Riikola signs 2 year, 1.15M AAV extension

[FLPensFan]

Hopefully more fuel to dump JJ overboard: https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-re-sign-juuso-riikola-two-year-contract/c-318908992?partnerId=pit-twt-penguins

[Jim]

I figured that he would want to go somewhere that the coach would actually want to play him.

[FLPensFan]

I figured that he would want to go somewhere that the coach would actually want to play him.

Me too. I'm hoping GMJR gives Sullivan an elbow to the ribs to play him a bit more.

[OKpensfan247]

I am extremely happy about this. JJ to AHL please.

[DelPen]

I am extremely happy about this. JJ to AHL please.

Cap hit of Johnson in the NHL and Riikola in the AHL is about the same as Johnson in the AHL and Riikola in the NHL.

[FLPensFan]

I am extremely happy about this. JJ to AHL please.

Cap hit of Johnson in the NHL and Riikola in the AHL is about the same as Johnson in the AHL and Riikola in the NHL.

False. 1.025M is the max amount of cap relief you can get from burying a player in AHL. So JJ in the AHL still counts a little over two Riikolas against the NHL cap.

Gotta think JJ is going somewhere with Dumo, Pettersson, Riikola, and JJ...plus an NHL ready POJ all on the left side.

[Skatingpen]

Lot of money to never get to play!!

[Crash66]

They wouldn't sign him to trade him, would they?

[Ericf]

They wouldn't sign him to trade him, would they?

Yes, they could and that might be a + this year with the cap situation. I think it’s either that or JJ is traded and of course I hope for the latter. Riikola is now not really cheap and is paid in line with a third pairing defenseman. JJ is paid too much for one in the current situation. We can’t afford to have Petts, JJ and Riikola at their current salaries, especially if they’re going to sign a RD to replace Schultz

[Pensfan4life8771]

I think with the Rikkola signing. It leads me to believe we are moving a D man hopefully JJ as part of package in Murray deal maybe for a step up on D or 3C?

[FLPensFan]

This will be our first chance to see if GMJR walks the walk, or is just full of hot air. GMJR said he wants this team to get younger.

Riikola and POJ should be able to handle the 3rd pairing LD, and those two combined half the cost of JJ.

If this was a signing to setup a Riikola move and keep JJ, we may all be in for a bunch offseason disappointment.

[KG]

This will be our first chance to see if GMJR walks the walk, or is just full of hot air. GMJR said he wants this team to get younger.

Riikola and POJ should be able to handle the 3rd pairing LD, and those two combined half the cost of JJ.

If this was a signing to setup a Riikola move and keep JJ, we may all be in for a bunch offseason disappointment.

Yeah we'll see. I still wouldn't be surprised if JR brings in another D man. I could see a Montour type and then Riikola 7th and Ruh 8th. But as long as JJ is gone, it's all good!

[Luckybreak]

This will be our first chance to see if GMJR walks the walk, or is just full of hot air. GMJR said he wants this team to get younger.

Riikola and POJ should be able to handle the 3rd pairing LD, and those two combined half the cost of JJ.

If this was a signing to setup a Riikola move and keep JJ, we may all be in for a bunch offseason disappointment.

Please please please let it be door A. I really enjoy watching Riikola, and the stats back up the eye test. Kind of the opposite of watching JJ. GMJR can make up for the JJ signing and ensure HCMS is incapable of ever playing him again...

[thehockeyguru]

Its interesting timing to sign Riikola. If I were to bet on a Murray trade now I'm going to say JJ is packaged too.

[Steve Dave]

This will be our first chance to see if GMJR walks the walk, or is just full of hot air. GMJR said he wants this team to get younger.

Riikola and POJ should be able to handle the 3rd pairing LD, and those two combined half the cost of JJ.

If this was a signing to setup a Riikola move and keep JJ, we may all be in for a bunch offseason disappointment.

Yeah we'll see. I still wouldn't be surprised if JR brings in another D man. I could see a Montour type and then Riikola 7th and Ruh 8th. But as long as JJ is gone, it's all good!

If Johnson is dealt in a Murray (+McCann) deal for a 3C, Bjugstad for Gudbranson??

There should be about $5.2 mil left for 3C and 4LW with ZAR not on LTIR with Lafferty and Jarry signed to their expected numbers.

Zucker Crosby Kapanen
Guentzel Malkin Rust
Poulin 3C Hornqvist
4LW Blueger Tanev
Lafferty

Dumoulin Letang
Pettersson Marino
Riikola Gudbranson
Joseph Ruhwedel

Jarry
DeSmith

[Skatingpen]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

That can’t be how this ends up right? They either have to move some bodies or play some of them on their off side??

[ville5]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

That can’t be how this ends up right? They either have to move some bodies or play some of them on their off side??

Someone did post elsewhere that JMFJ sold his house.

[KG]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

That can’t be how this ends up right? They either have to move some bodies or play some of them on their off side??

Someone did post elsewhere that JMFJ sold his house.

If that’s true about the house, that is a classy move by JR giving him notice that he’s going to be moved. Who knows, but there is at least some smoke here!

[ville5]

Or maybe he's ZAR's replacement:lol:.

[pens_CT]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

That can’t be how this ends up right? They either have to move some bodies or play some of them on their off side??

Someone did post elsewhere that JMFJ sold his house.

Someone posted on a message board that JMFJ house was for sale. Nobody ever lies on the internet

[ville5]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

That can’t be how this ends up right? They either have to move some bodies or play some of them on their off side??

Someone did post elsewhere that JMFJ sold his house.

Someone posted on a message board that JMFJ house was for sale. Nobody ever lies on the internet :face:

Not for sale, SOLD.

[pens_CT]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

That can’t be how this ends up right? They either have to move some bodies or play some of them on their off side??

Someone did post elsewhere that JMFJ sold his house.

Someone posted on a message board that JMFJ house was for sale. Nobody ever lies on the internet

Not for sale, SOLD.

Okay I stand corrected. Maybe he's moving into a bigger place in Pittsburgh

[ville5]

Hey FLPensfan, do some sleuthing. Contact the local Pens' scribes and see if there's any truth to this.

[brwi]

From Yohe “ This is really surprising. So, on left side of defense:
• Dumoulin is signed
• Pettersson is signed
• Johnson is signed
• Riikola is signed
• POJ is just about NHL ready
That’s a lot of bodies for the left side of the defense. And a lot of money.”

I don't see this as too surprising. What NHL team doesn't carry on their roster 4 guys who can play LD? The same 4 LD that were on the roster this past season are under contract for next season. Riikola gets a 250K raise....big deal. The money being spent on LD was already set and the only change from this past season besides an extra 250K for Riikola is Pettersen's extension raising him to 4mil+, something that has nothing to do with Riikola signing or not.

If no one gets moved, looks like POJ won't be seeing much time in the NHL next season and maybe not even if someone is moved.

[longtimefan]

I am extremely happy about this. JJ to AHL please.

Cap hit of Johnson in the NHL and Riikola in the AHL is about the same as Johnson in the AHL and Riikola in the NHL.

False. 1.025M is the max amount of cap relief you can get from burying a player in AHL. So JJ in the AHL still counts a little over two Riikolas against the NHL cap.

Gotta think JJ is going somewhere with Dumo, Pettersson, Riikola, and JJ...plus an NHL ready POJ all on the left side.

I think he's saying it's basically the same cap hit if you send JJ down. The amount you can bury is $1.075 for this season. https://puckpedia.com/minimum-nhl-salary-buried-cap-hit. So if you send JJ down, you have to bury $2.175. If you add Riikola's $1.15 cap hit, it plus the buried $$$ would leave you with a total cap hit of $3.325. It may not be the plan, but the math works pretty well.