Salary Cap: Salary Cap & Roster Building | Monday, February 26

[ColePens]

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries.

2017-18 salary ceiling	$75,000,000
Projected dollars committed	75,129,309​
Projected LTIR Used	531,741​
Approximate cap space	$402,432​

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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Forward..................................	Pos.​	Age​	..........2017-18​	..........2018-19​	..........2019-20​
Evgeni Malkin	C​	31​	9,500,000​	9,500,000​	9,500,000​
Sidney Crosby	C​	30​	8,700,000​	8,700,000​	8,700,000​
Phil Kessel	RW​	29​	6,800,000​	6,800,000​	6,800,000​
Patric Hornqvist	RW​	30​	4,250,000​	UFA​
Carl Hagelin	LW​	29​	4,000,000​	4,000,000​	UFA​
Conor Sheary	LW​	25​	3,000,000​	3,000,000​	3,000,000​
Riley Sheahan	C​	25​	2,075,000​	RFA​
Ryan Reaves	RW​	30​	1,125,000​	UFA​
Jake Guentzel	LW​	22​	734,167​	734,167​	RFA​
Dominik Simon	C/RW​	23​	692,500​	RFA​
Bryan Rust	RW​	25​	640,000​	RFA​
Daniel Sprong	RW​	20​	692,500​	RFA​
Jean-Sebastien Dea	C​	23​	650,000​	RFA​
Tom Kuhnhackl	LW​	25​	625,000​	RFA​
Carter Rowney	C​	28​	612,500​	UFA​
Defense	Pos.​	Age​	2017-18​	2018-19​	2019-20​
Kris Letang	D​	30​	7,250,000​	7,250,000​	7,250,000​
Justin Schultz	D​	27​	5,500,000​	5,500,000​	5,500,000​
Brian Dumoulin	D​	26​	4,100,000​	4,100,000​	4,100,000​
Olli Maatta	D​	23​	4,083,333​	4,083,333​	4,083,333​
Matt Hunwick	D​	32​	2,250,000​	2,250,000​	2,250,000​
Ian Cole	D​	28​	2,100,000​	UFA​
Jamie Oleksiak	D​	25​	964,688​	RFA​
Chad Ruhwedel	D​	27​	650,000​	650,000​	UFA​
Goalie	Pos.​	Age​	2017-18​	2018-19​	2019-20​
Matt Murray	G​	23​	3,750,000​	3,750,000​	3,750,000​
Tristan Jarry	G​	22​	630,833​	RFA​
Casey DeSmith	G​	25​	675,000​	675,000​	UFA​

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WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward..................................	Pos.​	Age​	..........2017-18​	..........2018-19​	..........2019-20​
Zach Aston-Reese	LW​	23​	925,000​	925,000​	RFA​
Adam Johnson	C​	23​	925,000​	925,000​	RFA​
Thomas Di Pauli	C​	23​	742,500​	RFA​
Freddie Tiffels	LW​	22​	742,500​	742,500​	RFA​
Sam Miletic	LW​	20​	710,000​	710,000​	710,000​
Teddy Blueger	C​	23​	705,000​	RFA​
Garrett Wilson	LW​	24​	650,000​	650,000​	UFA​
Greg McKegg	C​	25​	650,000​	RFA​
Tom Sestito	LW​	29​	650,000​	UFA​
Defense	Pos.​	Age​	2017-18​	2018-19​	2019-20​
Andrey Pedan	D​	24​	750,000​	RFA​
Jeff Taylor	D​	23​	742,500​	742,500​	RFA​
Ethan Prow	D​	24​	730,000​	RFA​
Lukas Bengtsson	D​	24​	705,000​	RFA​
Frank Corrado	D​	24​	650,000​	RFA​
Jarred Tinordi	D​	25​	650,000​	RFA​
Zach Trotman	D​	27​	650,000​	UFA​
Kevin Czuczman	D​	26​	650,000​	UFA​
Chris Summers	D​	29​	650,000​	650,000​	UFA​
Goalie	Pos.​	Age​	2017-18​	2018-19​	2019-20​
Michael Leighton	G​	36​	650,000​	UFA​

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SIGNED PROSPECTS

Player	Pos.​	Age​	Current team​	Contract​
Filip Gustavsson	G​	19​	Lulea HF (SHL)​	3 years/775,833 per​
Alex D'Orio	G​	18​	Saint John (QMJHL)​	3 years/716,667 per​
Jordy Bellerive	C​	18​	Lethbridge (WHL)​	3 years/716,667 per​

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UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player	Pos.​	Age​	Current team​
Niclas Almari	D​	19​	HPK (Liiga)
Anthony Angello	F​	21​	Cornell (ECAC)
Dane Birks	D​	21​	Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Kasper Bjorkqvist	F​	19​	Providence (HEA)
Jan Drozg	F​	18​	Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Connor Hall	D​	19​	Kitchener (OHL)
Ryan Jones	D​	21​	Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)
Sam Lafferty	F​	22​	Brown (ECAC)
Zachary Lauzon	D​	18​	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Joe Masonius	D​	20​	Connecticut (HEA)
Linus Olund	F​	20​	Brynas IF (SHL)
Antti Palojarvi	D​	18​	Lukko U20 (SML Jr.A)
Nikita Pavlychev	F​	20​	Penn State (Big Ten)
Clayton Phillips	D​	17​	Fargo (USHL)
Will Reilly	D​	19​	RPI (ECAC)
Dominik Uher	C​	24​	HC Sparta Praha (ELH)

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Data Source

Click to read more...

 

[HandshakeLine]

Balls. Deep.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I don't think we need someone better than Sheahan to have success. So having someone else like him would be amazing. That said, I'm not sure how "buy low" Hayes would actually be. And w/o looking into it further I'm not sure how much of his production the last few seasons came with him at center or on the wing (pretty sure his first season was as a winger). Anyway, if we could get him, I'd be pretty happy with that, but with only 1 RFA season left, I'm not sure I'd be willing to move Sprong. 1st+, sure, but Sprong? Meh...

Well, that's why I said it depends on the asking price. I wouldn't overpay for him, but that's the kind of player I'd probably target while looking at for the 3C.

Going back to something that came up a bit farther back with the Cullen talk-- for all of the desire to get Cullen back here, honestly, I think we'd be very happy with Sheahan in the 4C role if they can get rid of Rowney. So, in reality, all this talk about our center problems just boil down to finding someone a liiiiiiiiitle better at goalscoring than Sheahan for that 3C and you're looking at Bonino-levels of production from your 3C and Cullen+ levels of production for your 4C.

 

[ColePens]

HSL - you brought up a good point about Bones in the past thread. I don't think he was an elite 3C, but where he separated from the bunch was when he had multiple runs stepping up his game at the right time. Whether that was luck or whatever, who knows. He consistently turned it up when it mattered.

 

[HandshakeLine]

HSL - you brought up a good point about Bones in the past thread. I don't think he was an elite 3C, but where he separated from the bunch was when he had multiple runs stepping up his game at the right time. Whether that was luck or whatever, who knows. He consistently turned it up when it mattered.

Yeah, that's the X factor. Bonino was nothing if not clutch. But even with that (and Kessel being lit) his production was middling, certainly not the elite levels people are talking about here.

My larger point is, if we're looking to replace the production of Cullen and Bonino, we really don't have to do much more than get a slightly better center than Sheahan.

 

[chethejet]

I think Pens make a minor type deal in bringing in a center. Maybe a Plecks with a trade of Hunwick frees up space. The off season is where the Pens have more opportunity to finalize that center in a trade or FA signing. That will extend the Pens SC aspirations and with a projected 5 million more cap space to work with.

 

[ColePens]

Yeah, that's the X factor. Bonino was nothing if not clutch. But even with that (and Kessel being lit) his production was middling, certainly not the elite levels people are talking about here.

My larger point is, if we're looking to replace the production of Cullen and Bonino, we really don't have to do much more than get a slightly better center than Sheahan.

Absolutely correct. We do not HAVE to go big game hunting to be a Cup contender. But we do need a Cullen-like player who can share minutes so we can get Kessel his own shifts. I mentioned it a few threads ago.

Geno - 19 minutes
Sid - 19 minutes
Sheahan - 11
4C - 11.

The idea is double shifting centers situationally. Sheahan can do some PK and then we can bring Kessel out on his own line with a 4C who can play more skilled. It's a way to keep Sheahan his deserved minutes, as he's playing awesome, and it's a way to get Kessel even more minutes. It's a way to run 4 lines. And Sheahan has looked like a beast, at times, with 4th line players. So if it's a PK heavy game and he comes out with a 4th line later, so be it. He's rocked it before.

It's not sexy, but I could easily see it working. The art to that, however, is getting these pluggers out of the line up in order to bring four full lines of our identity.

 

[ColePens]

I think Pens make a minor type deal in bringing in a center. Maybe a Plecks with a trade of Hunwick frees up space. The off season is where the Pens have more opportunity to finalize that center in a trade or FA signing. That will extend the Pens SC aspirations and with a projected 5 million more cap space to work with.

Trading Hunwick and waiving Rowney would be an insane start in the next 2 weeks. Seriously. Then it comes to adding depth.

The one thing I have a bad feeling about is that Reaves is guaranteed to start in the playoffs. I was listening to Hockey Central podcast last night and they brought up that a big guy who "protects" hasn't had any role in the playoffs for a long time. The idea was explaining why players like Kapanen is a good play in the bottom 6 w/ speed/youth over guys like Matt Martin who don't deserve it. They mentioned Reaves in this, too.

 

[Tender Rip]

Absolutely correct. We do not HAVE to go big game hunting to be a Cup contender. But we do need a Cullen-like player who can share minutes so we can get Kessel his own shifts. I mentioned it a few threads ago.

Geno - 19 minutes
Sid - 19 minutes
Sheahan - 11
4C - 11.

The idea is double shifting centers situationally. Sheahan can do some PK and then we can bring Kessel out on his own line with a 4C who can play more skilled. It's a way to keep Sheahan his deserved minutes, as he's playing awesome, and it's a way to get Kessel even more minutes. It's a way to run 4 lines. And Sheahan has looked like a beast, at times, with 4th line players. So if it's a PK heavy game and he comes out with a 4th line later, so be it. He's rocked it before.

It's not sexy, but I could easily see it working. The art to that, however, is getting these pluggers out of the line up in order to bring four full lines of our identity.

I find it easy to like as it is what I have been arguing for in other words since forever .

Sheahan works for us, at least after getting himself acclimated. Also because our biggest worry is being solid at the back and he does a ton of good in that regard. Add another guy like him and our team D is much improved.

But you would like someone with more vision/more of a pass on him for a regular Kessel line mate. I don’t even care that much if he scores goals. Set up your wingers and keep pucks out of our D-zone.

That’s also why I’m ultimately fine with a Pleks or Cullen rather than overpaying for assets that might be or seem more sexy but cannot be relied upon defensively to anyway near that extent.

 

[Tom Hanks]

Absolutely correct. We do not HAVE to go big game hunting to be a Cup contender. But we do need a Cullen-like player who can share minutes so we can get Kessel his own shifts. I mentioned it a few threads ago.

Geno - 19 minutes
Sid - 19 minutes
Sheahan - 11
4C - 11.

The idea is double shifting centers situationally. Sheahan can do some PK and then we can bring Kessel out on his own line with a 4C who can play more skilled. It's a way to keep Sheahan his deserved minutes, as he's playing awesome, and it's a way to get Kessel even more minutes. It's a way to run 4 lines. And Sheahan has looked like a beast, at times, with 4th line players. So if it's a PK heavy game and he comes out with a 4th line later, so be it. He's rocked it before.

It's not sexy, but I could easily see it working. The art to that, however, is getting these pluggers out of the line up in order to bring four full lines of our identity.

When doing your centre minutes they will always be over 60 minutes. Not sure how much, 5 mins or so?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Well, we just play Sid and Geno 35 minutes a game. Problem solved.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Why is Sheahan's projected ice time so low? He's doing well with like 15 minutes TOI, why are we bumping him down to 11?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

For the record, I’d be fine with moving Letang for the right return any time, but the odds of that happening this year are less than zero. It’d be a summer thing at the earliest.

 

[cheesedanish87]

20 Penguins Thoughts: Talking shop with Mike Sullivan

The search now becomes for the No. 4 spot and getting more offense out of that line.

Mackey saying the same thing as Yohe, JR looking for a 4th line center.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

IMO, knowing what we know about Brassard’s availability and asking price, anything less than a full court press to get him (or another high-end 3C, as opposed to a cheap stopgap) isn’t doing everything we can to bring home a 3-peat.

You only get one shot at this, folks. Hasn’t been done since the ‘80s Isles. Mess and Gretz couldn’t do it. Mario and Jags couldn’t. Sid and Geno could.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The nice thing about targeting a 4C over a 3C is that I think the requirements for a 4C are less strict than a 3C. You don't need a skilled, defensively responsible guy who can fit with Kessel, you just need a standard 4th line center who can chip in more offense.

 

[Nakawick]

I would be worried about this team getting Bostoned out with another Sheahan level skilled player.

 

[Tom Hanks]

The nice thing about targeting a 4C over a 3C is that I think the requirements for a 4C are less strict than a 3C. You don't need a skilled, defensively responsible guy who can fit with Kessel, you just need a standard 4th line center who can chip in more offense.

Pretty sure they’d still be targeting a 3C. They probably can’t get what they want at this stage.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I would be worried about this team getting Bostoned out with another Sheahan level skilled player.

If the team Bostons out, it's going to be because of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and the top end players, not because of Sheahan.

Pretty sure they’d still be targeting a 3C. They probably can’t get what they want at this stage.

I don't buy that. You can get Cullen and he'd bring what you need in the 4C spot, and he's firmly a 4C. Same with Letestu, but I'm hesitant with Letestu.

 

[cheesedanish87]

The nice thing about targeting a 4C over a 3C is that I think the requirements for a 4C are less strict than a 3C. You don't need a skilled, defensively responsible guy who can fit with Kessel, you just need a standard 4th line center who can chip in more offense.

I think the 4th line center needs to be able to PK.

Sheahan is the only center they have that plays on the PK, you don't want Sid to have to PK every game.

And if Sheahan would happen to get hurt you would really be in a tough spot.

 

[Peat]

For the record, I’d be fine with moving Letang for the right return any time, but the odds of that happening this year are less than zero. It’d be a summer thing at the earliest.

I think everyone is fine with that, but have wildly varying ideas of the right return.

My idea of the right return for Letang is creeping lower and lower, and I think that people are concentrating too much on Letang's big brain freeze moments and too little on his everyday transition.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think the 4th line center needs to be able to PK.

Sheahan is the only center they have that plays on the PK, you don't want Sid to have to PK every game.

And if Sheahan would happen to get hurt you would really be in a tough spot.

Yeah, that's what I meant when I said you just need a standard 4C who's better offensively. Most 4Cs kill penalties as far as I can tell. You just need a Brad Richardson in 2016 to be their 4C.

 

[SEALBound]

Yeah, that's the X factor. Bonino was nothing if not clutch. But even with that (and Kessel being lit) his production was middling, certainly not the elite levels people are talking about here.

My larger point is, if we're looking to replace the production of Cullen and Bonino, we really don't have to do much more than get a slightly better center than Sheahan.

In 2016, it was HBK. I don't think you can say it was Bonino alone. In 2017, Bones did bring it again but I believe the big X Factor was Guentzel.

Not taking anything away from Bonino because he was great in both runs (2016 more so). He was meh in 2017. He scored a big goal in game 1 vs Washington and blocked some big shots but...I think that's replicate-able by another person.

We haven't seen Sheahan in the playoffs yet but if you compare RS to RS, he's been every bit as good as Bonino was. I don't think it's that we have to upgrade on Sheahan but rather we need to upgrade on Rowney.

I think Pens make a minor type deal in bringing in a center. Maybe a Plecks with a trade of Hunwick frees up space. The off season is where the Pens have more opportunity to finalize that center in a trade or FA signing. That will extend the Pens SC aspirations and with a projected 5 million more cap space to work with.

I don't think Hunwick is the kind of guy Montreal would be looking for.

 

[SEALBound]

The nice thing about targeting a 4C over a 3C is that I think the requirements for a 4C are less strict than a 3C. You don't need a skilled, defensively responsible guy who can fit with Kessel, you just need a standard 4th line center who can chip in more offense.

Wider range too. You may be able to get a meh/old 3C like Plekanec to stick at 4C and he may come cheaper-ish.

Sheary-Sid-Simon
Hags-Geno-Horny
Jake-Sheahan-Kessel
Rust-Plekanec-Sprong/ZAR/Reaves/GRABNER/etc

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

For clarification’s sake, does anyone think we don’t improve our Cup chances considerably if we were to acquire Brassard over the 4C options mentioned?