It just makes me want to throw up knowing we have to take back Niemi or Lehtonen in order for Dallas to play ball with us. This better one hell of an asset or player we're getting back in return if something does get worked out with them. Best case scenario they'll take Kunitz off our hands as well, but I wouldn't bank my money on that. Otherwise sending Fleury to Calgary without taking in any salary was easily the best decision we could of made, even if it was for a less than stellar return.
I'd begrudgingly take on Niemi or Lehtonen, but I'd hope like Hell the Stars would add a significant piece to sweeten the deal. MAF's contract is not easy to fit under the cap for most teams, but he's still a good goalie capable of backstopping a top team. Even if we had to add someone like Pouliot, a prospect, or a pick to get Dallas to do it, I'd be trying to get Janmark or Nuke from them in the deal so we at least get
something out of it.
I would have to disagree here. If they buy out Fleury, that's the worst case. Trading Murray will NOT happen. As has been stated many times, they would offer a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th rd pick plus maybe a roster player to LV to have them not take Murray.
Why would LV do this? because the pens will buy out MAF if they don't. Why would LV just not call the pens bluff? because LV doesn't care if the pens have 2M in cap space wasted. They are not in the same division, or even the same conference. They would be giving up a FREE 3rd rd pick and roster player, so that some team in another conference can have 2M of dead cap space. Which helps LV more?
I see this playing out as the pens using both goalies this year and playing the hot hand come playoff time, and then making a trade with LV to not pick Murray. Then after the Expansion draft, MAF would be more inclined to waive his NTC so he can start. Hence, you have 30 teams which to seek out a trade for him for the 2017-2018 season. Much more doable. Losing Murray, never an option.
Just my two meaningless cents.
First off, we have no idea how the Pens feel regarding the ~$2M/yr in dead space in a potential MAF buyout. There's a non-zero chance they opt for moving Murray instead of potentially ****ing themselves over regarding a Dumo raise, Murray raise, and the re-signing of guys like Bonino and Hornqvist. I would like to think the team would buy MAF out before trading off Murray, but who knows?
Secondly, the longer we wait the worse this situation becomes. Plain and simple, imo. Goalie by committee never works, and MAF's already pretty sour on the idea of Murray taking this team by storm. He may not be a lockerroom poison, but you can be damn sure he resents the fact that
his team, with guys he's grown up with and been friends with for a decade, is now Murray's team. That's only gonna get worse as time goes on, and it's gonna cause division in the room between guys who consciously or subconsciously take sides. The goalie tandem is a gigantic mess waiting to happen. There needs to be a clear and defined situation. Yanking MAF or Murray after a bad game or two is not the way to go.
Thirdly, are these bribe trades even allowed? I know there's nothing specifically in the expansion details, but how does that work? I don't know. The uncertainty of the whole bribe situation coupled with the multitude of other factors working against the "play it safe" are just way too much.
We have to get rid of MAF asap, ideally to Dallas as they're the only team left desperate for a starter. Even if we have to take back a ****** contract in Niemi or Lehtonen--which we absolutely, without a question will--we might also be able to get a guy like Janmark or Nuke. That's my last bastion of hope for the MAF/Murray/Expansion headache, imo. If we can't make a deal work with Dallas, or they go out and get Bishop, I believe we will 100%
have to either buy MAF out and have ~$2M/yr in dead cap-space, or we'll be forced to deal Murray.
