Versatile Jokinen hopes to remain with Penguins|By Josh Yohe

[Ugene Magic]

http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/5739183-74/jokinen-summer-free?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tribunereviewpenguins+%28Penguins+Stories%29#axzz2vyK2cwb8

Hope they can make room for him. Doubt it though.

Click to read more...

 

[steveg]

I really like JJ. I hope the team finds a way to fit him in...and I don't think we are in a position to be losing quality wingers...

 

[Shady Machine]

I'm torn on Jokinen as well. I like him as a player. I'm just not sure I like the fit of him with Geno and Neal.

 

[IcedCapp]

I like JJ and would be fine with him returning, but not sure as 2LW. and not for term.

 

[Shady Machine]

I like JJ and would be fine with him returning, but not sure as 2LW. and not for term.

So he's not returning then. I have to think the Pens would need to give him 2-3 year deal around 3mil to entice him to return.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I like Jokinen, but it comes down to how he performs in the playoffs and Shero has to trade him "if" he goes into a death spiral, and price. This team doesn't have the forward depth to not seriously look at re-signing him; versatility is golden in this injury prone mess and he's not a midget.

You can argue use but I want Bylsma gone for next season so that would be a question mark and it's high time Bylsma being Bylsma wasn't a concern for everything. Price and Shero being loyal "if" he does his thing are the concerns for me. Besides, Bylsma could do worse than JMN and we still haven't seen what happens in the playoffs.

 

[steveg]

So he's not returning then. I have to think the Pens would need to give him 2-3 year deal around 3mil to entice him to return.

2-3 years at 3 per doesn't seem unreasonable to me, even if he spends a good bit of time on the 3rd line...as he has shown the capability IMO to not only play on, but contribute to, the second line...

 

[Harvey Birdman]

Depends on what his asking cost is... I would say nothing over 4m, hopefully in the 3.5M range for 3 years.

 

[Shady Machine]

2-3 years at 3 per doesn't seem unreasonable to me, even if he spends a good bit of time on the 3rd line...as he has shown the capability IMO to not only play on, but contribute to, the second line...

I agree but it's tough to make the cap work. To me it's either Nisky or JJ. If you sign both, here's what we have for next year (assuming no Kesler and 4th line is just example of cheap players):

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Beau Bennett ($0.900m)
Jussi Jokinen ($3.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Jayson Megna ($0.874m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.500m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Zach Sill ($0.700m) / Joe Vitale ($0.700m) / Craig Adams ($0.700m)
Harry Zolnierczyk ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Kris Letang ($7.250m)
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.500m) / Matt Niskanen ($4.000m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $69,998,292; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,101,708

With Kesler:

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Beau Bennett ($0.900m)
Jussi Jokinen ($3.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Jayson Megna ($0.874m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Zach Sill ($0.700m) / Joe Vitale ($0.700m) / Craig Adams ($0.700m)
Harry Zolnierczyk ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Kris Letang ($7.250m)
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) / Matt Niskanen ($4.000m)
Brian Dumoulin ($0.832m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,829,958; BONUSES: $68,333
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $270,042

On second though, it actually looks pretty decent. You just have to be okay with Bennett being Sid's winger starting next year (or, more likely KCD) and Jokinen playing with Malkin. I pick the Kesler option (I traded Sutter and Despres as part of package).

 

[Ugene Magic]

Depends on what his asking cost is... I would say nothing over 4m, hopefully in the 3.5M range for 3 years.

He would certainly expect a bit of a raise.

 

[Shady Machine]

He would certainly expect a bit of a raise.

A raise on what though? The Pens are only paying him 2.1mil so that's what he was "worth" to them. He is in a tricky situation because things haven't worked out particularly well on other teams long term. If he wants a stable home, he may have to take a decent offer from the Pens.

 

[IcedCapp]

So he's not returning then. I have to think the Pens would need to give him 2-3 year deal around 3mil to entice him to return.

I don't consider 2-3 term, so I'm good with that

 

[steveg]

I agree but it's tough to make the cap work. To me it's either Nisky or JJ. If you sign both, here's what we have for next year (assuming no Kesler and 4th line is just example of cheap players):

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Beau Bennett ($0.900m)
Jussi Jokinen ($3.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Jayson Megna ($0.874m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.500m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Zach Sill ($0.700m) / Joe Vitale ($0.700m) / Craig Adams ($0.700m)
Harry Zolnierczyk ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Kris Letang ($7.250m)
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.500m) / Matt Niskanen ($4.000m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $69,998,292; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,101,708

With Kesler:

FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / Beau Bennett ($0.900m)
Jussi Jokinen ($3.000m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Jayson Megna ($0.874m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Zach Sill ($0.700m) / Joe Vitale ($0.700m) / Craig Adams ($0.700m)
Harry Zolnierczyk ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Kris Letang ($7.250m)
Olli Maatta ($0.894m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) / Matt Niskanen ($4.000m)
Brian Dumoulin ($0.832m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,829,958; BONUSES: $68,333
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $270,042

On second though, it actually looks pretty decent. You just have to be okay with Bennett being Sid's winger starting next year (or, more likely KCD) and Jokinen playing with Malkin. I pick the Kesler option (I traded Sutter and Despres as part of package).

Interesting...

I guess when I look at that roster, the two things that stand out to me as being most "out of place" with respect to value -- are the cap hits from Letang and Scuds.

As much as I tend to like Letang, I just don't think he's worth that cap hit...when you look at how things fit for the rest of the team. Honestly, I'd rather see Dumoulin and another of the youngsters in the lineup, remove Tanger (replaced by Nisky), trade Scuderi for appropriate draft picks, and keep Stemps and/or Goc, if possible...

 

[66-30-33]

Rather just get rid of everyone but Vitale and maybe Niskanen. This team needs a new look, Shero needs to start getting this team hard to play against in the next 2 off seasons. Roll 3 lines, the 4th can be an energy line that plays for cheap and not much ice time. The top 9 should be what matters most, make this team better Shero. Just DO IT! You don't want to have Crosby and malkin's careers talked about with "what if?", do you? Build from the top down, let the young guys stay at D.

 

[Shady Machine]

I don't consider 2-3 term, so I'm good with that

Okay cool. I mean, clearly he doesn't have a track record to ask for 4-5. If some other team wants to take the risk on Jokinen being consistent over that term, then good bye and good luck.

Like I said above, due to his situation being traded for almost nothing and Carolina eating some of the contract, he should see how good he has it here. He's produced well, but that may not happen everywhere.

 

[Ugene Magic]

A raise on what though? The Pens are only paying him 2.1mil so that's what he was "worth" to them. He is in a tricky situation because things haven't worked out particularly well on other teams long term. If he wants a stable home, he may have to take a decent offer from the Pens.

The Canes are still paying .900 of his salary which is already 3.0 considering that.

 

[mpp9]

The guy was put on waivers for a reason. He gets comfortable and his play drops. No freaking way do I re-sign him with term.

And if I'm Juice, I try to get as much term as possible. A team will give him what he wants. Just better not be us.

 

[Shady Machine]

The Canes are still paying .900 of his salary which is already 3.0 considering that.

Yeah that's what I just said. My point is if the team that traded you put you on waivers and then had to eat 900k of your contract, both the Canes and Pens didn't think he was worth 3mil. So a raise on what he is making with the Pens is effectively a raise on 2.1mil, not 3. I'd give him 3mil. If he wants more, he can walk.

 

[Shady Machine]

The guy was put on waivers for a reason. He gets comfortable and his play drops. No freaking way do I re-sign him with term.

And if I'm Juice, I try to get as much term as possible. A team will give him what he wants. Just better not be us.

I'f I'm Juice, I play on a team that has a chance to win. If he's a guy that has trouble staying motivated, getting term from some scrub non hockey market team isn't the best way to stay motivated.

 

[Fire Shero*]

As a third line player, yes.

As a top 6, no thanks.

But Shero likely won't be able to do any better.

 

[alcanalz]

The guy was put on waivers for a reason. He gets comfortable and his play drops. No freaking way do I re-sign him with term.

And if I'm Juice, I try to get as much term as possible. A team will give him what he wants. Just better not be us.

And then people complain about our wingers.

His numbers are definitely very solid at 17 goals and 46 points already, and he plays well defensively. What could we possibly replace him with, particularly in free agency, particularly with not as much cap room as many other teams?

And he loves it here. Jeez.

 

[Shockmaster]

Not sure how I feel about Jokinen re-signing. I suppose a lot of it depends on his price and who else is on the market come free agency.

 

[mpp9]

And then people complain about our wingers.

His numbers are definitely very solid at 17 goals and 46 points already, and he plays well defensively. What could we possibly replace him with, particularly in free agency, particularly with not as much cap room as many other teams?

And he loves it here. Jeez.

I'd use that cap room to target Kulemin in free agency. And have Bennett take the other spot in the top 6. Stempniak and Goc can be re-signed as well.

Dont' need him beyond this season IMO. Nor would I want him if he's asking for 3+ years. We'd be regretting it very soon.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Yeah that's what I just said. My point is if the team that traded you put you on waivers and then had to eat 900k of your contract, both the Canes and Pens didn't think he was worth 3mil. So a raise on what he is making with the Pens is effectively a raise on 2.1mil, not 3. I'd give him 3mil. If he wants more, he can walk.

The point is and will always be, Jokinen himself made 3.0 on his last contract. He now had a huge improvement in his contract year. Why would he take 3.0 again? I don't care if it's 3.1 to 3.5 but he should expect a raise. If he fits .100 to .500 shouldn't be out of the realm, but I would hope it's around 3.3 max.

 

[steveg]

And then people complain about our wingers.

His numbers are definitely very solid at 17 goals and 46 points already, and he plays well defensively. What could we possibly replace him with, particularly in free agency, particularly with not as much cap room as many other teams?

And he loves it here. Jeez.

I agree with you. The guy has averaged about .66 pts/game in his career -- and this year, he's at about .66 points per game. So, the Jussi we see this year, has been (points-wise) about what he's been for his whole NHL career...

And, along those lines, what I've seen this year says he's definitely one of our better wingers, behind probably only Kunitz and Nealer...(can't compare him to Stemps and BB due to lack of playing time, but expect BB to be better over the long haul). It's amazing to me that some are so easy to cut ties with JJ; his only flaws, in my mind, are that he's not physical, and he is prone to lengthy droughts...