Salary Cap: Salary Cap & Roster Building | Praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn

[DegenX]

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries.

2017-18 salary ceiling	$75,000,000
Projected dollars committed	74,104,591​
Projected LTIR Used	1,225​
Approximate cap space	$896,634​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

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​
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​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

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​
Daniel Sprong	RW​	20​	692,500​	RFA​
Jean-Sebastien Dea	C​	23​	650,000​	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​
Sean Maguire	G​	25​	705,000​	RFA​
Casey DeSmith	G​	25​	675,000​	675,000​	UFA​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

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​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

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)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Click to read more...

 

[BlackAndGold87]

Trades early on hardly happen. Waiting closer to the deadline brings cost of trading down.

Believe it or not, it's still early. Plenty of time to make a trade and for this team to turn it around.

 

[Ryder71]

Trades early on hardly happen. Waiting closer to the deadline brings cost of trading down.

Believe it or not, it's still early. Plenty of time to make a trade and for this team to turn it around.

Now this I don't agree with. Currently we're out of a playoff spot, so there should be a sense of urgency in getting a deal done to improve the team, much sooner than later. If we wait much longer the season could be lost.

 

[Ugene Magic]

It shouldn’t take 6 months to make an upgrade or 2 on your fourth line, I’m sorry. I can understand the time required to find a solid 3C, but there is no reason why our fourth line is still such a joke halfway through the season.

So, what does that mean if your top lines are underperforming?

The 4th line doesn't fix 5 on 5 scoring.

 

[Pens x]

If you solve the 3c issue, then my extension you solve your fourth line issues as well. Getting a good 3c pushes Sheahan down, so the 3c dilemma is kind of the lynch pin of it all.

Do you really think a combination of Sheahan, Rowney, Kunhackl and Reaves will be that much better than what we have now? That combination is still unacceptable. Do you think Sheahan will produce playing with these idiots? You are in serious trouble if Sheahan is the offensive juggernaut on a line.

 

[Night Shift]

Now this I don't agree with. Currently we're out of a playoff spot, so there should be a sense of urgency in getting a deal done to improve the team, much sooner than later. If we wait much longer the season could be lost.

Plus if you are buyers at the TDL prices to acquire go up not down because you are bidding against other teams.

 

[Pens x]

So, what does that mean if your top lines are underperforming?

The 4th line doesn't fix 5 on 5 scoring.

See, I hate this argument. If this team was playing well I’d still want the bottom line to be overhauled. This line brings nothing to the table, it’s a liability. You are never going to get that timely goal with this line.
What makes it even worse is the fact that the third line is struggling as well.
It shouldn’t be hard to find better players than Kuhn, Rowney and Reaves. If you can’t, then the gm and every scout should be fired. Why wouldn’t you address this obvious weak spot? Hell, even try picking up some guys off of waivers if you don’t think we have any solutions in the AHL. But refusing to address this and stubbornly starting these pathetic players in every game is a terrible strategy.

At some point, winning back to back isn’t enough to justify all of the shortcomings of this team since June.

 

[BlackAndGold87]

Now this I don't agree with. Currently we're out of a playoff spot, so there should be a sense of urgency in getting a deal done to improve the team, much sooner than later. If we wait much longer the season could be lost.

That goes away once #87 starts playing like the #87 we all know.

 

[Ryder71]

Do you really think a combination of Sheahan, Rowney, Kunhackl and Reaves will be that much better than what we have now? That combination is still unacceptable. Do you think Sheahan will produce playing with these idiots? You are in serious trouble if Sheahan is the offensive juggernaut on a line.

I know that if Sheahan remains on that third line full time we're sunk. I'd rather have an issue worrying about a 4th line that may play eight or ten mins a game as opposed to 3c when you're looking at a good 15 plus minutes game in and game out. If we could get a guy like Brassard that solves a lot of issues IMO. And the ones it doesn't can be remedied far easier if need be.

 

[BlackAndGold87]

Plus if you are buyers at the TDL prices to acquire go up not down because you are bidding against other teams.

Well I meant around January, but 100% true.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

See, I hate this argument. If this team was playing well I’d still want the bottom line to be overhauled. This line brings nothing to the table, it’s a liability. You are never going to get that timely goal with this line.
What makes it even worse is the fact that the third line is struggling as well.
It shouldn’t be hard to find better players than Kuhn, Rowney and Reaves. If you can’t, then the gm and every scout should be fired. Why wouldn’t you address this obvious weak spot? Hell, even try picking up some guys off of waivers if you don’t think we have any solutions in the AHL. But refusing to address this and stubbornly starting these pathetic players in every game is a terrible strategy.

At some point, winning back to back isn’t enough to justify all of the shortcomings of this team since June.

1. Its rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic if the other problems arent fixed first.

2. Fixing the other problems push better players down to the 4th line so you can fix both problems at once.

 

[Ryder71]

That goes away once #87 starts playing like the #87 we all know.

Well, he better figure that out soon because we're slipping.

 

[Ugene Magic]

See, I hate this argument. If this team was playing well I’d still want the bottom line to be overhauled. This line brings nothing to the table, it’s a liability. You are never going to get that timely goal with this line.
What makes it even worse is the fact that the third line is struggling as well.
It shouldn’t be hard to find better players than Kuhn, Rowney and Reaves. If you can’t, then the gm and every scout should be fired. Why wouldn’t you address this obvious weak spot? Hell, even try picking up some guys off of waivers if you don’t think we have any solutions in the AHL. But refusing to address this and stubbornly starting these pathetic players in every game is a terrible strategy.

At some point, winning back to back isn’t enough to justify all of the shortcomings of this team since June.

What generally fixes the bottom six is depth above and beyond the 4th line that pushes guys out.

2009 had guys like Satan, Sykora and Dupuis. 2016 /2017 had a trump card in Cullen, but most times it's done the depth way pushing guys down the ladder.

 

[Pens x]

1. Its rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic if the other problems arent fixed first.

2. Fixing the other problems push better players down to the 4th line so you can fix both problems at once.

1. The Pens have a lot of holes. Why wouldn’t you address the easiest issue first? Don’t tell me it takes time to find fourth line players. Why kick the can down the road as we continue to struggle? I’ll never grasp why management didn’t address this in the off season, it’s insane.

2. Fixing the problems would potentially push players down to the fourth line. However, we don’t know what these potential deals are yet. What if we have to trade several roster players? Your assumptions only work if all we trade are picks and Sprong.

I don’t trust Sully when it comes to his sweetheart fourth line that he simply refuses to adjust. JR has to get rid of these guys or they will continue to weasel their way into the lineup.

 

[Ugene Magic]

1. The Pens have a lot of holes. Why wouldn’t you address the easiest issue first? Don’t tell me it takes time to find fourth line players. Why kick the can down the road as we continue to struggle? I’ll never grasp why management didn’t address this in the off season, it’s insane.

2. Fixing the problems would potentially push players down to the fourth line. However, we don’t know what these potential deals are yet. What if we have to trade several roster players? Your assumptions only work if all we trade are picks and Sprong.

I don’t trust Sully when it comes to his sweetheart fourth line that he simply refuses to adjust. JR has to get rid of these guys or they will continue to weasel their way into the lineup.

The easiest is wanting to stay home until the last minute. I firmly believe Cullen comes here at the TDL.

Players weasel themselves into the lineup due to injuries.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

1. The Pens have a lot of holes. Why wouldn’t you address the easiest issue first? Don’t tell me it takes time to find fourth line players. Why kick the can down the road as we continue to struggle? I’ll never grasp why management didn’t address this in the off season, it’s insane.

2. Fixing the problems would potentially push players down to the fourth line. However, we don’t know what these potential deals are yet. What if we have to trade several roster players? Your assumptions only work if all we trade are picks and Sprong.

I don’t trust Sully when it comes to his sweetheart fourth line that he simply refuses to adjust. JR has to get rid of these guys or they will continue to weasel their way into the lineup.

1. Because fixing those issues dont matter if you cant fix the big ones

2. Its possible to fix them when you fix the big ones.

3. The problem isnt that big of one

If our top 3lines were playing well, our defense wasnt running around headless and our golaie wasnt letting in leaky goals fixing the 4th line would be a luxury issue.

 

[Pens x]

The easiest is wanting to stay home until the last minute. I firmly believe Cullen comes here at the TDL.

Players weasel themselves into the lineup due to injuries.

The trade deadline is still 7 weeks from now. Do you really think this team as-is even has a shot to play .500, let alone make the playoffs? We don’t have 7 weeks to sit around and hope we win while waiting on a 41 year old to magically fix all of our problems.

Should we also acquire Kunitz at the deadline?

I don’t want to sit around and wait for Cullen.....again. We saw how that worked out last time.

We don’t have the luxury of waiting around in hopes of Cullen coming back

 

[Ugene Magic]

Really, the longer this goes on "opens new doors" to targets available, and JR. might just be waiting on those doors. These injuries to go away as well.

 

[Pens x]

Really, the longer this goes on "opens new doors" to targets available, and JR. might just be waiting on those doors. These injuries to go away as well.

By the time these doors open, Jimmy might be sleeping. I’m not sure how you don’t have urgency right now. The deadline isn’t for 7 weeks, we can’t afford to sit around until then, not with all of the holes in this lineup compliments of our management hibernating this summer.

 

[Ugene Magic]

The trade deadline is still 7 weeks from now. Do you really think this team as-is even has a shot to play .500, let alone make the playoffs? We don’t have 7 weeks to sit around and hope we win while waiting on a 41 year old to magically fix all of our problems.

Should we also acquire Kunitz at the deadline?

I don’t want to sit around and wait for Cullen.....again. We saw how that worked out last time.

JR should be fired if we are still playing Reaves, Rowney and Kuhn on our fourth line by the deadline.

Cullen is the luxury part to other moves happening first. No. not thinking about bringing back Kunitz. Yes. Fire JR. because he didn't make adjustments on the 4th line while his top six can't make 5 on 5 work.

I think you are not in the right state of mind. Backwards.

Traditionally moves now and into Feb. are to tackle bigger issues.

 

[Ugene Magic]

By the time these doors open, Jimmy might be sleeping. I’m not sure how you don’t have urgency right now. The deadline isn’t for 7 weeks, we can’t afford to sit around until then, not with all of the holes in this lineup compliments of our management hibernating this summer.

Urgency, yes. But what if your solutions are/have been postponed to injury and the fact you are tight to the cap.

Even if they were healthy they'd still be waiting.

The Pens very much have to tread water for now.

 

[House of tpo]

See, I hate this argument. If this team was playing well I’d still want the bottom line to be overhauled. This line brings nothing to the table, it’s a liability. You are never going to get that timely goal with this line.
What makes it even worse is the fact that the third line is struggling as well.
It shouldn’t be hard to find better players than Kuhn, Rowney and Reaves. If you can’t, then the gm and every scout should be fired. Why wouldn’t you address this obvious weak spot? Hell, even try picking up some guys off of waivers if you don’t think we have any solutions in the AHL. But refusing to address this and stubbornly starting these pathetic players in every game is a terrible strategy.

At some point, winning back to back isn’t enough to justify all of the shortcomings of this team since June.

This is why jr has been beyond awful since the end of last season he's never fixed the bottom 6 when he knew we were losing key components to it and now it's a complete mess

 

[Pens x]

Urgency, yes. But what if your solutions are/have been postponed to injury and the fact you are tight to the cap.

Even if they were healthy they'd still be waiting.

The Pens very much have to tread water for now.

The Pens have been dreading water for months now. They are finally getting hit with injuries more than to 1 player at a time. They’ve dreaded water enough this season, management needs to do their damn job.

The exact scenario that I predicted, and was ridiculed for, is happening right now. There aren’t many teams that are totally out of the playoff hunt right now. This is why I had such a problem with management’s approach this summer of essentially beginning the season with a half completed roster. This is a dangerous strategy particularly when you did awful at signing players and left the bottom six in shambles. You are at the mercy of who is playing well and who isn’t.

 

[House of tpo]

By the time these doors open, Jimmy might be sleeping. I’m not sure how you don’t have urgency right now. The deadline isn’t for 7 weeks, we can’t afford to sit around until then, not with all of the holes in this lineup compliments of our management hibernating this summer.

He's been sleeping since we won the cup

 

[Pens x]

He's been sleeping since we won the cup

I agree. I just dont know what happened to this team since the Reaves trade. Nothing has made sense since we raised the cup.