Empoleon8771
Registered User
Kinda crazy they got him signed for so cheap, but hey I'm sure as hell not complaining.
We've seen plenty of better players in UFA recently wait it out for a better deal only to end up getting screwed. He probably figured, hey, I can get 2 years now? Why not take it.I'm mostly surprised that he was able to be signed for so cheap because he was a UFA, not a RFA. I don't think he was anything amazing, but 20 points in 52 games in a 3rd line role is pretty solid and you would think he could have gotten close to double what he got here in UFA.
Had someone given him a 2 year, $1.5 million AAV deal in UFA, I wouldn't have been surprised at all. To see him only getting league minimum, though? That surprises me, but definitely in a good way.
Smith - Eller - Puustinen was a solid 3rd, and at only like $8 million in total cap kind of a bargain.
Smith - Eller - Puustinen was a solid 3rd, and at only like $8 million in total cap kind of a bargain.
$878,787 per for 8 years and 7 months.Crosby you're next.
Re-signs 3 years at 775K AAV of course.
Smith - Eller - Puusty was adequate enough as a 3 which easily clears the bar of some 3rd lines we've seen them roll out recently. It could turn into an actually decent one if Smith rebounds and Eller maintains which may be a pipe dream.
That being said, sure move Eller to 4c and find a better 3c but if that money can be put to better use elsewhere, I think it could work.
Trust me I'm the guy that is always ripping on Pens fans for obsessing over their like 6M dollar 3C every single offseason. But if they could somehow find a guy for like 2-3ish million that is an upgrade on Eller there... that's maybe a line that could do a little damage while pushing a still-quality player in Eller down to 4C to help replace the massive, gaping void in both the lineup and our hearts that is BJC.
I actually think you can justifying spending a bit more than that on a 3C because they'll have O'Connor on L1 (assuming Smith is kept for L3) and Puustinen on L3 for dirt cheap. Gives them the flexibility of being able to spend more on luxuries.
Now, the more interesting idea is telling Rakell to GTFO and bringing in Marner to replace him. Cheap deals in notable roles like O'Connor and Puustinen also allows them to do that.
Man how awesome would it be if Pono just comes in and plays his way right into that spot for super cheap. He's likely the most realistic in-house option.
I feel like we've been waiting for something like this to happen collectively as a fanbase for like a decade.
Pono I'm most interested in with a good offseason and coming to camp healthy. I can't imagine they ever envisioned Koivunen going straight from Liiga to the NHL. If he starts in the A and looks good, he'll certainly be on the shortlist for the first call-up once injuries inevitably hit.Kinda shocked here. He was a UFA and he doesn’t really have a spot guaranteed next year out our prospects in Koivunen, Poulin and Pono trying to make the NHL.
Basically guarantees Koivunen ain’t given a fair shake unless we sign no UFA forwards.