You're the GM: Part 3

[SolidSnake]

I wonder if John Hynes stands there sipping water when things are going bad.

[farnham16]

If Leino gets 4.5m you can guarantee that staal is going to get 6m. Hes worth 6m nothing more in my opinion.

If Staal chooses to go on the market, perhaps...I doubt it gets to that.

Yeah there is no way Staal gets to the market in 2013. He will either be resigned or traded before then.

[no name]

Al Montoya.

Tony Montoya.

Tony Montana

Al Montana

[thehockeyguru]

I'm thankful that we aren't on the hook for 8 more years of Bryzgalov.

[columbia]

"@capgeek: Only three of 25 highest salaried #NHL players are still active in playoffs: B. Richards, Gaborik and Ovechkin. http://t.co/Y8YT7cS1 "

[sil]

"@capgeek: Only three of 25 highest salaried #NHL players are still active in playoffs: B. Richards, Gaborik and Ovechkin. http://t.co/Y8YT7cS1 "

Huh...wonder if its because those teams cap structures aren't so top heavy that they look like the Pep Boys.

[MRandall25]

"@capgeek: Only three of 25 highest salaried #NHL players are still active in playoffs: B. Richards, Gaborik and Ovechkin. http://t.co/Y8YT7cS1 "

Huh...wonder if its because those teams cap structures aren't so top heavy that they look like the Pep Boys.

The Pens only have 2 in the top 50...

[columbia]

"@capgeek: Only three of 25 highest salaried #NHL players are still active in playoffs: B. Richards, Gaborik and Ovechkin. http://t.co/Y8YT7cS1 "

Huh...wonder if its because those teams cap structures aren't so top heavy that they look like the Pep Boys.

That certainly crossed my mind.

[sil]

"@capgeek: Only three of 25 highest salaried #NHL players are still active in playoffs: B. Richards, Gaborik and Ovechkin. http://t.co/Y8YT7cS1 "

Huh...wonder if its because those teams cap structures aren't so top heavy that they look like the Pep Boys.

The Pens only have 2 in the top 50...

The pens have 2 in the top 3 as well.

[sil]

I'm thankful that we aren't on the hook for 8 more years of Bryzgalov.

[sil]

Just a little re-focusing of this thread if you'll bear with me...

Malkin $8,700,000
Crosby $8,700,000
Neal $5,000,000
Staal $4,000,000
Kunitz $3,725,000
Kennedy $2,000,000
Cooke $1,800,000
Dupuis $1,500,000
Tangradi $750,000
Adams $675,000
Jeffrey $575,000
Vitale $550,000
UFA


Martin $5,000,000
Michalek $4,000,000
Orpik $3,750,000
Letang $3,500,000
Niskanen $1,800,000
Depres $840,000
Engellend $566,667
Lovejoy $525,000

Fleury $5,000,000
Thiessen $650,000
UFA


2012-13 NHL Salary Cap approx. = $64,300,000, based on speculation, this number could drop after the next CBA. A middle of the road assumption is a cap number VERY close to the current one.

Max Cap Number including call-up cushion of $800,000 = $63,500,000

Total Salaries = $63,606,667*

Total Guaranteed Salaries = $60,406,667 (w/ (2) F and (1) G to sign w/ $3,093,333). This scenario keep Lovejoy and sees Niskanen leave, but frees up enough space to sign a $2,000,000 (F), and two league minimum scrubs to fill out the roster…or a $1,750,000 forward, Tangradi, and league minimum backup goalie.

Add Niskanen and remove Lovejoy = $61,681,667 (w/ (2) F and (1) G to sign w/ $1,818,333). This scenario requires (3) NHL regulars to average @ $600,000 apiece…or basically scrubs to fill out the remaining holes, one of which is a top-6 forward.

The above scenarios are "standing pat," which also must (due to Neal's cap hit hike) exclude UFA's Sullivan and Park. Everything below is based on the most popular speculations on trades...

Trading Staal = $56,406,667 (w/ (3) F, and (1) G to sign w/ $7,093,333). Assume the player received for Staal is about $2,500,000, $4,593,333 is left for (2) F, and (1) G. A competent backup G approx. = $750,000, and bottom line banger forward = $750,000, approx. $3,000,000 to find a replacement 3rd line center or additional top-6 winger. (Note this scenario includes Lovejoy and excludes Niskanen. If Niskanen is in over Lovejoy, remove $1,300,000 from the cap space and adjust accordingly.)

Trading Martin = $55,406,667 (w/ (2) F, (1) D, and (1) G w/ $8,093,333). A competent backup G = $750,000, a bottom line banger forward = $750,000, and a serviceable top-6 forward (in the Sykora, Feds, Sullivan mold) = $2,000,000…approx. $3,000,000 is left to sign another defender, or Despres takes top-4 D duty, and we have approx. $4,250,000 to spend on another forward. (Note this scenario includes Lovejoy and excludes Niskanen. If Niskanen is in over Lovejoy, remove $1,300,000 from the cap space and adjust accordingly.)

Trading Malkin (or Crosby) = $51,706,667 (w/ (3) F, and (1) G to sign w/ $11,793,333). Assume two players in return for Malkin approx. = $6,000,000, $5,793,333 is left to sign (1) F and (1) G. A competent backup G = $750,000, and a bottom line banger forward = $750,000…thus approx. $4,293,333 is left to upgrade the D even without trading Martin/Michalek. If Martin is traded for a prospect/pick, $9,292,333 is open to find (1) D. (Note this scenario includes Lovejoy and excludes Niskanen. If Niskanen is in over Lovejoy, remove $1,300,000 from the cap space and adjust accordingly.)

* Includes assumed 2012-13 cap hits for RFA’s Niskanen, Tangradi, and Thiessen.

[Pens4Life]

@Sil
OMG!

Staal should be traded if he demands more than Neal is payed..On open market he could get more,but not a lot more.
Also I think he will re-sign for 5years/25M deal!

[sil]

@Sil
OMG!

Staal should be traded if he demands more than Neal is payed..On open market he could get more,but not a lot more.
Also I think he will re-sign for 5years/25M deal!

FTR, I don't want him traded. The above is a quick assessement of each situation based on the most 'discussed' suggestions.

[MRandall25]

Just out of curiosity, are you assuming we just sign any FA we get to a one year deal? Or are you leaving the extra mil or two in the Martin scenario (in particular) for Staal's extension to take effect the next season?

[sil]

Just out of curiosity, are you assuming we just sign any FA we get to a one year deal? Or are you leaving the extra mil or two in the Martin scenario (in particular) for Staal's extension to take effect the next season?

I was actually taking all scenarios pretty close to the cap ceiling. The one that would leave extra room is the Malkin trade.

[MRandall25]

Just out of curiosity, are you assuming we just sign any FA we get to a one year deal? Or are you leaving the extra mil or two in the Martin scenario (in particular) for Staal's extension to take effect the next season?

I was actually taking all scenarios pretty close to the cap ceiling. The one that would leave extra room is the Malkin trade.

Ah, I see... I kinda ignored the "sign another forward with the extra 4.25 mil"...

Though, couldn't we leave that cap space for the next year when Crosby and Staal's extensions take effect?

[sil]

Just out of curiosity, are you assuming we just sign any FA we get to a one year deal? Or are you leaving the extra mil or two in the Martin scenario (in particular) for Staal's extension to take effect the next season?

I was actually taking all scenarios pretty close to the cap ceiling. The one that would leave extra room is the Malkin trade.

Ah, I see... I kinda ignored the "sign another forward with the extra 4.25 mil"...

Though, couldn't we leave that cap space for the next year when Crosby and Staal's extensions take effect?

Most certainly we could. I think the whole point of my post is that, if (1) we assume a cap close to the current, and (2) we settle with letting Niskanen walk...we'll just barely be able to find a replacement for Sullivan. If we keep Niskanen over Lovejoy, we basically have to go as cheap as possible with the remaining three roster spots. So, in short, I'd be surprised if at least one move isn't made over the summer.

[Nizzy]

Can someone explain to me why Lovejoy would have a spot on this team next year?

Strait
Bortuzzo
Despres

All better and younger. Lovejoy had his chance vs Philly and got completely exposed in multiple 1v1 battles.

He should be gone before Martin

[sil]

Can someone explain to me why Lovejoy would have a spot on this team next year?

Strait
Bortuzzo
Despres

All better and younger. Lovejoy had his chance vs Philly and got completely exposed in multiple 1v1 battles.

He should be gone before Martin

Not only do I agree, but I'm also glad you brought it up. Lovejoy makes pretty much league min ($525,000), so replacing him with any of Bortuzzo, Strait, etc...will actually put us $150,000 - $250,000 tighter to the cap.

[Pavel Bure]

Wait you mean Lovejoy isn't the second coming of Bobby Orr so many on here defended him as last year? I for one am shocked.

[sil]

Wait you mean Lovejoy isn't the second coming of Bobby Orr so many on here defended him as last year? I for one am shocked.

Orr is he?

[Streaks House]

Wait you mean Lovejoy isn't the second coming of Bobby Orr so many on here defended him as last year? I for one am shocked.

Orr is he?

When will it be over for Lovejoy?

[KG]

Bumping this thread. A lot of interesting thoughts on what you would have done post the playoff debacle.

Most scenarios had the Pens keeping Staal, if he was able to play wing he most likely wouldn't have been traded since he would get top line minutes etc.

I am surprised that Shero hasn't tweaked the roster more then he has so far. The team, as of right now, is very similar to how it was left...Better backup goalie, worse 3rd line center and a younger 4th line agitator, no Michalek...

Kind of a stinky off season thus far if you look at it like that...

[Beveridge]

Bumping this thread. A lot of interesting thoughts on what you would have done post the playoff debacle.

Most scenarios had the Pens keeping Staal, if he was able to play wing he most likely wouldn't have been traded since he would get top line minutes etc.

I am surprised that Shero hasn't tweaked the roster more then he has so far. The team, as of right now, is very similar to how it was left...Better backup goalie, worse 3rd line center and a younger 4th line agitator, no Michalek...

Kind of a stinky off season thus far if you look at it like that...

I don't think playing or not playing wing had anything to do with trading Staal. I think it was pretty clear he was going to test Free Agency and when he signed the same deal with Carolina that Pens offered him, I'm pretty sure it made Shero's decision to trade him the right one. You can make the argument our top 6 would be better if we kept Staal (it would be) for one year, but I think getting 3 pieces in return is a better overall move than banking everyone on one season when we just finished a year where the top 6 wasn't the issue.

-Vokoun might end up being one of the best free agent moves in all of hockey when the year is over (even though he never made it to free agency per say). I love this move and if he isn't battling injuries again, it's going to be a steal of a deal.

-I think Sutter is what we need for the 3rd line center for this team. We're going to see Staal's stats compared to Sutter's all year and it's going to get old after the first month. He won't put up the numbers because he won't get the same time or talent. Truth is, Staal was progressing (good for him not so much for us) beyond what a typical 3rd line center needs to be. I still think that easing Crosby back in last year on the "3rd line" was a good idea but bad execution. Even after he left the "3rd line", we had 3 lines trying to run and gun it every time on the ice. I'm not putting all the blame on that, but I think it's fair to look there for some.

Back on point, I don't think we have a worse 3rd line center for what we need.

-I expect Glass to be a fan favorite by Thanksgiving if not before.

-Michalek move was only the one that me a little confused. I wonder if there is more to the story than we know about. I can't see Shero making a move like that just to free up cap space for someone that 20 others teams were going to be going after. I wonder if Z might have asked about going back to Phoenix or Shero, knowing that players have to show NHL capability to have more trade value, decided it was time to free up some playing time and space for a few young guys.


I don't know what moves will be made, if any, before the season begins. I just know I'm glad that Shero is in charge of those moves.

As for the lines:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis (I don't like taking Kunitz away from Malkin/Neal but I don't like Dupuis and Kennedy being Sid's wingers more)
Neal - Malkin - Kennedy/Jeffrey/camp stand out (Neal and Malkin just need someone to stay out of there way but be enough of a threat to do something at times)
Cooke - Sutter - Kennedy/Jeffrey/Tangradi (What I wouldn't give to have a 3rd line of cooke/sutter/dupuis)
Glass - Vitale - Adams/Tangradi

-Think they should bring back Park for another year. He was good depth to have around last season.
-If Mac is even up for just eating nachos, we have bigger problems then what the board has been in a panic about all summer.

A trade for a proven top 6 winger would make this mess a whole lot easier, but I have faith something gets done whether now or come during the season.

[jogr4909]

It is stinky so far.... GMRS needs to do what he has been effective at- TRADES to meet the team needs.