Salary Cap: Wet Hot Canadian Sutter (Is No More)

[Riptide]

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries.

Official 2015-16 salary ceiling: ........71,400,000
Projected 2015-16 cap spending: ....69,020,000
Projected offseason cap space: .........2,380,000



PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Forward.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Evgeni Malkin|

C​

|

28​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

Sidney Crosby|

C​

|

27​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

Phil Kessel|

RW​

|

27​

|

6,800,000​

|

6,800,000​

|

6,800,000​

Patric Hornqvist|

RW​

|

28​

|

4,250,000​

|

4,250,000​

|

4,250,000​

Chris Kunitz|

LW​

|

35​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

|

UFA​

David Perron|

LW​

|

26​

|

3,812,500​

|

UFA​

Pascal Dupuis|

RW​

|

36​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

|

UFA​

Eric Fehr|

C​

|

29​

|

2,000,000​

|

2,000,000​

|

2,000,000​

Nick Bonino|

C​

|

27​

|

1,900,000​

|

1,900,000​

|

UFA​

Sergei Plotnikov|

LW​

|

25​

|

925,000​

|

RFA​

Beau Bennett|

RW​

|

23​

|

800,000​

|

RFA​

Defense.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

.2017-18​

Kris Letang|

D​

|

28​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

Rob Scuderi|

D​

|

36​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

|

UFA​

Ian Cole|

D​

|

26​

|

2,100,000​

|

2,100,000​

|

2,100,000​

Ben Lovejoy|

D​

|

31​

|

1,100,000​

|

UFA​

Olli Maatta|

D​

|

20​

|

894,167​

|

RFA​

Derrick Pouliot|

D​

|

21​

|

863,333​

|

863,333​

|

RFA​

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

23​

|

800,000​

|

800,000​

|

RFA​

Goalie............,.......​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

.2017-18​

Marc-Andre Fleury|

G​

|

30​

|

5,750,000​

|

5,750,000​

|

5,750,000​

Jeff Zatkoff|

G​

|

28​

|

600,000​

|

UFA​

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Tyler Biggs|

RW​

|

22​

|

894,167​

|

RFA​

Oskar Sundqvist|

C​

|

21​

|

700,833​

|

708,333​

|

RFA​

Dominik Simon|

C​

|

20​

|

TBA​

|

TBA​

|

TBA​

|

RFA​

Conor Sheary|

LW​

|

23​

|

667,500​

|

667,500​

|

RFA​

Josh Archibald|

RW​

|

22​

|

659,167​

|

659,167​

|

RFA​

Scott Wilson|

LW​

|

23​

|

655,000​

|

RFA​

Bryan Rust|

RW​

|

23​

|

652,500​

|

RFA​

Anton Zlobin|

LW​

|

22​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Matia Marcantuoni|

C​

|

21​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Jean-Sebastien Dea|

C​

|

21​

|

585,000​

|

585,000​

|

RFA​

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

23​

|

575,000​

|

RFA​

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

22​

|

575,000​

|

RFA​

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

26​

|

575,000​

|

UFA​

Kevin Porter|

C​

|

29​

|

575,000​

|

UFA​

Kael Mouillierat|

LW​

|

27​

|

575,000​

|

UFA​

Defense...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Adam Clendening|

D​

|

22​

|

761,250​

|

RFA​

Harrison Ruopp|

D​

|

22​

|

650,833​

|

RFA​

Niclas Andersen|

D​

|

27​

|

625,000​

|

UFA​

Tim Erixon|

D​

|

24​

|

600,000​

|

RFA​

David Warsofsky|

D​

|

25​

|

600,000​

|

UFA​

Reid McNeill|

D​

|

23​

|

575,000​

|

575,000​

|

RFA​

Will O'Neill|

D​

|

27​

|

575,000​

|

UFA​

Steve Oleksy|

D​

|

29​

|

575,000​

|

UFA​

Goalie..................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Matt Murray|

G​

|

21​

|

620,000​

|

620,000​

|

RFA​

Tristan Jarry|

G​

|

20​

|

589,167​

|

589,167​

|

589,167​

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

News and notes​

Paul Martin|

D​

|

34​

|

5,000,000​

| Signed with San Jose (4 years, $4.85M per)

Christian Ehrhoff|

D​

|

32​

|

4,000,000​

|Hitting the market, looking to sign with a contender

Daniel Winnik|

LW​

|

30​

|

1,300,000​

| Signed with Toronto (2 years, $2.25M per)

Maxim Lapierre|

C​

|

30​

|

1,100,000​

|Won't be offered a new deal, per Renaud Lavoie

Steve Downie|

RW​

|

28​

|

1,000,000​

| Signed with Arizona (1 year, $1.75M)

Thomas Greiss|

G​

|

29​

|

1,000,000​

| Signed with N.Y. Islanders (2 years, $1.5M per)

Jayson Megna|

RW​

|

25​

|

874,125​

| Signed with N.Y. Rangers (1 year, $700k)

Blake Comeau|

LW​

|

29​

|

700,000​

| Signed with Colorado (3 years, $2.4M per)

Craig Adams|

RW​

|

38​

|

700,000​

|I believe the term is "seppuku" -- Look it up, Harvard Boy

Adam Payerl|

RW​

|

24​

|

626,667​

|Did not receive qualifying offer

Nick D'Agostino|

D​

|

25​

|

625,000​

|Did not receive qualifying offer

Taylor Chorney|

D​

|

28​

|

550,000​

| Signed with Washington (1 year, $700k)

Andrew Ebbett|

C​

|

32​

|

550,000​

| Signed with SC Bern (NLA)

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

26​

|

550,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $575k, 2-way)

Nick Drazenovic|

C​

|

28​

|

550,000​

|Injuries may cost him some money on his next 2-way deal

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond|

RW​

|

30​

|

550,000​

|One of many casually discarded AHL goons

Eric Hartzell|

G​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|Did not receive qualifying offer

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

News and notes​

Beau Bennett|

RW​

|

23​

|

900,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $800k)

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

23​

|

831,667​

| Re-signed with Penguins (2 years, $800k per)

Ian Cole|

D​

|

26​

|

825,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (3 years, $2.1M per)

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

22​

|

601,667​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $575k, 2-way)

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

23​

|

598,333​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $575k)

Reid McNeill|

D​

|

23​

|

575,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (2 years, $575k per)

SIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team​

|

Contract​

UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

​

​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team (League)​

Anthony Angello|

F​

|

19​

|Cornell (ECAC)

Dane Birks|

D​

|

19​

|Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Teddy Blueger|

F​

|

20​

|Minnesota State (WCHA)

Blaine Byron|

F​

|

20​

|Maine (HEA)

Jake Guentzel|

F​

|

20​

|Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)

Troy Josephs|

F​

|

21​

|Clarkson (ECAC)

Sam Lafferty|

F​

|

20​

|Brown (ECAC)

Jaden Lindo|

F​

|

19​

|Owen Sound (OHL)

Sean Maguire|

G​

|

22​

|Boston University (HEA)

Nikita Pavlychev|

F​

|

18​

|Des Moines (USHL)

Alexander Pechurskiy|

G​

|

25​

|Khabarovsk (KHL)

Ryan Segalla|

D​

|

20​

|Connecticut (HEA)

Daniel Sprong|

F​

|

18​

|Charlottetown (QMJHL)

Jeff Taylor|

D​

|

21​

|Union (ECAC)

Frederik Tiffels|

F​

|

20​

|Western Michigan (NCHC)

Click to read more...

 

[Riptide]

Some posts from the last page of the old thread.

you know originally you were asked to list what your worries about the system were, not to point out that the pens lost one game in november

Well they beat Montreal 4-0 a few games later.

And beat the Rangers in a 7 game series the previous.

What kind of point do you think you're making that the Penguins lost a single game to the Rangers in November? That didn't or doesn't mean anything.

By February, the Penguins were playing a pretty textbook half ice overload. I'd start pulling screenshots and videos, but I'm about done here for the day. Suffice it to say, you could take our coverage, overlay it with the half-ice overload diagram in a coaching book and it would match 1-1. It did directly lead to goals against (often because Perron, Bennett, Scuderi and, to a much lesser extent, Downie were incapable of playing it), but not in appreciably high numbers. We did not give up a lot of goals late in the season, just scored less with no transition and 1.5 wings playing passable hockey.

In the second half of the season, the Penguins did not have the talent to overcome anything, nor did they overcome anything. That the Rangers series was close instead of a blowout is a feather in Johnston's cap. I'd link Ranger threads from around that time where posters were angry with AV for not being able to get the puck through Johnston's neutral zone (which is the one thing he did that was not conventional), but I'm out of time.

Idea that there's some rabbit Johnston could have (let alone should have) pulled out of his hat that simultaneously nullifies his roster's disadvantages in size and skating on the wing and in every way on defense is not realistic. You already admitted as much--there's nothing Johnston could have done that would have worked with what he had available.

Capuono is a pretty bad coach

Fortunately our roster likely prevents that from happening. We have 12 players currently signed going into the 16/17 season, that accounts for ~57m. That's 6 forwards and 5D. We would also need to sign Perron and Maatta. Say 9m for both of them, and that puts us at ~66m for 15 players signed. And that's not accounting for any bonuses that carry into next season. So with Kunitz being one year older, I do not see a situation where Rutherford can afford to give Sutter 4.5m+ without getting Kunitz or Scuderi off the roster (I expect Dupuis to be someone who will finish out his contract with Pittsburgh). Perhaps if he doesn't sign Perron... but I can't see even him (JR) being that stupid.

And yet here we find ourselves again, with a similar cap situation and no wiggle room. One would think they'd learn from the experience, instead of say, "It's only happened once, it won't happen again".

Furthermore, it's cap space that's just being wasted. Take Scuderi. If the club is serious about contending, he won't be anything more than a 7th defenseman. If he's more than that, then their strategy of going young and playing guys like Pouliot and Dumoulin won't happen. If he's the 7th guy, then the Pens are wasting almost $4 million in cap space on a guy who will be in the press box all the time.

Not exactly learning from their mistakes, regardless of whether or not what happened last year was a "one time thing".

It's one thing if they've got cap space tied up in players who actually are going to be positives for this club. But when you've got all this cap space tied up in players who will actually make your team worse, I'd say it's a pretty dire situation to be in.

Pens were still playing a modified low collapse until the California trip which was in the very beginning of March. I did not claim that goals against were higher; I claimed that there were more goals directly due to system failures.

So far, you've addressed the defensive zone system and transition to defense in the neutral zone. However, the initial criticism was of the breakout and transition to offense which either you don't seem to think was an issue or seem to think was an issue caused by injuries or you don't want to address.

Johnston implemented a breakout and offensive transition system that was ill-fitting and easily scouted and prepared for. In the months of October and Novement, that system was ineffective and looked terrible. Talent on defense and offense was able to compensate for the flaws in those specific systems to a certain point. Johnston was unable to adapt the breakout and offensive transition to the NHL before injuries became prohibitive and talent couldn't overcome the flaws.

Agreed. I think PK can be coached; not that higher-IQ players who are well coached on the PK won't PK better than lower-IQ players who are similarly coached, but I do see it as something that can largely be "taught" (unlike other parts of the game, which can't be taught to any great degree due to a level of natural talent being a prerequisite).

Yeah, hockey IQ definitely has to do with it. Sutter always has his stick in the right position. There's a reason why he's constantly getting shorthanded chances aside from his speed.

But as long as you can skate and are coachable, you can eat up some shifts on the PK. I'm fine if they want to keep Sutter around to have a guy they can lean on in that situation, but there's no need to bring guys in just for that role in addition.

I honestly do not think we'll have an issue making the playoffs. Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang, MAF, etc is enough skill to hide our deficiencies to make the playoffs. We won't coast our way in, but neither do I expect to see us battling it out until the final game of the season to secure a spot.

Honestly... I don't think Martin would do a bad job here. I mean I would have loved Babcock, but could easily handle Martin.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I hate watching Sutter play. He is reason #1 why I will not purchase the center ice package for the first time in over a decade.

DUMP ADAMS has now been replaced by DUMP SUTTER!

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I hate watching Sutter play. He is reason #1 why I will not purchase the center ice package for the first time in over a decade.

DUMP ADAMS has now been replaced by DUMP SUTTER!

This partly angers me and I partly agree.

First off, he's like Kesler in the sense that he creates for himself and only himself, if you give him linemates that can dish him the puck and have a broader vision offensively, his numbers will go up. But even he struggled with the changing of wingers constantly with injuries, so that wasn't all that fair to him but he still scored 20 goals given that.

He's passive. We all hate that. Very very passive for a big man that is the 3rd line C, that is never going to change unless he wants to. It's why I think a duo of Kunitz & Bennett would be his perfect wingers. They fill in his gaps.

But he brings stable 2-way play, is a solid defender with his stick on the pk and is a good part of the Pens PK and why it didn't struggle mightily when Staal was gone. So there are pro's. Like the fact that he does skate well for a big man and he has a good shot and chemistry with Bennett. They just need a 3rd cog in the line.

But at the deadline, if JR has a 3rd line rental lined up to the team that wants Sutter and will pay a solid package for him (a 1st attached), pull the trigger and see ya later.

 

[steveg]

Riptide --

I totally agree with you, on Martin. Though I'm not near ready to say Johnston can't be a good coach (I feel the jury is still out, and I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt), I would have NO problem with Martin as a "plan B." At all...

 

[steveg]

It's why I think a duo of Kunitz & Bennett would be his perfect wingers. They fill in his gaps.

GIVEN that it seems like it will be tough to move CK, and IF some portion of Kunitz' issues last season were indeed the iron thing, and the foot, such that he still has a little "game" left, then I couldn't agree with you more -- I really like the idea of a Kunitz-Sutter-Bennett third line. Seems like one that should be decent both defensively and offensively...

 

[Beauner]

GIVEN that it seems like it will be tough to move CK, and IF some portion of Kunitz' issues last season were indeed the iron thing, and the foot, such that he still has a little "game" left, then I couldn't agree with you more -- I really like the idea of a Kunitz-Sutter-Bennett third line. Seems like one that should be decent both defensively and offensively...

I couldn't agree more here, but everybody and their mother knows Dupuis won't be on the fourth line. He'll be with Crosby *shudder* or on the third line, which I think is more likely. This team still shows deference to vets.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

GIVEN that it seems like it will be tough to move CK, and IF some portion of Kunitz' issues last season were indeed the iron thing, and the foot, such that he still has a little "game" left, then I couldn't agree with you more -- I really like the idea of a Kunitz-Sutter-Bennett third line. Seems like one that should be decent both defensively and offensively...

Kunitz's problem all seem rest/rehab related for me, at worst, his game would likely translate better to the 3rd line now than it did in the top 6. I would love to see him pot 50pts off the 3rd line with Sutter netting 40-45 and Bennett in similar range (20g/25a or more). It hinges on how strong Bennett has gotten and how healthy Kunitz is with his foot and those darned iron pills.

 

[M0NTY26]

I hate watching Sutter play. He is reason #1 why I will not purchase the center ice package for the first time in over a decade.

DUMP ADAMS has now been replaced by DUMP SUTTER!

Chances are you get Center Ice for free this year, though… if you haven't seen the class action suit I posted about, search for the thread. Should still be on the front page.

 

[Riptide]

Kunitz's problem all seem rest/rehab related for me, at worst, his game would likely translate better to the 3rd line now than it did in the top 6. I would love to see him pot 50pts off the 3rd line with Sutter netting 40-45 and Bennett in similar range (20g/25a or more). It hinges on how strong Bennett has gotten and how healthy Kunitz is with his foot and those darned iron pills.

I do not think that is the case. If he can sort out his iron issue, he should be a lot better than last season. Which means he could be a valid option in the top 6 (as long as he's opposite to Kessel or Perron).

I think it's going to come down to: He's either solved his issues and will be an effective player, which means where he plays will be dependent on his fit, or he won't be, and he'll be in the bottom 6 because he's just not good enough to play higher up in the lineup. Personally I think it'll be the former.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I do not think that is the case. If he can sort out his iron issue, he should be a lot better than last season. Which means he could be a valid option in the top 6 (as long as he's opposite to Kessel or Perron).

I think it's going to come down to: He's either solved his issues and will be an effective player, which means where he plays will be dependent on his fit, or he won't be, and he'll be in the bottom 6 because he's just not good enough to play higher up in the lineup. Personally I think it'll be the former.

Well, great would be if the Pens just shipped Kunitz and kept Dupuis (because he'd be tougher to move) and rolled with something like this...

Plotnikov, Crosby, Kessel
Perron, Malkin, Hornqvist
Dupuis, Sutter, Bennett
Farnham, Sundqvist, Rust

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Kunitz's problem all seem rest/rehab related for me, at worst, his game would likely translate better to the 3rd line now than it did in the top 6. I would love to see him pot 50pts off the 3rd line with Sutter netting 40-45 and Bennett in similar range (20g/25a or more). It hinges on how strong Bennett has gotten and how healthy Kunitz is with his foot and those darned iron pills.

Do people really think Kunitz is going to play on the 3rd line?

Really?

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Do people really think Kunitz is going to play on the 3rd line?

Really?

No, but at least he's not competing with BB or Spaling for top 6 duty any more. I do believe that if he sucks, he will be demoted eventually.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Do people really think Kunitz is going to play on the 3rd line?

Really?

I think with a more loaded top 6 with healthy guys and not only Kessel as an option but potentially Plotnikov as well, Kunitz has to be on his A game, which if he is, is that a bad thing? I think previously, Kunitz might have been comfortable because of a lack of depth and his contract.

This time around, not the same. The team can and will move him because they have the depth to.

I don't expect any team to say "yeah we'll shop him around, see what we can get" they'll say what they have been saying.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

No, but at least he's not competing with BB or Spaling for top 6 duty any more. I do believe that if he sucks, he will be demoted eventually.

Well, Perron got demoted before Kunitz last year too. Maybe an extra top 6 option like Kessel will be enough to push him out, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Well, Perron got demoted before Kunitz last year too. Maybe an extra top 6 option like Kessel will be enough to push him out, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Well, he has to beat out 2 of:

Plotnikov
Dupuis
Perron
BB

I see two better players as of right now in Perron and Dupuis, health notwithstanding, and 3 of 4 of those are arguably better fits when you consider Plots style.

And 3 of 4 of those players are also playing for their next contract, and Dupuis is going to be ultra-motivated because he's a nut.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Dupuis never needs motivation. The man loves the sport like no other, he literally put his health on the line to keep playing.

I don't think you can ever question where his drive and heart are at with this sport, ever.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Well, he has to beat out 2 of:

Plotnikov
Dupuis
Perron
BB

I see two better players as of right now in Perron and Dupuis, health notwithstanding, and 3 of 4 of those are arguably better fits when you consider Plots style.

And 3 of 4 of those players are also playing for their next contract, and Dupuis is going to be ultra-motivated because he's a nut.

You don't need to convince me of other players' merits over Kunitz. The problem's that he's entrenched regardless of his relative worth.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Well, he has to beat out 2 of:

Plotnikov
Dupuis
Perron
BB

I see two better players as of right now in Perron and Dupuis, health notwithstanding, and 3 of 4 of those are arguably better fits when you consider Plots style.

And 3 of 4 of those players are also playing for their next contract, and Dupuis is going to be ultra-motivated because he's a nut.

Thats just the thing now with Kessel in tow.
They won't be slapping together the top 6 with 3 wingers(sans Horny) and praying something works.
Theres a bunch of players available to work 2 spots now.
There will be lots of experimentation imo and those 2 spots are a toss up right now.
No ones being handed the spots.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

He's entrenched with Morehouse, Guerin, Fitzgerald, and Botterill.

JR has no ties to the guy whatsoever and would likely move him if an offer presented itself and they didn't fight him on it.

 

[steveg]

You don't need to convince me of other players' merits over Kunitz. The problem's that he's entrenched regardless of his relative worth.

I am not sure that I agree that he's entrenched. YES, he was entrenched in the past. But, he did spend some time last season on the 2nd and even third lines -- but more importantly and more to the point, I think, is this: you don't, as a team, make a big move for a big name, true "star" type talent at wing, unless you are stating that you see a need to execute a major upgrade to your top 6. I think the move for Kessel says very clearly that the team saw a major deficiency in the top 6, and it needed to be addressed in a big way. Clearly, the deficiency in the top 6 was not Hornqvist, and I don't think it is seen as being Perron (as Perron was clearly brought in to HELP FIX the top 6). That implies that it is other wings spending time in top-6 spots that are seen as being in need of upgrade. To me, there's strong suggestion overall that Kunitz is one of the pieces that the team saw as "needing to be upgraded."

That's not to say that if Kunitz is truly "over" whatever possible foot and "iron" issues may have dogged him last year, and is playing at a true top-6 level, that he won't spend time there -- and rightfully so. If he earns it, I don't think anyone here would have a problem with him playing on Crosby's or Malkin's wing. But, to think he'll be glued to one of those two "just because," well, I think this is finally the year where the team is moving away from that idea. I truly do.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

He's entrenched with Morehouse, Guerin, Fitzgerald, and Botterill.

JR has no ties to the guy whatsoever and would likely move him if an offer presented itself and they didn't fight him on it.

Whoever the guy's biggest cheerleader is, none of the brass you mentioned run the bench, and our biggest problem was that Mr.Teflon was going to stay in the top 6 last year no matter how badly he played. Until MJ proves that he's capable of doing otherwise, I'm going to assume that Kunitz will be playing on a scoring line for as long as he's with the team.

Last season's farce drained the optimism out of me on that front.

 

[mpp9]

I'm not letting Kunitz ruin how much fun a team with Kessel, Crosby and Malkin will be. I'm going to hope he makes it difficult on Perron and Plotnikov to have spots in the top 6.

We'll see how entrenched Kunitz is when there are legit options.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Am I allowed to express doubt in the severity of Kunitz's "iron issues" and the fatigue that resulted from it considering his icetime stayed more or less exactly the same (which is to say a lot) after it was announced?

Kunitz is really getting some admirable treatment around here, lately. I think people need to go back and watch some film.

Let me also toss my hat in the "major doubts about the coach" ring. FWIW.

 

[steveg]

I'm going to hope he makes it difficult on Perron and Plotnikov to have spots in the top 6.

We'll see how entrenched Kunitz is when there are legit options.

Exactly how I see it. IF he indeed manages to make it difficult on Perron and Plotnikov, then it's nothing but a win-win for both us, and the team...