, I agree that our bottom six is probably 10th to 15th in the league tho haha

 

[Farnham4top6]

Dwight King has played 2 full NHL seasons. I would imagine that plays a factor.

I know our board seems to have a mancrush on him. But he was pretty meh in the playoff games I saw this year. Lost quite a few board battles despite being 230 lbs.

What about winnik, almost a million cheaper but a better player and ufa.

 

[Shady Machine]

Ok? I never said I wanted Glass. My point was that you're going to have to overpay to get a guy to play on the third line. Glass isn't even a decent 4th liner and he got 1.45. Pouliot had 36 points last year and got 4 million dollars. Where are all of these better and cheaper options?

You never said you wanted Glass but then you lumped him in with Neal for some odd reason. The trade was Neal for Hornqvist + Spaling. Just because Sather is a moron and overpaid Glass doesn't make it a valid comparison.

I'm not even mad about the trade, but JR did say this trade brought in some cap flexibility. That turns out to not be very true. Also, we shouldn't have had to overpay Spalng, if you think this is an overpayment, because he was an RFA. Hindsight is 20/20 but if you could have gotten Winnik for 1.1 and hung onto Neal, would we be better off?

Kunitz-Crosby-Downie
Bennett-Malkin-Neal
Winnik-Sutter-Dupuis
Comeau-Goc-WBS kid

Again hindsight as JR seemed to think he was getting Kulemin. Of course, that would have been impossible capwise anyway. Just something to ponder.