Salary Cap: Pens Salary Cap Thread: If we score 6 we win, its science!

[Zirakzigil]

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New season new thread time. Currently we are perfect. I dont see what you all were worried about this off season.

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[Zirakzigil]

This team could be spending 20M on their third line and dolts like Yohe would still be griping about the bottom six. It's like a weird wannabe-blue-collar reflex or something.

I mean the bottom 6 could be great or pretty weak. There are a lot more questions there.

• Does Carter bounce back?
• Does Kap bounce back?
• Does McGinn bounce back?

Those three ended last year pretty bad. Also

• Can Heinen produce like last year?
• What is Poehling?
• Is Archibald still effective?

Tb is the only one who has been relatively consistent. Good in regular season a ghost in the playoffs.

They choose not to inject any youth which could hurt them. Yet at least. I expect DOC, Hallander, Puus and/or Poulin to get some chances. That could drastically change the bottom 6.

I think the bottom 6 is a big hole but that can be fixed from WBS easier than a scoring winger can. So I get your point as well.

I feel like they're rolling a lot of dice in the forwards and who knows where they all land.

I also recall Yohe's comment about the bottom six being a lack of X factor. Well, the first choice bottom six is really fast. It has big goalscoring potential. The only way to make it Xy is to either stick some far too good players in there, or find some really physical types.

It should also be noted Yohe's article showed a lot of faith in Zucker, which is the conditional to thinking the bottom six is the biggest hole.

Yeah... which... good luck, I guess. I know it's absolutely forbidden to have any takeaways from preseason but as of right now I still see Heinen as the second best LW option despite his flaws. And overall I think JZ would fit better on L3 anyway. But I'm also pretty tired of griping about it and at this point simply hope the guy can stay healthy. If for no other reason than to finally show people once and for all that his struggles are only partially attributable to health.

Zucker has killed it in the preseason if we are taking things away from that.

Personally think this is one of our better forwad groups. We gonna just ignore the giant concerns of our top 4 LD players? That's my concern.

Individually yes. He's been better than good.

I see little in the way of a real line dynamic there, though. As usual.

They really should find a way to get him on the top powerplay, though. Especially if it continues to look shit.

Good shout. Although I think both are in similar positions. A large range of potential outcomes.



Also re Zucker - I didn't watch much of pre-season, but the line numbers are reasonably encouraging, albeit against not a whole lot of anything.

I honestly think Malkin has looked the worst out of the players on the 2nd line and also realize Malkin doesn’t give a shit about preseason.

I think it's kinda funny that the whole league kind of struggles with their RD depth and the Penguins actually have that covered but look suspect on the more-common left side. At least bodes well for an upgrade or two down the road.

Zucker is in a contract year and if his health allows he's gonna have a good year.

If he gets PP1 time my 50pt season prohecy may just come true.

Zucker isnt gona make the second line fail thats for sure.

Malkin was a ppg player last year
Rust has 156 pts in 171 games

Those two are the ones paid and expected to make that line work regardless of the third winger. If Zucker just plays his game there shouldnt be an issue. If Zucker plays like he did in preseason than that line could be very good.

Hot take. I don't think Zucker has ever looked bad over an extended period as a Penguin. The problem is that every time he really gets going, he ends up on injured reserve for 2 months. I think if he can stay healthy, he's an adequate third wheel on a line with Malkin and Rust.

Evidently that isn't a hot take at all...

I mean... obviously Malkin needs to be at his best for the line to work. That's hardly in question.

Yohe doesn't make sense 99% of the time.

If you get a legit top 6 it just bumps someone down from that role and makes both the top and bottom better.

Plus as already mentioned we have alot of guys in the bottom 6 who have question marks but even if 1 or 2 of them pan out to where they should there is no issue. I like the chances there

If Malkin can’t make a line with a healthy Zucker, Rust and Petry work, there are some bigger issues.

Most second lines don’t have that type of talent.

Not really a hot take, much of the complaining were the usual suspects. I have defended him quite a bit and i didnt even want him here in the 1st place.

I mean he's not playing like a 5 million winger but he also isn't as bad as people make him out to be, in the playoffs the last few years he was one of the better players. He just cant stay healthy

Malkin and Rust is the right play and I'll be content enough with that.

As for the rest you guys seem to have your minds made up even after years now so we'll just have to see by about game 20. Personally I think even Heinen thinks the O-zone far better overall than Zucker. Hopefully Zucker keeps his game extremely simple and just goes to the net and fires the puck without hesitation when he gets it anywhere near scoring positions. Because those are his strengths while in-zone.

I think Heinen has better hands than Zucker and that’s saying a lot more about Zucker than Heinen lol…I just want someone on L2 who can score some goals when Geno finds them because Geno sure as shit isn’t gonna shoot that much lol…

You and I see things similarly.
Which is why I think Zucker should play with Sid and be the corner puck retriever. Zucker's board play is pretty good and he's willing to go into the dirty areas. He's almost like a cross of Horny and Kunitz. Not as good as Horny in front of the net, but a better passer. Not as good as IQ as Kunitz.

Jake/Sid/Z
Rak/Malkin/Rust

Now that's a good top 6

My issue with Zucker is that he's a fine grunt work third wheel for a scoring line, but I don't know that A. he can stay healthy enough to be of use over the course of the season, and B. whether Geno and Rust (or Rakell when Sully reunites GCR 18 minutes into the season) have the firepower to overcome a pretty meh guy production-wise on the other wing.

I think the best avenue (I say best while wincing, because yeesh) is Heinen-Geno-Rust with a Zucker-Carter-Kap third line. I don't love either line, or even really like them, but keeping Zucker on the third line may keep him more healthy and I'm not sure there's much difference between Heinen and Zucker when it comes to the impact/production of 2LW.

 

[SEALBound]

This is a Salary Cap thread.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

From Elliotte Friedman's 32 thoughts:

7. A couple of sources have told me to “stand down” on Marcus Pettersson and Vancouver rumours.

32 Thoughts: Setting the tone for a brand new NHL season

As the NHL returns, so does 32 Thoughts. This week, Elliotte Friedman welcomes you back with predictions and notes on Jakob Chychrun, Bo Horvat and more.

www.sportsnet.ca

I didn't even know there were rumors connecting the two, but this might offer a little indication as to the Penguins' approach with POJ and Smith. If they have considered moving Pettersson, then they wouldn't want to just toss POJ out there on waivers, too.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I genuinely do not understand why Vancouver and Pettersson keep getting linked together.

We heard about it last year as well. There’s just no position for Pettersson in Vancouver unless they’re content with him being a 3rd pair guy.

 

[Factorial]

From Elliotte Friedman's 32 thoughts:

7. A couple of sources have told me to “stand down” on Marcus Pettersson and Vancouver rumours.

32 Thoughts: Setting the tone for a brand new NHL season

As the NHL returns, so does 32 Thoughts. This week, Elliotte Friedman welcomes you back with predictions and notes on Jakob Chychrun, Bo Horvat and more.

www.sportsnet.ca

I didn't even know there were rumors connecting the two, but this might offer a little indication as to the Penguins' approach with POJ and Smith. If they have considered moving Pettersson, then they wouldn't want to just toss POJ out there on waivers, too.

Also:

Believe Toronto will continue exploring waiver-exempt or waiver-cleared defensive depth thanks to three preseason injuries. The Maple Leafs have a surplus of depth forwards.

 

[Gurglesons]

From Elliotte Friedman's 32 thoughts:

7. A couple of sources have told me to “stand down” on Marcus Pettersson and Vancouver rumours.

32 Thoughts: Setting the tone for a brand new NHL season

As the NHL returns, so does 32 Thoughts. This week, Elliotte Friedman welcomes you back with predictions and notes on Jakob Chychrun, Bo Horvat and more.

www.sportsnet.ca

I didn't even know there were rumors connecting the two, but this might offer a little indication as to the Penguins' approach with POJ and Smith. If they have considered moving Pettersson, then they wouldn't want to just toss POJ out there on waivers, too.

They alluded to Vancouver media putting out a report.

 

[Peat]

I genuinely do not understand why Vancouver and Pettersson keep getting linked together.

We heard about it last year as well. There’s just no position for Pettersson in Vancouver unless they’re content with him being a 3rd pair guy.

Iirc they've started lining up Hughes on RD? Someone said that. Dunno if true.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Believe Toronto will continue exploring waiver-exempt or waiver-cleared defensive depth thanks to three preseason injuries. The Maple Leafs have a surplus of depth forwards.

Only waiver-exempt or waiver-cleared defensive depth the Penguins have is Mark Friedman. They're not trading Ty Smith.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Iirc they've started lining up Hughes on RD? Someone said that. Dunno if true.

They were experimenting with it during camp.

 

[Factorial]

Only waiver-exempt or waiver-cleared defensive depth the Penguins have is Mark Friedman. They're not trading Ty Smith.

I was referring to the Leafs looking for depth on defense. It might not be them but someone would claim POJ.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I was referring to the Leafs looking for depth on defense. It might not be them but someone would claim POJ.

Yeah, but I think the idea is that the Leafs want guys who don't have to go through waivers, so they can then send that player down to the AHL when the rest of their defense get healthy.

 

[Peat]

Kinda early but been having a little play with how much cap room this team has next season compared to everyone else. By my reckoning every team has 19,989,797.78m to play with if everyone spends to the cap, but deduct the five most extreme teams at either end and you get 18,226,832.05m, which feels more likely. We're a little higher of that with about 20m to spend, and we're a little below average in terms of roster spots to fill as things currently stand.

Feel like there's potential for Hextall to be a little aggressive this year.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Roughly $20 million in cap space, minus whatever Zucker gets, and whatever Dumo gets, and whatever Heinen gets, and whatever Blueger gets, and whatever Jarry gets.

I couldn't help myself, but I genuinely have a gut feeling they'll all be back. Especially if Zucker's cap hit drops from $5.5 million to like $3.5-4 million, which I think is likely. I don't see a choice but to re-sign Jarry for roughly market value at like $6 million. Heinen will probably be back unless he bombs, in which I expect another ~$3 million middle-6 winger to pop in. Dumo's gonna be re-signed on legacy alone, whether he deserves to be or not--I don't think he does, but whatever--expecting that cap hit to be roughly the same at $4-4.5 million. Blueger's the only one I'm really iffy about, but I default to expecting him back.

So you're going from like $20 million to like, $4 million after all is said and done. Assuming Petts isn't dumped this season, but I think you'd have to replace his role as the defensive 2LD anyway, so. /shrug

 

[BillyOcean]

7. A couple of sources have told me to “stand down” on Marcus Pettersson and Vancouver rumours.

Why does he make it sound like he's in a military struggle?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Iirc they've started lining up Hughes on RD? Someone said that. Dunno if true.

The plan going into the season was to pair Hughes with OEL, with Hughes shifting to the right side. Not sure if they've actually stuck with that as I haven't followed Vancouver during the pre-season.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

7. A couple of sources have told me to “stand down” on Marcus Pettersson and Vancouver rumours.

Why does he make it sound like he's in a military struggle?

Journalism is extremely cut-throat!

 

[SEALBound]

I don't see Pettersson to Vancouver actually happening. Discussions, sure as maybe something might change later in the season. As it sits, Petts out and presumably POJ in...it just doesn't work. Dumo-POJ-Smith would be among the worst LD depth in the league. We are looking to compete for the Cup so we need to keep guys that help that pursuit. Salary cap is important, don't get me wrong, but the goal is to win. Not maintaining a nicely structured cap on the team. There is a clear priority, 1. win 2. everything else.

Also: Believe Toronto will continue exploring waiver-exempt or waiver-cleared defensive depth thanks to three preseason injuries. The Maple Leafs have a surplus of depth forwards.

I've thrown out the name Pontus Holmberg a few times as a basis for a swap.

If we want a Zohorna replacement, Curtis Douglas. Or in the mold of Marino, Mikko Kokkonen and a pick?

 

[Peat]

Putting some respect on his name - Athletic profile on Letang as 100th best NHLer of the modern era NHL99: Kris Letang's 'risky' play shouldn't define his under-appreciated career

 

[66-30-33]

Petts for Garland.

GCR
GMR

Now figure out what GMR, GCR lines are...Garland or Jake? Rust or Rakell?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Still wish we went after Marchment. 2 goals in the opener

 

[Gurglesons]

Still wish we went after Marchment. 2 goals in the opener

Would be him over Rakell. I’d like it but not sure it actually makes us a better team.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Would be him over Rakell. I’d like it but not sure it actually makes us a better team.

No I'd subtract elsewhere. I won't clarify because that would just upset people.
But it was possible for sure, assuming he'd want to play here.

 

[66-30-33]

No I'd subtract elsewhere. I won't clarify because that would just upset people.
But it was possible for sure, assuming he'd want to play here.

Blueger gone and Kappy not qualified?

GCR
Marchment-Malkin-Rust
Zucker-Carter-Heinen

 

[Empoleon8771]

It’s super early of course, but I honestly don’t see a top-6 spot for someone like Marchment. Zucker looks completely revitalized after he became healthy and I don’t think you need another top-6 guy if Zucker gets back to where he once was.

I don’t think this team needs any forwards. They seem to be overflowing with quality NHL guys and need to move out guys before taking about adding guys.

To expand on that, I think you can legitimately argue this team really doesn’t need anything right now. There doesn’t seem to be any glaring flaws with the current team, the worst case scenario with a lot of these positions are something like “you want better but they’re not killing you”. Look at POJ on the 3rd pair, I’ve been super critical of him but he’s realistically not going to sink this team if he’s playing. The most questionable spots are things like Zucker on L2, Archibald on L4 and POJ on the 3rd pair. It’s not some disastrous situation.