Salary Cap: Salary Cap Summer | Coming to a close

[ColePens]

Kuhn looked his best when he was with Cully and Rust, two guys who have skill to play as 3rd liners. He really struggled finding his game last year. He was pretty vanilla and didn't offer too much. Sort of like Fehr. The talent/size/speed are there, but their battle levels are sometimes questionable.

As Big said, though, i'm fine if he's our extra. But honestly I think Rowney brings more. Yikes. That's weird to say.

 

[Jenkins]

Kuhn looked his best when he was with Cully and Rust, two guys who have skill to play as 3rd liners. He really struggled finding his game last year. He was pretty vanilla and didn't offer too much. Sort of like Fehr. The talent/size/speed are there, but their battle levels are sometimes questionable.

As Big said, though, i'm fine if he's our extra. But honestly I think Rowney brings more. Yikes. That's weird to say.

Having a 13th that can play centre and wing is preferred so it's understandable.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Kuhnhackl seemed to fade as the season went on. Maybe he got comfortable, maybe it was his first full season, maybe it was it was injuries, etc.

 

[rintinw]

I wanted to see if the bolded is accurate, but then noticed stats.hockeyanalysis.com is no longer up and running. WTF? What website lists that stuff now?

You can use naturalstattrick.com. The times are not exactly same as were in hockeyanalysis (what I remember they differed in 0-4 min range) but in the same ballpark. And it's only for last 3 seasons

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I can't seem to find AHL faceoff stats. Anyone know where I can find those?

 

[madinsomniac]

I mean Archibald has like
10 or 11 games under his belt and 3 goals in very limited minutes and useage... that projects out very well combined with his style of play and speed... im just saying we are loaded so it's possible that we lose a guy that has potential

 

[AjaxTelamon]

I mean Archibald has like
10 or 11 games under his belt and 3 goals in very limited minutes and useage... that projects out very well combined with his style of play and speed... im just saying we are loaded so it's possible that we lose a guy that has potential

I believe he had 2 of his goals against the Coyotes in one game though, so honestly, I would not expect much scoring out of him.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I believe he had 2 of his goals against the Coyotes in one game though, so honestly, I would not expect much scoring out of him.

Yeah and one of them was a freebie when Smith coughed up the puck to him and he had an empty net. Archibald's 3rd goal was a filthy shot though IIRC, beautiful shot by him against I think the Devils.

 

[JTG]

I like our fringe guys - Archibald, Kuhnhackl, Wilson. That being said, we can't keep all of them. Archibald is my favorite of the 3. I like the tenacity he brings and I think he has some untapped offensive potential.

 

[mpp9]

I'd let Kuhn go on waivers before trying to get value for Archibald or Wilson just to make room.

 

[JTG]

I'd let Kuhn go on waivers before trying to get value for Archibald or Wilson just to make room.

I would agree with that. There is going to come a point in time where we have to decide what to do with some of these bottom 6 guys, because I believe we may have a player or two who will force themselves on the roster and push them even further down. That being said, I will go out on a limb and sort of put out an opinion that may be unpopular - Josh Archibald can bring exactly what Carl Hagelin brings for 3.3m dollars less.

I honestly believe that Scott Wilson is the ideal 13th forward because of the versatility he brings. Kuhnhackl is sort of a mystery to me. You see this guy - big frame, phenomenal shot, can skate pretty well, can play with an edge...dude just cannot put it together to be a productive NHL'er. It's so odd to me.

 

[ColePens]

I like our fringe guys - Archibald, Kuhnhackl, Wilson. That being said, we can't keep all of them. Archibald is my favorite of the 3. I like the tenacity he brings and I think he has some untapped offensive potential.

I'll give the nod to Wilson, to be honest. Dude can score at the NHL level and can get better. Love Arch's tenacity, but have to pick Wilson

 

[Shady Machine]

I'd let Kuhn go on waivers before trying to get value for Archibald or Wilson just to make room.

Yup I would too. Obviously if some team wants Wilson as part of 3C package or something, I'd consider moving him but I'm not trading him for a 4th just to make room

 

[Pick87your71Poison]

I'd say the order of potential for upside impact with the Pens Wilson, Archie, Kuhn. That's not to say that Kuhn is useless or an Adams-level player as he is reliable enough to play on the 4th line and PK without being a liability, but I don't think he brings anything particularly exciting or has much potential to grow into anything more. Archie has a limited upside too I think, but his speed and ability to be a bit of a pest is a little bit more interesting I think. Wilson is the only one I think has a realistic chance of being a legit top 9 player that can actually have decent offensive production on a consistent basis.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Kuhnhackl seemed to fade as the season went on. Maybe he got comfortable, maybe it was his first full season, maybe it was it was injuries, etc.

The guy is a shot blocking magnet, dude is probably better off being rested for some games and playing Archie in place of him at times. The game Kuhn plays, is going to result in him being worn down. Last year he was fresher because he wasn't played in a full regular season.

 

[mpp9]

I would agree with that. There is going to come a point in time where we have to decide what to do with some of these bottom 6 guys, because I believe we may have a player or two who will force themselves on the roster and push them even further down. That being said, I will go out on a limb and sort of put out an opinion that may be unpopular - Josh Archibald can bring exactly what Carl Hagelin brings for 3.3m dollars less.

I honestly believe that Scott Wilson is the ideal 13th forward because of the versatility he brings. Kuhnhackl is sort of a mystery to me. You see this guy - big frame, phenomenal shot, can skate pretty well, can play with an edge...dude just cannot put it together to be a productive NHL'er. It's so odd to me.

Hagelin's a more polished defensive player and has shown he can complement Malkin and/or Kessel. If he's playing away from those guys, yeah I'd probably rather plug Archibald in for an 1/8 of the money.

Would rather see Wilson and ZAR play a bit before we move him though. LW is still weak in proven quality.

 

[mpp9]

I'll give the nod to Wilson, to be honest. Dude can score at the NHL level and can get better. Love Arch's tenacity, but have to pick Wilson

He hits a lot of posts and just seems really smart about his shot selection. Not all that quick, much of a playmaker or sniper, but I'd like to see him get some top 9 looks. Could be a steal to re-sign if he progresses.

Wouldn't be at all surprised with 20 goals mostly at ES getting some looks with Malkin and Kessel.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Wait, Wilson isn't all that quick?

 

[steveg]

Kuhnhackl is sort of a mystery to me. You see this guy - big frame, phenomenal shot, can skate pretty well, can play with an edge...dude just cannot put it together to be a productive NHL'er. It's so odd to me.

Can't put it together....yet (maybe)?

I feel like it just might be a matter of time until he "puts it together" a bit more -- for the reasons you stated. I could kind of see him turning into like a Comeau type of player. Seems to me like -- as you said -- he has a lot of attributes, and that he's just going to be a bit of a late bloomer. I don't know exactly HOW much upside he has, but I'd guess middle 6 forward for him is top end. That, plus being a good shot blocker and PKer (which he already is), I'd like to see him stay around awhile and mature...

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Tom Kuhnhackl, according to most, wasn't even supposed to make the NHL ever. So the fact that he's now a back to back cup winner and a big part of the PK is impressive enough. He's sort of taken on that role very seriously the last 3-4yrs, before that he was never supposed to be "this" kind of player at all. The guy had a booming one timer and shot and was projecting to be a depth botom 6 scorer or a potential top 9 scorer before injuries in the OHL and a lengthy suspension, but after injuries, the guy re-invented his game in the AHL and came back a 2-way specialist that was adept at being a penalty killer.

He has skill in his game, but I think with the role he's taken on, we might never see that.

 

[Peat]

Wait, Wilson isn't all that quick?

Compared to Rust, Sheary, Archibald - no. He's quick enough but he isn't a burner.

Well, there's twice as many job openings for them.

And, taking that into account, there's still more bottom 6 wingers available for trade than there are bottom 6 centres. Not least because so many bottom 6 centres can moonlight on the wing but not vice versa. And there's more teams trading for bottom 6 centres than for bottom 6 wingers too.

 

[billybudd]

Wilson was cursed on so many looks last year. He'd put a nice shot on net...good placement, no hesitation, no telegraphing...and it would just hit the corner of the goalie's chest protector or the outside of his pad or something.

Shot at 6% on the season. If he shoots at 11% or 12%, which is about where most guys shoot, he has 15 or 16 even strength goals last year, which is great for a guy making $2 million and extraordinary for a rookie only pulling $700k (or thereabouts) playing on the 4th line 70% of the time.

 

[Riptide]

Wait, Wilson isn't all that quick?

Not really. He's a tad faster than Hornqvist, but slower than Sheary, Crosby, etc.

His speed is fine, but I wouldn't say he's faster than any other NHLer who can skate half ass decently.

 

[ColePens]

Not really. He's a tad faster than Hornqvist, but slower than Sheary, Crosby, etc.

His speed is fine, but I wouldn't say he's faster than any other NHLer who can skate half ass decently.

Faster than Hornqvist but slower than Sheary/Sid. That is quite a gap you used there. You took 2 insanely fast guys and one who can get around but isn't known for his speed. That's like saying you were driving somewhere between 40-70mph.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Wilson was cursed on so many looks last year. He'd put a nice shot on net...good placement, no hesitation, no telegraphing...and it would just hit the corner of the goalie's chest protector or the outside of his pad or something.

Shot at 6% on the season. If he shoots at 11% or 12%, which is about where most guys shoot, he has 15 or 16 even strength goals last year, which is great for a guy making $2 million and extraordinary for a rookie only pulling $700k (or thereabouts) playing on the 4th line 70% of the time.

Yeah, especially considering he was a pretty big goal scorer in the HAL, I don't think it's realistic he repeats his low shooting% from last year. I honestly think 15 goals and 30 points from him next year is a pretty safe bet to make.