Salary Cap: Penguins Salary Cap Thread: We suck again summer edition

[Zirakzigil]

Garbage bag day. Means good time for a new thread.

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[Zirakzigil]

UFAs:
Zucker - If he is willing to take a 3yr x $4-4.5mil deal, I say yes. My problem here is that, the second you let him go, your biggest need instantly because a gritty, speedy LW...your immediate need becomes Zucker. And you will likely have to overpay in FA to get it or spend assets getting it. It's a no win situation so I say go for it. When he's been healthy, he's been very good for us and on a nightly basis, was one of the few that brought energy.
Heinen - He's been a very good value depth piece for us. I really did like having him here but I'd rather try something new.
Archibald - No.
Dumoulin - No. This is where the team needs to stand firm on not repeating mistakes. No. Move on. We have the personnel. Move-the-f***-on. Thanks for your contributions Dumo.
Kulikov - No.
Jarry - Initial thought is no. But if we explore the goalie trade market and can't get a deal done, then I offer him a 1yr deal at $3mil. Absolutely nothing higher than that.

RFAs:
Poehling - Yes.
O'Conner - Yes. Can't not resign him.
Nylander - Yes. I liked what I saw. I think he can fit on this team.
Puustinen - Yes.
Gruden - Whatever
Hallander - Whatever
Smith - Yes, obviously. He needs to be full time next year.
Diliberatore - Whatever but probably not.
Maniscalco - Whatever but probably not.
Swoyer - Whatever but probably not.

Trade Targets (some more realistic than others):
Forward:
Sharangovich - brings size, grit, and skill
Brock Boeser - brings everything we might want in a top 6 wing
Conor Garland - speedy, shifty, and could replace what he hoped Rust would bring
Mikael Backlund - wants a trade, quality 3C candidate
Dillon Dube - young, skilled wing who still has potential to breakout
Mark Scheifele - wanna go for it? Get Scheifele and you could really make some interesting combos. He's a dick. We need dick.
Nikolaj Ehlers - bring everything we might want in a top 6 wing
Carl Grundstrom - bottom 6 grit
Yakov Trenin - bottom 6 grit
Dominik Kubalik - Value top 6 wing. Been advocating for a long time and will continue to do so.

Goalie:
Gibson - Pit boy, may not provide the level we need but I think he would come cheap.
Swayman - ideal.

UFA Targerts:
Oskar Sundqvist - bottom 6 center/wing.
Pius Suter - bottom 6 center/wing
Tyler Bertuzzi - top 6 wing candidate to replace Zucker
Miles Wood - ideal bottom 6 wing candidate
Ivan Barbrashev - ideal bottom 6 center candidate
Ryan Donato - Good bottom 6 depth piece to replace Heinen
Brenden Lemieux - Adds the jam we need. Replaces Archibald.
Andreas Athanasiou - A very fast wing that would bolster the bottom or top 6 wing duos.

Plan:
1. Fire Hextall. This morning. The team needs time to get a new GM and let them assess the team, review coaching options, deal with the draft, deal with free agency, deal with free agents...that's a lot to take on and they need all the time they can get.
2. Fire or promote Sullivan. Based on contract, may be better to promote him to do something of value rather than pay him to sit at home but my hunch is that if you did can him, he'd get another gig quick.
3. Send out Granlund by whatever means necessary without destroying the pick or prospect coffers which are already low. I would look for a "crap for crap" swap. Perhaps in a cap swap with another team in a deal for one of the forwards or goalies above. Like Gibson+2nd for Granlund+1st. Something like that.
4. Check Carter's status. We are stuck with the hit but I would rather him not be on the roster. Retire, demote and terminate, whatever. Take the 1yr hit. I'd rather have DOC play center and act as a $4.5mil mil 3/4C than have Carter in the lineup.
5. Find a new coach. This may be tough. I would check in with Barry Trotz but he may like his position now. I wouldn't stick my nose up at Bruce Boudreau - he may provide a system that suits this team. And I'd check for other up-tempo-type coaches. I would NOT promote Reirden or Velluci. In fact, I'm not 100% I'd even keep them. Whoever runs "defense" (lol) - fire. Whoever runs the "powerplay" (lol) - fired.
6. Resign Zucker, DOC, Poehling, Smith, Nylander, and Puustinen.
7. Trade for a goalie. I suggested Gibson or Swayman.
8. Swing a trade for one or more of the trade targets above.

Guentzel - Crosby - Rakell
Zucker - Malkin - Kubalik
Wood - Poehling - Athanasiou
DOC - Carter - Lemieux

Pettersson-Letang
POJ-Petry
Smith-Rutta

Gibson-Desmith

In my fantasy - Granlund+ for Gibson; Rust for Kubalik; Sign the rest.

Some ideas for you....btw, it just came out yesterday that Zucker has bought a 4M house in Minneapolis, which leads me to believe that he has been told that he will not be asked back by the Pens. Buying the house makes no sense to me on all sorts of levels, since it will be sitting empty most of the year unless he signs with MN (highly unlikely) or retires, but whatev...

MN is in a terrible spot cap wise, and will likely have to choose between Nyquist and M Johansson (who has been crazy good for us), if not lose them both. The most we can offer them is about 2.5M/yr. Either might be a pretty good fit in PIT? Also;
- Calen Addison will likely not be re-signed as a RFA, as Faber is a RHD who plays way better defense. Addison has his issues, but is vg on the PP. 29 points in 62 games of limited play is pretty damn good for a rookie, should you need his skillset(PP). Decisive, quick, except in his own end. A specialist.
- Goligoski has one more year at 2M. Has a NMC, but PIT might be one of the few teams he'd waive it for. He's still a decent bottom pairing dman. Not fast, or strong, but smart, and good with the puck.
- Klingberg is out of contract, and i don't think that MN can offer him one. Can run the PP. He's really just a giant Addison, but with his own special flavor (of horrendous defense). Talented as hell, but some of his decisions.... maybe just lacks confidence. I have no idea what he would sign for, just know that MN can't afford more than about 2M, and even then, they have one of the deepest D prospect pools in the league, so...

- it's highly unlikely that they don't resign Gustavsson, but if he plays hardball in RFA negotiations then he might get moved. Just putting it out there, though, again, this is the least likely of the scenarios. None of the players mentioned above is game changing, but would be either cheap(except Gus), or free, to acquire, and might fill a hole on the Pens, at low cost.

Could be family related for Zucker - isn't his wife still doing a bunch of radio stuff in Minny? Could easily be a 2nd hope. Letang has a fancy house in Montreal for example.

Not sure in what world you don't resign Addison. I would be legitimately shocked if Guerin didn't. All rookies will have issues to work through. As a RFA, he has little leverage. If you don't, I would want Penguins to be first on the list of inquire.

No to Gogo, we have him in Letang and Petry. Klingberg, I'd like if we moved Petry. And yeah, I imagine you 100% resign Gustavsson. He's your started after Marc Andrew Potato is done.

 

[SEALBound]

Good posts to start this legendary off-season salary cap thread on.

 

[Pancakes]

Sucks that Sullivan is still here. We can only hope he learns from this experience and that the next GM gives him better toys to play with. Otherwise it will be another wasted season next year.

But this is a step in the right direction at least.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Sucks that Sullivan is still here. We can only hope he learns from this experience and that the next GM gives him better toys to play with. Otherwise it will be another wasted season next year.

But this is a step in the right direction at least.

Even if Sullivan got those toys, he'd still misuse them like he has for the last 6 years.

Firing Hextall is very much needed, but nothing is going to change as long as Sullivan is here.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Lol, good thing Hextall gave Carter that full NMC. Maybe new management can convince Jeff to go LTIRetire. But I doubt it cause I'm sure the new GM will have to answer to Sully.

 

[Pancakes]

Even if Sullivan got those toys, he'd still misuse them like he has for the last 6 years.

Firing Hextall is very much needed, but nothing is going to change as long as Sullivan is here.

I think the underlying Sully issues will probably remain, but we should at least make the playoffs next year with better management. Despite all of Sully's flaws, I think we would have this year had Hexurke not bombed the trade deadline so badly.

But obviously once we get there it figures to be more of the same.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Lol, good thing Hextall gave Carter that full NMC. Maybe new management can convince Jeff to go LTIRetire. But I doubt it cause I'm sure the new GM will have to answer to Sully.

I would flat out tell Carter to just not show up next year. I wouldn't even make it a LTIRetirement thing, I'd sooner have the dead cap space than have Carter on this roster.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Lol, good thing Hextall gave Carter that full NMC. Maybe new management can convince Jeff to go LTIRetire. But I doubt it cause I'm sure the new GM will have to answer to Sully.

This team has waaaay too many NMC. We're turning into Detroit East

 

[57special]

More(probably too much) info on Zucker family issues. He and his wife have filed for divorce, so that makes him coming back to MN less compelling.

Also, on Addison... I'm confused about it, too, because the guy is only a rookie, and almost singlehandedly turned around our PP, but Evason doesn't like him doesn't play him, and Addison was less than enthusiastic publicly about it. I think he's gone. Evason loves two way players like Gaudreau, but hates on one way guys like Fiala and Addison.

 

[Empoleon8771]

More(probably too much) info on Zucker family issues. He and his wife have filed for divorce, so that makes him coming back to MN less compelling.

Zucker said yesterday that he really wants to return to the Penguins. I think whether he comes back depends on how the new GM wants to make changes. I think he ultimately tests free agency and goes with the largest offer.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Even if Sullivan got those toys, he'd still misuse them like he has for the last 6 years.

Firing Hextall is very much needed, but nothing is going to change as long as Sullivan is here.

Yeah, this notion that if you give Sullivan "his toys" that the team will be better for it seems to ignore the fact Sully and his usage of his toys (ie. his favorite type of players) are precisely the issue.

This team will only improve if Sullivan is gone. Otherwise, we'll just continue to see a repeat of this past season, just with slight changes to the 9th to 12th forward on the roster.

 

[57special]

dlte

 

[Freeptop]

In terms of personnel, outside of the obvious, the Pens have really been in desperate need of a new net-front presence for the power play ever since JR traded away Hornqvist.

It shouldn't be Guentzel anymore. He's not good at it, and putting him there eliminates one of the better shots on the team from, well, shooting on the power play. If it means Guentzel gets demoted to the second unit in favor of keeping Rakell on the top unit, so be it. But they need someone who is better suited to taking abuse in front of the net and pouncing on rebounds.

Granted, this would also go hand-in-hand with someone new running the power play to take proper advantage of said player by having the shooters actually try to generate rebounds instead of always looking for the perfect play into the net, but that's a separate (but related) issue.

 

[Pens x]

Sucks that Sullivan is still here. We can only hope he learns from this experience and that the next GM gives him better toys to play with. Otherwise it will be another wasted season next year.

But this is a step in the right direction at least.

What’s one more wasted season under the reign of terror that is Mike Sullivan? We’ve pissed away 5 straight seasons - what’s one more?

 

[Pancakes]

The Pens are having a media coverage at 3 pm where Acklin and Beeston will speak.

 

[canadianguy77]

Granted, this would also go hand-in-hand with someone new running the power play to take proper advantage of said player by having the shooters actually try to generate rebounds instead of always looking for the perfect play into the net, but that's a separate (but related) issue.

The constant slap-pass-redirect attempts drive me f***ing bonkers. They're such low percentage plays because everything has to go perfectly for them to work. Most of the time it's best just to put the puck on the net and hunt for rebounds/loose pucks. I understand that for a two/three year stretch that Sid was killing it on those redirects, but that's no longer the case and hasn't been for a few seasons now.

 

[Pens x]

The Pens are having a media coverage at 3 pm where Acklin and Beeston will speak.

Who the f*** is Beeston? Do you know how to watch it?

 

[Pancakes]

Who the f*** is Beeston? Do you know how to watch it?

Beeston is Co-Head of Fenway Sports Management and Penguins Alternate Governor

I don't know if it will be streamed. Taylor Haase is covering it. I assume other PGH media types will be present.

 

[Extra Texture]

Rumors today about DeBrincat getting moved at the draft (bc he wont sign in Ottawa). Add that in with Calgary looking for change (and potentially being forced to move Lindholm, Backlund) and the Avs potentially in a cap crunch, Vancouver at a cross roads, Winnipeg seemingly teetering on getting fed up, etc, it could be a wild offseason.

Not saying it will be easy, or that I know all the answers. Or even that we have enough chips to get in at the table with some of the big boys. But if a new GM comes in here with purpose, there are assets out there to do a 180 with this team.*** Which is something I think 'the trio' would be energized by.

***we all know the caveat about coaching. Nothing will change if its MS behind the bench here next year.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

In terms of personnel, outside of the obvious, the Pens have really been in desperate need of a new net-front presence for the power play ever since JR traded away Hornqvist.

It shouldn't be Guentzel anymore. He's not good at it, and putting him there eliminates one of the better shots on the team from, well, shooting on the power play. If it means Guentzel gets demoted to the second unit in favor of keeping Rakell on the top unit, so be it. But they need someone who is better suited to taking abuse in front of the net and pouncing on rebounds.

Granted, this would also go hand-in-hand with someone new running the power play to take proper advantage of said player by having the shooters actually try to generate rebounds instead of always looking for the perfect play into the net, but that's a separate (but related) issue.

Their configuration is way off along with the personnel. You can make a PP work with 1 or the other, but not neither.

Think about it: they are all perimeter players with only 1 a truly long range threat (Geno)

They should have swapped Jake for Zucker on the PP and let him be the net front guy if that's the configuration you want to run. Before you suggest Rakell out instead, I'll remind you that he's a RHS and the only RHS one who sets up below the hashes.

How PP1 sets up and how Sully condones them running their own show, it's beyond comprehension. I don't follow other teams, but if someone could show me where other coaches take a hands off approach to the PP I'd love to see it

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Some UFA targets of mine: Barbashev, Compher, and Graves.

 

[PettersonHughes]

Canucks fan here in peace. I couldn't help but see in the second post that both Conor Garland and Brock Boeser are included in your trade targets list, what would the Pens be able to offer for either of them? (If preferred, Beauvillier is also an option, although he had a stronger finish to his season, 20 points in 33 games with us and set a new career high point total with 40 in 82).

Specifically, if your old friend Allvin came calling and offered one of these wingers, what players could you table? (our needs are RD and 3rd line C's -- no thanks to Mr. Carter; is Jan Rutta still top-4 caliber?).

 

[Pancakes]

TSN said that Debrincat isn't happy in Ottawa and will probably be dealt at the draft.

Would you guys move the 14th overall for him? I'm not sure. He would be a great add but do we really need another tiny non physical scoring winger?

 

[Malkinstheman]

Rumors today about DeBrincat getting moved at the draft (bc he wont sign in Ottawa). Add that in with Calgary looking for change (and potentially being forced to move Lindholm, Backlund) and the Avs potentially in a cap crunch, Vancouver at a cross roads, Winnipeg seemingly teetering on getting fed up, etc, it could be a wild offseason.

Not saying it will be easy, or that I know all the answers. Or even that we have enough chips to get in at the table with some of the big boys. But if a new GM comes in here with purpose, there are assets out there to do a 180 with this team.*** Which is something I think 'the trio' would be energized by.

***we all know the caveat about coaching. Nothing will change if its MS behind the bench here next year.

Getting Debrincat would be a Kessel-esque move for this team. I hope the team goes for these swings since they still want to contend.