Salary Cap: Future Roster Building (2017-18 and beyond) Pt. 2 | Contract/FA charts in Post #1

[BHD]

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries.

Estimated 2017-18 ceiling​

​

​

|

$75.5-$76M​

​

​

Projected dollars committed |

59,420,000​

Projected July 1 cap space |

~16,580,000​

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Forward.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2017-18​

|

2018-19​

|

2019-20​

Evgeni Malkin|

C​

|

30​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

Sidney Crosby|

C​

|

29​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

Phil Kessel|

RW​

|

29​

|

6,800,000​

|

6,800,000​

|

6,800,000​

Patric Hornqvist|

RW​

|

29​

|

4,250,000​

|

UFA​

Carl Hagelin|

LW​

|

28​

|

4,000,000​

|

4,000,000​

|

UFA​

Jake Guentzel|

LW​

|

22​

|

734,167​

|

734,167​

|

RFA​

Bryan Rust|

RW​

|

24​

|

640,000​

|

RFA​

Scott Wilson|

LW​

|

24​

|

625,000​

|

RFA​

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

24​

|

625,000​

|

RFA​

Carter Rowney|

RW​

|

27​

|

612,500​

|

UFA​

Defense.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2017-18​

|

2018-19​

|

.2019-20​

Kris Letang|

D​

|

29​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

Olli Maatta|

D​

|

22​

|

4,083,333​

|

4,083,333​

|

4,083,333​

Ian Cole|

D​

|

27​

|

2,100,000​

|

UFA​

Goalie............,.......​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2017-18​

|

2018-19​

|

.2019-20​

Marc-Andre Fleury|

G​

|

32​

|

5,750,000​

|

5,750,000​

|

UFA​

Matt Murray|

G​

|

22​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2017-18​

|

2018-19​

|

2019-20​

Zach Aston-Reese|

LW​

|

22​

|

925,000​

|

925,000​

|

RFA​

Thomas Di Pauli|

C​

|

22​

|

742,500​

|

RFA​

Teddy Blueger|

C​

|

22​

|

705,000​

|

RFA​

Daniel Sprong|

RW​

|

19​

|

692,500​

|

692,500​

|

RFA​

Dominik Simon|

C​

|

22​

|

692,500​

|

RFA​

Defense...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2017-18​

|

2018-19​

|

2019-20​

Jeff Taylor|

D​

|

22​

|

742,500​

|

742,500​

|

RFA​

Ethan Prow|

D​

|

24​

|

730,000​

|

RFA​

Lukas Bengtsson|

D​

|

22​

|

705,000​

|

RFA​

Goalie..................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2017-18​

|

2018-19​

|

2019-20​

Sean Maguire|

G​

|

23​

|

705,000​

|

RFA​

Tristan Jarry|

G​

|

21​

|

630,833​

|

RFA​

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2016-17​

|

News and notes​

Mark Streit|

D​

|

39​

|

5,250,000​

|Served his purpose as a deadline rental

Chris Kunitz|

LW​

|

37​

|

3,850,000​

|Is the long international nightmare over?

Trevor Daley|

D​

|

33​

|

3,300,000​

|Declining, but immortalized as the anti-Scuderi

Ron Hainsey|

D​

|

35​

|

2,833,333​

|History with Rutherford could earn an extra look

Nick Bonino|

C​

|

28​

|

1,900,000​

|No way to tell which Bonino you'd be paying for

Matt Cullen|

C​

|

40​

|

1,000,000​

|Thanks for your service, Dad -- Enjoy retirement

Chad Ruhwedel|

D​

|

26​

|

575,000​

|Better than expected as an extended fill-in

David Warsofsky|

D​

|

26​

|

575,000​

|Great AHL production -- Not an NHL defender

Cameron Gaunce|

D​

|

26​

|

575,000​

|Depth defender who showed a few flashes

Kevin Porter|

C​

|

30​

|

575,000​

|Likely to move on after not sniffing a call-up

Garrett Wilson|

LW​

|

25​

|

575,000​

|Group VI UFA was solid in WBS before injury

Tom Sestito|

LW​

|

29​

|

575,000​

|Token minor-league goon

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player..........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2016-17​

|

News and notes​

Justin Schultz|

D​

|

26​

|

1,400,000​

|Hard to imagine anyone raising his stock more

Derrick Pouliot|

D​

|

22​

|

863,333​

|*Sigh* At least his next contract will still be cheap

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

25​

|

800,000​

|In line for a reasonably priced mid-range deal

Oskar Sundqvist|

C​

|

22​

|

700,833​

|Will they protect him in the expansion draft?

Conor Sheary|

LW​

|

24​

|

667,500​

|Aggressive agent could make for tough negotiation

Josh Archibald|

RW​

|

24​

|

659,167​

|Decent speed will keep him in the organization

Frank Corrado|

D​

|

23​

|

600,000​

|Worthwhile project to keep around and develop

Jean-Sebastien Dea|

C​

|

22​

|

585,000​

|Needs to take bigger step from AHL supporting cast

Tim Erixon|

D​

|

25​

|

575,000​

|Telling that he wasn't close to a call-up this season

Stuart Percy|

D​

|

23​

|

575,000​

|Unfortunately just another Leafs' first-round bust

UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

​

​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team (League)​

Niclas Almari|

D​

|

18​

|HPK (Liiga)

Anthony Angello|

F​

|

20​

|Cornell (ECAC)

Dane Birks|

D​

|

21​

|Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Kasper Bjorkqvist|

F​

|

19​

|Providence (HEA)

Blaine Byron|

F​

|

21​

|Maine (HEA)

Filip Gustavsson|

G​

|

18​

|Luleå HF (SHL)

Connor Hall|

D​

|

18​

|Kitchener (OHL)

Ryan Jones|

D​

|

20​

|Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)

Sam Lafferty|

F​

|

21​

|Brown (ECAC)

Joe Masonius|

D​

|

19​

|Connecticut (HEA)

Nikita Pavlychev|

F​

|

19​

|Penn State (B1G)

Alexander Pechurskiy|

G​

|

26​

|Amur Khabarovsk (KHL)

Frederik Tiffels|

F​

|

21​

|Western Michigan (NCHC)

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

23​

|HC Sparta Praha (ELH)

Click to read more...

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

So who we getting? Duchene, Thornton, RNH?

 

[Ogrezilla]

Edit: When fully healthy we have the most complimenting defense towards team style that we maybe have ever had. (Sorry coffee not kicking in yet)

Problem is we can only count on Letang being healthy for 50-65 games at the most, and there's absolutely no way to guess when those games are.

When I talk about shoring up the blueline, I'm talking about how we should have something similar to our forward group - where we can 'afford' to lose about 2 maybe 3 guys on average (which is average for the Pens for whatever reason) and still function in the same style. If we lose 2 or 3 defensemen, our entire structure changes. I wouldn't go nuts over it, but I'd like to see a legitimate 'replacement' for Letang where we can still have Schultz as our PPQB and comfortable on the 2nd pairing. Nobody can comfortably step in for Letang when he's out. This idea will certainly come at a price. Shattenkirk to me looks like a replacement to Schultz as he couldn't carry Tanger's jock on the defensive end...and he'd be pricey replacement/insurance for Schultz. Don't know if that's really worth it.

There is just no reasonable way we are going to build the defense to cover up for an injured Letang. It will cost too much money.

 

[molon labe]

But how do you work out whether he's getting a premium monetary consideration without looking at other players in the NHL? I agree with looking at a player's value to his team to decide whether he's getting overpaid or not, but how do you decide value without looking at what else could be got for that money - and how do you decide what else could be got for the money without looking at comparable players?

As for Maatta's value to the Pens - right now 4m doesn't seem out of place for a guy who's statistically our best shut down defender and also producing a decent clip of offence assist wise. Particularly on a very young guy who should keep improving. Regular season it looked an overpayment but he's worth it right now. If you want to trade him, where does that 4m go? We have no one in the pipeline, I don't think there's anyone better in the UFA market to be had for comparable money. Is there a fair hockey deal to be made for a similar guy who's a better fit? Or to upgrade? I'd like that but maybe there isn't.

If anything, rating his value by value to us only makes him better value, because we have no prospects and a small pile of trade chips we'd like to use, and a hole at 3C to fill potentially before we get near defence.

Totally agree. It's a hindsight type of thing - sorta. So many of us on here (and probably elsewhere) really wanted a hockey trade for him in the past it just never happened. Right now you look at the salaries of Maatta and MAF and liken every penny of it. Prior to the season starting - could that 10M combined (14 if you find a way to move Kunitz) be utilized to severely upgrade the D to where right now we're finding something else to criticize? Hell I don't know...I'd hope that we shopped around for D last year knowing Lovejoy was leaving and our depth was pretty shallow there, but nobody outside of the front office knows that to be sure.

I think his 4M going forward really depends on whether he improves or not. Right now our team is built around team defense and run and gun offense. If you load up the pipeline with O-talent to be certain of insurance and just-in-cases, then you feel good moving forward. For the D side of the house, we have to square with ourselves on how we view each pairing, their weight to the team, and what their real abilities are. Does he do anything for 4M that someone else couldn't for ELC or 2-2.5? I think that's where like you and others have said you have to see what contracts people are on and I do agree with it to a point. I think my point was more in line with the fact that I do not believe the Pens need to spend league-average on middle pairing defenders because our identity is not that of league-average. How do we get around that? Probably through finding outcasts (Daley) or drafting. Do we spend league-average+ on wings? I believe that we should, yes. Having guys like Hornqvist + Hags at 8M against is a luxury when comparing them to true scoring wingers...but that luxury is part of the Pens identity. Sort of an inverse way of putting it.

 

[Ogrezilla]

I'm not getting into this whole debate again, but I am just going to say it flatly: If you think Maatta is a bad hockey player, you don't know what you are talking about. If you think he's slightly overpaid, I get that. I disagree, but I get it. He's not a superstar, but if you think he's a legitimately bad NHL player, you are wrong. It's really that simple.

 

[UnderratedBrooks44]

$4 million is really not that bad for a middle of the road defenseman. Other teams have gotten burnt way worse with other players. Plus we were paying somewhat for potential when Maatta signed that deal. Just the way it goes and we can only hope he fulfills that potential. Right now its his lack of upside that's questionable, but it was and still isn't a bad deal.

 

[The Indestructible]

The more I think about it the more I like going after Del Zotto. I think he'd be a good fit for our system and would not be too expensive.

 

[DegenX]

*MOD WARNING*

Critique the post, not the poster. If you can't reply without flaming or being condescending, don't post.

 

[Nakawick]

So who we getting? Duchene, Thornton, RNH?

Duchene or RNH would be 2 centres I would move Maatta for.

Thornton is a UFA, only interested in a one year cheap deal for him. I would be OK for a cheap deal for Brian Boyle also. Hanzal is probably signing a long term deal, which would scare me a off.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

WBS will be fun to watch next year with ZAR and Sprong added to the lineup. Bluegers should improve, along with Archibald. Get Tiffels signed as well, that will be an exciting team to watch.

Of course the big club will end up ruining them to awards the end of the season and playoffs again tho.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Duchene or RNH would be 2 centres I would move Maatta for.

Thornton is a UFA, only interested in a one year cheap deal for him. I would be OK for a cheap deal for Brian Boyle also. Hanzal is probably signing a long term deal, which would scare me a off.

Sheary, Maatta and a 1st get it done for Duchene or RNH? I think other teams would overpay , but those two guys I listed are proven winners. You'd have to think the Oilers / Avs would take that into consideration.

I'd even be hesistant to move Sheary and Maatta, as hard as I am on Sheary. We know he has the talent and can produce in the regular season. If he can put on some muscle and if Maatta can improve his skating, I don't know if I'd want to see those two gone. Both still very young and already have two quality years of winning in the playoffs.

 

[Nakawick]

Sheary, Maatta and a 1st get it done for Duchene or RNH? I think other teams would overpay , but those two guys I listed are proven winners. You'd have to think the Oilers / Avs would take that into consideration.

I think we could probably get RNH cheaper than Duchene. We might not have to add much to Maatta to get RNH. Hard to tell with Duchene. There will be more bidders I would think, but the bidders who don't land Duchene could go after RNH.

 

[Shady Machine]

Sheary, Maatta and a 1st get it done for Duchene or RNH? I think other teams would overpay , but those two guys I listed are proven winners. You'd have to think the Oilers / Avs would take that into consideration.

I'd even be hesistant to move Sheary and Maatta, as hard as I am on Sheary. We know he has the talent and can produce in the regular season. If he can put on some muscle and if Maatta can improve his skating, I don't know if I'd want to see those two gone. Both still very young and already have two quality years of winning in the playoffs.

That's a terrible overpayment for the Nuge. Duchene might be worth it because his speed game and 2 way play fits out system perfectly. I'm not sure why we would want RNH anyway.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

I think we could possibly get RNH cheaper than Duchene. We might not have to add much to Maatta to get RNH.

They'll be looking for a top 4 dman with Sekera being out 6-9 months. Eberle won't fetch them that. And with how RNH played in the playoffs and the fact they will have to sign Drai and Mcdavid , he could be on the way out. I'm sure some other team would offer more tho. A team desperate for a center like the Habs.

 

[Nakawick]

They'll be looking for a top 4 dman with Sekera being out 6-9 months. Eberle won't fetch them that. And with how RNH played in the playoffs and the fact they will have to sign Drai and Mcdavid , he could be on the way out. I'm sure some other team would offer more tho. A team desperate for a center like the Habs.

Depends on if the Oilers want a D who can contribute now or are OK with a high end prospect. If they are looking for help now, the Habs might be out. Pens, Isles, CBJ could part with a young top 4 D for RNH. I can't see the Oilers dealing RNH to a team in the west like the ducks or Wild.

 

[UnderratedBrooks44]

Adding a $6 million 3C sounds like a good way to jam us up down the road. It's not impossible to do, but I would foresee Crosby and Malkin's later years being hell on earth cap-wise.

 

[SEALBound]

The more I think about it the more I like going after Del Zotto. I think he'd be a good fit for our system and would not be too expensive.

I'd be okay with that assuming he comes cheap and by cheap I'm talking in the $1-2mil range. Otherwise it makes no sense for us really as we have a slew of cheap bottom pairing dmen to try before that. If we have to go more expensive, then we go more expensive and get a better dman ala Alzner or Kulikov.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Did you know that Navajo has 77 combinations of modes and aspects, which would be kind of equivalent to 77 different possible tenses?

So thank our lucky stars we're not having this combination in Navajo. Or maybe that'd be the only way to accurately address all relevant hot takes on Olli Maatta.

 

[Coastal Kev]

WBS will be fun to watch next year with ZAR and Sprong added to the lineup. Bluegers should improve, along with Archibald. Get Tiffels signed as well, that will be an exciting team to watch.

Of course the big club will end up ruining them to awards the end of the season and playoffs again tho.

I think both ZAR and Sprong should be given every opportunity to make the roster.

Right now, Sprong may be our 5th best winger, that's a a fact. And if given opportunity, I believe he rocketing to the top 3.

 

[Lustaf]

They'll be looking for a top 4 dman with Sekera being out 6-9 months. Eberle won't fetch them that. And with how RNH played in the playoffs and the fact they will have to sign Drai and Mcdavid , he could be on the way out. I'm sure some other team would offer more tho. A team desperate for a center like the Habs.

The score posted an article where they think Edmonton should sign Hainsey or Daley to replace Sekera.

 

[DesertPenguin]

I think both ZAR and Sprong should be given every opportunity to make the roster.

Right now, Sprong may be our 5th best winger, that's a a fact. And if given opportunity, I believe he rocketing to the top 3.

Kessel, Guentzel, Hornqvist, Rust, Sheary, Sprong

Shuffle up and deal.

Guentzel - Crosby - Sprong
Rust - Malkin - Kessel
Sheary - Bonino - Hornqvist

 

[SEALBound]

The score posted an article where they think Edmonton should sign Hainsey or Daley to replace Sekera.

Sign Hainsey and then 2 games into the season, ship him to Edmonton as a thank you for all he's done here.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Doubt that he signs with the Pens, but KS is becoming undervalued because of Washington misusing him. And the Pens really need a PP QB.



I still love the idea of Oshie on this team as well.

The team would be fine as is with Sprong coming up, but if either of those two would sign a reasonable deal I would love having them.

 

[harmonica]

Oshie could make one hell of a Penguin. I have been a huge fan of his back in STL. I think he resigns with WSH.

Shats could be a great addition. However I don't think he would want to be out number 2 behind Letang. Plus the cost others will throw at him will probably price him out of a decent contract.

 

[Nakawick]

Adding a $6 million 3C sounds like a good way to jam us up down the road. It's not impossible to do, but I would foresee Crosby and Malkin's later years being hell on earth cap-wise.

But that's the thing though. Duchene is signed for 2 years and I believe RNH for 3 years. We can handle that in the short term and its better than spending 4 or 5 million over 5 years on a UFA. As much as Oshie and Shattenkirk could help, they are probably getting contracts similar to Lucc and Ladd, which means big dollars and big term.