Salary Cap: Off Summer News Vol 2

[Shady Machine]

Yeah, you've got to wonder if he's got a handshake agreement and is waiting for a team to make cap space.

*Looks at Scuderi and Kunitz*

Interesting times ahead... I doubt he's still waiting for some huge contract like he may have been in July and I doubt he has zero offers, as low as they might be.

Yeah I assume he does have a handshake agreement, but what other pieces can a team be waiting for? I mean, training camp isn't that far off and most teams are likely going to see what they have, what injuries might occur, etc before making trades and signing other guys.

I suppose Franson could sign a PTO with a team that plans to sign him, let's use the Pens as an example, and then hope they can move Scuds when injuries pop up on other teams. That just seems like way too much of a risk for a guy that was seen as one of the top free agent defensemen.

His agent either sucks, he had way too high of demands, or team scouts all think he blows. Or some combination of the three.

 

[Freeptop]

When does camp start? I still haven't seen anything.

The rookie tournament runs 9/11-9/13, and the first pre-season game is 9/22, so if I had to guess, camp probably starts on 9/17 (it started on a Thursday last year, so I figured the same for this year).

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Yeah I assume he does have a handshake agreement, but what other pieces can a team be waiting for? I mean, training camp isn't that far off and most teams are likely going to see what they have, what injuries might occur, etc before making trades and signing other guys.

I suppose Franson could sign a PTO with a team that plans to sign him, let's use the Pens as an example, and then hope they can move Scuds when injuries pop up on other teams. That just seems like way too much of a risk for a guy that was seen as one of the top free agent defensemen.

His agent either sucks, he had way too high of demands, or team scouts all think he blows. Or some combination of the three.

The whole thing doesn't make a lot of sense, tbh. At this point you'd think his contract demands would have lowered and someone would have swooped in. I doubt that every team has scouts that wouldn't take him on a lowered deal and some teams have defenses that would probably benefit from him. If he's still being picky then that's ridiculous.

Even a handshake agreement looks weird at this point. Training camps start soon and waiting until who knows when for a team to move someone seems like a leap of faith. Say it's the Pens, JR says "look here, sonny, I'm going to move Scuderi/Kunitz and then sign you. The deal is pretty much done and it's only a matter of time." Well, it's September and that still hasn't happened, everything relies on another team doing something and that still hasn't happened. Maybe they're going to send Scuderi back to LA (or someone else is trading with LA) and are waiting on Richards, but that's still a huge gamble.

Maybe he's waiting for injury problems to strike so he can capitalize. idk, it's weird. Maybe he burned too many bridges early on in the off season and missed the window to get a contract.

 

[Riptide]

Yeah, you've got to wonder if he's [Franson] got a handshake agreement and is waiting for a team to make cap space.

However even those are usually leaked. Cleary had one with Philly and he backed out of it to sign with Detroit (Philly had to clear cap space). If he does have one, I just do not see it not having been leaked by now by someone.

 

[gdsmack267]

Im looking forward to the rookie tournament. I know our prospects will probably get smoked but just to watch some hockey again will be nice

Anyone else slightly annoyed that the Pens have 8 pre-season games instead of 6? Just seems like more opportunity for something bad to happen

 

[wej20]

Im looking forward to the rookie tournament. I know our prospects will probably get smoked but just to watch some hockey again will be nice

Anyone else slightly annoyed that the Pens have 8 pre-season games instead of 6? Just seems like more opportunity for something bad to happen

I imagine Sid and Geno will play 2 each at most.

 

[AR5]

Im looking forward to the rookie tournament. I know our prospects will probably get smoked but just to watch some hockey again will be nice

Anyone else slightly annoyed that the Pens have 8 pre-season games instead of 6? Just seems like more opportunity for something bad to happen

I'm excited. More chances to see Kessel on the ice, earlier on in the year!

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Calling a Leclair/Malkin between Sid/Kessel in the 7th game. Lengthy injuries to start the season.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

i'm excited. More chances to see kessel on the ice, earlier on in the year!

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

As others have stated, I still can not believe Phil $*%&^#@ Kessel is a Pittsburgh Penguin. Hockey needs to hurry up and start already.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

The rookie tournament runs 9/11-9/13, and the first pre-season game is 9/22, so if I had to guess, camp probably starts on 9/17 (it started on a Thursday last year, so I figured the same for this year).

Thanks, that sounds about right. It was Thursday the 18th last year so that is spot on.

It feels later this year for some reason. Maybe the anticipation.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

It's beautiful.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think Pouliot worked out with Roberts too this summer. That is Pouliot right?

 

[Son Goku]

I think Pouliot worked out with Roberts too this summer. That is Pouliot right?

Jesus look at the flex

 

[WayneSid9987]

Yea, thats Pouliot.
Phil looks good in the black and gold.

 

[Freeptop]

Yea, thats Pouliot.
Phil looks good in the black and gold.

Well, black is a slimming color....

 

[OnMyOwn]

He's going to be a ****ing beast for us. If Gary Roberts is saying he's in great shape, that's promising.

 

[Jacob]

I can't imagine what Kessel would be like in even slightly better shape, let alone infinitely better and with infinitely better linemates. And less pressure on him.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Let's blow that sucker up:

 

[BHD]

I can't imagine what Kessel would be like in even slightly better shape, let alone infinitely better and with infinitely better linemates. And less pressure on him.

That's the thing. For as much as people sandbag him about his weight/conditioning, the guy can fly.

I really don't pay attention to what players do in the offseason, but is this Kessel doing usual perpetration or has he actually made a point of doing more in the offseason? Although, I'm sure the Toronto would have been all over it if it were the latter.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

That's the thing. For as much as people sandbag him about his weight/conditioning, the guy can fly.

I really don't pay attention to what players do in the offseason, but is this Kessel doing usual perpetration or has he actually made a point of doing more in the offseason? Although, I'm sure the Toronto would have been all over it if it were the latter.

He's doing all kinds of extra perspiration this offseason. That's one of the things they complained about, he would say he only skated a few times and would fish and whatnot, and that would enrage the Toronto-ites.

I imagine he'll work out like never before, be faster than ever, and miss 40 games with various injuries this year. Thanks Obama.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

That's the thing. For as much as people sandbag him about his weight/conditioning, the guy can fly.

I really don't pay attention to what players do in the offseason, but is this Kessel doing usual perpetration or has he actually made a point of doing more in the offseason? Although, I'm sure the Toronto would have been all over it if it were the latter.

He's gone to scary Gary this off season. It's new, so at minimum it's a new approach, and it's probably a new commitment to fitness.

I do think that how out of shape he was in has been exaggerated, though. If it hasn't been then he's a freak of nature given his production, speed and lack of games missed.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Kessel's going to come out with something to prove this year. Can't wait.

 

[WayneSid9987]

That's the thing. For as much as people sandbag him about his weight/conditioning, the guy can fly.

I really don't pay attention to what players do in the offseason, but is this Kessel doing usual perpetration or has he actually made a point of doing more in the offseason? Although, I'm sure the Toronto would have been all over it if it were the latter.

He made it a point to do more in this off-season. He called up Roberts, before he was even traded, i believe.

 

[Riptide]

That's the thing. For as much as people sandbag him about his weight/conditioning, the guy can fly.

I really don't pay attention to what players do in the offseason, but is this Kessel doing usual perpetration or has he actually made a point of doing more in the offseason? Although, I'm sure the Toronto would have been all over it if it were the latter.

I do not want to say this is his "usual" as I do not know what that is. However from the sounds of things, he's gone beyond what he normally does. Maybe that's not true, who knows. But that's my take on it from what I've read over the summer since the trade.