Salary Cap: The Endless Speculation Edition

[KIRK]

It would still give you room too add for a top six LW or RW. You solve your D problem. You can move out Schultz if need be and I think Bjugstad has pretty much proven he is just as questionable as McCann at C if not more so.

I'm still in the 'let Schultz walk' camp.

 

[KIRK]

Marino has 3 points in four games since Letang went down.

Forget the points. I just love the way he skates the puck to pressure and his vision in the offensive zone. Very underappreciated.

 

[JackFr]

I'm still in the 'let Schultz walk' camp.

Same. Marino has gifted us 5.5 million dollars in cap space next season as far as I'm concerned.

 

[KIRK]

Same. Marino has gifted us 5.5 million dollars in cap space next season as far as I'm concerned.

Yes, but I'd prefer to keep Pets-Schultz for the balance of this year, even if I add a stud partner for Marino.

I'm not as sold on Pets-Riikola as @Big Friggin Dummy is, and more than that I know there's damn well NO WAY that's a pairing with Jack Johnson left on the bench.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yes, but I'd prefer to keep Pets-Schultz for the balance of this year, even if I add a stud partner for Marino.

I'm not as sold on Pets-Riikola as @Big Friggin Dummy is, and more than that I know there's damn well NO WAY that's a pairing with Jack Johnson left on the bench.

I'm totally fine with a Petts-Riikola bottom pairing. Particularly if we get a stud LD for Marino's 2nd pairing.

Riikola's been one of our best blueliners since he finally settled into a spot on the defense. Every game I watch I wonder how/why it took so long, and wonder what the f*** people were talking about in the pre-season/early season with the whole "Riikola is just JJ but worse" crap.

As for JJ, I'm still hoping we dump him somehow. JR tried previously, and with Marino/Riikola proving to be entirely capable at the NHL level, maybe it'll happen. Hell, JJ hasn't been a complete tire fire, so maybe more teams would be interested in adding him now.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Can Marino provide 30-ish points? You folks that have seen more Pens games this year can answer this better than I.

I'm on the side of letting Schultz walk after this year, but I'd still be skeptical about a replacement who could provide 30-ish points and be an offensive threat.

 

[Gurglesons]

Can Marino provide 30-ish points? You folks that have seen more Pens games this year can answer this better than I.

I'm on the side of letting Schultz walk after this year, but I'd still be skeptical about a replacement who could provide 30-ish points and be an offensive threat.

I don’t think so. But, I think Pettersson replaces Schultz’s ES production not Marino.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Can Marino provide 30-ish points? You folks that have seen more Pens games this year can answer this better than I.

I'm on the side of letting Schultz walk after this year, but I'd still be skeptical about a replacement who could provide 30-ish points and be an offensive threat.

Probably not this season. Might get close with some time on the 2nd PP unit. I think the bulk of our offense from the blueline's going to come from his skating/passing ability, though his shot is pretty decent too. He's also spent some games saddled with JJ and Gudbranson so he may have had a couple more points if that wasn't the case.

I just hate the idea of letting Schultz walk. It's so asinine to me, to be frank. We can probably get a 1st rounder for the guy at the deadline, easily a 2nd+prospect. I don't think there's any way we re-sign him, nor should we, and I don't think he'll be a difference maker down the stretch and/or in the playoffs. Hell, maybe trade him a bit before the deadline and see if you can flip some of those assets to get a LD for Marino, or package them with Bjugs or Galchenyuk for an upgrade at forward.

Way too many possibilities for us to simply allow a valuable asset to deteriorate into nothing. If the choice is missing the playoffs while setting ourselves up to be stronger for one or two more runs with the Sid/Geno/Tanger core, while getting a good return for a guy who is not part of our future plans, or barely making them just to get smacked around in the 1st round again, I'd go with the former. I don't really care about the playoff streak continuing if it means we're just gonna get bounced. I know, I know, "anything can happen with our talent", but I just don't see it this season. Not with Kessel out and Galchenyuk in--and I say that as someone who desperately wanted Kessel moved.

-edit- Words.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Hall clearly wants out of New Jersey. If JR can get him without paying an absurd price, and he's confident that Hall would re-sign for a fair price, I'd say go for it.

Hall's done there though. Dude is checked out. I don't even hold it against him either. It sucks if you're a Devils fan, but he's given that team (and the Oilers) his all throughout his time in the NHL, won Hart trophies, gone on 25 game scoring streaks, the whole deal. All to continue to circle the drain in bad organizations that struggle to even maintain footing in mediocrity.

 

[66-30-33]

Hall clearly wants out of New Jersey. If JR can get him without paying an absurd price, and he's confident that Hall would re-sign for a fair price, I'd say go for it.

Hall's done there though. Dude is checked out. I don't even hold it against him either. It sucks if you're a Devils fan, but he's given that team (and the Oilers) his all throughout his time in the NHL, won Hart trophies, gone on 25 game scoring streaks, the whole deal. All to continue to circle the drain in bad organizations that struggle to even maintain footing in mediocrity.

Can't afford to pay him the money he will demand nor do I want Pens to pay him what he will want. But Hall would sure be good here next to Geno.

 

[Peat]

With Schultz, I'm now all but convinced the best answer is to trade him and get a serious rental upgrade or equal in 5v5 impact replacement with affordable term.

I am equally convinced that this may not be possible at a sane price and that Schultz is playing well enough that it's not a big issue. If he walks, he walks. I am trying very hard to be conservative and suspicious of what Marino is here as he seems too good to be true, but right now he's making the thought of Schultz walking painless.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't even think you need to replace Schultz, because this defense is legit strong IMO:

Pettersson-Letang
Dumoulin-Marino
Johnson-Riikola

Maybe try to find an upgrade on JJ, getting a guy like Dillon to take his spot would be awesome, but that top-4 looks absolutely phenomenal to me. Trade Schultz and Galchenyuk for futures and go big game hunting for a rental top-6 winger and a depth D.

 

[ZeroPucksGiven]

Yes, but I'd prefer to keep Pets-Schultz for the balance of this year, even if I add a stud partner for Marino.

Pettts- Schultz is a disaster this year. They need to split them up pronto

 

[Malkinstheman]

With Schultz, I'm now all but convinced the best answer is to trade him and get a serious rental upgrade or equal in 5v5 impact replacement with affordable term.

I am equally convinced that this may not be possible at a sane price and that Schultz is playing well enough that it's not a big issue. If he walks, he walks. I am trying very hard to be conservative and suspicious of what Marino is here as he seems too good to be true, but right now he's making the thought of Schultz walking painless.

My biggest concern about Marino is if he will drop off in the new year. He hasnt played more than 35 games a season in years. We're gonna need him to play 100 games this year if we want a cup. Hes young though so maybe it doesnt happen, idk.

 

[Beauner]

I don't even think you need to replace Schultz, because this defense is legit strong IMO:

Pettersson-Letang
Dumoulin-Marino
Johnson-Riikola

Maybe try to find an upgrade on JJ, getting a guy like Dillon to take his spot would be awesome, but that top-4 looks absolutely phenomenal to me. Trade Schultz and Galchenyuk for futures and go big game hunting for a rental top-6 winger and a depth D.

why would they split Dumo-Letang? That's as great a defensive pair as they come. Pettersson-Marino would be fine, I'd think.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Probably not this season. Might get close with some time on the 2nd PP unit. I think the bulk of our offense from the blueline's going to come from his skating/passing ability, though his shot is pretty decent too. He's also spent some games saddled with JJ and Gudbranson so he may have had a couple more points if that wasn't the case.

I just hate the idea of letting Schultz walk. It's so asinine to me, to be frank. We can probably get a 1st rounder for the guy at the deadline, easily a 2nd+prospect. I don't think there's any way we re-sign him, nor should we, and I don't think he'll be a difference maker down the stretch and/or in the playoffs. Hell, maybe trade him a bit before the deadline and see if you can flip some of those assets to get a LD for Marino, or package them with Bjugs or Galchenyuk for an upgrade at forward.

Way too many possibilities for us to simply allow a valuable asset to deteriorate into nothing. If the choice is missing the playoffs while setting ourselves up to be stronger for one or two more runs with the Sid/Geno/Tanger core, while getting a good return for a guy who is not part of our future plans, or barely making them just to get smacked around in the 1st round again, I'd go with the former. I don't really care about the playoff streak continuing if it means we're just gonna get bounced. I know, I know, "anything can happen with our talent", but I just don't see it this season. Not with Kessel out and Galchenyuk in--and I say that as someone who desperately wanted Kessel moved.

-edit- Words.

That's defeatist, honestly.

The whole point of next few years is to maximize Sid and Geno's late prime. We can't afford to simply piss away a year, because who knows what happens in the following seasons? Schultz is one one the most productive playoff per-game defensemen in the league since 2017, and no contender should be trading him unless they get someone as good or better.

The "no Kessel" argument is out the window too...it went out the window the moment we traded him, because we were never going to be able to replace him. Now we have to compete every year with what we have.

 

[Peat]

My biggest concern about Marino is if he will drop off in the new year. He hasnt played more than 35 games a season in years. We're gonna need him to play 100 games this year if we want a cup. Hes young though so maybe it doesnt happen, idk.

It's a pretty legit concern - so too is the possibility he'll do this year on adrenaline and drop off back next season.

But so far he is crushing every challenge like they're grapes and he is a tireless little french grandmother. I feel like I have to assume he'll handle those issues until proven otherwise by now.

 

[Empoleon8771]

why would they split Dumo-Letang? That's as great a defensive pair as they come. Pettersson-Marino would be fine, I'd think.

There are a few reasons, but the big one is that I think having a great offensive top pair anchored by Letang and a great shutdown 2nd pair anchored by Dumoulin sounds like the best setup to me. Sure, your top pair is one of the best in the NHL if you put Dumoulin with Letang, but your 2nd pair is much riskier.

It's like in 2013, you could have run with this top-4 D:

Martin-Letang
Orpik-Niskanen

While your top pair is absolutely phenomenal, your 2nd pair is kinda suspect. That's why I liked what they actually ran with more, which was Niskanen-Letang and Orpik-Martin.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I made this proposal on the main board, are the Penguins giving up too much here: Galchenyuk and Schultz to Nashville for Granlund and Hamhuis?

 

[EightyOne]

I made this proposal on the main board, are the Penguins giving up too much here: Galchenyuk and Schultz to Nashville for Granlund and Hamhuis?

How long are GranHuis signed for? I'm too lazy to look it up. What's cap?

 

[Empoleon8771]

How long are GranHuis signed for? I'm too lazy to look it up. What's cap?

All players involved in that deal are pending UFAs, Granlund makes $5.75 million and Hamhuis makes like $1.5 million.

 

[EightyOne]

I think Hamhuis is a downgrade but Granlund should be a slight upgrade.

In this case, I feel the offense needs a little more help than defense. So. It's a wash/good hockey trade?

 

[Andy99]

lol...Eklund already has us checking up on Pageau...at least he picked a good one on his dart board...

HockeyBuzz.com - Eklund - Crosby to miss at least 6 weeks. How this affects the market...

 

[Peat]

I made this proposal on the main board, are the Penguins giving up too much here: Galchenyuk and Schultz to Nashville for Granlund and Hamhuis?

Value isn't in our favour but not so outrageously so you wouldn't do it if it made you better.

Which is the point I'm dubious on re Granlund. Iirc, he's a high skill risk-taking playmaker, right? Where's he going to play here? Is he going to fit in better than he does at Nashville?

 

[EightyOne]

Value isn't in our favour but not so outrageously so you wouldn't do it if it made you better.

Which is the point I'm dubious on re Granlund. Iirc, he's a high skill risk-taking playmaker, right? Where's he going to play here? Is he going to fit in better than he does at Nashville?

The bar to clear isn't being better here than Nashville, it's being better in the lineup than Galchenyuk. Which has to be pretty good odds, eh?