Salary Cap: Salary Cap & Roster Building: The Calm Before the Storm?

[Coastal Kev]

Zucker would have to lose multiple limbs for him to make the Penguins any worse than Kessel did last year

This is horrifically a shortsighted opinion by you. Phil wasn't great last year, neither was Geno and that becomes a chicken or the egg conversation.

But go back to our Cup run during Phil's first year here, fatty carried the team at times on his back and in my opinion was the MVP of those playoffs. Drawing a comparison between Zucker and Kessel...... I don't see it. Show me video evidence that supports Zucker has that upside.

Edit for lurking JR----- Solution to your offseason headache>>>>> FIRE SULLY, KEEP PHIL, TRADE RUST + HORNY. thank me later.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

This was Bob MacKenzie’s quote in June.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point, [a trade] gets done with Minnesota,” McKenzie said. “Kessel’s ‘no’ to Pittsburgh wasn’t really a hard, 100 percent no so much as it was, ‘naw, I don’t really want to go there, maybe you could check with some other teams.”



As @Peat said he wasn’t sheltered. At one stage he was playing on our top pair and playing really well. We also have 2 injury prone RHD in front of him. If you are going to spend a little more on the cap that’s a good spot to do it in.

I get it, he was terribad in Vancouver and I thought it was one the dumbest trades ever. I live in Van so I know how bad he was and couldn’t believe it. My friend called me to chirp me about it was how I found out. I thought he was pranking me because it made no sense. To my pleasant surprise it’s worked out well so far.

Port Coquitlam here !!!

I didn't mind the deal at the time because Pearson was making virtually the same AAV with a longer term, and was doing dick-all. Plus having defensive depth has proved pivotal the last few seasons.

But like I said above, wasn't talking about 2018-19. I was referring to him having an expected regression to his norm. I think he will be sheltered next season, assuming he's still here. When/if that happens, Sullivan will have no choice. Also depending on who Gud gets paired with, his partner could need sheltering too.

 

[Empoleon8771]

-Kessels holding everything hostage
-People in the organization think that Geno doesnt want Phil on his line anymore
- JR's Plan A was kessel. Plan B was listening to offers for Letang. Rossi says Ownership doesnt want to trade Geno/Letang this offseason or any offseason
- JR doesnt have the power to trade Geno/Letang. Anything involving those two would require sign-off from ownership
-Sully wants another Puck mover to fill out our top-6 D
-JR believes trading for players is more important than freeing up space for FA. The Maatta trade was the first of 3 big moves JR wants to make

-Essentially this article is just summarizing why Phil shouldnt be a Penguins. With Yohe's article from yesterday and now this, looks like we're being prepared for a trade.

This is really encouraging to read. Especially the part about Malkin not wanting Kessel on his line anymore. If the Penguins don't want to keep Kessel and Crosby and Malkin don't want to play with Kessel, why would Kessel want to stay here?

Does the article say anything about trading Kessel, or is it just the background information on a potential trade?

 

[Tom Hanks]

I didn't say player, I said offensive player.

I stand by my statement. Jake scored 40 goals (lead the team) and helped puck possession way more than Phil.

 

[iFishyHD]

Yup, Phils good as gone.



EDIT: Didn't see it was already posted/summarized, didn't see it posted on this page and assumed, but now that I am looking everyone and their grand mother are on this board.

 

[Malkinstheman]

This is really encouraging to read. Especially the part about Malkin not wanting Kessel on his line anymore. If the Penguins don't want to keep Kessel and Crosby and Malkin don't want to play with Kessel, why would Kessel want to stay here?

Does the article say anything about trading Kessel, or is it just the background information on a potential trade?

Nothing new on any actual trade. Just seems like the "smear" campaign has started.

 

[Peat]

production-wise, sure. I'll gladly take the 25-30 point dropoff if it means I never have to see Kessel throw the puck directly to a defender when the slightest possibility of contact arises again.

According to Evolving Hockey's WAR stats, Zucker's been a more valuable player for his team all 3 of the last seasons. People will say lies, damn lies and statistics, but it makes sense to me given how his peak ES scoring has been barely below Kessel's but his all round play is miles better.

Was talking about next year, not last. With a healthy D-corps in October (assuming it's the same as what we have now), I think it's highly likely that he'd get limited exposure to the opposition's top 6. Although admittedly he's a capable PK'er. Can help us there.

Ah, my apologies.

Still - why would it change? This team has been minimising Schultz's defensive responsibilities and throwing the other two pairings to the wolves to compensate (particularly the 3rd) more or less his entire career here. The more the third pairing can take match ups to allow that to happen (and give Letang more o-zone time), the better. So why would the team change Gudbranson's usage?

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I stand by my statement. Jake scored 40 goals (lead the team) and helped puck possession way more than Phil.

Agree to disagree.

 

[Coastal Kev]

One last point and thank you for indulging me.

Every team is trying to kill their cap by signing Artemi Panarin........... FYI Kessel produces at practically the same rate for what will end up being half of the cost!!!

WAKE UP PENS FO!!!

 

[Malkinstheman]

The stuff about Kessel influencing guys like Guentzel is kinda crazy. Its funny how all this comes out right before a trade.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Who becomes our third best offensive player?

Guentzel supplanted Phil already IMO. It becomes more clear when you factor in that he's twice as good defensively.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

One last point and thank you for indulging me.

Every team is trying to kill their cap by signing Artemi Panarin........... FYI Kessel produces at practically the same rate for what will end up being half of the cost!!!

WAKE UP PENS FO!!!

Thank you.

 

[Beauner]

This is horrifically a shortsighted opinion by you. Phil wasn't great last year, neither was Geno and that becomes a chicken or the egg conversation.

But go back to our Cup run during Phil's first year here, fatty carried the team at times on his back and in my opinion was the MVP of those playoffs. Drawing a comparison between Zucker and Kessel...... I don't see it. Show me video evidence that supports Zucker has that upside.

Edit for lurking JR----- Solution to your offseason headache>>>>> FIRE SULLY, KEEP PHIL, TRADE RUST + HORNY. thank me later.

If you actually watch games, I can't imagine how you conclude that the Phil Kessel of 2019 is the same Phil Kessel of 2016 and 2017.

He's not. He is a different player now than he was 2 years ago

 

[Tom Hanks]

Port Coquitlam here !!!

I didn't mind the deal at the time because Pearson was making virtually the same AAV with a longer term, and was doing dick-all. Plus having defensive depth has proved pivotal the last few seasons.

But like I said above, wasn't talking about 2018-19. I was referring to him having an expected regression to his norm. I think he will be sheltered next season, assuming he's still here. When/if that happens, Sullivan will have no choice. Also depending on who Gud gets paired with, his partner could need sheltering too.

Nice. I lived pretty much everywhere here (now in South Delta).

He doesn’t need to be sheltered though based on last season so it gives Sully more options. As much as I disliked him as a player I’m confident he will continue his form. Vancouver were trash and he did the exit interview and really apologized for being bad. Took ownership of it and the new start did wonders. Pettersson being his partner really helped those 2 become a strong pair. On that note how ****ing good has that Pettersson trade been for us?!!!! Love that guy.

 

[Coastal Kev]

If you actually watch games, I can't imagine how you conclude that the Phil Kessel of 2019 is the same Phil Kessel of 2016 and 2017.

He's not. He is a different player now than he was 2 years ago

See this guy:

 

[AuroraBorealis]

So why would the team change Gudbranson's usage?

Because I'm expecting Gudbranson to fall off hard. Don't feel what he did last year is sustainable. Hope I'm wrong. Our season could depend on it.

 

[K Fleur]

I want to be optimistic, but I can’t not think that JR’s gonna f*** this up.

 

[Beauner]

-Kessels holding everything hostage
-People in the organization think that Geno doesnt want Phil on his line anymore
- JR's Plan A was kessel. Plan B was listening to offers for Letang. Rossi says Ownership doesnt want to trade Geno/Letang this offseason or any offseason
- JR doesnt have the power to trade Geno/Letang. Anything involving those two would require sign-off from ownership
-Sully wants another Puck mover to fill out our top-6 D
-JR believes trading for players is more important than freeing up space for FA. The Maatta trade was the first of 3 big moves JR wants to make

-Kessels a frequent at a Pittsburgh Casino but the team didnt really care until it started impacting other players. Due to Phil, guys like Guentzel would come along the day before games.
-Geno was stuck being the "middle guy" between Phil/Sully which resulted in his bad season
-Essentially this article is just summarizing why Phil shouldnt be a Penguins. With Yohe's article from yesterday and now this, looks like we're being prepared for a trade.

 

[Pens x]

And the bash Kessel articles begin, again. We must be close to making a trade, so the front office is leaking reports disparaging Kessel.

 

[Beauner]

See this guy:

Is Sullivan making him make horrible decisions with the puck? Is Sullivan forcing him to not shoot the puck when he has the opportunity?

 

[Empoleon8771]

JR wants to make 3 big moves, with Maatta being the first and Kessel being the 2nd. But who or what is the 3rd?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

On that note how ****ing good has that Pettersson trade been for us?!!!! Love that guy.

Cracks the top 5 for best GMJR trades since his arrival, IMO. Sprong was never gonna work out here. Too much mental baggage.

 

[Beauner]

JR wants to make 3 big moves, with Maatta being the first and Kessel being the 2nd. But who or what is the 3rd?

I would hope JJ or Gudbranson. But is that line in the context of trades? Maybe the 3rd move is a free agent signing

 

[ColePens]

New thread is up