Killswitch7187
Winter is here
I suppose I'll take a stab at it:
TRADES:
To EDM: Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury
To PIT: David Perron, 3rd Overall Pick, Mitchell Moroz
To VAN: Brandon Sutter, 1st Round Pick, Brian Dumoulin
To PIT: Ryan Kesler
To TOR: Beau Bennett
To PIT: Jake Gardiner
Free Agency/Re-Signings:
Ryan Miller (3 years/$18m)
Ryan Callahan (6 years/$36m)
Marcel Goc (3 years/$6m)
Jake Gardiner (2 years/$2.8m)
Simon Despres, Brian Gibbons, and Joe Vitale, each (2 years/$1.8m)
COMPLIANCE BUYOUT:
Rob Scuderi
FORWARDS
David Perron ($3.813m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Ryan Callahan ($6.000m)
Sam Bennett ($3.250m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Mitch Moroz ($0.875m) / Marcel Goc ($2.000m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.900m)
Joe Vitale ($0.900m)
DEFENSEMEN
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.900m) / Jake Gardiner ($1.400m)
Scott Harrington ($0.589m) / Derrick Pouliot ($0.863m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
GOALTENDERS
Ryan Miller ($6.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,234,167; BONUSES: $751,667
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $865,833
First off, I want to discuss the Letang trade. Instead of getting a guy like Evander Kane, Blake Wheeler, or even Jordan Eberle for him, I think we should focus on getting more depth. And looking at the landscape of the draft, looks as if the Oilers are going to miss out on Ekblad sitting at #3, who many consider the only defenseman worth taking within that top-5. So I think the incentive to trade for Letang will be there, finally have a defensemen to build around... but I also included Fleury in the deal because they'd be going for a playoff push for the regular season. Fleury really was just included in the deal more than anything for the prospect, as I think Letang can fetch Perron and the 3rd overall himself. Perron would be a really nice fit with Crosby, with that speed and grit to his game. Trading Letang for two guys that would basically equal out his own salary, which would allow to get a high-priced forward free agent. Say what you will about Callahan and that $6m pricetag, but if Mario wants character, he is exactly it. Would be overpaid of course, but at this point, I don't care for an extra million in being overpaid. It's not like he's Clarkson, by far a more consistent player at every aspect of the game. He'll be an asset and a guy that shows up every night no matter the score, and we need more of those guys. As for the draft pick, pick the best available, really, and perhaps the player can make it out of camp to play in our top-9.
I still think trading for Kesler is a phenomenal move, and the EDM move allows the trade of our own first round pick in this model. I'm honestly not as high on Bennett as the rest of this fanbase is, and I absolutely don't think he's even come close to earning a spot in the top-6. And with getting depth in the other moves, incentive to trade him for another player who hasn't exactly had opportunity for his current team, and that is Jake Gardiner. I think Pouliot can actually make this team out of camp, proving to be the PP QB this team wants and needs. He'll have some major growing pains on the defensive side of the puck, but I mean, so what. We have time to experiment, and always easier to pick up a top-4 dman at the deadline than it is a top-6 forward. The defense as a whole is pretty young so I'd expect as much to happen, but really, even with the inexperience, I still like the idea of running with it. I might be alone however.
Ryan Miller will have his work cut out for him, but there's a reason why he'll still get $6m: he's worth it. The defensive corp isn't overall all that physical but the two-way play of our forwards and a system that actually correlates with the talent on the ice might prove to actually be the difference. Change the top-9 as you see fit, really in terms of lines, but I do like that group in general. Is this realistic? No, probably not, especially with all the big names involved, but if I were to want one move in particular to especially happen, it'd be the Letang deal (Perron/3rd Overall). Could set up this team for years in terms of the wings.
TRADES:
To EDM: Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury
To PIT: David Perron, 3rd Overall Pick, Mitchell Moroz
To VAN: Brandon Sutter, 1st Round Pick, Brian Dumoulin
To PIT: Ryan Kesler
To TOR: Beau Bennett
To PIT: Jake Gardiner
Free Agency/Re-Signings:
Ryan Miller (3 years/$18m)
Ryan Callahan (6 years/$36m)
Marcel Goc (3 years/$6m)
Jake Gardiner (2 years/$2.8m)
Simon Despres, Brian Gibbons, and Joe Vitale, each (2 years/$1.8m)
COMPLIANCE BUYOUT:
Rob Scuderi
FORWARDS
David Perron ($3.813m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Ryan Callahan ($6.000m)
Sam Bennett ($3.250m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Mitch Moroz ($0.875m) / Marcel Goc ($2.000m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.900m)
Joe Vitale ($0.900m)
DEFENSEMEN
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($0.900m) / Jake Gardiner ($1.400m)
Scott Harrington ($0.589m) / Derrick Pouliot ($0.863m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m)
GOALTENDERS
Ryan Miller ($6.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,234,167; BONUSES: $751,667
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $865,833
First off, I want to discuss the Letang trade. Instead of getting a guy like Evander Kane, Blake Wheeler, or even Jordan Eberle for him, I think we should focus on getting more depth. And looking at the landscape of the draft, looks as if the Oilers are going to miss out on Ekblad sitting at #3, who many consider the only defenseman worth taking within that top-5. So I think the incentive to trade for Letang will be there, finally have a defensemen to build around... but I also included Fleury in the deal because they'd be going for a playoff push for the regular season. Fleury really was just included in the deal more than anything for the prospect, as I think Letang can fetch Perron and the 3rd overall himself. Perron would be a really nice fit with Crosby, with that speed and grit to his game. Trading Letang for two guys that would basically equal out his own salary, which would allow to get a high-priced forward free agent. Say what you will about Callahan and that $6m pricetag, but if Mario wants character, he is exactly it. Would be overpaid of course, but at this point, I don't care for an extra million in being overpaid. It's not like he's Clarkson, by far a more consistent player at every aspect of the game. He'll be an asset and a guy that shows up every night no matter the score, and we need more of those guys. As for the draft pick, pick the best available, really, and perhaps the player can make it out of camp to play in our top-9.
I still think trading for Kesler is a phenomenal move, and the EDM move allows the trade of our own first round pick in this model. I'm honestly not as high on Bennett as the rest of this fanbase is, and I absolutely don't think he's even come close to earning a spot in the top-6. And with getting depth in the other moves, incentive to trade him for another player who hasn't exactly had opportunity for his current team, and that is Jake Gardiner. I think Pouliot can actually make this team out of camp, proving to be the PP QB this team wants and needs. He'll have some major growing pains on the defensive side of the puck, but I mean, so what. We have time to experiment, and always easier to pick up a top-4 dman at the deadline than it is a top-6 forward. The defense as a whole is pretty young so I'd expect as much to happen, but really, even with the inexperience, I still like the idea of running with it. I might be alone however.
Ryan Miller will have his work cut out for him, but there's a reason why he'll still get $6m: he's worth it. The defensive corp isn't overall all that physical but the two-way play of our forwards and a system that actually correlates with the talent on the ice might prove to actually be the difference. Change the top-9 as you see fit, really in terms of lines, but I do like that group in general. Is this realistic? No, probably not, especially with all the big names involved, but if I were to want one move in particular to especially happen, it'd be the Letang deal (Perron/3rd Overall). Could set up this team for years in terms of the wings.
