Salary Cap: We are looking for nuclear Kessels. And whales. Beam me up, Scotty Bowman

[Cherpak]

There's so much wrong with what you're saying.

The cheaper and younger wings that are available aren't going to help the Pens. If you have the choice between signing three Comeau/Downie type or trading for a Phil Kessel, you're telling me you're going to buy the three lottery scratch offs and hope to get 1/2 of Kessel over the guaranteed "$10,000 a Week for Life" winner?

The question I posed and still do is if we get Kessel how does he fit under the cap? He will take a sizable portion of it and then what? What about the rest of our lines? Did we just say **** you Malkin again? Play with what we give you? Where is his help? What about our depth that so many have preached through last season and the playoffs? Where does that money come from? So many of you want ONE big line but how does that help us? Maybe I'm missing something?

I'm all for getting Kessel but what concerns me is the what next? What about what its going to take to get him. Will that completely drain what little talent/prospects we have? Should we even consider it?

There are other options out there. Skinner, Oshie, Sharp, and I recently have been told that Yakupov and Hudler are also in the mix. I admit none of them are as prodigious offensively as Kessel of course but why put all our eggs in one basket? I just don't understand this obsession with one player that will more than likely cost more than the team should pay. I would much rather grab two of those players and have two scoring lines and be able to add depth to the bottom 6 than handcuff the team with one very expensive line.

 

[Asuna]

I guess Sekera goes back to the Kings now lol

 

[IcedCapp]

I'd be reeeeeeeally curious to see what LA is claiming for breach. The lawyers might have a go at grieving this if the Kings knew about the alleged breach and didn't act immediately.

If the Kings wind up losing this, I hope they get double punished.

 

[Waffle Fries]

funny how he didn't become a material breach of contract until they realized they couldn't re-sign Sekera or Williams

Exactly. They're trying to circumvent the cap. I'm sure Richards has done his share of ****ty things, but it's obvious what the Kings are doing right now.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

funny how he didn't become a material breach of contract until they realized they couldn't re-sign Sekera or Williams

Ok serious question this time.

Are you really 100% on Kessel?

If so what happens with Sutter?

 

[Cherpak]

And yet he was still one of the fittest players in the Leaf camp last summer.

Thats why I clearly said it was a RUMOR.

 

[Shady Machine]

The question I posed and still do is if we get Kessel how does he fit under the cap? He will take a sizable portion of it and then what? What about the rest of our lines? Did we just say **** you Malkin again? Play with what we give you? Where is his help? What about our depth that so many have preached through last season and the playoffs? Where does that money come from? So many of you want ONE big line but how does that help us? Maybe I'm missing something?

I'm all for getting Kessel but what concerns me is the what next? What about what its going to take to get him. Will that completely drain what little talent/prospects we have? Should we even consider it?

There are other options out there. Skinner, Oshie, Sharp, and I recently have been told that Yakupov and Hudler are also in the mix. I admit none of them are as prodigious offensively as Kessel of course but why put all our eggs in one basket? I just don't understand this obsession with one player that will more than likely cost more than the team should pay. I would much rather grab two of those players and have two scoring lines and be able to add depth to the bottom 6 than handcuff the team with one very expensive line.

Uhh Malkin will play either play with Kessel or Hornqvist. Both are right wingers. Playing with either consistently is a pretty big upgrade over what he had this year. The Penguins can fit Kessel under the cap and many posters have laid out rosters to show how it fits. You just aren't trying hard enough to find the answer to your question.

 

[billybudd]

This seems like the Kings just picked a year-long fight with the NHLPA. If Fehr lets this stand, every guy with a bad contract will get termed under some pretense or another.

What are the Kings going to tell the arbiter when he asks them why "thing Richards did" is grounds for material breach of contract, but Voynov being charged with aggravated spousal abuse is not?

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Exactly. They're trying to circumvent the cap. I'm sure Richards has done his share of ****ty things, but it's obvious what the Kings are doing right now.

oh ***** Richards, I assumed it was Voynov. Yeah real convenient.

 

[Riptide]

You would think if there was a player to use that method on it was Voynov.

They might have other options to get Voynov off the books. If he's charged [edit - convicted], they could very likely get the contract voided - especially if he's forced to leave the US.

 

[penguins2946*]

Yeah, I think they're going to pull out the lack of training card as evidence for terminating this contract. It's smart by them, but ****, that makes me mad.

 

[IcedCapp]

Ok serious question this time.

Are you really 100% on Kessel?

If so what happens with Sutter?

Sutter might be part of the deal. If not, It's probably STL.

 

[Sideline]

If the Kings wind up losing this, I hope they get double punished.

The only way I can see this flying for the Kings is if Richards did something criminal after the season ended [To be clear: I'm not saying he did or anything like that]. If his conditioning was enough to be a material breach how did they determine that wasn't true in season, but it is now? If it's something like "poor reputation impact from non-criminal, yet 'immoral' activities" you know for damn sure the PA will grieve that to the bitter end.

 

[Shady Machine]

This seems like the Kings just picked a year-long fight with the NHLPA. If Fehr lets this stand, every guy with a bad contract will get termed under some pretense or another.

What are the Kings going to tell the arbiter when he asks them why "thing Richards did" is grounds for material breach of contract, but Voynov being charged with aggravated spousal abuse is not?

Yeah I can't see Fehr being down with this. If this goes through, it sets a pretty ridiculous precedent.

 

[IcedCapp]

I guess they can force Bennett to train with Gary!!!

 

[penguins2946*]

Sutter might be part of the deal. If not, It's probably STL.

Interesting take, with the Sobotka news from today, Sutter certainly does make more sense for the Blues. Either way, I'd be thrilled with getting Oshie for Sutter.

This seems like the Kings just picked a year-long fight with the NHLPA. If Fehr lets this stand, every guy with a bad contract will get termed under some pretense or another.

What are the Kings going to tell the arbiter when he asks them why "thing Richards did" is grounds for material breach of contract, but Voynov being charged with aggravated spousal abuse is not?

I think they did something else to get out of Voynov's contract. I don't think it's affecting their cap.

 

[Winger for Hire]

The question I posed and still do is if we get Kessel how does he fit under the cap? He will take a sizable portion of it and then what? What about the rest of our lines? Did we just say **** you Malkin again? Play with what we give you? Where is his help? What about our depth that so many have preached through last season and the playoffs? Where does that money come from? So many of you want ONE big line but how does that help us? Maybe I'm missing something?

I'm all for getting Kessel but what concerns me is the what next? What about what its going to take to get him. Will that completely drain what little talent/prospects we have? Should we even consider it?

There are other options out there. Skinner, Oshie, Sharp, and I recently have been told that Yakupov and Hudler are also in the mix. I admit none of them are as prodigious offensively as Kessel of course but why put all our eggs in one basket? I just don't understand this obsession with one player that will more than likely cost more than the team should pay. I would much rather grab two of those players and have two scoring lines and be able to add depth to the bottom 6 than handcuff the team with one very expensive line.

Well, I'm assuming one of the couple dozen mock lineups out there is enough proof that he can indeed fit under the cap with additional players being added.

As for Malkin, I always assumed we would see something like the below if Kessel is brought in-

Perron-Sid-Horny
Bennett-Geno-Kessel

I think Malkin would be happy with that.

As for the other lines, the 4th line obviously has Spaling centering to WBS guys (Rsut, Wilson, Farnham, whoever) and if Sutter stays, he gets Oskar and a Kuntiz/UFA, or if Sutter gets shipped Oskar gets to center his own 3rd line (or 4th if you want to slowly bring him along). If Sutter is indeed moved for Oshie, then you have Bennett move down to the 3rd and you have a pretty decently skilled 3rd line.

It's not going to be easy, but there is enough room under the cap and moving pieces to fit Kessel on the team without hamstringing the team cap wise.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Sutter might be part of the deal. If not, It's probably STL.

Would a deal really make sense with Stl if we acquire Kessel. I would imagine that would end the Oshie interest. Unless were picking up Bergland or a prospect.

 

[Riptide]

Thats why I clearly said it was a RUMOR.

Sorry, guess I misunderstood what you were saying.

 

[IcedCapp]

Interesting take, with the Sobotka news from today, Sutter certainly does make more sense for the Blues. Either way, I'd be thrilled with getting Oshie for Sutter.

I honestly believe Sutter to STL has been in the works for 4 months (I hinted at it back in March). It just depends on how big the two teams want to make the deal.

 

[Riptide]

This seems like the Kings just picked a year-long fight with the NHLPA. If Fehr lets this stand, every guy with a bad contract will get termed under some pretense or another.

What are the Kings going to tell the arbiter when he asks them why "thing Richards did" is grounds for material breach of contract, but Voynov being charged with aggravated spousal abuse is not?

He's been charged, but not convicted. Huge difference there.

 

[Cherpak]

Uhh Malkin will play either play with Kessel or Hornqvist. Both are right wingers. Playing with either consistently is a pretty big upgrade over what he had this year. The Penguins can fit Kessel under the cap and many posters have laid out rosters to show how it fits. You just aren't trying hard enough to find the answer to your question.

Thanks for your in depth analysis. It was really helpful and answered all my questions. I feel so much better now.

 

[ObsessedCreative*]

Nice, to see IC putting the Phil deal at 101% I would not have made that type of claim from what I have been told, but maybe he's heard some more information than I have heard last.

 

[Ogrezilla]

wouldn't they have to have some sort of physical that needs passed and proof that he can't pass it to use lack of training to terminate it? Otherwise teams could do it all the time if it was just left up to whatever standard they wanted to determine what was acceptable training.

 

[SprootsMasterFlex]