Salary Cap: Pittsburgh Penguins Salary Cap - And meanwhile back at the Candlerock Lounge

[ChrisKuuuunitz]

IF the right player/fit is available - i'd EASILY pass off the first round pick this year. I wouldn't even give a **** for 1 second. As long as it is a guy who fits.

This team is SEVERELY lacking a player that I can rage at every game, I think we need a Craig Adams type, or Bjugstad back

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

There's pretty much never a guy who's 2011 Kunitz available insofar as I understand it. Teams just don't like that sort of guy go if they can help it - grow them or go without.

The closest I can think of is JT Miller this past off-season.

 

[Peat]

The closest I can think of is JT Miller this past off-season.

Good shout. And I think even there, there was a bit of an unexpected breakout from his scoring wise once when with Vancouver.

 

[Andy99]

There's pretty much never a guy who's 2011 Kunitz available insofar as I understand it. Teams just don't like that sort of guy go if they can help it - grow them or go without.

Idk but Shero was able to trade for an available Kunitz in Anaheim...all a matter of what you’re willing to give up...gave up a solid D man who was promising at the time...it’s going to cost us a younger player we like but it can be done...

 

[ZeroPucksGiven]

IF the right player/fit is available - i'd EASILY pass off the first round pick this year. I wouldn't even give a **** for 1 second. As long as it is a guy who fits.

That's the million dollar question

We all thought Brass was the right fit

No one has the crystal ball. Because if you could rewind time, wouldn't you pay 2 first rounders for Kunitz if you knew then what you know now?

 

[Andy99]

This team is SEVERELY lacking a player that I can rage at every game, I think we need a Craig Adams type, or Bjugstad back

So ZAR isn’t enough?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Does Tatar get mentioned much? He seems like a guy who'd work well with our two stars. Smart guy with good hands and a nice touch around the net. Defensively responsible enough as well that we don't have to worry about Sullivan putting him on the 4th line because of his play away from the puck.

 

[Gurglesons]

Does Tatar get mentioned much? He seems like a guy who'd work well with our two stars. Smart guy with good hands and a nice touch around the net. Defensively responsible enough as well that we don't have to worry about Sullivan putting him on the 4th line because of his play away from the puck.

Montreal has been trying to move him to us on the trade forum for months.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That's the million dollar question

We all thought Brass was the right fit

No one has the crystal ball. Because if you could rewind time, wouldn't you pay 2 first rounders for Kunitz if you knew then what you know now?

Yeah that's really what they lean on their pro scouts for, I suppose. Because you're right.

I do have to wonder how well Brassard would have done here if the Penguins weren't kind of in the middle of an identity crisis and had some other dramas going on. Probably not much better. Combination of wrong fit and this team simply being really dumb and obsessed trying to chase 3Cs.

 

[Andy99]

Does Tatar get mentioned much? He seems like a guy who'd work well with our two stars. Smart guy with good hands and a nice touch around the net. Defensively responsible enough as well that we don't have to worry about Sullivan putting him on the 4th line because of his play away from the puck.

He’s not a sure thing...he was dreadful for a short time in Vegas as a rental...we’d really have to look at how he plays now vs what he’d be asked to do here...if there’s too much of a gap, he might not fit...I haven’t watched him enough to know why he bombed in Vegas but not in MTL so far...

 

[Ryder71]

That's the million dollar question

We all thought Brass was the right fit

No one has the crystal ball. Because if you could rewind time, wouldn't you pay 2 first rounders for Kunitz if you knew then what you know now?

I think Sully has an incredible feel for what this team needs and where to aptly place players throughout the line up. JR will obviously consult him before making a deal. I feel confident that a proper fit will be at the top of our priority list.

I believe they can weed certain players out who likely wouldn't fit here. I've mentioned guys like Foligno and many have talked about Craig Smith. I'd be very surprised if such players didn't fit in swimmingly.

 

[Beauner]

When looking for fit I think the only criteria needed is speed. If they can skate, the worst case scenario is they're another hagelin; superb on the forecheck and causing turnovers, while lacking offensively. Best case scenario we get a legit top 6 scoring threat that's ALSO superb on the forecheck.

Acquire someone who's speed isnt an asset, and your worst case scenario is Brassard

 

[mpp9]

IF the right player/fit is available - i'd EASILY pass off the first round pick this year. I wouldn't even give a **** for 1 second. As long as it is a guy who fits.

Sounds like SJ is trying to get a 1st rounder. Lebanc for a 1st works for me. He can go on hot stretches and shouts Pens style of player.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

He’s not a sure thing...he was dreadful for a short time in Vegas as a rental...we’d really have to look at how he plays now vs what he’d be asked to do here...if there’s too much of a gap, he might not fit...I haven’t watched him enough to know why he bombed in Vegas but not in MTL so far...

Wasn't it a case of Vegas not putting him in lineup/putting him on a "checking line" with Ryan Carpenter as his center?

If we traded for him it would be silly to put him next to ZAR and Blueger instead of Sid or Geno.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Acquire someone who's speed isnt an asset, and your worst case scenario is Brassard

Yeah... I know it's not quite so easy but that's gotta be the blueprint. Speed, tenacity, smarts and more speed.

 

[Peat]

Idk but Shero was able to trade for an available Kunitz in Anaheim...all a matter of what you’re willing to give up...gave up a solid D man who was promising at the time...it’s going to cost us a younger player we like but it can be done...

My understanding of it is that Kunitz was no mean player when we traded for him, but he took extra steps forwards as a player to become the nightmare force that was 2011 Kunitz i.e. there had to be some internal development. Might be wrong, but that's my read of what's said around here.

 

[Turin]

My understanding of it is that Kunitz was no mean player when we traded for him, but he took extra steps forwards as a player to become the nightmare force that was 2011 Kunitz i.e. there had to be some internal development. Might be wrong, but that's my read of what's said around here.

Kunitz was the same guy in Anaheim that he was for most of his time in Pittsburgh. His shot got way better after 2012 for a couple years before age got him though.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

My understanding of it is that Kunitz was no mean player when we traded for him, but he took extra steps forwards as a player to become the nightmare force that was 2011 Kunitz i.e. there had to be some internal development. Might be wrong, but that's my read of what's said around here.

Kunitz actually had some of his best seasons in Anaheim... where he spent much less time than in Pittsburgh. But... and maybe I'm a LITTLE biased, here... he didn't become the legendary human buzzsaw 3-ass-1-goal maniac that he is primarily known for being until he came to Pittsburgh. More to the point his offensive game didn't completely blossom until he was a Penguin. Though riding shotgun with Sid and Malkin as basically one of if not THE only legit wing here for years will do that.

His last few years were... a bit different. But he had one last heroic trick up his sleeve so it's all good.

 

[Ugene Magic]

The closest I can think of is JT Miller this past off-season.

TJ Oshie.

 

[Andy99]

My understanding of it is that Kunitz was no mean player when we traded for him, but he took extra steps forwards as a player to become the nightmare force that was 2011 Kunitz i.e. there had to be some internal development. Might be wrong, but that's my read of what's said around here.

He improved his point production obviously playing with Sid and Geno, but he was 29 years old and had three seasons of 20+ goals before the Pens acquired him...he was a better player here because he had the smarts to play well with our talent...but he was a very good player before that...it’d be like us picking up Kreider and ends up playing a more effective game here at age 29-34 than he played for the Rangers

 

[Ugene Magic]

Kunitz was the same guy in Anaheim that he was for most of his time in Pittsburgh. His shot got way better after 2012 for a couple years before age got him though.

Because there were no goal scorers on the wing at that time until Neal came along. Same reason Sid started shooting more and getting more goals.

Kreider is exactly what you guys are looking for except he's UFA. Same age range and all.

 

[Peat]

He improved his point production obviously playing with Sid and Geno, but he was 29 years old and had three seasons of 20+ goals before the Pens acquired him...he was a better player here because he had the smarts to play well with our talent...but he was a very good player before that...it’d be like us picking up Kreider and ends up playing a more effective game here at age 29-34 than he played for the Rangers

Seen too many Rangers fans state he's now a bit shy of going hard around the net to believe in him, but I get your point.

But... I don't think what you and others are saying disagrees with mine too much. The full mesh of nigh-elite offensive prowess and all round wrecking ball wasn't on sale. A damn fine player was, and I'd say they seem to go about once every two years, maybe every one year depending on how tight your definitions are, but the peak performance took a little extra.

He’s not a sure thing...he was dreadful for a short time in Vegas as a rental...we’d really have to look at how he plays now vs what he’d be asked to do here...if there’s too much of a gap, he might not fit...I haven’t watched him enough to know why he bombed in Vegas but not in MTL so far...

I feel like Vegas play a different style to us so I'm okay with that, but would like to watch more of him to get a feeling.

 

[Andy99]

When looking for fit I think the only criteria needed is speed. If they can skate, the worst case scenario is they're another hagelin; superb on the forecheck and causing turnovers, while lacking offensively. Best case scenario we get a legit top 6 scoring threat that's ALSO superb on the forecheck.

Acquire someone who's speed isnt an asset, and your worst case scenario is Brassard

We need speed of course, but first and foremost the player has to have way above average hockey IQ ...has to think the game fast and play fast, but not necessarily have elite foot speed...another Hags would be bad at this point because we need someone who doesn’t have hands of stone...we need a finisher...1) hockey IQ, 2) goal scoring touch, 3) speed

 

[billybudd]

My understanding of it is that Kunitz was no mean player when we traded for him, but he took extra steps forwards as a player to become the nightmare force that was 2011 Kunitz i.e. there had to be some internal development. Might be wrong, but that's my read of what's said around here.

Nah. Kunitz always played the same game. Only thing that changed with him was that he spent more time looking for soft spots as he aged (then eventually lost his hands) and less time hammering guys in the corner.

Whitney was the reason the trade happened (and the reason it didn't look lopsided until years later). Whitney had the look/reputation of a #2 D with great size when he went to Anaheim, so, at the most general, it was a #2 D with great size for a #4 wing with mediocre size, which is an on-paper win for them.

Unfortunately for the Ducks, Whitney wasn't what he seemed, partly because he was already damaged goods at that point, which wouldn't be expected with his age and lack of obvious physical injuries. At that time, it was probably Kunitz who carried the injury concerns.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah Whitney, at the time, was actually a pretty big asset to give up. Though many Penguins fans already had reservations at that point.

That backdoor play between he and Sid probably added like... 2M dollars to his perceived value. Haha