Geno worth 10 a year? This market is crazy, gonna love to watch teams get under the cap.

I still think our big move is going to involve either a) taking on a significant chunk of Miller and/or Vanek's salary so a team can take them on for a year or b) Taking on a big salary in a trade so that we can buy them out. If Pegula is serious about winning and money is no object then this is absolutely the way to go. We did it on a smaller scale by taking on Kotalik's salary in exchange for a pick.

It's still a huge portion of your cap going to a few select players. I just thought it would make more sense to give the $$ to a Norris caliber defenseman, not the guy who scored 9 goals last year.
- jmatchett383

Yep core pieces make the $$$,not the supporting cast .Thats where the turnover is every season with good teams that has established corps

So if Crosby and Malkin get hurt that's pretty much it for the Pens season
- Alexzanki

take the top 2 players out of any team and usually thats it for their season

Get'er done Darcy!!!

So if Crosby and Malkin get hurt that's pretty much it for the Pens season
- Alexzanki

take the top 2 players out of any team and usually thats it for their season

It's still a huge portion of your cap going to a few select players. I just thought it would make more sense to give the $$ to a Norris caliber defenseman, not the guy who scored 9 goals last year.
- jmatchett383

Look at all the recent cup winners though. They have all been strong down the middle.

It's still a huge portion of your cap going to a few select players. I just thought it would make more sense to give the $$ to a Norris caliber defenseman, not the guy who scored 9 goals last year.
- jmatchett383

I think we are going to see a lot more young guys in the NHL who are on cheap ELC contracts.

If the CBA didnt put restrictions, Geno's cap hit wouldve been a lot lower. Its pretty much on par with what the other top players are getting paid, its just a higher cap hit because you cant circumvent anymore.

I guess you missed the word "nearly"
- theblueandgold

It's still not even 'near'. Unless you consider being off by 500M, 'near'.

take the top 2 players out of any team and usually thats it for their season
- ChrisMS

Yep your core is your core ,it makes the money it drives the bus .Pittsburgh isnt rebuilding their corps{which Letang is a part of} they are just going to rejig the supporting cast

It's still not even 'near'. Unless you consider being off by 500M, 'near'.
- Charliebox

4.1B-3.3B equals 0.8B which is a lot more near 1B than anything else....

Yep your core is your core ,it makes the money it drives the bus .Pittsburgh isnt rebuilding their corps{which Letang is a part of} they are just going to rejig the supporting cast
- top shelf 15

your enthusiasm is nice, but I doubt the pens can keep Letang... hey, I'm a huge supporter of them finding a way to do so, but he seems determined on almost deliberately pricing himself out of the pens cap situation. A team that expects to compete for the cup shouldn't have half the roster on ELC to pay 5 or 6 players. (no offense to the sens, who did so much with so many young players) IMO, shero announcing Fluery as his starter may have sealed Letangs fate. (a move I also agree with... can't put the hopes of a full 82 game season on Vokouns back after his last try with Washington)

I think we are going to see a lot more young guys in the NHL who are on cheap ELC contracts.

If the CBA didnt put restrictions, Geno's cap hit wouldve been a lot lower. Its pretty much on par with what the other top players are getting paid, its just a higher cap hit because you cant circumvent anymore.
- theblueandgold

especially with the possibly expansion in 2014-15. each team will have a lot of ELC's on their roster

your enthusiasm is nice, but I doubt the pens can keep Letang... hey, I'm a huge supporter of them finding a way to do so, but he seems determined on almost deliberately pricing himself out of the pens cap situation. A team that expects to compete for the cup shouldn't have half the roster on ELC to pay 5 or 6 players. (no offense to the sens, who did so much with so many young players) IMO, shero announcing Fluery as his starter may have sealed Letangs fate. (a move I also agree with... can't put the hopes of a full 82 game season on Vokouns back after his last try with Washington)
- ChrisMS

Letang makes 3.5 mil now are you telling me they wont be able to find an extra 2 or 3 million out of Jokenin,Cooke ,Dupries niskennin etc .He will be resigned dont you worry ,shero has all those young defenders for this exact reason.Besides your corps is already one of the best it will help insulate those kids and help them grow

Letang makes 3.5 mil now are you telling me they wont be able to find an extra 2 or 3 million out of Jokenin,Cooke ,Dupries niskennin etc .He will be resigned dont you worry ,shero has all those young defenders for this exact reason
- top shelf 15

jokinen is signed through next season at 2.1. Dupius is a fan favorite, a great team player, and perhaps most importantly, a Crosby favorite... he will stay unless he really forces the pens hand. niskanen is signed next season for 2 mil. cooke probably will walk. sure, the pens can keep letang, sign him to an extension... all of those players above (cept Dupius) will be gone after next season... and the cap should go up a bit... but Shero is taking a massive gamble in the pens young players being ready to compete for a stanley cup competative team. If he looses that gamble and didn't trade Letang while he could have maximized the return... could really hurt the pens.... tough call

Letang makes 3.5 mil now are you telling me they wont be able to find an extra 2 or 3 million out of Jokenin,Cooke ,Dupries niskennin etc .He will be resigned dont you worry ,shero has all those young defenders for this exact reason.Besides your corps is already one of the best it will help insulate those kids and help them grow
- top shelf 15

but is it worth it to have a team made up of 80% minimum salary players? cuz thats what it would end up as. crosby, malkin, letang, fluery, and a bunch of people who should be in the AHL

but is it worth it to have a team made up of 80% minimum salary players? cuz thats what it would end up as. crosby, malkin, letang, fluery, and a bunch of people who should be in the AHL
- robz228

I your picture!

but is it worth it to have a team made up of 80% minimum salary players? cuz thats what it would end up as. crosby, malkin, letang, fluery, and a bunch of people who should be in the AHL
- robz228

The cap wont remain at 64 mil ,it will be in the 70 mil range as early as the following season.As far as the competitivness of the pens next season they might dip in the standings but should be a decent playoff team regardless.It is a transistion year for them ,they will use next season to salt their kids and replenish their farm at next seasons draft .The supporting cast has grown too rich to support Pittsburgh corps and its time to replace them with young contract friendly players .

Players like Cooke,Dupries,Eaton,Niskinnen etc will be replaced by their pipeline

The cap wont remain at 64 mil ,it will be in the 70 mil range as early as the following season.As far as the competitivness of the pens next season they might dip in the standings but should be a decent playoff team regardless.It is a transistion year for them ,they will use next season to salt their kids and replenish their farm at next seasons draft .The supporting cast has grown too rich to support Pittsburgh corps and its time to replace them with young contract friendly players .

Players like Cooke,Dupries,Eaton,Niskinnen etc will be replaced by their pipeline

- top shelf 15

again... I like your optimism and enthusiasm... but thats quite a gamble on players that, for many, haven't even played in a professional hockey game, let alone the NHL

The cap wont remain at 64 mil ,it will be in the 70 mil range as early as the following season.As far as the competitivness of the pens next season they might dip in the standings but should be a decent playoff team regardless.It is a transistion year for them ,they will use next season to salt their kids and replenish their farm at next seasons draft .The supporting cast has grown too rich to support Pittsburgh corps and its time to replace them with young contract friendly players .

Players like Cooke,Dupries,Eaton,Niskinnen etc will be replaced by their pipeline

- top shelf 15

yeah but theres your problem. you have 35 mil cap space taken up by 4 players for the next 10 years, then every single promising young player you have wants his 2nd contract and you have to get rid of him.

you can replace the vets with the pipeline now, but then the pipeline will have to be replaced with a new pipeline every 3 years for the next 10 years. great players might get drafted but just have to walk

again... I like your optimism and enthusiasm... but thats quite a gamble on players that, for many, haven't even played in a professional hockey game, let alone the NHL
- ChrisMS

Thats what Pittsburgh will do ,trust your core .If you look at it logically ,Pittsburgh was the top team in the east because of whom.Guys like cooke,dupries,etc ???,no your core guys like Letang ,Malkin,Crosby ,Neal are the reason.Those 4 players make you a playoff team by them selves. The others if they are good enough ,{and in Pittburgh,s case the were not} make you a champion

Malkin is the best player in the world. He deserves this contract. When you have guys like Nash, Perry, Stall all making close to or above 8 mil, Malkin easily deserves 9.5 mil.

STAFF-INFECTION MOFO'S!!!!

Malkin is the best player in the world. He deserves this contract. When you have guys like Nash, Perry, Stall all making close to or above 8 mil, Malkin easily deserves 9.5 mil.
- Smurfs-A-Joke

It's still a lot of money

Malkin is the best player in the world. He deserves this contract. When you have guys like Nash, Perry, Stall all making close to or above 8 mil, Malkin easily deserves 9.5 mil.
- Smurfs-A-Joke

I think that Sid what's-his-face gut is a little bit better. I mean, Malkin has a whopping 9 goals last year and all, but I think there may be better players.