Salary Cap: 2014-2015 Roster Building Thread - Part V for Vendetta | Don't Hate on Greasy Neal!

[Darth Vitale]

Part V:

This offseason needs to begin the complete destruction and rebuild that the 2 stooges put into motion over 4 years ago. Obviously you can't rely on FA alone to rebuild a team and there are a handful of guys that we all agree should be traded, for anything really. However, we know who the 2014 FA crop will be and there are some intriguing names out there, that could help in key areas we are lacking.

The first order of business, would be to obviously fire Bylsma (his entire staff) and Shero. That should happen the moment we're eliminated, which i pray is this round. Everything beyond that is pointless until they are gone, which we all pray happens.

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/

There are the 2014 FA's. If the cap does increase into the 70-71M range, we would be sitting in the 15M range in terms of space available. That is without signing and RFA's/UFA's from our own team.

I want to break it down into groups.

Group 1:
Players that NEED TO WALK (IE. don't even offer them the time of day).

1. Glass
2. Engo
3. Kobasew
4. Orpik
5. Pyatt
6. Vokoun

Most of those guys are a major reason for the **** we're in. They are easily replaceable by guys already in the system or relatively cheap FA signings from other teams. Didn't include AHL level FA's.

Group 2:
Players that NEED TO RE-SIGN (IE. proved their worth and need to be brought back)

1. Niskanen
2. Vitale
3. Despres (RFA, possibly trade bait)
4. Gibbons (RFA)
5. Megna (RFA)

Nisky has blossomed into a legit #3 and while his price tag will jump north of 4M per, i think given his age and skill set, is worth it at 4.5M per, give or take a little. Vitale is the perfect 4th liner. Every team should have a guy like him. He'll be cheap. Couple of RFA's that obviously need to be kept.

Group 3:
Players that COULD BE KEPT (for the right price, length of term)

1. Sutter (RFA)
2. Goc
3. Jokinen
4. Stemp

Sutter may or may not be worth it, depending on what the trade market is like and whether or not we could lure a Bolland type in FA. Goc, Joki and Stemp could all be pieces but i'm not paying them more then they make now and they wouldn't be first choices.

Now we can look at FA's from other teams that would make sense, depending on what we do with our own players.

Forwards:

1. Bolland
2. Kulemin
3. Winnik

I like Bolland a lot as a #3C. Winnik would be a wonderful fit as a 3/4. Big body, can move people and chip in offensively.

Defenseman:

There really aren't any guys that pop out in the FA class, and quite frankly, if we bring back Nisky and use the plethora of depth we have within the system, we really don't need to dip into the FA pool.

Goaltenders:

1. Halak
2. Brian Elliott

Halak is my sleeper signing for this offseason. He's always been pretty good and flashed elite skills, namely against us a few years back in the postseason. He put up very good numbers this year and at 28 isn't as old as a guy like Miller and won't command near that much cash. IF we can get Fleury out of the mix, he's my #1 target. A 3 year contract would be about perfect as we develop our own young players in Jarry and Murray. Elliott would be a great backup.

Players that i'd absolutely explore trading:

1. Fleury (don't care if we literally give him away)
2. Letang
3. Scuderi (for anything really)
4. Neal
5. Sutter

Players that i'd listen to offers on or use in package for a top 6 winger/top 4 dman:

1. Despres (probably in package deal with one of the guys above)
2. Bennett (see Despres)


Ideally, we could target players like Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd, David Perron, Bobby Ryan, Clarke MacArthur, Ryan Kesler, 1st round picks etc. A goalie like Reimer could come into play.

Anyway, post your thoughts on the upcoming FA's and where we should go with our own players as well as guys from other teams.

Updated the contract chart for the offseason.

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries, and are taken directly from www.capgeek.com.

Projected 2014-2015 salary ceiling: ...~68-71,000,000
Projected cap spending: ..........................55,119,167
Projected cap space: .......................~12-15,880,833



PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Forward.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

Evgeni Malkin|

C​

|

27​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

Sidney Crosby|

C​

|

26​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

James Neal|

RW​

|

26​

|

5,000,000​

|

5,000,000​

|

5,000,000​

Chris Kunitz|

LW​

|

34​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

Pascal Dupuis|

RW​

|

34​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

Beau Bennett|

LW​

|

21​

|

900,000​

|

RFA​

Craig Adams|

RW​

|

36​

|

700,000​

|

UFA​

Defense.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

2014-15​

|

.2015-16​

Kris Letang|

D​

|

26​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

Paul Martin|

D​

|

32​

|

5,000,000​

|

UFA​

Rob Scuderi|

D​

|

34​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

Olli Maatta|

D​

|

19​

|

894,167​

|

894,167​

|

RFA​

Robert Bortuzzo|

D​

|

24​

|

600,000​

|

RFA​

Goalie...................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

2014-15​

|

.2015-16​

Marc-Andre Fleury|

G​

|

28​

|

5,000,000​

|

UFA​

Jeff Zatkoff|

G​

|

26​

|

600,000​

|

600,000​

|

UFA​

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

Scott Wilson|

LW​

|

21​

|

655,000​

|

655,000​

|

RFA​

Bryan Rust|

RW​

|

22​

|

652,500​

|

652,500​

|

RFA​

Matia Marcantuoni|

C​

|

19​

|

633,333​

|

633,333​

|

633,333​

Adam Payerl|

RW​

|

22​

|

626,667​

|

RFA​

Anton Zlobin|

LW​

|

20​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

20​

|

601,667​

|

RFA​

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

21​

|

598,333​

|

RFA​

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond|

RW​

|

28​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Josh Archibald|

RW​

|

21​

|

TBA​

|

TBA​

|

TBA​

Defense.............................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

Derrick Pouliot|

D​

|

19​

|

894,167​

|

894,167​

|

894,167​

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

22​

|

831,667​

|

RFA​

Harrison Ruopp|

D​

|

20​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

|

RFA​

Nick D'Agostino|

D​

|

23​

|

625,000​

|

RFA​

Scott Harrington|

D​

|

20​

|

589,167​

|

589,167​

|

RFA​

Reid McNeill|

D​

|

21​

|

575,000​

|

RFA​

Goalie................................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

Matt Murray|

G​

|

19​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

Eric Hartzell|

G​

|

24​

|

550,000​

|

RFA​

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

News and notes​

Brooks Orpik|

D​

|

33​

|

3,750,000​

|Longest-tenured Penguin has lost a step or six. Free Candy now a Milk Dud

Jussi Jokinen|

LW​

|

30​

|

3,000,000​

|Only counted for $2.1M against Pens cap, can get a bigger raise elsewhere

Lee Stempniak|

RW​

|

31​

|

2,500,000​

|Surprisingly good stickhandler likely too pricey for a third-liner on this team

Matt Niskanen|

D​

|

26​

|

2,300,000​

|So that's what a contract year looks like. Unaffordable unless Letang is dealt?

Tomas Vokoun|

G​

|

37​

|

2,000,000​

|God bless the man if he's able to continue playing, but it won't be in Pittsburgh

Marcel Goc|

C​

|

30​

|

1,700,000​

|Need to figure out what they want to do with Sutter before deciding on him

Taylor Pyatt|

LW​

|

32​

|

1,550,000​

|At least they didn't have to give up anything to get him in the first place? Ugh

Tanner Glass|

LW​

|

29​

|

1,100,000​

|Inevitable “Glass re-signs” thread will surely be the board's most anticipated

Spencer Machacek|

RW​

|

25​

|

632,500​

|Group VI UFA provided much-needed scoring touch for WBS after trade

Deryk Engelland|

D​

|

31​

|

566,667​

|Dressing him over Bortuzzo makes Baby Jesus cry

Joe Vitale|

C​

|

28​

|

550,000​

|May want to test the market after getting limited minutes in Pittsburgh

Brian Gibbons|

C​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|Get legal to start drafting that Must Never Appear On Crosby Line clause

Zach Sill|

C​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|Nasty cut from a skate cost him shot at extended look with the big club

Chuck Kobasew|

RW​

|

31​

|

550,000​

|Was on 82-goal pace through two games before contracting polio

Chris Conner|

RW​

|

29​

|

550,000​

|C'mon, Habs – you know you need another 5-foot-9 perimeter winger

Harry Zolnierczyk|

LW​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|Group VI UFA was franchise's best convicted sex offender since Tibbetts

Andrew Ebbett|

C​

|

30​

|

550,000​

|Near-point-per-game pace with WBS will likely look for a better NHL shot

Nick Drazenovic|

C​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's top scorer not named Kostopoulos

Brendan Mikkelson|

D​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|Top-10 scoring defenseman in the AHL this past season

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player......................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

News and notes​

Brandon Sutter|

C​

|

24​

|

2,066,667​

|Owners caught Shero sewing KESLER onto 16's jersey at night while sobbing

Jayson Megna|

RW​

|

23​

|

925,000​

|”Promising Pens Winger” label remarkably similar to “Office Hot” concept

Simon Despres|

D​

|

22​

|

840,000​

| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etZpup-GtLw

Philip Samuelsson|

D​

|

22​

|

627,500​

|New extension should be long enough for Jack Neely to be draft-eligible

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

24​

|

550,000​

|Remains one of the most aggravating players in the AHL

SIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team​

|

Contract​

Tristan Jarry|

G​

|

18​

|

Edmonton (WHL)​

|

3 years/650,833 per​

Jean-Sebastien Dea|

C​

|

19​

|

Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)​

|

3 years/598,333 per​

UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

​

​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team (League)​

Dane Birks|

D​

|

18​

|Merritt (BCHL)

Teddy Blueger|

F​

|

19​

|Minnesota State (WCHA)

Blaine Byron|

F​

|

18​

|Maine (HEA)

Jake Guentzel|

F​

|

18​

|Nebraska-Omaha (WCHA)

Troy Josephs|

F​

|

19​

|St. Michael's (OJHL)

Sean Maguire|

G​

|

20​

|Boston University (HEA)

Alexander Pechurskiy|

G​

|

23​

|Orsk (VHL)

Ryan Segalla|

D​

|

18​

|Dubuque (USHL)

Clark Seymour|

D​

|

20​

|Peterborough (OHL)

Oskar Sundqvist|

F​

|

19​

|Skellefteå (SHL)

Click to read more...

 

[Darth Vitale]

And enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. Grab your designated drivers and have fun.

 

[iamjs]

scratch Elliott off the list. Signed with the Blues yesterday.

After an unsuccessful run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the St. Louis Blues have signed netminder Brian Elliott to a three-year, $7.5 million extension and will let goaltender Ryan Miller turn unrestricted free agent in July.

Elliott will team up with incumbent Jake Allen for the 2014-15 season, according to Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

http://gantdaily.com/2014/05/20/blues-sign-netminder-brian-elliott-to-extension/

I also thought Pechursky/Pechurskiy was no longer considered Pens' property. He would have needed to have been qualified after the 2011 season, and as far as I know that never happened.

 

[joeyjake5]

I am going to make one last request for every one on this board. When structuring a team for next year, don't include Scuds. Mario wants a Fast team with GRIT. Here are the great stats for Scuds this year. 53 regular season games with no goals 4 assists and a minus 8.
13 playoff games , 0 goals and 0 assists and a minus 4. And you are paying him 3.4MM for the next 3 years. Wow what a return on your investment. He simply must go. Scuds has absolutely no speed, grit and offensive capability and there is no way he is going to get better next year. HE MUST GO.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Trade Sutter, Pouliot, and a 1st (if necessary) for Kesler.
Sign Kulemin for 3 - 3.5 mil per.
Sign Nisky for 4.5 - 5 mil per (I think he'll want to stay here).
Sign Bolland for 3.5 - 4 mil per.
Trade for cost-effective young keeper (Jones/Reimer) or sign vet goalie on the cheap (Brodeur/Vokoun).
Move Scuds to make room.
Move Fleury.

Kunitz - Crosby - Kesler
Kulemin - Malkin - Neal
Bennett - Bolland - Dupuis
Megna - Vitale - Gibbons

Martin - Letang
Maatta - Nisky
Despres - Bort

Jones/Reimer/Brodeur/Vokoun
Zatkoff

 

[mpp9]

Trade Sutter, Pouliot, and a 1st (if necessary) for Kesler.
Sign Kulemin for 3 - 3.5 mil per.
Sign Nisky for 4.5 - 5 mil per (I think he'll want to stay here).
Sign Bolland for 3.5 - 4 mil per.
Trade for cost-effective young keeper (Jones/Reimer) or sign vet goalie on the cheap (Brodeur/Vokoun).
Move Scuds to make room.
Move Fleury.

Kunitz - Crosby - Kesler
Kulemin - Malkin - Neal
Bennett - Bolland - Dupuis
Megna - Vitale - Gibbons

Martin - Letang
Maatta - Nisky
Despres - Bort

Jones/Reimer/Brodeur/Vokoun
Zatkoff

I'd be willing to keep Fleury around if a young goalie can't be had. But yeah, I think with the GM and coach gone, now is the time to move on from him. Or we never will.

Bolland was reported to want 5 mil or more. Can't afford him. Just re-sign Goc.

Aside from that, I'd love that offseason.

 

[strandvag]

Trade Sutter, Pouliot, and a 1st (if necessary) for Kesler.
Sign Kulemin for 3 - 3.5 mil per.
Sign Nisky for 4.5 - 5 mil per (I think he'll want to stay here).
Sign Bolland for 3.5 - 4 mil per.
Trade for cost-effective young keeper (Jones/Reimer) or sign vet goalie on the cheap (Brodeur/Vokoun).
Move Scuds to make room.
Move Fleury.

Kunitz - Crosby - Kesler
Kulemin - Malkin - Neal
Bennett - Bolland - Dupuis
Megna - Vitale - Gibbons

Martin - Letang
Maatta - Nisky
Despres - Bort

Jones/Reimer/Brodeur/Vokoun
Zatkoff

Wouldn't do that trade for Kesler even if I had a gun to my head

 

[Ziggyjoe21]

Fleury has 1 more year on his deal, and he played well this year, including the playoffs. Getting rid of him would make the team worse. Let him play out this last year of his contract then assess. Even if they get rid of him, all the available options are inferior to Fleury in every way. He's a no brainer to stay, IMO.

 

[Ogrezilla]

I'd gift Bennett a spot next to Geno if it means we never see Dupuis in the top 6 ever again.

If those are the only two options I would too.

I'm all for adding forward depth via trade and free agency. But to assume that we can have Beau and Dupuis on our third line at this point is a bit wishful thinking. We're likely to let Jokinen walk, so that leaves two holes in our top 6. Unless we spend big in free agency, it'll require trading with another team.

But as you say, they aren't the only two options. We should try to get (I think we flat out need) one surefire top six wing and we should do everything we can to try to get at least someone else who can compete with Bennett. In theory, being able to compete with Bennett also means they're good enough to fill in a top 6 spot when injuries arise. And likely at the start of the year, when Bennett might not be back yet.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Wouldn't do that trade for Kesler even if I had a gun to my head

I presume you have a better idea for Crosby's wing.

I'd be willing to keep Fleury around if a young goalie can't be had. But yeah, I think with the GM and coach gone, now is the time to move on from him. Or we never will.

Bolland was reported to want 5 mil or more. Can't afford him. Just re-sign Goc.

Aside from that, I'd love that offseason.

Hadn't heard that. Hard for me to imagine he'd get that after a couple injury-plagued seasons, but if so, you're right...we'd be better off just re-signing Goc.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Fleury has 1 more year on his deal, and he played well this year, including the playoffs. Getting rid of him would make the team worse. Let him play out this last year of his contract then assess. Even if they get rid of him, all the available options are inferior to Fleury in every way. He's a no brainer to stay, IMO.

Only relative to his previous post-seasons. He was good against CBJ, but mediocre overall.

I'd take my chances that we can do better.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Only relative to his previous post-seasons. He was good against CBJ, but mediocre overall.

I'd take my chances that we can do better.

I wouldn't get rid of him until we do though. Don't trade FLeury at the draft and then hope for a UFA or something stupid like that.

 

[mpp9]

Hadn't heard that. Hard for me to imagine he'd get that after a couple injury-plagued seasons, but if so, you're right...we'd be better off just re-signing Goc.

Nick Kypreos@RealKyper
Bolland seeking 7 or 8 yr #Leafs exten' that could max out over 40m. Is he worth it? Tune into HC @ noon for the latest. FAN590 @Sportsnet

Even if he'd give us a discount to come to a contending team, he obviously wants term. You don't give a 3C who's as injured as often as he is a longterm deal. He wants money that reflects a more prominent role on his team.

Goc with Beau and Dupes is as good a third line as we should need with the team built properly around Sid and Geno. The top two lines can do the heavy lifting if we handle this offseason right.

 

[Fordy]

no idea why everyone and their mother considers Niskanen important to this team

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Even if he'd give us a discount to come to a contending team, he obviously wants term. You don't give a 3C who's as injured as often as he is a longterm deal. He wants money that reflects a more prominent role on his team.

Goc with Beau and Dupes is as good a third line as we should need with the team built properly around Sid and Geno. The top two lines can do the heavy lifting if we handle this offseason right.

Agreed. That's too much money and term.

I wouldn't get rid of him until we do though. Don't trade FLeury at the draft and then hope for a UFA or something stupid like that.

That's fair. But I want him gone.

no idea why everyone and their mother considers Niskanen important to this team

He's our only durable top 4 defenseman, and we already have one top 4 defenseman doubtful for the start of next year.
He was our best defenseman last year.
He's the only point man on our PP who will shoot, and he shoots well.

 

[Ziggyjoe21]

Only relative to his previous post-seasons. He was good against CBJ, but mediocre overall.

I'd take my chances that we can do better.

During the Rangers series they set the franchise record for least amount of goals given up in a 7 game playoff series. Fleury played as well as he needed to beat the Rangers.

"taking chances" blindly and hoping to end up better is not how pro sports works unless you're the Islanders and Browns. There are very few starting caliber goalies available, and those that are available are way past their prime (miller, hiller) and inferior to Fleury.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Trade Sutter, Pouliot, and a 1st (if necessary) for Kesler.
Sign Kulemin for 3 - 3.5 mil per.
Sign Nisky for 4.5 - 5 mil per (I think he'll want to stay here).
Sign Bolland for 3.5 - 4 mil per.
Trade for cost-effective young keeper (Jones/Reimer) or sign vet goalie on the cheap (Brodeur/Vokoun).
Move Scuds to make room.
Move Fleury.

Kunitz - Crosby - Kesler
Kulemin - Malkin - Neal
Bennett - Bolland - Dupuis
Megna - Vitale - Gibbons

Martin - Letang
Maatta - Nisky
Despres - Bort

Jones/Reimer/Brodeur/Vokoun
Zatkoff

Won't say I like everything here, RRP, but the basis of it is a great start.

Sutter may not be the starting point for Kesler now so maybe they can do it with another route?

 

[mpp9]

I have no problem paying Nisky up to 5 on a longterm deal. But we absolutely need some leeway when it comes to a NTC in the first couple years. If his play takes a nose dive and/or some of our young guys are badly outplaying him, then we need to maximize our pool of trade partners.

 

[themethod7]

Would love to keep him but he's not going to be worth whatever contract he signs next year. Unless he takes a major hometown discount and signs here for $4-4.5, he'll be playing elsewhere next year and most likely making $5-6+ million.

 

[Fordy]

Agreed. That's too much money and term.



That's fair. But I want him gone.



He's our only durable top 4 defenseman, and we already have one top 4 defenseman doubtful for the start of next year.
He was our best defenseman last year.
He's the only point man on our PP who will shoot, and he shoots well.

None of that is true.

Maatta, Bortuzzo, and Despres missed the same amount of games to injury. 0. They all play tougher than Niskanen.

Not even close. Martin was and is our best defensemen. This is laughable.

Despres will shoot and shoot well. Him, Maatta, and Martin can all pass better too. Nobody will be missing Niskanen.

And he disappeared in the playoffs again. What a valuable player.

 

[pensfan71]

I'm not making that Kesler trade anymore....no way do I want to give up that first round pick anymore...

 

[Bishop7979]

Trade Sutter, Pouliot, and a 1st (if necessary) for Kesler.
Sign Kulemin for 3 - 3.5 mil per.
Sign Nisky for 4.5 - 5 mil per (I think he'll want to stay here).
Sign Bolland for 3.5 - 4 mil per.
Trade for cost-effective young keeper (Jones/Reimer) or sign vet goalie on the cheap (Brodeur/Vokoun).
Move Scuds to make room.
Move Fleury.

Kunitz - Crosby - Kesler
Kulemin - Malkin - Neal
Bennett - Bolland - Dupuis
Megna - Vitale - Gibbons

Martin - Letang
Maatta - Nisky
Despres - Bort

Jones/Reimer/Brodeur/Vokoun
Zatkoff

Trading MAF to replace him with a vastly inferior goaltender makes no sense, Broduer hasn't been a starting goalie for the past two seasons now, vokoun hasn't played in a year, reimer just lost his starting job and looked awful doing it.

And just what do you think we are giving up to get Jones from LA? At this point MAF is the best we can do, and its not like he was bad this year, he actually played well during the regular season and was solid in the majority of the playoff games that he played in this year.

That fourth line is too soft/small. Everyone complained this past season that we didn't have enough grit in our line up, well this line up is worse. It's not that I dislike Gibbons.Megna, its that they are miscast on our team. We need size and grit in the bottom six which neither provides, but neither provides enough skill to be legit top six wingers for Sid or Geno on a team that has aspirations of winning anything.

IF you are trading for Kesler I am in the group that would rather see him stay at center where he is most effective. Why not try a top six that has
Bennett Sid Geno
Kunitz Kesler Neal

Bring Goc back or sign an equivalent third line center who would be cheaper than Bolland and add a guy like Winik

Winik, Goc, Duper

then build a mean fast fourth line around vitale

 

[cheesedanish87]

I don't get the argument that you can't get better goalies then MAF, hes a very mediocre goalie who is payed like one of the better goalies in the league, 915 save percentage isn't hard to find, goalies are everywhere.

Look at this Tokarski guy, i never even heard of him before, granted hes only played a couple games, but hes played better in these couple games then i'v seen MAF play in the playoffs in the last 5 years.

If you don't have an elite goalie, which the pens obviously don't have, then go out and get a goalie for 1-2 million that will put up mediocre numbers just like MAF will and save the extra 3-4 million in cap space.

 

[Whale Mingo]

Fleury has 1 more year on his deal, and he played well this year, including the playoffs. Getting rid of him would make the team worse. Let him play out this last year of his contract then assess. Even if they get rid of him, all the available options are inferior to Fleury in every way. He's a no brainer to stay, IMO.

The best thing that can be said about Fleury is he's NOT the reason we lost this year. Other than that he's average at best playing behind a powerful offensive team. If we can get someone just as good for less we are in a position that we have to to do that.

I have no problem paying Nisky up to 5 on a longterm deal. But we absolutely need some leeway when it comes to a NTC in the first couple years. If his play takes a nose dive and/or some of our young guys are badly outplaying him, then we need to maximize our pool of trade partners.

This is the exact thinking that got Shero fired. I'm not accusing Niskanen of stepping up his game at contract time, but that is exactly how it worked out, good for him. He's a 5th D-Man and probably always will be. There is no need to give him $5MM+ long term with any kind of NMC when we can fill that spot for MUCH less money.

Like it or not, difficult decisions will have to be made and cap space has to be included in every decision. If we have to use someone a bit less talented (Despres instead of Nisky) to save a few million in cap space then that's what we have to do right now. Shero has us in a bind cap-wise with marginal players past their prime making too much money/cap space. I do not think it's all doom and gloom. With the right GM and right coach and right system we can put a team out there that will compete for the Cup next year. Unpopular decisions will have to be made and it they don't work out the fans will turn on them though, but that is the risk the next group has to take.

 

[mpp9]

I'd trade Scuds and keep Nisky. There's your cap room. And for those who want both gone, we're not going into next season with two vet D-men. I'm all for a youth movement, but that's not happening. No contender does that.