Salary Cap: The Endless Speculation Edition

[Dipsy Doodle]

Ah. So it is the Kessel or Sprong argument. His production speaks for itself so any argument is pointless because you say so despite the fact he has 7 goals in 108 games through 3 seasons since signing for 5.5 mil.

Because goals have never been the lone standard for evaluating offensive defensemen. Try not to reduce an offensive player to a single unrepresentative stat.

Schultz has one of the best playoff P/G of any defenseman in the league since 2017. That's where his value lies.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I'm back on the trade-for-Ehlers train.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

I'm back on the trade-for-Ehlers train.

My pick for a trade because GMJR seems to have compromising photos of Florida’s GM is Hoffman.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

My pick for a trade because GMJR seems to have compromising photos of Florida’s GM is Hoffman.

Good suggestion. I prefer Ehlers's contract.

 

[CrosbyMalkin]

I'm back on the trade-for-Ehlers train.

He would probably cost a fortune in assets. Zucker could be fairly cheap because of his $5.5 million contract which they might want to get out of. Zucker signed that deal after his 33 goal and 64 point season and that has been an outlier for his career and more like a low 20 goal scorer and 40's point type player. He is probably slightly overpaid so they might trade him cheaper than many would think. I think his style fits our system and not much more cap hit than Galchenyuk.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Any names out there right now on the "hot stoves" or what have you?
Pageau is certainly looking good this season...

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Any names out there right now on the "hot stoves" or what have you?
Pageau is certainly looking good this season...

Pageau in for Bjugs (not necessarily in the same trade) would be so damn good for the way we play and what we're trying to do.

Still not sold on that 2nd pairing though, mainly Schultz. With Letang's frequent bouts with injury, I (greedily) want a way more potent guy than Schultz on that 2nd pair.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I (greedily) want a way more potent guy than Schultz on that 2nd pair.

Dumba?

 

[madinsomniac]

Pageau in for Bjugs (not necessarily in the same trade) would be so damn good for the way we play and what we're trying to do.

Still not sold on that 2nd pairing though, mainly Schultz. With Letang's frequent bouts with injury, I (greedily) want a way more potent guy than Schultz on that 2nd pair.

Im a guy who doesn’t hate Bjuggy at all, and who thinks Bonino, though very effective, was the most overrated penguin in a decade, and i 100% agree with pageau being a better fit...

People expect too much offense from the third line to begin with... barring another super star driving it, it’s not ever going to be consistently scoring, but it does need to occasionally score ... it is going to consistently play in its own zone, because it should get a lions share of defensive zone starts... ... I like bjugstads length ... its like stalls... it can be disruptive... but pageau shotblocks like bonino,which would fit the counterattacking offense you’d expect to get from that line...

Shot blocking is the one aspect we really trimmed expertise at since 16.... jj is no cole.. we really don’t have a great shotblocking forward...

With our speed restored, that leads to breakaways and odd mans more than stick on puck in the lane that we currently get with our length guys...

 

[CrosbyMalkin]

Pageau in for Bjugs (not necessarily in the same trade) would be so damn good for the way we play and what we're trying to do.

Still not sold on that 2nd pairing though, mainly Schultz. With Letang's frequent bouts with injury, I (greedily) want a way more potent guy than Schultz on that 2nd pair.

The problem is teams don't give up offensive defenseman better than him. Teams don't trade top end defenseman unless they are on last year of contract and are going to lose them for nothing or they are on last leg. Although Ristolainen is rumored to be available but he might be the worst minus player in the league since he has been a regular so I don't know if that is an upgrade.

Rutherford is a genius at finding good defenseman for peanuts so you never know. When you think about how he was able to get Schultz, Pettersson, and Marino for 3rd, waiver wire player, and a 6th is just insane theft. All 3 are currently in our top 4 albeit due to injury in Marino's case. Although Marino looks like a sure fire top 4 to me which is pretty incredible for a 22 year old rookie with no pro experience.

if POJ can work out and establish himself as an NHL defenseman by next year that would be nice. I think that is when Pens definitely move on from JJ. Although I will say JJ has played well this year and it helps that he is not playing top 4 minutes like he did all last season. Normally you would not like to be paying $3.25 million a year for bottom pairing defenseman but it isn't crazy money either considering the money most veterans make these days. I much rather have his $3.25 million the way he is playing this season compared to resigning Schultz to a long term $6 million or more deal.

I am still not sold on Addison. Something about him just says bust to me. I hope I am dead wrong about him. Watching Addison during camp compared to POJ and Marino was night and day. It would of been nice if he had developed fast enough to take over a RD spot and we moved on from paying Schultz big money. I don't mind Schultz but I don't want to sign him at age 30 to a long term expensive deal. What other RD's might be UFA's next season? I rather pay someone really good $8 million than Schultz $6 million plus. Usually those types don't make it to free agency though.

 

[Gurglesons]

The problem is teams don't give up offensive defenseman better than him. Teams don't trade top end defenseman unless they are on last year of contract and are going to lose them for nothing or they are on last leg. Although Ristolainen is rumored to be available but he might be the worst minus player in the league since he has been a regular so I don't know if that is an upgrade.

Rutherford is a genius at finding good defenseman for peanuts so you never know. When you think about how he was able to get Schultz, Pettersson, and Marino for 3rd, waiver wire player, and a 6th is just insane theft. All 3 are currently in our top 4 albeit due to injury in Marino's case. Although Marino looks like a sure fire top 4 to me which is pretty incredible for a 22 year old rookie with no pro experience.

if POJ can work out and establish himself as an NHL defenseman by next year that would be nice. I think that is when Pens definitely move on from JJ. Although I will say JJ has played well this year and it helps that he is not playing top 4 minutes like he did all last season. Normally you would not like to be paying $3.25 million a year for bottom pairing defenseman but it isn't crazy money either considering the money most veterans make these days. I much rather have his $3.25 million the way he is playing this season compared to resigning Schultz to a long term $6 million or more deal.

I am still not sold on Addison. Something about him just says bust to me. I hope I am dead wrong about him. Watching Addison during camp compared to POJ and Marino was night and day. It would of been nice if he had developed fast enough to take over a RD spot and we moved on from paying Schultz big money. I don't mind Schultz but I don't want to sign him at age 30 to a long term expensive deal. What other RD's might be UFA's next season? I rather pay someone really good $8 million than Schultz $6 million plus. Usually those types don't make it to free agency though.

I think you can find a RD for that pairing that doesn’t bring the offense given Schultz production since signing his deal.

 

[Peat]

Dumba?

Not unless you want to give up Guentzel, or Guentzel's price in futures. That's the usual price for a Dumba and while Minnesota need to make changes, he's about the last player they'd want to move.

 

[Gurglesons]

Not unless you want to give up Guentzel, or Guentzel's price in futures. That's the usual price for a Dumba and while Minnesota need to make changes, he's about the last player they'd want to move.

I wonder if you could pull a Schultz + for Brodie move.

 

[Peat]

I wonder if you could pull a Schultz + for Brodie move.

I'm not sure whatever advantage Brodie might us with his skating is worth the potential risk of him just not settling here for random reason when we are generally taking care of business with Schultz on ice.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm not sure whatever advantage Brodie might us with his skating is worth the potential risk of him just not settling here for random reason when we are generally taking care of business with Schultz on ice.

Brodie has regularly produced 20+ ES assists which Schultz has done once. Also, additional cap space.

 

[K Fleur]

Murray has as many points as Bjugs this season.

 

[Peat]

Brodie has regularly produced 20+ ES assists which Schultz has done once. Also, additional cap space.

Hmm. Fair point. What's the add needed to make Calgary do it then?

 

[Gurglesons]

Hmm. Fair point. What's the add needed to make Calgary do it then?

I’m not sure. And I think it depends on how their season is going and how desperate other teams are for Brodie.

I’d worry they would want a cap swap. Maybe this is a Schultz + Bjugstad + 3rd for Brodie + Frolik type deal and we retain on Schultz.

 

[chethejet]

GMJR has some cap room and I think he wants a forward who can be that get in the blue paint and help with Horny out. I think Kuhny can be traded for a forward preferably a RH shot who can go to the net. Can be a Rust type with speed, some grit and skill.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Now that it looks like we'll be able to replace Schultz internally with Marino, I don't see any obvious holes in this team - aside from the PP.

With that in mind, I'm moving more and more firmly into the "go for Taylor Hall" bandwagon. I think we can sign him to an 8/$85M extension and make a present-future trade that ensures we don't go the Detroit route once Sid/Geno fade into the sunset. I'm really, really not interested in becoming Detroit of the last 5 years. I think it would take top prospect + first, which I'm willing to do. Gally to make salaries match.

As for how we fit Hall, simple: Schultz & Galchenyuk money out. Bjugs is still moveable. So is Horny if needed. A JJ buyout saves $1.5-$2M. The big question becomes Murray's contract. The more I watch Murray, the more I see good-not-great. I hope we don't pay for GREAT.

 

[ColePens]

Murray has as many points as Bjugs this season.

Even Blender has 2 points in 7 games over Bjugs 1 point in 8. Yikes.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Even Blender has 2 points in 7 games over Bjugs 1 point in 8. Yikes.

In fairness though, Bjugs is a +3 this year. We can nitpick the cruddiness of +/- all we want and complain about Bjugstad's game, but the fact remains that opposing teams don't tend to score when he's on the ice. I happen to think it's not all luck.

 

[Peat]

I’m not sure. And I think it depends on how their season is going and how desperate other teams are for Brodie.

I’d worry they would want a cap swap. Maybe this is a Schultz + Bjugstad + 3rd for Brodie + Frolik type deal and we retain on Schultz.

Looking at their CF page, I don't see how they can do this without a cap swap.

I've gotta say I'm sceptical about how you get this deal done with an add small enough to make sense for us but large enough for Calgary; also, how it makes sense for Calgary to accept whatever downgrade is there without going for straight futures. Something about their lack of RH forwards would seem to make more sense to me, but I'm not sure they'd want Bjugstad given their cap situation for next year mightn't be that comfortable after paying Andersson.

 

[Gurglesons]

Looking at their CF page, I don't see how they can do this without a cap swap.

I've gotta say I'm sceptical about how you get this deal done with an add small enough to make sense for us but large enough for Calgary; also, how it makes sense for Calgary to accept whatever downgrade is there without going for straight futures. Something about their lack of RH forwards would seem to make more sense to me, but I'm not sure they'd want Bjugstad given their cap situation for next year mightn't be that comfortable after paying Andersson.

I think like Hagelin and Perron you just hope Calgary is looking to shake up and want Schultz’s “PP prowess”.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I’m not sure. And I think it depends on how their season is going and how desperate other teams are for Brodie.

I’d worry they would want a cap swap. Maybe this is a Schultz + Bjugstad + 3rd for Brodie + Frolik type deal and we retain on Schultz.

Flames wont do that. They are trying to cut salary, not add to it, zero chance they are interested in Bjug for another year. If you want Brodie from the Flames the cost will be a top 6 right winger.