The State of the Pens' Roster

[B21]

Now that we know the 2015-16 salary cap ($71,400,000), it’s probably a good time for a detailed assessment on what the 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins will (err - could) look like.

 

Right off the bat, we know that Martin, Erhoff and Adams aren’t coming back. The remaining UFA are Lapierre, Winnick, Downie and Comeau plus Thomas Greiss. RFA are Cole, Dumoulin and Brittle Beau.

 

Currently, the Pens have 14 players under contract at a total cap hit of $58,595,000. (Sport Trac has 13 but I added Pouliot as I think it’s a given he’s on the team next year.)  8 forwards. 5 defensemen. 1 goalie.

 

That leaves the Pens with just under $13,000,000 to add 5 forwards, 2 defensemen and a back-up goalie. While that sounds like a “cap crunch”, when you consider that 8 of the top 9 forward spots and 3 of the top 4 defense spots are likely set, the Pens have some flexibility as the spots they have to fill are not traditionally spots that require large cap hits (unless your initials are VLC). 

 

Assuming the Pens’ aren’t giving us lip service about how high they are on Kasperi Kapanen and Oskar Sundqvist and how they plan to go with a youth movement on the blue line and how they feel they have some viable 4^th line options in the AHL, the roster “could” look like this come opening night (lines and pairings always open for debate) without the Pens making a single trade or signing a single free agent…

 

Perron / Crosby / Kapanen

Hornqvist / Malkin / Bennett

Dupuis / Sutter / Kunitz

Spaling / Sundqvist / Rust

(Wilson or Other AHL )

 

Letang / Maatta

Pouliot / Dumoulin

Scuderi / Cole

(Lovejoy / Harrington)

 

Fleury

(Back-Up)

 

I figure around $1,000,000 each for Bennett and Cole. $900,000 for Dumoulin. Set aside $1,000,000 for Fleury’s back up and you end up with this 23-man roster at $66,000,000 which leaves $5,400,000 of cap space.

 

Buying out Scuderi (the only real candidate i/m/h/o) would save $2,250,000 (the buyout is $1,125,000 over 4 years versus $3,375,000 over 2). I’d keep him. He’s not the same Scuderi from the Pens’ Cup team but he played all 82 games this year (huge for us!), was a plus player (+9) and is a steadying presence on D for the younger guys. As for a trade, no one is taking him (or Kunitz – the other “too-big-a-cap-hit” whipping boy) off our hands. I think both can still be effective in lesser roles…Scuderi as a 3^rd pair defenseman and Kunitz on the 3^rd line.

 

If they can get a top 6 winger (Louie Ericksson? T.J. Oshie?) for Bennett and a prospect (no picks) I do it.  I don’t like the idea of trading Sutter – it leaves a big hole on the 3^rd line and – more importantly – the PK.  I want no part of Kessel or Sharp. I’d love Saad. The cap would be tight for the next 2 years until Dupuis and Kunitz (and Scuds) came off the books but I think Saad is a pipe dream anyway.

 

At the end of the day, I think the Pens look very similar to what I outlined above.  I put it at 50/50 that Jimmy the GM can get a top 6 winger (which the Pens have the cap space for).  If not, I wouldn't mind seeing them bring back Comeau for a 3rd/4th line role. Forget the rest of the UFA though.

 

There will be some growing pains early on with the youth on D but I predict this Pens team winds up a 4-5 seed if they stay healthy with the Bolts and Rangers being the clear 1-2 in the East.

[luckylarry]

Do you think your top two centers (Crosby and Malkin) are too similar?  Is there any talk in Pit about trading Malkin to get a more typical #2 center, or for other assets needed and moving Sutter into the #2 hole?  I understand Malkin is a great player, but maybe a guy like ROR would be a better fit? 

[B21]

Do you think your top two centers (Crosby and Malkin) are too similar?  Is there any talk in Pit about trading Malkin to get a more typical #2 center, or for other assets needed and moving Sutter into the #2 hole?  I understand Malkin is a great player, but maybe a guy like ROR would be a better fit? 

 

Similar? Not really. Every year there are rumors - more like opinions of the hockey media - that the Pens are/should trade Malkin. JR has come out and said they are not entertaining offers for Malkin and I believe that. For better or worse, he and Crosby end their careers here (my opinion).  I'm not against trading him but only for a huge haul....huge as in a 1st, a replacement center (on ROR's level) and another player.

[Polaris922]

Pens have inquired about Kessel...

[notfondajane]

Pens have inquired about Kessel...

I hope that Rutherford doesn't make that deal. I think he is a defensive liability! I wouldn't mind seeing someone who could score plus able to help out defensively!

[notfondajane]

Similar? Not really. Every year there are rumors - more like opinions of the hockey media - that the Pens are/should trade Malkin. JR has come out and said they are not entertaining offers for Malkin and I believe that. For better or worse, he and Crosby end their careers here (my opinion).  I'm not against trading him but only for a huge haul....huge as in a 1st, a replacement center (on ROR's level) and another player.

RoR, what that stand for? I never seen that before!

[flyercanuck]

@notfondajane

 

Ryan O'Reilly

[yave1964]

One that I have read about three places is Sutter and a second for Hudler from Calgary. It makes sense for the Pens, a top six winger and Sutter is easily replaced by moving Spalling back to center. I really do not know for the life of me why the Flames would do it but again, it is out there in a bunch of places.

 

 Comeau., I absolutely love that type of player. A great third liner who can be moved up when injuries or a slump from someone higher up occur. If you can bring him back under a contract that makes sense absolutely do it.

 

 So out goes Sutter who has been okay, a great P/K guy who can surprise with a bit of offense every now and then but that is about it, in comes Hudler who had a career year last season and keeping Comeau around as well. That would make the forward lines pretty dang solid.

 

 Defense, not sure what I think. Letang and Maatta are both obvious injury risks. If one goes down it could be ugly. If both go down it could be catastrophic. a solid free agent d-man who has a history of staying healthy who could run the second power play is ideally IMHO the number one need your boys have. I do not want you guys to get him because I want the Wings to retain him but Zidlicky on a 3 million a year contract would be perfect, one or two years. He has a much harder shot than I realized before the Wings added him, he would allow the kids to grow at a slower pace with less pressure.

 

So Zidlicky, Hudler and Comeau.  A bunch of grizzled vets and I think those moves propel the Pens to the top of their division.

[notfondajane]

One that I have read about three places is Sutter and a second for Hudler from Calgary. It makes sense for the Pens, a top six winger and Sutter is easily replaced by moving Spalling back to center. I really do not know for the life of me why the Flames would do it but again, it is out there in a bunch of places.

 

 Comeau., I absolutely love that type of player. A great third liner who can be moved up when injuries or a slump from someone higher up occur. If you can bring him back under a contract that makes sense absolutely do it.

 

 So out goes Sutter who has been okay, a great P/K guy who can surprise with a bit of offense every now and then but that is about it, in comes Hudler who had a career year last season and keeping Comeau around as well. That would make the forward lines pretty dang solid.

 

 Defense, not sure what I think. Letang and Maatta are both obvious injury risks. If one goes down it could be ugly. If both go down it could be catastrophic. a solid free agent d-man who has a history of staying healthy who could run the second power play is ideally IMHO the number one need your boys have. I do not want you guys to get him because I want the Wings to retain him but Zidlicky on a 3 million a year contract would be perfect, one or two years. He has a much harder shot than I realized before the Wings added him, he would allow the kids to grow at a slower pace with less pressure.

 

So Zidlicky, Hudler and Comeau.  A bunch of grizzled vets and I think those moves propel the Pens to the top of their division.

I only I disagree with is giving up a second round pick. Other than that I might be tempting!

[notfondajane]

@notfondajane

 

Ryan O'Reilly

thanks flyercanuck I should have known that!

[Hatrik98]

Now that we know the 2015-16 salary cap ($71,400,000), it’s probably a good time for a detailed assessment on what the 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins will (err - could) look like.

 

Right off the bat, we know that Martin, Erhoff and Adams aren’t coming back. The remaining UFA are Lapierre, Winnick, Downie and Comeau plus Thomas Greiss. RFA are Cole, Dumoulin and Brittle Beau.

 

Currently, the Pens have 14 players under contract at a total cap hit of $58,595,000. (Sport Trac has 13 but I added Pouliot as I think it’s a given he’s on the team next year.)  8 forwards. 5 defensemen. 1 goalie.

 

That leaves the Pens with just under $13,000,000 to add 5 forwards, 2 defensemen and a back-up goalie. While that sounds like a “cap crunch”, when you consider that 8 of the top 9 forward spots and 3 of the top 4 defense spots are likely set, the Pens have some flexibility as the spots they have to fill are not traditionally spots that require large cap hits (unless your initials are VLC). 

 

Assuming the Pens’ aren’t giving us lip service about how high they are on Kasperi Kapanen and Oskar Sundqvist and how they plan to go with a youth movement on the blue line and how they feel they have some viable 4^th line options in the AHL, the roster “could” look like this come opening night (lines and pairings always open for debate) without the Pens making a single trade or signing a single free agent…

 

Perron / Crosby / Kapanen

Hornqvist / Malkin / Bennett

Dupuis / Sutter / Kunitz

Spaling / Sundqvist / Rust

(Wilson or Other AHL )

 

Letang / Maatta

Pouliot / Dumoulin

Scuderi / Cole

(Lovejoy / Harrington)

 

Fleury

(Back-Up)

 

I figure around $1,000,000 each for Bennett and Cole. $900,000 for Dumoulin. Set aside $1,000,000 for Fleury’s back up and you end up with this 23-man roster at $66,000,000 which leaves $5,400,000 of cap space.

 

Buying out Scuderi (the only real candidate i/m/h/o) would save $2,250,000 (the buyout is $1,125,000 over 4 years versus $3,375,000 over 2). I’d keep him. He’s not the same Scuderi from the Pens’ Cup team but he played all 82 games this year (huge for us!), was a plus player (+9) and is a steadying presence on D for the younger guys. As for a trade, no one is taking him (or Kunitz – the other “too-big-a-cap-hit” whipping boy) off our hands. I think both can still be effective in lesser roles…Scuderi as a 3^rd pair defenseman and Kunitz on the 3^rd line.

 

If they can get a top 6 winger (Louie Ericksson? T.J. Oshie?) for Bennett and a prospect (no picks) I do it.  I don’t like the idea of trading Sutter – it leaves a big hole on the 3^rd line and – more importantly – the PK.  I want no part of Kessel or Sharp. I’d love Saad. The cap would be tight for the next 2 years until Dupuis and Kunitz (and Scuds) came off the books but I think Saad is a pipe dream anyway.

 

At the end of the day, I think the Pens look very similar to what I outlined above.  I put it at 50/50 that Jimmy the GM can get a top 6 winger (which the Pens have the cap space for).  If not, I wouldn't mind seeing them bring back Comeau for a 3rd/4th line role. Forget the rest of the UFA though.

 

There will be some growing pains early on with the youth on D but I predict this Pens team winds up a 4-5 seed if they stay healthy with the Bolts and Rangers being the clear 1-2 in the East.

Hopefully they don't go after Kessel or Sharp. Wouldn't do any good to this team. They need a role player like Saad. I wouldn't mind seeing Comeau come back either. He was looking like he was starting to find his place in the line up.

[Hatrik98]

Pens have inquired about Kessel...

Kessel would be a horrible pick up for Pittsburgh.

[B21]

Pens have inquired about Kessel...

 

[B21]

Hopefully they don't go after Kessel or Sharp. Wouldn't do any good to this team. They need a role player like Saad. I wouldn't mind seeing Comeau come back either. He was looking like he was starting to find his place in the line up.

 

I agree on Comeau if they strike out on the "top 6" winger they are so actively seeking. I'd go apeshite if they signed Saad but I just don't see it happening.

 

Sharp - absolutely not.

 

Kessel I could live with if the price is not to great and the Leafs pick up some salary. Kessel at $8,000,000? No thanks. Kessel at $5,000,000? On Crosby's wing? Could be nice.  #cookies

[B21]

And post-draft, the state of the Pens rosters is......the same.  Props to JR for not rushing and overpaying for his top 6 winger. Be patient. See how things play out in free agency.

[Polaris922]

@B21

Agree. My only hang up on it is some good players got moved for bizarre picks. Some unexpected trades to say the least!

[mojo1917]

could Malkin for Kessel be realistic ?  

 

or is it swapping one set of problems Malkin's freewheeling 125 foot game and occasionally destructive compete level for Kessel's laize faire attitude and 100 foot game...

 

the thought of Kessel on Crosby's wing is terrifying for the league.  I don't know how that could work with Sid , Evgeni and Phil. So I think Geno becomes a Leaf, but  Crosby could be a 140 point player with Kessel on his wing and good health.  

[Polaris922]

could Malkin for Kessel be realistic ?

or is it swapping one set of problems Malkin's freewheeling 125 foot game and occasionally destructive compete level for Kessel's laize faire attitude and 100 foot game...

the thought of Kessel on Crosby's wing is terrifying for the league. I don't know how that could work with Sid , Evgeni and Phil. So I think Geno becomes a Leaf, but Crosby could be a 140 point player with Kessel on his wing and good health.

They'd have to throw in more than Kessel.

[B21]

They'd have to throw in more than Kessel.

 

A lot more.  Like a 1st and another player more. And a year's supply of cookies.

[B21]

could Malkin for Kessel be realistic ?  

 

or is it swapping one set of problems Malkin's freewheeling 125 foot game and occasionally destructive compete level for Kessel's laize faire attitude and 100 foot game...

 

the thought of Kessel on Crosby's wing is terrifying for the league.  I don't know how that could work with Sid , Evgeni and Phil. So I think Geno becomes a Leaf, but  Crosby could be a 140 point player with Kessel on his wing and good health.  

 

Never.  The only way Kessel ends up on the Pens is if the Leafs eat about $2 million to $3 million in salary.  They Pens simply do not have the room to add him at $8 million per for that long (at some point down the line Maatta, Pouliot, etc will need extensions).

 

Even if the Leafs took back Kunitz and Scuderi it still wouldn't work.

[WordsOfWisdom]

 

[WordsOfWisdom]

A lot more.  Like a 1st and another player more. And a year's supply of cookies.

 

How about Kessel + Phaneuf (with the Leafs retaining some of Dion's salary)? 

 

The Leafs aren't going to pay someone to take Kessel. He will move at full value. And Toronto is not going to give any of their draft picks right now for anyone.

[B21]

How about Kessel + Phaneuf (with the Leafs retaining some of Dion's salary)? 

 

The Leafs aren't going to pay someone to take Kessel. He will move at full value. And Toronto is not going to give any of their draft picks right now for anyone.

 

You still get picks/players back.  But that contract is an albatross that will likely absolutely be g'dawful  in those final years.

 

I'd give "full value" for whatever Kessel the player is (putting the contract aside) but not at $8,000,000.

 

And if you were getting Malkin, you would be giving picks backs.

[WordsOfWisdom]

You still get picks/players back.  But that contract is an albatross that will likely absolutely be g'dawful  in those final years.

 

I'd give "full value" for whatever Kessel the player is (putting the contract aside) but not at $8,000,000.

 

And if you were getting Malkin, you would be giving picks backs.

 

(LOL, we should be GMs!!! This is fun!) 

 

So you don't think Pittsburgh would be a better team if they had Kessel paired with Crosby, and then got Phaneuf on their blueline at say 4 mil per season (with the Leafs eating the rest)?

 

You save almost 2 mil by dumping Malkin. You can use that money to buy a #2 center or promote from within. 

[B21]

(LOL, we should be GMs!!! This is fun!) 

 

So you don't think Pittsburgh would be a better team if they had Kessel paired with Crosby, and then got Phaneuf on their blueline at say 4 mil per season (with the Leafs eating the rest)?

 

You save almost 2 mil by dumping Malkin. You can use that money to buy a #2 center or promote from within. 

 

If the Pens trade Malkin it's to save a lot more than $2 million.

 

Here's the other problem with your rationale.  Malkin is a heckuva lot closer to being worth $9.5 million than Kessel is to being worth $8,000,000.

 

Malkin has Calder, Conn Smythe, Hart and a pair of Art Ross trophies. Kessel has?

 

If I am dealing Malkin I want a pair of $5,000,000 guys and some picks/prospects. Not Kessel.  T