Ryan Wilson: The Penguins and the Cost For Competent Veteran Goaltending The Penguins and the Cost For Competent Veteran Goaltending

Would MAF be a buyout candidate? Or would they take the highest bidder price?

I am sure someteam would take the chance on him, as he certainly is an above average goalie, he just inst elite as most people thought a few years back

What's the obsession with Reimer? Sure he has a low cap hit but that is all that appeals to me with that acquisition. Especially when you factor in the assets it would take to acquire him I'd prefer to go with Hiller or Halak.

MAF is only on the books for 1 more yr. He had a good yr this year, but I think if he bounces back next yr he could be re upped for cheap, or his starter days are over. I think there are more critical spots of the roster to address over MAF.

If the plan is to shed mediocre $5M players. Neal should be first through the door.

- Guile

Is it still charging? HA!

Is it still charging? HA!
- sammy87

I think its embellishment actually
Both are called about as often.

If the plan is to shed mediocre $5M players. Neal should be first through the door.
- Ben37

Neal/Scuderi for Marleau + pick.

Neal/Scuderi for Marleau + pick.
- Orpik44

What's marleau contract look like? Getting rid of suderi is appealing

What's marleau contract look like? Getting rid of suderi is appealing
- dbell646

Considering the Pens already have 2 F's age 33 and up, no thanks on 1 more. Plus at 6.7 cap no way.

You can start to help out the bottom 6 by moving Dupes down there. He was on pace for 14g this year, last 2 yrs were great for him, but coming off knee surgery at 34 yrs old, I really question how he will be able to keep up top line minutes.

Neal/Scuderi for Marleau + pick.
- Orpik44

If we got a pick back it would be a 4th rounder

Reimer would be interesting. What about a goalie duo of Reimer and Vokoun? If Vokoun is good to go then give him another shot, especially if he takes a little lower salary hit

I've tried to look over the Penguins roster with a critical eye more than a few times since the season ended & see where Cap savings can be achieved. Overall, I've come to see three different types of categories where Cap savings can be achieved; (i) Salary Removal (ii) Hocky Trades, and (iii) Cap growth.

(i) Salary Removal: Includes compliance buyouts, trades for minimal value, or any way in which the Cap hit can be removed from the team. In short, removing this player from the team & his salary from the Cap with minimal or no return is sufficent to be considered a positive move. Adams ($700K) and Scuderi ($3.375M) fall into this category.

(ii) Hockey Trades: Trading the player, but requiring value in return. They player or the contract may not be perfect, but the player has significant value & removing them for pennies on the dollar does not improve the team overall and/or creates an immediate need which will have to be filled at nearly the same cost by a UFA. Neal ($5M) and Fleury ($5M) fall into this category.

(iii) Cap Growth: In many ways, the Penguins Cap situation is only going to improve with time. Crosby, Malkin, & Letang are all locked into long-term deals which will, percentage-wise, become less & less of the overall Cap % each year. As this happens the Cap dollars can be shifted to the needed parts of the roster (ie, 3rd & 4th lines). This doesn't fix the problem over night, but does show an oppurtunity for long-term growth this season and next.

Fleury is an interesting case. He only has 1yr left on his deal & is probably over-paid by $1.5M/yr or so. I wouldn't want to simply ship him out for nothing, but without knowing what the replacement cost (ie, a comparable UFA goalie) it is hard to determine if moving him would provide a marked improvement. Not sure what I would consider an acceptable return. Thoughts anyone?

I've tried to look over the Penguins roster with a critical eye more than a few times since the season ended & see where Cap savings can be achieved. Overall, I've come to see three different types of categories where Cap savings can be achieved; (i) Salary Removal (ii) Hocky Trades, and (iii) Cap growth.

(i) Salary Removal: Includes compliance buyouts, trades for minimal value, or any way in which the Cap hit can be removed from the team. In short, removing this player from the team & his salary from the Cap with minimal or no return is sufficent to be considered a positive move. Adams ($700K) and Scuderi ($3.375M) fall into this category.

(ii) Hockey Trades: Trading the player, but requiring value in return. They player or the contract may not be perfect, but the player has significant value & removing them for pennies on the dollar does not improve the team overall and/or creates an immediate need which will have to be filled at nearly the same cost by a UFA. Neal ($5M) and Fleury ($5M) fall into this category.

(iii) Cap Growth: In many ways, the Penguins Cap situation is only going to improve with time. Crosby, Malkin, & Letang are all locked into long-term deals which will, percentage-wise, become less & less of the overall Cap % each year. As this happens the Cap dollars can be shifted to the needed parts of the roster (ie, 3rd & 4th lines). This doesn't fix the problem over night, but does show an oppurtunity for long-term growth this season and next.

Fleury is an interesting case. He only has 1yr left on his deal & is probably over-paid by $1.5M/yr or so. I wouldn't want to simply ship him out for nothing, but without knowing what the replacement cost (ie, a comparable UFA goalie) it is hard to determine if moving him would provide a marked improvement. Not sure what I would consider an acceptable return. Thoughts anyone?
- s0rcerer1984

I could have told you those 3 ways 5 years ago...

Reimer would be interesting. What about a goalie duo of Reimer and Vokoun? If Vokoun is good to go then give him another shot, especially if he takes a little lower salary hit
- drummer829

Vokoun is done

Reimer huh?

I could have told you those 3 ways 5 years ago...
- drummer829

So what would you do? Who do you move & for what (if anything) in return?

I've tried to look over the Penguins roster with a critical eye more than a few times since the season ended & see where Cap savings can be achieved. Overall, I've come to see three different types of categories where Cap savings can be achieved; (i) Salary Removal (ii) Hocky Trades, and (iii) Cap growth.

(i) Salary Removal: Includes compliance buyouts, trades for minimal value, or any way in which the Cap hit can be removed from the team. In short, removing this player from the team & his salary from the Cap with minimal or no return is sufficent to be considered a positive move. Adams ($700K) and Scuderi ($3.375M) fall into this category.

Thoughts anyone?
- s0rcerer1984

I really don't see much of a reason people keep bringing up Adams, its an extremely low cap hit, can BARELY go lower with a replacement. And he had a strong post season this year. Just let a 4th liner be at that cost

I've tried to look over the Penguins roster with a critical eye more than a few times since the season ended & see where Cap savings can be achieved. Overall, I've come to see three different types of categories where Cap savings can be achieved; (i) Salary Removal (ii) Hocky Trades, and (iii) Cap growth.

(i) Salary Removal: Includes compliance buyouts, trades for minimal value, or any way in which the Cap hit can be removed from the team. In short, removing this player from the team & his salary from the Cap with minimal or no return is sufficent to be considered a positive move. Adams ($700K) and Scuderi ($3.375M) fall into this category.

(ii) Hockey Trades: Trading the player, but requiring value in return. They player or the contract may not be perfect, but the player has significant value & removing them for pennies on the dollar does not improve the team overall and/or creates an immediate need which will have to be filled at nearly the same cost by a UFA. Neal ($5M) and Fleury ($5M) fall into this category.

(iii) Cap Growth: In many ways, the Penguins Cap situation is only going to improve with time. Crosby, Malkin, & Letang are all locked into long-term deals which will, percentage-wise, become less & less of the overall Cap % each year. As this happens the Cap dollars can be shifted to the needed parts of the roster (ie, 3rd & 4th lines). This doesn't fix the problem over night, but does show an oppurtunity for long-term growth this season and next.

Fleury is an interesting case. He only has 1yr left on his deal & is probably over-paid by $1.5M/yr or so. I wouldn't want to simply ship him out for nothing, but without knowing what the replacement cost (ie, a comparable UFA goalie) it is hard to determine if moving him would provide a marked improvement. Not sure what I would consider an acceptable return. Thoughts anyone?
- s0rcerer1984

You can waive/demote Adams and save his cap hit, but you can't do anything to clear Scuderi's, unless you use a traditional buyout and deal with some dead cap space for the next 6 years. You'd be better off trying to trade him and eating a million per season or something.

Reimer huh?

- canadianpenfan

Not sure why that is dismissed like it isn't an upgrade.

Fleury apologists will point to the team in front of him not playing well enough, getting left out to dry yada yada yada.

Reimer is not afforded that same luxury?

Why are his numbers better than Fleury playing on a worse team?

The Leafs define leaving a goalie out to dry.

You can waive/demote Adams and save his cap hit, but you can't do anything to clear Scuderi's, unless you use a traditional buyout and deal with some dead cap space for the next 6 years. You'd be better off trying to trade him and eating a million per season or something.
- rival22

I know under the new CBA there is a certain point at which a portion of the Cap hit stays with the NHL team. Ie, the Pens can't waive Scuderi and be rid of his cap hit. But not sure what that dollar amount is. However, I think you are correct that Adams's contract can be removed that way.

So what would you do? Who do you move & for what (if anything) in return?
- s0rcerer1984

The cap growth is the biggest thing. Everyone is looking at this year and next but don't realize in 3 years the letang signing will look like an average defensive signing. I think Subban will break 8 mil, and the bar will keep getting higher after that if the cap does keep going up. For this year trades though are the most likely scenario. Trading MAF, Scuds, and possibly Neal

The cap growth is the biggest thing. Everyone is looking at this year and next but don't realize in 3 years the letang signing will look like an average defensive signing. I think Subban will break 8 mil, and the bar will keep getting higher after that if the cap does keep going up. For this year trades though are the most likely scenario. Trading MAF, Scuds, and possibly Neal
- drummer829

This. Lets assume you move Letang and sign Nisk. You replaced a 7.3 cap to a 6.0 cap with a lesser Dman. Not interested in that. Moving Scuds and Neal will be key going forward. Scuds for pucks, Neal for a top 6 or solid bottom 6 and pick. He has value for his cap and being 40g scorer.

I really don't see much of a reason people keep bringing up Adams, its an extremely low cap hit, can BARELY go lower with a replacement. And he had a strong post season this year. Just let a 4th liner be at that cost
- Guile

To me, Adams is a slow PK specialist who is a liability at even strength. He will hit, but is always too slow to effectively forecheck & keep the opposing team tied up in their own zone. I've heard of Vitale referred to as a faster Craig Adams. Essentially, that is what I would be looking for on the 4th line; Craig adams game, just faster so the puck is in the O zone more often than being trapped in the D zone.