The unfortunate part is I don't know who is out there that we could realisitally acquire that would fill that hole.
I have a questions about Pettersson. Is he able to attend training camp without a signed contract? He's reportedly skating with the team now, but is he able to continue without a deal?
A) Dumoulin didn't "immediately jump into the NHL". He played 19 games the 2 previous seasons (where other than the POs he largely looked out of place) and spent 3 years in the AHL after coming out of college. He wasn't an impact player (15/16) until his 7th season post draft.
B) Marino other than being an RD will likely never be able to replace what Schultz does. And not signing JS because of Marino just screams setting him and the team up for failure. Especially for a team that's desperate for PMD who can transition the puck.
Yeah but that's a pretty big difference. I'm still shocked to this day that Chicago sent him packing for ****ing Scuderi. He wasn't really working out there but my god.
The rest is pretty even but a guy like Daley really goes so, so far in making a system like Sullivan's tick. A defenseman who can skate the puck out of danger and eat up the NZ is so crucial. Hell... just ask Geno! Ha.
Let's say Johnson gets the boot and Riikola plays a full season at a solid level on the bottom pair. Would that change your stance at all?
I know when it comes to JJ I sometimes sound like a broken record. I know people grow tired of hearing it. I know it starts to sound like a convenient excuse. I know that the further away we get from last season (and people will learn again soon enough) that it becomes easier to forget or handwave away how utterly and ridiculously incompetent, stupid, and completely destructive to any line he skated behind he really, really was.
But yes... literally ANY scenario that involves Jack Johnson being somewhere else so that he is literally a zero percent risk of being played in this roster in any capacity immediately sunnies my disposition and makes me markedly more enthusiastic for any lineup posited.
If he's willing to extend for what he's making now or less and doesn't suck this year, I'm all for it. However, I'm expecting him to want $6.5-$7 million a year, and I'd genuinely rather have Gudbranson on the 2nd pair over paying him that much.
With how good Marino looked and with Addison poised for a big season in the WHL, I'm not exactly super interested in signing Schultz long term.
Okay? He doesn't have to be what Schultz was. Schultz isn't a PMD who can transition the puck either, so I don't know why you're bringing that up.
Let me get this right. You'd rather have Gudbranson at $4MM on the second pair vs Schultz at $6.5MM? Maybe we can just dump JJ and Guds to give money to Schultz and have the kids fill in on the 3rd pair.
Yeah but that's a pretty big difference. I'm still shocked to this day that Chicago sent him packing for ****ing Scuderi. He wasn't really working out there but my god.
The rest is pretty even but a guy like Daley really goes so, so far in making a system like Sullivan's tick. A defenseman who can skate the puck out of danger and eat up the NZ is so crucial. Hell... just ask Geno! Ha.
That'd be a pretty live question in my mind if the two play like they did at the end of last season, but I think that's pretty unlikely. Not ruling it out, but not seeing it as the preferred option myself just yet.
That extra 2.5m could be vital when dealing with all the new contracts next season though.
Hey if Guds proves me wrong, great, but Schultz offense on the back end will be a huge loss, especially when (not if) Letang gets injured again. That's worth the money to me. It doesn't HAVE to be Schultz, by the way, but somebody better at offense than Pettersson or Dumoulin. Trade for someone if needed, but until a kid REALLY forces their hand and shows they are ready, unlikely by next year, you need another offensive Dman.
Let me get this right. You'd rather have Gudbranson at $4MM on the second pair vs Schultz at $6.5MM? Maybe we can just dump JJ and Guds to give money to Schultz and have the kids fill in on the 3rd pair.
He transitions the puck a lot better than Dumoulin does... and that's Marino's realistic ceiling.
I'm thinking Marino, POJ, and Addison will have to marinate in the AHL for at least two seasons. Re-signing Schultz will depend on how he and Gudbranson perform this season.
Why is everyone so keen on moving Schultz? If anything I'd re-sign him to a 2 year/$8M deal, I think that's fair for both parties. We need more PMDs, not less.
Why is everyone so keen on moving Schultz? If anything I'd re-sign him to a 2 year/$8M deal, I think that's fair for both parties. We need more PMDs, not less.
The same Geno who had his best season in forever when mainly in front of Schultz and with Daley nowhere to be seen (and Letang a step beneath himself)?
I'd really love to get some better transition players in defence, but I think it might be getting a bit overrated, particularly if talking about Schultz's weaknesses when he's dovetailed so well with Geno.
Why is everyone so keen on moving Schultz? If anything I'd re-sign him to a 2 year/$8M deal, I think that's fair for both parties. We need more PMDs, not less.
I flat out guarantee you he's not going to sign that contract.
I mean his numbers have been dropping ever since the 2016-2017 season. I wouldn't expect a raise if I were him. Even a slight pay cut seems reasonable imo.He'll be a 30 y/o UFA, RHD who's pedigree now includes 2 Cups...One of which he was a major player...
I don't see any way that either 2 years nor 4M gets it done. That being said - the Yohe piece has him quoted stating "He's right where he wants to be [Pittsburgh].."
I'd give up term if it meant a lower cap hit. Maybe 4 years/$16M?I'm sure you would. I'm also 100% certain that he wouldn't. There's not a chance in hell he'd take both a cheap contract and no term. Maybe one or the other, but certainly not both - not as a 30 yr old UFA.