Salary Cap: You've never heard of the HFBoard Pens? It did the Kessel Run in 982 posts Part IX

[IcedCapp]

I'm sure someone with expert photoshop'er could make a good picture reference.

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries.

Projected 2015-16 salary ceiling: ....71,500,000
Projected 2015-16 cap spending: ....58,595,000
Projected offseason cap space: .......12,905,000



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​

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​

|

35​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

|

UFA​

Brandon Sutter|

C​

|

26​

|

3,300,000​

|

UFA​

Nick Spaling|

LW​

|

26​

|

2,200,000​

|

UFA​

Defense.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

.2017-18​

Kris Letang|

D​

|

27​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

Rob Scuderi|

D​

|

36​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

|

UFA​

Ben Lovejoy|

D​

|

31​

|

1,100,000​

|

UFA​

Olli Maatta|

D​

|

20​

|

894,167​

|

RFA​

Derrick Pouliot|

D​

|

21​

|

863,333​

|

863,333​

|

RFA​

Goalie............,.......​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

.2017-18​

Marc-Andre Fleury|

G​

|

30​

|

5,750,000​

|

5,750,000​

|

5,750,000​

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Kasperi Kapanen|

RW​

|

18​

|

925,000​

|

925,000​

|

925,000​

Josh Archibald|

RW​

|

22​

|

659,167​

|

659,167​

|

RFA​

Scott Wilson|

LW​

|

22​

|

655,000​

|

RFA​

Bryan Rust|

RW​

|

22​

|

652,500​

|

RFA​

Anton Zlobin|

LW​

|

22​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Matia Marcantuoni|

C​

|

21​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Jean-Sebastien Dea|

C​

|

21​

|

598,333​

|

598,333​

|

RFA​

Defense...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Niclas Andersen|

D​

|

27​

|

TBA​

|

UFA​

Harrison Ruopp|

D​

|

21​

|

650,833​

|

RFA​

Scott Harrington|

D​

|

21​

|

589,167​

|

RFA​

Goalie..................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

|

2017-18​

Tristan Jarry|

G​

|

19​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

Matt Murray|

G​

|

20​

|

620,000​

|

620,000​

|

RFA​

Jeff Zatkoff|

G​

|

27​

|

600,000​

|

UFA​

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

News and notes​

Paul Martin|

D​

|

33​

|

5,000,000​

|The rare fairly paid UFA last time around. Too pricey now

Christian Ehrhoff|

D​

|

32​

|

4,000,000​

|Will be happy to escape the voodoo curse on Pens' blueline

Daniel Winnik|

LW​

|

29​

|

1,300,000​

|Expected contract makes more sense for another team

Maxim Lapierre|

C​

|

29​

|

1,100,000​

|Reasonable fourth-line playoff center if priced right

Steve Downie|

RW​

|

27​

|

1,000,000​

|Sparkplug or outright liability with the refs?

Thomas Greiss|

G​

|

29​

|

1,000,000​

|Sure to be moving on with rest of Pens' goalies thriving

Jayson Megna|

RW​

|

25​

|

874,125​

|Group 6 UFA who doesn't have much incentive to return

Blake Comeau|

LW​

|

29​

|

700,000​

|Wrist injury kept his stats -- and his pricetag -- down

Craig Adams|

RW​

|

37​

|

700,000​

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

Taylor Chorney|

D​

|

27​

|

550,000​

|Apparently under consideration to bring back to the big club

Andrew Ebbett|

C​

|

32​

|

550,000​

|Token 14th/15th forward likely to look for a better shot

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|Group 6 UFA beloved for running into people and falling down

Nick Drazenovic|

C​

|

28​

|

550,000​

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

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond|

RW​

|

29​

|

550,000​

|One of many casually discarded AHL goons

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

News and notes​

Beau Bennett|

RW​

|

23​

|

900,000​

|As likely to be traded as he is to be re-signed, it seems

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

23​

|

831,667​

|Pressure is on the front office to decide on his future

Ian Cole|

D​

|

26​

|

825,000​

|Imagine a trade deadline pickup that didn't embarrass

Adam Payerl|

RW​

|

24​

|

626,667​

|Doesn't bring much other than decent size

Nick D'Agostino|

D​

|

24​

|

625,000​

|Buried very, very deep on the depth chart at this point

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

22​

|

601,667​

|Has the makings of a serviceable fourth-liner

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

23​

|

598,333​

|Finally over the injury bug?

Reid McNeill|

D​

|

22​

|

575,000​

|Provides grit on an AHL blueline and not much more

Eric Hartzell|

G​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|Nice knowing you, kid

SIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team​

|

Contract​

Oskar Sundqvist|

C​

|

20​

|

SkellefteÃ¥ (SHL)​

|

3 years/708,333 per​

UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

​

​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team (League)​

Anthony Angello|

F​

|

18​

|Omaha (USHL)

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​

|

20​

|Clarkson (ECAC)

Sam Lafferty|

F​

|

19​

|Brown (ECAC)

Jaden Lindo|

F​

|

19​

|Owen Sound (OHL)

Sean Maguire|

G​

|

22​

|Boston University (HEA)

Alexander Pechurskiy|

G​

|

24​

|Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Ryan Segalla|

D​

|

20​

|Connecticut (HEA)

Jeff Taylor|

D​

|

20​

|Union (ECAC)

Click to read more...

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

lolol two for two on titles.

 

[66-30-33]

All your available star players belong to us.

 

[penguins2946*]

The idea that we couldn't afford to trade for Kessel because of depth would suck then is stupid. Who would we have to lose if we traded for Kessel? Sutter, Scuderi and Kunitz? Kunitz's production is more than replaced by Kessel. Sutter is well enough replaced by Spaling, who is replaced by Wilson with a slight drop off. Scuderi is upgraded to Harrington or Dumoulin. We're losing heavily paid guys that aren't difficult to replace. I don't see the issue here.

We could definitely afford Kessel too as long as we don't fill out the D and bottom-6 with super expensive players. A bottom-6 of Dupuis-Spaling-Bennett and Wilson-Sundqvist-Comeau wouldn't be at all expensive and isn't a liability. The D would definitely be suspect by trading for Kessel, but I think we could find another Ehrhoff to sign for a cheaper 1 year deal as a stopgap.

 

[pensfan71]

The idea that we couldn't afford to trade for Kessel because of depth would suck then is stupid. Who would we have to lose if we traded for Kessel? Sutter, Scuderi and Kunitz? Kunitz's production is more than replaced by Kessel. Sutter is well enough replaced by Spaling, who is replaced by Wilson with a slight drop off. Scuderi is upgraded to Harrington or Dumoulin. We're losing heavily paid guys that aren't difficult to replace. I don't see the issue here.

Issue is signing Maatta after. Do we have the capspace

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

The idea that we couldn't afford to trade for Kessel because of depth would suck then is stupid. Who would we have to lose if we traded for Kessel? Sutter, Scuderi and Kunitz? Kunitz's production is more than replaced by Kessel. Sutter is well enough replaced by Spaling, who is replaced by Wilson with a slight drop off. Scuderi is upgraded to Harrington or Dumoulin. We're losing heavily paid guys that aren't difficult to replace. I don't see the issue here.

That much is obvious. It's not just about his cap hit, it's about his cap hit coupled with what it'd take to acquire him. Toronto isn't giving Kessel away, it's going to take a significant package to get him, regardless of how his relationship with the Toronto media is.

 

[Zen Arcade]

If the Oilers actually trade the first they got in the Perron trade for Cam Talbot I don't know if I'll laugh at Edmonton or be annoyed that Sather stole a first.

 

[IcedCapp]

Issue is signing Maatta after. Do we have the capspace

Looking at the landscape of the NHL, I really struggle to think that, given how the last 15 months have gone, Maatta won't get bridged.

 

[pensfan71]

Looking at the landscape of the NHL, I really struggle to think that, given how the last 15 months have gone, Maatta won't get bridged.

Well that's my hope indeed

 

[Waffle Fries]

Yea, Hornqvist and Sid should be a pair forever and ever amen. They were dynamic, even if they couldn't produce more, in the playoffs. Will only get better, especially with a non-Kunitz LW.

Yeah. Those two absolutely can't be separated

Well you can check the lineup I posted, I have no idea how the cap works, but that is a pretty ideal lineup

Eh. I don't think it'll work unless Comeau takes a major discount. If Sekera is at 5.5M, I think the three UFAs you picked (Comeau, Matthias and Sekera) will come close to 11M. If we subbed in Spaling for Matthias at 3C, we could have a 22 man roster, but we'd be limited with injury call up options.

 

[penguins2946*]

Issue is signing Maatta after. Do we have the capspace

Maatta shouldn't be breaking the bank on his next deal. He'll likely get a long term deal worth around $4 million. The only way bringing in Kessel would bring up an issue in re-signing Maatta is if the cap drops.

That much is obvious. It's not just about his cap hit, it's about his cap hit coupled with what it'd take to acquire him. Toronto isn't giving Kessel away, it's going to take a significant package to get him, regardless of how his relationship with the Toronto media is.

I was solely addressing the lack of depth issue, which was raised by another poster in the last thread. It all depends on what we could get Kessel for. Would Sutter, Kapanen, Harrington and a 2016 1st work? If it does, we only lose Sutter from the NHL roster.

 

[BustaKapanen]

If the Oilers actually trade the first they got in the Perron trade for Cam Talbot I don't know if I'll laugh at Edmonton or be annoyed that Sather stole a first.

Just remember he traded duclair and a first for yandle so he's due for good fortune.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Looking at the landscape of the NHL, I really struggle to think that, given how the last 15 months have gone, Maatta won't get bridged.

Same here. It's in both parties best interest to go short-term with his first RFA contract. I'm not terribly worried about needing to break the bank for Olli for three years.

 

[IcedCapp]

Just remember he traded duclair and a first for yandle so he's due for good fortune.

well, i mean, if that's how trade works, then Toronto should be trading Kessel (50% retained) to us for Lovejoy or something

 

[pensfan71]

ROR is available too....

 

[BustaKapanen]

well, i mean, if that's how trade works, then Toronto should be trading Kessel (50% retained) to us for Lovejoy or something

Yes my friend we are due for good fortune lol
Then I looked at gmjrs full gm trade history and realized that of the 200 trades good fortune rarely comes

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

The idea that we couldn't afford to trade for Kessel because of depth would suck then is stupid. Who would we have to lose if we traded for Kessel? Sutter, Scuderi and Kunitz? Kunitz's production is more than replaced by Kessel. Sutter is well enough replaced by Spaling, who is replaced by Wilson with a slight drop off. Scuderi is upgraded to Harrington or Dumoulin. We're losing heavily paid guys that aren't difficult to replace. I don't see the issue here.

The issue is that we wanted to get rid of those guys anyway and upgrade both our top end and depth, not necessarily spend all the money we had tied up in those garbage bags on one player.

We could definitely afford Kessel too as long as we don't fill out the D and bottom-6 with super expensive players. A bottom-6 of Dupuis-Spaling-Bennett and Wilson-Sundqvist-Comeau wouldn't be at all expensive and isn't a liability. The D would definitely be suspect by trading for Kessel, but I think we could find another Ehrhoff to sign for a cheaper 1 year deal as a stopgap.

1) Who do you think we're trading for Kessel? It doesn't look like anyone but our favourite white elephants have been moved off the roster.

2) Who fills out the top 6?

 

[drpepper]

Just looking at cap, it's feasible for 2015-16 but becomes less feasible the next season as both Perron (UFA) and Maatta (RFA) will need new contracts. (Looking at recent history, the cap is unlikely to rise sufficiently to cover a bridge contract for Maatta much less Perron's likely raise added to it.)

Perron (3.8) Crosby (8.7) Hornqvist (4.25)
XXX () Malkin (9.5) Kessel (8)
Dupuis (3.75) XXX () Bennett (0.945)
Wilson (0.875) Sundqvist (0.926) League Min (0.675)
League Min (0.675)

Maatta (0.894) Letang (7.5)
Pouliot (1.288) Lovejoy (1.1)
Dumoulin (0.945) Cole (2)
League Min (0.675)
Scuderi Buyout (1.292)

Fleury (5.575)
Zatkoff (0.6)

Total $63.965M with ~$7M cap space for 2LW and 3C assuming $71M cap

Adding Spaling at 3C results in ~$4.8M in cap space for 2LW.

Even with Kessel, the Pens are missing a top 6 winger, any type of productive bottom 6, and at least a #3 defender plus they no longer have cap space to upgrade any of those positions over the next two seasons or the assets to improve those positions through trade or internally. People deriding depth which includes the rest of the team outside of one line of Malkin/Crosby-Kessel haven't been paying attention to the modern game.

EDIT: Assumes something like Kapanen, 2016 1st, Sutter, Harrington for Kessel, Kunitz traded for picks, and Scuderi bought out.

 

[penguins2946*]

Mantha and the 19th overall are also available. I just want the cup to be over so these trades can happen

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

ROR is available too....

I like ROR more than Kessel as a player, but I don't know if he'd want to be a wing long-term, he's not exactly a burner, and that's yet another LH shot on the PP. And then there's the contract situation.

I'm not against it, but he has some things working against him.

 

[pensfan71]

I like ROR more than Kessel as a player, but I don't know if he'd want to be a wing long-term, he's not exactly a burner, and that's yet another LH shot on the PP. And then there's the contract situation.

I'm not against it, but he has some things working against him.

I'd rather get Kessel. ROR would ask for the same amount of money or round 7M and I don't think he's worth it

 

[penguins2946*]

The issue is that we wanted to get rid of those guys anyway and upgrade both our top end and depth, not necessarily spend all the money we had tied up in those garbage bags on one player.

There is no reason we can't play young players in our bottom-6 and not have good depth from that. We don't need a Staal level 3C or something like that, we just need a cheap bottom-6 that isn't a liability. DSB and WSC accomplish both of those.

1) Who do you think we're trading for Kessel? It doesn't look like anyone but our favourite white elephants have been moved off the roster.

2) Who fills out the top 6?

I mentioned in another post that it would be Sutter, KK, Harrington and a 1st for Kessel in this hypothetical situation. The top-6 would have PCH and probably Kunitz with Malkin and Kessel, which we could afford.

 

[penguins2946*]

Just looking at cap, it's feasible for 2015-16 but becomes less feasible the next season as both Perron (UFA) and Maatta (RFA) will need new contracts. (Looking at recent history, the cap is unlikely to rise sufficiently to cover a bridge contract for Maatta much less Perron's likely raise added to it.)

Perron (3.8) Crosby (8.7) Hornqvist (4.25)
XXX () Malkin (9.5) Kessel (8)
Dupuis (3.75) XXX () Bennett (0.945)
Wilson (0.875) Sundqvist (0.926) League Min (0.675)
League Min (0.675)

Maatta (0.894) Letang (7.5)
Pouliot (1.288) Lovejoy (1.1)
Dumoulin (0.945) Cole (2)
League Min (0.675)
Scuderi Buyout (1.292)

Fleury (5.575)
Zatkoff (0.6)

Total $63.965M with ~$7M cap space for 2LW and 3C assuming $71M cap

Adding Spaling at 3C results in ~$4.8M in cap space for 2LW.

Even with Kessel, the Pens are missing a top 6 winger, any type of productive bottom 6, and at least a #3 defender plus they no longer have cap space to upgrade any of those positions over the next two seasons or the assets to improve those positions through trade or internally. People deriding depth which includes the rest of the team outside of one line of Malkin/Crosby-Kessel haven't been paying attention to the modern game.

EDIT: Assumes something like Kapanen, 2016 1st, Sutter, Harrington for Kessel, Kunitz traded for picks, and Scuderi bought out.

It really doesn't matter if they're missing 1 top-6 winger when the 2 other forwards are freaking Kessel and Malkin. Their bottom-6 doesn't need to be productive, it needs to just not be a liability. Dupuis-Spaling-Bennett is a fine 3rd line and Wilson-Sundqvist-Comeau is a solid 4th line. The Pens aren't going to sign a #3D more likely than not if their true about what they say. To upgrade those positions, they'd just let players develop into them. I know, crazy idea.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Looking at the Nash trade as maybe an example...

Nash, Delisle (who?) and a Conditional 3rd went to NYR for Dubinsky (he wasn't what he's now), Anisimov (he's never really turned into more), Erixon (He's been a nobody for a long time) and a 1st.

What can the Pens offer without killing the team? I think Jarry is likely a guy that the Leafs would really covet.


Jarry
Sutter
Spaling
Kunitz
1st
Harrington/Pouliot - We might lose one.
Total cap: 9.5m

For

Kessel
4th round pick (not overall, round)
Leivo
Granberg or Nilsson (Nilsson is a hitting machine) - If JR can get both, win.
Total: Potentially 9.6m

Then the Pens biggest issue is dumping Scuderi, if Toronto is not on his list and Toronto will take him, I would take Reimer off their hands to relieve that cap hit for Scuderi.

Perron, Crosby, Hornqvist
Bennett, Malkin, Kessel
Leivo, Sundqvist, Dupuis
UFA, Lapierre, Farnham

Cole, Letang
Maatta, Nilsson/Granberg
Dumoulin, Lovejoy

Fleury
Reimer

 

[drpepper]

It really doesn't matter if they're missing 1 top-6 winger when the 2 other forwards are freaking Kessel and Malkin. Their bottom-6 doesn't need to be productive, it needs to just not be a liability. Dupuis-Spaling-Bennett is a fine 3rd line and Wilson-Sundqvist-Comeau is a solid 4th line. The Pens aren't going to sign a #3D more likely than not if their true about what they say. To upgrade those positions, they'd just let players develop into them. I know, crazy idea.

Teams don't win without a productive bottom 6 and a much better defense.

Comeau would be too expensive with Kessel.

The Pens won't have a top 6 player in the pipeline to develop if Kapanen is part of the Kessel trade or alternatively Pouliot will go out and they won't have a #3D to develop. It's surprisingly hard to develop talent when the Pens highest picks will be 2015 2nd (provided it's not traded) and a 2016 3rd.

The Pens not signing a top 4 defenseman and relying on Maatta and Letang to stay healthy and play 25+ min a game seems like monumental stupidity using the Pens last two seasons as a template.

Because of the defense and bottom 6 but with Kessel, the Pens are unlikely to contend next season, and the following season the Pens will hit a cap crunch with re-signing Maatta and Perron without even getting a chance to contend.

Kessel solves one problem while effectively limiting the options to fill every other hole in the Pens organization.