Salary Cap: Pens Salary Thread: Stretch run to the playoffs "So it begins"

[The Great Mighty Poo]

No more of this annoying neutered pacifism bullshit.

 

[Josey Wales]

Gerbil Boy Rossi doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground

 

[SEALBound]

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.

 

[57special]

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.

 

[SEALBound]

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.