Salary Cap: Roster-Building thread XXX: The NSFW edition

[penguins2946*]

A mod can edit the title and put in the stuff since the last thread is closed. Commence #StaalWatch2015

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries. The projected cap numbers below, however, haven't been updated recently because of the demise of Capgeek.

2014-2015 salary ceiling: ....69,000,000
Projected cap spending: ......68,733,167
Projected cap space: ...............175,000
Projected deadline space: ......1,547,198


PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Forward.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Evgeni Malkin|

C​

|

27​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

Sidney Crosby|

C​

|

26​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

Patric Hornqvist|

RW​

|

27​

|

4,250,000​

|

4,250,000​

|

4,250,000​

Chris Kunitz|

LW​

|

34​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

David Perron|

LW​

|

26​

|

3,812,500​

|

3,812,500​

|

UFA​

Brandon Sutter|

C​

|

25​

|

3,300,000​

|

3,300,000​

|

UFA​

Nick Spaling|

LW​

|

25​

|

2,200,000​

|

2,200,000​

|

UFA​

Maxim Lapierre|

C​

|

29​

|

1,100,000​

|

UFA​

Steve Downie|

RW​

|

27​

|

1,000,000​

|

UFA​

Beau Bennett|

LW​

|

22​

|

900,000​

|

RFA​

Blake Comeau|

LW​

|

28​

|

700,000​

|

UFA​

Craig Adams|

RW​

|

37​

|

700,000​

|

UFA​

Zach Sill|

C​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Defense.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

.2016-17​

Kris Letang|

D​

|

27​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

Paul Martin|

D​

|

33​

|

5,000,000​

|

UFA​

Christian Ehrhoff|

D​

|

32​

|

4,000,000​

|

UFA​

Rob Scuderi|

D​

|

35​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

Simon Despres|

D​

|

22​

|

900,000​

|

900,000​

|

RFA​

Derrick Pouliot|

D​

|

20​

|

863,333​

|

863,333​

|

863,333​

Robert Bortuzzo|

D​

|

25​

|

600,000​

|

RFA​

Goalie...................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

.2016-17​

Marc-Andre Fleury|

G​

|

29​

|

5,000,000​

|

5,750,000​

|

5,750,000​

Thomas Greiss|

G​

|

28​

|

1,000,000​

|

UFA​

Injured reserve......​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

.2016-17​

Pascal Dupuis|

RW​

|

35​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

Olli Maatta|

D​

|

19​

|

894,167​

|

894,167​

|

RFA​

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Jayson Megna|

RW​

|

24​

|

874,125​

|

RFA​

Scott Wilson|

LW​

|

22​

|

655,000​

|

655,000​

|

RFA​

Bryan Rust|

RW​

|

22​

|

652,500​

|

652,500​

|

RFA​

Adam Payerl|

RW​

|

23​

|

626,667​

|

RFA​

Anton Zlobin|

LW​

|

21​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Matia Marcantuoni|

C​

|

20​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

21​

|

601,667​

|

RFA​

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

22​

|

598,333​

|

RFA​

Andrew Ebbett|

C​

|

31​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|

RFA​

Nick Drazenovic|

C​

|

27​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond|

RW​

|

29​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Defense.............................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

22​

|

831,667​

|

RFA​

Harrison Ruopp|

D​

|

21​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

|

RFA​

Nick D'Agostino|

D​

|

23​

|

625,000​

|

RFA​

Scott Harrington|

D​

|

21​

|

589,167​

|

589,167​

|

RFA​

Reid McNeill|

D​

|

22​

|

575,000​

|

RFA​

Taylor Chorney|

D​

|

27​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Goalie................................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Matt Murray|

G​

|

20​

|

620,000​

|

620,000​

|

620,000​

Jeff Zatkoff|

G​

|

27​

|

600,000​

|

600,000​

|

UFA​

WHEELING NAILERS

Forward........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Josh Archibald|

RW​

|

21​

|

659,167​

|

659,167​

|

659,167​

Jean-Sebastien Dea|

C​

|

20​

|

598,333​

|

598,333​

|

598,333​

|

RFA​

Goalie...........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Eric Hartzell|

G​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|

RFA​

SIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team​

|

Contract​

Kasperi Kapanen|

RW​

|

18​

|

KalPa (Liiga)​

|

3 years/925,000 per​

Oskar Sundqvist|

C​

|

20​

|

SkellefteÃ¥ (SHL)​

|

3 years/708,333 per​

Tristan Jarry|

G​

|

19​

|

Edmonton (WHL)​

|

3 years/650,833 per​

UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

​

​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team (League)​

Anthony Angello|

F​

|

18​

|Omaha (USHL)

Dane Birks|

D​

|

18​

|Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Teddy Blueger|

F​

|

19​

|Minnesota State (WCHA)

Blaine Byron|

F​

|

19​

|Maine (HEA)

Jake Guentzel|

F​

|

19​

|Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)

Troy Josephs|

F​

|

20​

|Clarkson (ECAC)

Sam Lafferty|

F​

|

19​

|Brown (ECAC)

Jaden Lindo|

F​

|

18​

|Owen Sound (OHL)

Sean Maguire|

G​

|

21​

|Boston University (HEA)

Alexander Pechurskiy|

G​

|

24​

|Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Ryan Segalla|

D​

|

19​

|Connecticut (HEA)

Jeff Taylor|

D​

|

20​

|Union (ECAC)

I used 5v5 stats from 2010-11 through 2014-15 looking at forwards in the top 50% of goals per game (0.09 GPG), top 25% of hits per game (1.56 HpG) and top 50% in hits differential per game (0.14). Recognizing that hits are a biased stat and that hits don't include all physicality, I thought it would be sufficient considering the timeframe and application.

78 total active players fit those parameters with 9 rookies (<20 games played) and 5 AHL players (3 rookie players are also AHL players).

Of those 78:

• Pens Players (3): Megna*, Comeau, Kunitz, Arcobello
• Franchise players / captains (7): Landeskog, Getzlaf, Jamie Benn, D Brown, Ovechkin, Doan, Backes
• New Contracts (9): Kreider, Bjugstad, N Foligno, Kulemin, Dubinsky, Callahan, Komarov, Wingels, Garbutt
• Young players (Tier 1) (6): Trocheck, Jenner, Girgensons, Zibanejad, Niederreiter, E Kane
• Young players (Tier 2) (5): Paquette, Jaskin, Lowry, Colborne, Marcus Foligno
• Rookies (8): B Ritchie, Schaller, Pakarinen, Rendulic, Dano, Aliu*, Dziurzynski*, McMillan*
• Unlikely to be Available (9): Stoll, Simmonds, Clutterbuck, B Schenn*, Lucic, A Lee*, Zack Kassian*, J Persson*(R), J Staal
• Don't want (10): C Neil, B Morrow, Fisher, Clarkson, Setoguchi, T Ruutu, Greening, Jamie McGinn (I), Slater, Clowe (I)
• AHL Players (4): Colin McDonald, Chad Larose, Raffi Torres, Ryan Malone
• UFA (5): Beleskey (ANA), J Hayes (FLA), E Cole (DAL), Eaves (DAL), Klinkhammer (EDM)
• Controversial contracts (2): Bickell, Hartnell
• Otherwise not listed (9): Skille (CBJ), Helm (DET), Z Smith (OTT), Hanzal (ARI), Abdelkader (DET), Cooke (MIN), Boyle (FLA), Nystrom (NSH), Brouwer (WSH)

Now that there's no Capgeek, here's a list of the pending UFA forwards that might potentially be interested in.

Fleischmann, Tlusty, Ryder, Glenncross, Williams, Jagr, Vermette, Soderberg, Frolik, Slater, Ward, Fehr, Matthias, Santillori, Booth, Winnik, Morrow, Lindstrom, TK, Beleskey, Erat, Stafford, Stewart, Richards, Briere, Letestu, Horcroff, Cole, Cleary, Roy, Upshall, Bergenheim, Kopecky, Stoll, Fisher, Cullen, O.Jokinen, Havlet, MSL, Zuccarello Condra

Click to read more...

 

[Asuna]

Staal on the Pens = instant cupz

 

[Boocock]

This post has been copied for a half an hour or so haha.

Agreed. We spend a lot of time on these boards collectively moaning about the lack of forward prospects, then seem to overlook the ones we have.

I have to wonder if this whole thing is more about getting the word out the Sutter is available and/or laying groundwork with the fanbase regarding trading him than it is about bringing Gronk back into the fold.

With both Yohe and Molinari leaking some info about the rumor? This is some House of Cards meets Any Given Sunday **** right here.

If we're looking for an impact third line center (which is what we all wanted Sutter to be, because that's what Jordan Staal was), then who, aside from Shawn Matthias, could we add at the deadline?

 

[pensfan71]

Is there any chance that Carolina retains a portion of Staal's cap hit? Like $1M or so?

Also people do realize Sundqvist has been playing wing all year right? Put him on wing with Staal on the 3rd line, and you solve our size issues.

I hope we'd somehow convince them of that....

Sundy-Staal-Comeau/BB

Would be wonderful

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'm getting right around 60 million in committed cap next season, with Staal. Does this sound about accurate?

Perron(3.8)/Crosby(8.7)/Horns(4.25)
Kunitz(3.85)/Malkin(9.5)/FA
Spaling(2.2)/Staal(6)/Dupuis(3.75)
FA/FA/FA

Letang(7.25)/Despres(.9)
Maatta(.833)/FA
Scuderi(3.375)/Pouliot(.833)

Fleury(5)
BACKUP

TOTAL: 60.241

OUT: Sutter(3.3)
UFA: Downie(1), Adams(.7), Comeau(.7), Sill(.547), Lappy(1), Martin(5), Ehrhoff(4), Greiss(1)
RFA: Bortuzzo(.6), Bennett(.9)

Obviously I wasn't too worried about position or the fact that Dupuis' career is probably over. Just trying to throw together something for people to work with since Capgeek is a duster. Likely inaccuracies.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Bergenheim + 2nd for Sutter

 

[pensfan71]

I'm getting right around 60 million in committed cap next season, with Staal. Does this sound about accurate?

Perron(3.8)/Crosby(8.7)/Horns(4.25)
Kunitz(3.85)/Malkin(9.5)/FA
Spaling(2.2)/Staal(6)/Dupuis(3.75)
FA/FA/FA

Letang(7.25)/Despres(.9)
Maatta(.833)/FA
Scuderi(3.375)/Pouliot(.833)

Fleury(5)
BACKUP

TOTAL: 60.241

OUT: Sutter(3.3)
UFA: Downie(1), Adams(.7), Comeau(.7), Sill(.547), Lappy(1), Martin(5), Ehrhoff(4), Greiss(1)
RFA: Bortuzzo(.6), Bennett(.9)

Obviously I wasn't too worried about position or the fact that Dupuis' career is probably over. Just trying to throw together something for people to work with since Capgeek is a duster. Likely inaccuracies.

One of Kunitz or Scuderi would have to go for this to work somehow

 

[pensfan71]

Bergenheim + 2nd for Sutter

They don't need Sutter

 

[Sideline]

This post has been copied for a half an hour or so haha.

With both Yohe and Molinari leaking some info about the rumor? This is some House of Cards meets Any Given Sunday **** right here.

If we're looking for an impact third line center (which is what we all wanted Sutter to be, because that's what Jordan Staal was), then who, aside from Shawn Matthias, could we add at the deadline?

What about Jarret Stoll? Maybe the kings do Scuderi one for one?

 

[penguins2946*]

I'm getting right around 60 million in committed cap next season, with Staal. Does this sound about accurate?

Perron(3.8)/Crosby(8.7)/Horns(4.25)
Kunitz(3.85)/Malkin(9.5)/FA
Spaling(2.2)/Staal(6)/Dupuis(3.75)
FA/FA/FA

Letang(7.25)/Despres(.9)
Maatta(.833)/FA
Scuderi(3.375)/Pouliot(.833)

Fleury(5)
BACKUP

TOTAL: 60.241

OUT: Sutter(3.3)
UFA: Downie(1), Adams(.7), Comeau(.7), Sill(.547), Lappy(1), Martin(5), Ehrhoff(4), Greiss(1)
RFA: Bortuzzo(.6), Bennett(.9)

Obviously I wasn't too worried about position or the fact that Dupuis' career is probably over. Just trying to throw together something for people to work with since Capgeek is a duster. Likely inaccuracies.

Yeah, those numbers sounds right. The roster I put together from the last thread with only Scuderi and Sutter out and Bennett and Bortuzzo re-signed is:

Perron ($3.813)-Crosby ($8.7)-Hornqvist ($4.25)
Kunitz ($3.85)-Malkin ($9.5)-XXXXX
Dupuis ($3.75)*-Staal ($6)-Bennett ($1)
Sundqvist ($.925)-Spaling ($2.2)-XXXXX

Maatta ($.894)-Letang ($7.25)
Despres ($.9)-XXXXX
Pouliot ($.9)-Bortuzzo ($.7)
Dumoulin ($.9)

Fleury ($5.75)-Zatkoff ($.6)

That lineup was right around $62 million.

What about Jarret Stoll? Maybe the kings do Scuderi one for one?

I would be fine with signing Stoll as long as we bring in 2 legit wingers for Malkin.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Ahhh, OK. Cool. I must have missed that somehow.

 

[penguins2946*]

Another thing to consider is that I have a really strong feeling that JR will go hard after Tlusty in free agency. I'm not saying this because I like him, but Tlusty seems to fit everything JR likes and he's very familiar with him.

 

[Sideline]

Another thing to consider is that I have a really strong feeling that JR will go hard after Tlusty in free agency. I'm not saying this because I like him, but Tlusty seems to fit everything JR likes and he's very familiar with him.

You can't overstate how much JR loves familiarity. He's the king of second stints for players he previously traded.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

A good number of people on this board were fine with the Letang contract, and once Johnston was hired, many were ecstatic.

If you have a ridiculously embarrassing, poor opinion of Letang, that's fine, but please don't project it on others.


Anyhow, acquiring Staal now wouldn't be as bad as it was 3 years ago, and I'm shocked so many people are against it.

1) The winger situation now is infinitely better than it was when Staal was here.

2) Those wingers are on decent contracts, are young, and should be around for a while

3) Brandon Sutter will command a raise. He's not worth it, but he'll get it. It will be to the point where you are paying him within 1 or 2 million of what Jordan Staal is making.

A good 3C nowadays will either be on his ELC/Bridge contract or making 5M. Since Jordan Staal is the best of the best, 6M is right in line.

4) Without Cap Geek it's a bit hard, but I'm almost positive a great purging is not necessary to bring Staal in and maintain roster integrity.

I'm surprised so many people are claiming it does, without doing the math.


5) With Perron, Hornqvist, Comeau, and Bennett, plus Kapanen and whatever other finds they have in the off-season, your top-6 might not be set, but it's the best it's been in quite some time. Meanwhile, the bottom-6 continues to be a mess.

6) I like everything I read about Sundqvist, but it's unrealistic to expect him to be a 15-minute a night guy in his first season. 4C or some winger time should be his destiny for the first two seasons. AND THAT'S OKAY. Jesus, it's fine to have him work his way up. His game sounds tailor made for that.

7) People keep talking about the Penguins' lack of size and physicality. Staal instantly transforms his line. In fact, I would argue that having a 3rd line of something like

Spaling - Staal - Bennett immediately frees up Letang's pair from the "shutdown" role, allows you to use Despres/Scuderi or whoever, and let's Letang, Crosby, and Malkin play much freer roles than they play now.

I had written a long, LONG reply to Capp's post in the other thread that just closed. That kinda sucks. I don't feel like re-writing it. But basically, knowing Johnston's tendencies, do we really believe the arrival of Staal would mean going back to the 3C model? OR, is Geno going to become a permanent winger under Johnston?

Also, Sundqvist's development would be severely damaged by Staal's arrival. If it isn't already, being a--you know--Pens prospect and all.

But the two MAIN reasons not to pursue Staal are:

1) Philosophical. We can't keep bringing people back hoping to rekindle something that was probably a one-off anyway...

2) Assets. FUTURE assets. Ron Francis isn't a dumb guy. If we want HIS FIRST-line center, it'll come at a huge cost. One we simply cannot afford to pay at this time.

Hey, if we had NOT dealt our first in '15 already...if we hadn't wasted a third in '15 on Goc...if our cupboard wasn't close to bare...then maybe bringing back Staal would be a better idea.

As it stands, it's a terrible plan. And after sleeping on it, I still think the same way.

Oh, and this has nothing to do with the fact I changed my Staal 11 jersey and turned it into an Iginla 12 jersey a few years ago.

 

[Ugene Magic]

MrBurgundyIs there any chance that Carolina retains a portion of Staal's cap hit? Like $1M or so?

Also people do realize Sundqvist has been playing wing all year right? Put him on wing with Staal on the 3rd line, and you solve our size issues.

This is a great point being the last post of the previous trade thread.

We have options.

 

[Saints11]

I'm getting right around 60 million in committed cap next season, with Staal. Does this sound about accurate?

Perron(3.8)/Crosby(8.7)/Horns(4.25)
Kunitz(3.85)/Malkin(9.5)/FA
Spaling(2.2)/Staal(6)/Dupuis(3.75)
FA/FA/FA

Letang(7.25)/Despres(.9)
Maatta(.833)/FA
Scuderi(3.375)/Pouliot(.833)

Fleury(5)
BACKUP

TOTAL: 60.241

OUT: Sutter(3.3)
UFA: Downie(1), Adams(.7), Comeau(.7), Sill(.547), Lappy(1), Martin(5), Ehrhoff(4), Greiss(1)
RFA: Bortuzzo(.6), Bennett(.9)

Obviously I wasn't too worried about position or the fact that Dupuis' career is probably over. Just trying to throw together something for people to work with since Capgeek is a duster. Likely inaccuracies.

I would not count on Dupuis, very risky proposition. Can't see Kunitz here.

 

[IcedCapp]

I had written a long, LONG reply to Capp's post in the other thread that just closed. That kinda sucks. I don't feel like re-writing it. But basically, knowing Johnston's tendencies, do we really believe the arrival of Staal would mean going back to the 3C model? OR, is Geno going to become a permanent winger under Johnston?

Also, Sundqvist's development would be severely damaged by Staal's arrival. If it isn't already, being a--you know--Pens prospect and all.

But the two MAIN reasons not to pursue Staal are:

1) Philosophical. We can't keep bringing people back hoping to rekindle something that was probably a one-off anyway...

2) Assets. FUTURE assets. Ron Francis isn't a dumb guy. If we want HIS FIRST-line center, it'll come at a huge cost. One we simply cannot afford to pay at this time.

Hey, if we had NOT dealt our first in '15 already...if we hadn't wasted a third in '15 on Goc...if our cupboard wasn't close to bare...then maybe bringing back Staal would be a better idea.

As it stands, it's a terrible plan. And after sleeping on it, I still think the same way.

Oh, and this has nothing to do with the fact I changed my Staal 11 jersey and turned it into an Iginla 12 jersey a few years ago.

I 100% buy the asset argument. If it's costing us Kapanen + a D prospect + a top pick AND 6 million dollars... I get why people don't want to do it.

My post was more geared at people who are anti Staal on this team. IF he's willing to come back, I assume that means he's willing to play 3C. I would hope that Johnston would understand that that's where he should be.

I do wonder, based on some of MJ's recent comments, if the stuff at the beginning of the year wasn't geared more towards trying to get Sutter traded. I think MJ knows Geno is a center.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I 100% buy the asset argument. If it's costing us Kapanen + a D prospect + a top pick AND 6 million dollars... I get why people don't want to do it.

My post was more geared at people who are anti Staal on this team. IF he's willing to come back, I assume that means he's willing to play 3C. I would hope that Johnston would understand that that's where he should be.

I do wonder, based on some of MJ's recent comments, if the stuff at the beginning of the year wasn't geared more towards trying to get Sutter traded. I think MJ knows Geno is a center.

I remain unconvinced of this, and Johnston has given me zero reason to believe in him.

 

[pistolpete11]

I 100% buy the asset argument. If it's costing us Kapanen + a D prospect + a top pick AND 6 million dollars... I get why people don't want to do it.

My post was more geared at people who are anti Staal on this team. IF he's willing to come back, I assume that means he's willing to play 3C. I would hope that Johnston would understand that that's where he should be.

I do wonder, based on some of MJ's recent comments, if the stuff at the beginning of the year wasn't geared more towards trying to get Sutter traded. I think MJ knows Geno is a center.

Didn't he say at the time it was temporary because Geno was still getting used to the system and in game shape after missing the preseason?

 

[penguins2946*]

This is a great point being the last post of the previous trade thread.

We have options.

Yeah, Sundqvist can very easily be a winger. He could easily be what we wanted Staal to be when he put up 29 with Malkin, and he could slide to center if anyone gets hurt. That's a big reason I don't want to trade Sundqvist.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Didn't he say at the time it was temporary because Geno was still getting used to the system and in game shape after missing the preseason?

Everybody was getting used to the system. Hell, everybody is STILL getting used to the system. A few preseason games wasn't going to change anything there.

Not buying what Johnston's selling.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I would not count on Dupuis, very risky proposition. Can't see Kunitz here.

I'm not. I personally think he's done and should be done for his own sake. Would I love him as a linchpin on this team's third line? Hell yeah. But that doesn't really seem realistic or, from a health perspective, terribly smart. I just listed him because he'll still be on payroll and his situation still seems up in the air.

Those are interesting points, IC. I think Staal is a pretty good player. I just don't see it working. And frankly I don't trust this team (or Staal) to make the correct choice regarding his role on the team. If it could somehow magically be guaranteed or written into his contract, or something - badass. But that's obviously silly. Because 3LC and only 3LC is the only role I have any interest in seeing Staal play on this team. And I think in that capacity he'd be very helpful. But I'm of the opinion that they can find close to as good a fit without having to pry Staal out of Francis' hands. And it would require some prying.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

I had written a long, LONG reply to Capp's post in the other thread that just closed. That kinda sucks. I don't feel like re-writing it. But basically, knowing Johnston's tendencies, do we really believe the arrival of Staal would mean going back to the 3C model? OR, is Geno going to become a permanent winger under Johnston?

Also, Sundqvist's development would be severely damaged by Staal's arrival. If it isn't already, being a--you know--Pens prospect and all.

But the two MAIN reasons not to pursue Staal are:

1) Philosophical. We can't keep bringing people back hoping to rekindle something that was probably a one-off anyway...

2) Assets. FUTURE assets. Ron Francis isn't a dumb guy. If we want HIS FIRST-line center, it'll come at a huge cost. One we simply cannot afford to pay at this time.

Hey, if we had NOT dealt our first in '15 already...if we hadn't wasted a third in '15 on Goc...if our cupboard wasn't close to bare...then maybe bringing back Staal would be a better idea.

As it stands, it's a terrible plan. And after sleeping on it, I still think the same way.

Oh, and this has nothing to do with the fact I changed my Staal 11 jersey and turned it into an Iginla 12 jersey a few years ago.

I don't think the Pens are entertaining bringing back Staal as anything other than the primary 3C. JR has referenced bringing in a top 9 player recently multiple times. Our bottom six sucks. The ice is tilted every time they step on the ice and a large part of that is because Sutter plays almost 18 minutes a game and is a terrible possession player and terrible along the boards. Sutter would best be utilized as a 2C who plays on the rush on a ****** bottom feeder where he'll get some points but continue to be a terrible hockey player.

The teams that win cups have 3rd and 4th lines that carry them in the playoffs when the stars can't. Even when those lines aren't scoring, they are wearing down other teams. We have nothing like this at the moment. I'm guessing Pens management recognizes that we aren't going to win **** with our bottom six the way it is and they know that Staal would fix that and also fix the ******* in the locker room who are our supposed leaders and actually bark at guys about playing like ****.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I miss capgeek.

If we move Kunitz, Sutter, and Scuderi--which I think we have to regardless of who is coming back--that's $10.525M. Dupuis is done for all intents and purposes. Adams, Martin, Ehrhoff, Comeau, Downie, Sill, Lapierre, and Greiss are all off the books this summer. That's another $17.95M coming off the books this summer.

Perron (4.25) - Crosby (8.7) - Hornqvist (4.25)
XXXX - Malkin (9.5) - XXXX
Spaling (2.2) - XXXX - Bennett (~1.2)
Farnham (0.6) - XXXX - XXXX

Letang (7.25) - Maatta (.925)
Despres (.900) - XXXX
Harrington (.600) - Pouliot (.925)

Fleury (5.750)
XXXX

That's $47.05M against the cap next season. Safe assumption is that the cap goes up a million or two to $71M. That's $23.95M to work with. Now, assume we land Staal, just for argument's sake. That drops to $17.95M.

Perron (4.25) - Crosby (8.7) - Hornqvist (4.25)
XXXX/Staal (6.0) - Malkin (9.5) - XXXX
Spaling (2.2) - XXXX/Staal (6.0) - Bennett (~1.2)
Farnham (0.6) - XXXX - XXXX

Now, re-sign Comeau. He'll likely come relatively cheap at $2.5M. Go after Boychuk this summer to round out the top four defense. He'll likely cost around $6M. That leaves $9.45M left to round things out. Sign a relatively cheap, but effective guy for the third line. Someone like Letestu, likely going to cost ~$3M, leaving $6.45M left. Re-sign Lapierre at $1.5M, and try to find another good bottom sixer. You can spend up to approx. $1.5 on him, depending on who.

Perron (4.25) - Crosby (8.7) - Hornqvist (4.25)
Staal (6.0) - Malkin (9.5) - Comeau (2.5)
Spaling (2.2) - Letestu (3.0) - Bennett (~1.2)
Farnham (0.6) - Lapierre (1.5) - XXXX (1.5)
XXXX (.700)

Letang (7.25) - Maatta (.925)
Boychuk (6.25) - Despres (.900)
Harrington (.600) - Pouliot (.925)
Bortuzzo (.600)

Fleury (5.75)
XXXX (1.5)

Total cap hit of $70.6M with wiggle room depending on the price of the 12th and 13th forwards, and Boychuk's asking price (or similar top 4 defenseman). Sundqvist can slot in to the 3C role if he proves ready, saving more money from signing someone of Letestu's caliber/cap range.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I don't think the Pens are entertaining bringing back Staal as anything other than the primary 3C. JR has referenced bringing in a top 9 player recently multiple times. Our bottom six sucks. The ice is tilted every time they step on the ice and a large part of that is because Sutter plays almost 18 minutes a game and is a terrible possession player and terrible along the boards. Sutter would best be utilized as a 2C who plays on the rush on a ****** bottom feeder where he'll get some points but continue to be a terrible hockey player.

The teams that win cups have 3rd and 4th lines that carry them in the playoffs when the stars can't. Even when those lines aren't scoring, they are wearing down other teams. We have nothing like this at the moment. I'm guessing Pens management recognizes that we aren't going to win **** with our bottom six the way it is and they know that Staal would fix that and also fix the ******* in the locker room who are our supposed leaders and actually bark at guys about playing like ****.

You really think Jordan Staal was a huge leader on this team before? Oh, I think he led by example for sure. He's a great team player, for sure.

But I seriously doubt Staal is going to bark at Scuderi, Adams or any of the vets.

He'll just blend right in with the rest.

The room is broken, and someone from the OUTSIDE is needed to fix it. A big personality. Not another '09 alum.

IMO.