I was firmly in the DeSmith camp after last year and felt this board was sometimes particularly hypercritical on his performance. JR was brilliant/fortunate to stash him at WBS at the beginning of the season so teams with need for cap friendly G didn't pounce. Jarry, albeit in a tiny sample size, has looked really good this year, and I very well could be wrong. Would I also be wrong wondering if a platoon of those two may be a viable option over spending $7+ million + however many years for a 178lb, six foot four, semi-fragile G? I love Mur, no back to back without him for sure, and he deserves whatever he can get, but I'm not convinced he is the most prudent call for a team with our financial constraints and closing window. Of course I will immediately forget this post upon his next shutout...
Tough decision that would be risky....and take alot of guts to do period after MM winning b2b cups. He's not 32 like Kessel. He could still go on to become an elite goalie in this league and more of the goalie we saw during those cups.
Good news is Jarry gives us another option period. It looks like its helping Murray(like with Fleury as the backup) and gives the Pens more leverage in case MM does want a deal this team prob shouldn't pay. Still hoping MM decides to hold off on that(with the promise from Pens hes their future) so we can use that cap for a few others we need to reup and enough left to add a legit FA(or trade...assuming JJ keeps this up and we move him before/during then).
Theyll have to pay Petts. And while they could hold off on McCann/Kahun longer term , are we going to want them to? Maybe a price we'll have to pay to keep enough cap for all while leaving enough to possibly add a big piece. Whether thats on D(Tyson Barrie type) or if we do replace AG looking for another top winger(Hoffman type...which is possible since they dont want to lose Dadanov and only have room for 1).
If AG goes....We got Guentzel/Hoffman as our top LW to go with Sid/Geno.
If AG does pan out here and decides to stay for cheap on a 1-2 year extension just to continue to be on a competitive team and keep building up his value(not wanting to go to a 4th team before turning 26 and maybe never getting that longterm deal) then we go defense. This all assumes we move Bjugstad, ZAR, and either trade Schultz or let him walk. Id also move Simon. We cant keep em all and I think Poulin can start his career in Pitt next year. 19 to start season, 20 by Feb.
Guentzel - Crosby - Poulin
Hoffman - Malkin - Rust
Kahun - McCann - Hornqvist
Lafferty - Blueger - Tanev
Dumo - Letang
Petts - Barrie
Marino - Riikola
Almari/POJ with a full year in WBS...we will see how they progress.
With the year Barrie is having so far would he command what others have been getting in FA? If so they could just go after someone else, but theyd likely have the cap even with us having to reup a few players. Bjugstad(4.1mil), JJ(3.25), ZAR(1.0), AG(4.9), etc
Thats plenty to give to RFAs while being able to bring in top FA. Or if JR already handles it midseason. Who knows.
We have an idea already of who we should likely move on from(Bjugstad) but I'd still hold off on AG for now. No reason not to wait and see how he plays in Jan/Feb. When others usually took off after coming here for the first time(HBK line...Guentzel being called up. Rust/Sheary as well).
As for Poulin, since the rules make it so its either juniors again or NHL. I'd have him start his tenure with Pens asap. He's not a Sprong type prospect. Has the size and overall game to play at a young age. And Id rather him be up at 19/20 getting used to Sid/Geno than waiting another year while they get closer to 35 years old. Could even start him on 4th line with Blueger/Tanev the way the Leafs did with Kap. But Id try him with Sid/Jake as well..and see how he responds. Would turn 20 in Feb, could pull a Guentzel(close to it) type performance in the playoffs, who knows. And we are seeing Joel Farabee(19) do well so far on Flyers top line. Not nearly as built as Poulin.
These are all options we'll get a better idea on as the season progresses. If Poulin keeps this pace up in juniors why waste another year down there? While its important to not ruin a prospect, hes someone we should take that risk with since he could handle it and we care more about the windows of Sid/Geno/Letang era anyway . To me that comes first over anything else.
He Doesnt have to win ROY. Just improve enough during the season to be a diff maker in the playoffs.
As for the goalie situaton, another thing we have to see how it plays out. And hopefully go our why. But does give us more options if Jarry continues this pace. Along with CDS in WBS. Trade one of them, or pull of a risky move to go all in for this Window by trading Murray for a package that puts us over the top lineup wise. Assuming Jarry/CDS could get it done as a duo. Pretty sure most dont even want to entertain that idea but these are all things the Pens will be looking at. We don't know if MM decides he suddenly wants 8-9 mil a year ...who knows. While Jarry would settle for 2. We dont know how much things can change in a year.
So many diff routes we could take. So First things first, keep winning and we need each player(we likely plan on trading, to produce and up their value) as well as our prospects to continue their progress.
When I mention trading Simon, thats only if we are in playoff race and want to add a piece to go for it this year. He could get a good return when added with a pick or another prospect. we capitalize On him now while making room to sign the other RFAs. Sid will live. Someone like the Oilers who need wingers should be all over it(we take a chance on JP). Or we add him with Bjugstad in a deal that could land a top 6 forward/top 4 dman(depending on term)
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