Salary Cap: Pittsburgh Penguins Salary Cap Thread: A New Error?

[Scandale du Jour]

Last few posts:

Does anyone else think the goaltending problem goes beyond the players?

Both Murray and Jarry turned sour under the same guy. You can even see some of the same flaws.

I wouldn’t be totally against bringing Fleury back since our goaltending situation has been ass. That said, the “get the band back together” mentality makes me wanna puke.

I believe that the Fleury trade has had an negative influence on the team’s morale. That being said, his contract is too much of a burden to consider a potential reunion. It is time to move on; look elsewhere for character players.

Agreed he isn’t our biggest problem, but he still sucks regardless. He has vanished after two good games.

Thinking about Hexy’s ties to LA, the Pens trade Matheson and DeSmith to the Kings for Quick. The Kings are in the process of installing Cal Peterson as their #1 goalie. Quick could be the veteran back up the Pens are looking for, in addition to having ties to both Hexy and Burke.

I doubt the Kings do this, but it would be a nice swap for us to get rid of Matheson's anchor of a deal JR left behind as a present.

Left D, if it fully ever gets healthy, will certainly be on the move.

At 700k, it’s like at the bottom of the list of issues, I still would do a coaching change before I make any player changes.

Yes Buckley is shit. No idea why he continues to be employed here

I agree that a new coach is desperately needed.

I also don’t think it would help much if they promote Reirden though.

Gallant won’t be cheap, especially when the Pens will be paying Sully’s contract until he goes elsewhere.

First off, the mix in the top 6 is not working as well as it should and hasn’t been all season, but Sullivan won’t make the right changes there.

The 3rd line has been probably our best line all season with McCann-Blueger-Tanev.

The 4th line is just throw whatever you can on it and hope it sticks, O’Connor has looked good but never seemed to get tried with the top 6 at all, Sully gonna Sully.

Jankowski is also balls on the PK. The thing you’re missing is not so much that he’s done nothing, but he’s done absolutely nothing and Sullivan keeps playing him. Ask yourself why?

Sullivan has a hard on for his size and speed and his.....wait for it......



STICK-TO-ITIVENESS

You have a coach that won’t put one of the best lines last season, together, instead has been trying to make a line that works in spurts, a thing again. Meanwhile, Malkin is struggling and also trying to make it work, while struggling, with Kapanen and Zucker.

Then the way they play, it’s like forward group is reading off a different play vs the defense.

Then the usage of the starter vs how he plays him like a back-up and doesn’t let him play though his mighty struggles, that low and behold, the guy they traded was also facing but was allowed to play through.

Mike Sullivan has not found a way to adapt, adjust, improve, or even show the out of the box thinking that we all thought he displayed for the first 2 cups, the last 4 seasons.

With a main core at this age, you can’t pull another Bylsma, we’re already in season 6 and 4yrs removed and the team looks awful all around but more notably, in the top 6. This is like Mike Johnston level of bad.

1. Yes, a new coach is needed.

2. No one here thinks Todd Reirden is the answer. No one. I guarantee you, Brian Burke doesn’t either. Burke likes veteran coaches and with a core like this, he wouldn’t just throw in Reirden with no track record of success that he could deem worthy of another run.

3. Gallant’s cost....if the Penguins are worried about that, then they deserve to keep Sullivan and fail and squander the rest of the core’s gas tank. They deserve nothing and by being scared of that, show they aren’t serious.

Bloody hell, I like what you are saying tonight.

''Bloody hell'' is my line! please get your own material, you wanker!

Continue

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Veteran goalies who I think might be available and that the Pens would have interest in:

• Quick
• Rinne
• Raanta
• Rittich
• Dubnyk
• Holtby

 

[HandshakeLine]

I’m not sure a vintage starter goalie is quite what we need, but I trust Hextall to make that call, honestly.

That said, having a legit vet to pair with Jarry is probably not a bad option, if you can move CDS and have faith in Jarry bouncing back.

 

[HandshakeLine]

My order of business would focus on the blueline, as immediate triage. Then the bottom 6, then the top 6. Then the goaltending situation. Because a goalie change might help you scrape some points up in the short term, it doesn’t make the team any more competitive if the forwards and blueline are still a hot mess.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Also @Scandale du Jour, I think we should name the thread “A New Error?”.

 

[Pens x]

I’m not sure a vintage starter goalie is quite what we need, but I trust Hextall to make that call, honestly.

That said, having a legit vet to pair with Jarry is probably not a bad option, if you can move CDS and have faith in Jarry bouncing back.

It’s almost as if JR should have taken care of this during the off season.

 

[HandshakeLine]

It’s almost as if JR should have taken care of this during the off season.

Well, when would have have found the time to sign 6 different 4th liners and Ceci?

Serious answer. Most people saw that as a risk going into the season, but JR gambled on a healthy blueline and a buy-in from the forwards on defensive play. Neither of those has happened, for reasons both beyond our control and also on the shoulders of the coaching staff and players. But I think that the organization needs to seriously evaluate what we have as far as potential for both goalies, once we get done affixing the other parts of the team.

 

[Pens x]

Well, when would have have found the time to sign 6 different 4th liners and Ceci?

Haha good point. He was definitely busy dumpster diving.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Again, I think that goaltending, while a definite problem, is not even the number two priority at the moment.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Trade Dumoulin and McCann for assets. As well as Sceviour, Erod, Lafferty, and Jankowski, but I don't think they'd get you much.

 

[Pens x]

Again, I think that goaltending, while a definite problem, is not even the number two priority at the moment.

What would be #1 and #2 if not goaltending? I’d say coaching is #1 and goaltending is #2.

 

[Pens x]

Trade Dumoulin and McCann for assets. As well as Sceviour, Erod, Lafferty, and Jankowski, but I don't think they'd get you much.

Haha I don’t think people want our garbage, even if they are cheap. Haha it’s crazy that two of these guys were our targets on day one of free agency.

Granlund has 7 points in 10 games...

If only...

 

[HandshakeLine]

What would be #1 and #2 if not goaltending? I’d say coaching is #1 and goaltending is #2.

Goaltending problems are much more systematic than the position, and likewise, bringing in an elite goaltender won’t really move the needle if the blueline can’t defend and the forwards can’t score and provide pressure. It’s a worry, but not one that we can fix with a roster change, I think.

I’d also point out that some areas, like coaching, are probably not fixable until the off-season. So we have to work with what’s possible at this moment, not what might be the biggest problem in theory.

For my money, I’d say the biggest problem is the blueline, once healthy. Right now it’s clear that we’re just treading water there waiting for Petts and company to get healthy. But a healthy blueline that’s playing a solid game makes any number of weak goalies look great. It doesn’t have to be an elite defense either, just working as a unit.

I’d also look at the bottom 6, simply because that is the most easily fixable without giving up major assets. Cut the deadweight, promote some driven youngsters having success in the AHL, and maybe make a small trade for players that fit better.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Trade Dumoulin and McCann for assets. As well as Sceviour, Erod, Lafferty, and Jankowski, but I don't think they'd get you much.

They don’t need to, though. Clearing cap space and providing a spot for one or two internal solutions would be enough, late or mid round picks or even long shot prospects would be fine.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I was on the LA Kings board recently and they make it seem like Michael Amadio would be available. Potential middle six, two way, playmaking, right handed center with decent size and skating ability. I'd certainly take him over Jankowski.

 

[EightyOne]

They don’t need to, though. Clearing cap space and providing a spot for one or two internal solutions would be enough, late or mid round picks or even long shot prospects would be fine.

Yup, a mini reset of dumb works...aka...just delete contracts as much as possible to give flexibility to fix shit

 

[chethejet]

D healthy and playing their roles will improve the team. But the emergence of POJ should allow a deal to be made. I prefer Petts to move for a decent forward or good prospect/pick. Save the 4 million in cap space and get Matheson playing and becoming better in the system. He does have the skill set to be better. I also hope Dumo can return to near his peak form as well. No question they need Hamilton to take Letangs place next year. For now:
Letang Dumo
Marino Matheson
POJ Ceci
Ruhwedel Riikola

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

As far as the rest of the year less move are likely better.

Look around for a bottom 6 center.

Do your due diligence on your 5 LHD in case, if by some miracle, all 5 are ever healthy.

Have a vet goalie on the radar in case Jarry cant turn it around.

The fact if the matter is, is that the problem isnt the roster or the coach (those aint perfect but not the real issue) its that the main guys on the roster arent playing to their level. And there is no roster move or coach that cant over come your most important players not pulling their weight.

 

[Pens x]

Goaltending problems are much more systematic than the position, and likewise, bringing in an elite goaltender won’t really move the needle if the blueline can’t defend and the forwards can’t score and provide pressure. It’s a worry, but not one that we can fix with a roster change, I think.

I’d also point out that some areas, like coaching, are probably not fixable until the off-season. So we have to work with what’s possible at this moment, not what might be the biggest problem in theory.

For my money, I’d say the biggest problem is the blueline, once healthy. Right now it’s clear that we’re just treading water there waiting for Petts and company to get healthy. But a healthy blueline that’s playing a solid game makes any number of weak goalies look great. It doesn’t have to be an elite defense either, just working as a unit.

I’d also look at the bottom 6, simply because that is the most easily fixable without giving up major assets. Cut the deadweight, promote some driven youngsters having success in the AHL, and maybe make a small trade for players that fit better.

That is a good point now that the AHL is playing again, start promoting those guys that are playing well and sit all of these clowns that add nothing.

The team should be able to make a decent deal by unloading a dmen when more people are healthy.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Veteran goalies who I think might be available and that the Pens would have interest in:

• Quick
• Rinne
• Raanta
• Rittich
• Dubnyk
• Holtby

100% Raanta out of those choices. Check out his career stats. Dude's awesome.

Sure, he gets injured a lot. But anyone coming to Pittsburgh will develop injury problems anyways so...

 

[Ugene Magic]

Goaltending problems are much more systematic than the position, and likewise, bringing in an elite goaltender won’t really move the needle if the blueline can’t defend and the forwards can’t score and provide pressure. It’s a worry, but not one that we can fix with a roster change, I think.

I’d also point out that some areas, like coaching, are probably not fixable until the off-season. So we have to work with what’s possible at this moment, not what might be the biggest problem in theory.

For my money, I’d say the biggest problem is the blueline, once healthy. Right now it’s clear that we’re just treading water there waiting for Petts and company to get healthy. But a healthy blueline that’s playing a solid game makes any number of weak goalies look great. It doesn’t have to be an elite defense either, just working as a unit.

I’d also look at the bottom 6, simply because that is the most easily fixable without giving up major assets. Cut the deadweight, promote some driven youngsters having success in the AHL, and maybe make a small trade for players that fit better.

Right, once all the D are back, coaching, should be all like, yeah, all that we wanted you guys to do earlier, stop it. Now do this... 4 man box, with the 5th one pressuring the puck at all times. Absolutely nobody comes in our box...NOBODY!...without retribution.

I can't believe we are even talking about goaltending changes....Is playing defense against the rules? Or some sacred covenant you are only allowed to do on Hockey Holidays?

 

[Turin]

Right, once all the D are back, coaching, should be all like, yeah, all that we wanted you guys to do earlier, stop it. Now do this... 4 man box, with the 5th one pressuring the puck at all times. Absolutely nobody comes in our box...NOBODY!...without retribution.

I can't believe we are even talking about goaltending changes....Is playing defense against the rules? Or some sacred covenant you are only allowed to do on Hockey Holidays?

Is making a save against the rules?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Veteran goalies who I think might be available and that the Pens would have interest in:

• Quick
• Rinne
• Raanta
• Rittich
• Dubnyk
• Holtby

I still don't think the Pens should make that move. If they do, they've let Sullivan do it again to a young goalie. Such a massive disservice.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Is making a save against the rules?

Is playing your starter so he gets his game back on track against the rules? Because I guess the Senators with our ex goalie didn't hear about it. But Sullivan sure loves f***ing around in net to not let a bloke that started to turn his game around and then was benched for over a week. Even against a team he was actually good against this season.

This is less a goalie issue vs a coaching issue. I bet if you started Jarry a few games in a row after the two isles ones he'd bounce back.

The rest of the team is playing like garbage...I guess it's not the coach's fault there either that they're playing with people that aren't a good fit with each other on their lines.

 

[Turin]

Is playing your starter so he gets his game back on track against the rules? Because I guess the Senators with our ex goalie didn't hear about it. But Sullivan sure loves f***ing around in net to not let a bloke that started to turn his game around and then was benched for over a week. Even against a team he was actually good against this season.

This is less a goalie issue vs a coaching issue. I bet if you started Jarry a few games in a row after the two isles ones he'd bounce back.

The rest of the team is playing like garbage...I guess it's not the coach's fault there either that they're playing with people that aren't a good fit with each other on their lines.

I agree that Sullivan should be letting Jarry try to play his way out of it, but as it stands he’s still been horrible.