http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/172514308/2013-Single-2-5M
- RAGSareDANGERus

Interesting. So not only is he going to have sticker shock when he fills his gas tank, Pennsylvania is going to reach into his initial paycheck more than Alberta.

So... we're really theorizing how much/little Shultz would take, if hes good down this stretch?


He'll take a 4 mil 2 year deal, or 7 for 3 year deal... his career is near destroyed from Edmonton and will need more than a ten game showcase to prove he isn't a bust and will grab the first offer he sees.

the Pro scout for team USA on kessel:

"Kessel’s a player who won’t win battles on the boards, he won’t play tough in his defensive end and generally he doesn’t play with much passion. There isn’t room for him outside of Team USA’s top-six because while he might score a few goals, he will probably let up more than he can score. The difference between playing in the NHL and in the World Cup is the difference in overall skill. At the World Cup, every team is filled with the best possible players and turnovers are extremely rare, and that’s how Kessel scores a lot of his goals in the NHL."

jesus he got burned... hope kessel reads that and starts working his ass off.

So... we're really theorizing how much/little Shultz would take, if hes good down this stretch?


He'll take a 4 mil 2 year deal, or 7 for 3 year deal... his career is near destroyed from Edmonton and will need more than a ten game showcase to prove he isn't a bust and will grab the first offer he sees.
- Guile

The Penguins at an absolute minimum need to offer him 3.9M per year to keep him.

The Penguins at an absolute minimum need to offer him 3.9M per year to keep him.
- RAGSareDANGERus

Thought I read you just had to offer the 3.9 total in a contract, not per year.


No way we throw out 4 mil a year to him

Thought I read you just had to offer the 3.9 total in a contract, not per year.


No way we throw out 4 mil a year to him
- Guile

Nah has to be a minimum of 3.9M per year, hence the debate

So... we're really theorizing how much/little Shultz would take, if hes good down this stretch?


He'll take a 4 mil 2 year deal, or 7 for 3 year deal... his career is near destroyed from Edmonton and will need more than a ten game showcase to prove he isn't a bust and will grab the first offer he sees.
- Guile

That would be a massive mistake. No way can you get a read on him in such a short period of time.

I dont know if it's Gonchar's coaching ability or Schultz pushing the competition, but Pouliot and Cole have been playing like different players. If Schultz does nothing but merely light a fire under Pouliot (plus provide injury insurance), it could be worth the 3rd rounder.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

A third is still steep and I'm not going to be happy about spending a 3rd for two months of an 8D (which is still the betting favorite on Schultz) but I agree the DP-Cole pairing has been solid to good recently besides the Boston game where everyone played like poop. Even DK had good things to say about Pouliot today and he (frank)ing hates him.

Best case scenario is that DP grows into his own by and through the playoffs, either he or Dumo learn how to play the right side, and Schultz shows improvement and becomes a capable bottom pairing puck move. That way we could move Daley for cap space that can go towards a forward and sign a cheap, Chorney/Bortuzzo level player for cheap to be our 7th guy.

Nah has to be a minimum of 3.9M per year, hence the debate
- RAGSareDANGERus

then just sign him in ufa... in no way whatsoever does he deserv 3.9 mil + and he is a 2mil player for us and that is what I would offer him for 1 year to prove himself and up his value for the next ufa. If he will take a pay cut and sign long term with us then that might be good. everything depends on how he plays and how much he wants to prove himself.

the Pro scout for team USA on kessel:

"Kessel’s a player who won’t win battles on the boards, he won’t play tough in his defensive end and generally he doesn’t play with much passion. There isn’t room for him outside of Team USA’s top-six because while he might score a few goals, he will probably let up more than he can score. The difference between playing in the NHL and in the World Cup is the difference in overall skill. At the World Cup, every team is filled with the best possible players and turnovers are extremely rare, and that’s how Kessel scores a lot of his goals in the NHL."

jesus he got burned... hope kessel reads that and starts working his ass off.
- martox

Funny seeing how Kessel was one of three players to show up for us during Sochi. Short memories, I guess.

new blog

the Pro scout for team USA on kessel:

"Kessel’s a player who won’t win battles on the boards, he won’t play tough in his defensive end and generally he doesn’t play with much passion. There isn’t room for him outside of Team USA’s top-six because while he might score a few goals, he will probably let up more than he can score. The difference between playing in the NHL and in the World Cup is the difference in overall skill. At the World Cup, every team is filled with the best possible players and turnovers are extremely rare, and that’s how Kessel scores a lot of his goals in the NHL."

jesus he got burned... hope kessel reads that and starts working his ass off.
- martox

I am sure he has heard it all before. The difference here being the source may be enough to open his eyes.

In all my years of playing and coaching sports there are two things you just can't teach. One is speed and the second is aggression. You either have it or you don't.

Nah has to be a minimum of 3.9M per year, hence the debate
- RAGSareDANGERus

Then he is very welcome to (frank) off for that price

new blog

Schultz would sign a 3.9 QO in 10 seconds. We can not QO him to work out a long-term deal. What we can do is work out a lower offer before he's UFA. If he signs a QO then Schultz would be untradable until the middle of next season and that is only if he significantly improves his value.

The high QO essentially makes him a UFA. On the open market I don't think anyone would offer him a 3 year $9 deal at this point. I mean some teams might see him as a rehabilitation candidate and want to take that bet, but his current performance level is sub 2 per year. I would consider offering him a 3 year $6 deal, but I doubt he would accept that. Its better for him to take a 1 year prove it contract outside of Edmonton and see if he can turn himself into a top 4 d and get paid like that.
- sditulli

I don't understand why people keeping assuming Shultz either has to be qualified or signed as a free agent? I don't remember the exact date but the QO deadline isn't the 1st day of the offseason and the Pens own his rights up until the deadline. Basically they can extend him any time between today and the QO deadline so they will have plenty of time to negotiate with Shultz on an extension if they choose to retain him without ever qualifying him or allowing him to become a UFA.

then just sign him in ufa... in no way whatsoever does he deserv 3.9 mil + and he is a 2mil player for us and that is what I would offer him for 1 year to prove himself and up his value for the next ufa. If he will take a pay cut and sign long term with us then that might be good. everything depends on how he plays and how much he wants to prove himself.
- martox

You could, but not tendering a QO to him puts a strain in the relationship already. And exposes him to offers from 29 other teams. It's a risk and you could lose him for nothing.

Also not sure if you can even offer him a contract if you don't tender him a QO...you probably can, but there might also be a rule that you can't sign him.

You could, but not tendering a QO to him puts a strain in the relationship already. And exposes him to offers from 29 other teams. It's a risk and you could lose him for nothing.

Also not sure if you can even offer him a contract if you don't tender him a QO...you probably can, but there might also be a rule that you can't sign him.
- RAGSareDANGERus

I'm not sure on that rule either. But Schultz isn't going to have a negative opinion of Pittsburgh because we didn't QO him at 3.9. He knows his value isn't that high.

Yes also agree we are the only team that can talk to him until UFA so we have plenty of time to work out a deal. We just don't control his rights because of high QO.

I think their is a reasonable chance we resign him at sub 2 on a 1 year deal. He fits our system and we have a coaching staff geared towards developing guys like him since we have Letang, Pouliot, Daley. Especially Pouliot/Daley development says we know how to make guys like Schultz useful.

I see a long-term contract as very unlikely. Schultz doesn't need financial security since the current long-term deal would be a lot less than what he's already earned. A rebound year or two could skyrocket his value.

Biggest issue I see is I'm not sure I want Daley, Schultz, Pouliot all in our blueline. Too much of the same guy. Maybe we trade Daley though for cap space.