Pretty much what I wanted.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I remember you posting that but green sucks remember

Source?
- Rinosaur

Infowars

Yeah I remember you posting that but green sucks remember
- Feds91Stammer

Totes

Could have had mike green for the same money as jj and oleksiak for less term.
- Feds91Stammer

Seems like the guy really loved and wanted to stay in Detroit. He's taking the setting down roots approach to the twilight of his career rather than the Cup mercinary approach it seems.

I'm on the fence on this one.

On the one hand, when paired away from Ian Cole, Oleksiak played like a fairly standard #6 defenseman that needed to be significantly hidden to succeed. Paying a bottom pairing defenseman who needs a specific partner to really make a positive impact is not a good idea.

On the other hand, he played really well with Cole and clearly has a lot of room for improvement. The three year term could make him a steal if a full offseason and another season with our coaches/system allows him to blossom into a #5/4 guy.

But my big issue now is that we have over five million invested into the bottom pairing. That's really inefficient use of our cap space. I also don't see Oleksiak and Johnson playing well together, so now we have two sizable contracts for bottom pairing defensemen that may end up being unplayable together. I liked the stability of our blue line when we had a pretty good top four of Letang, Maatta, Dumoulin, and Schultz locked up long term for good to average contracts (Letang and Maatta good, Dumoulin and Schultz average). But now all of a sudden we lost a lot of cap flexibility and our blue line has the potential to be really not good.
- Victoro311

Extremely well said. I’m really hoping that 2 of Blueger, Dea, Sprong, ZAR, or maybe even Simon have impactful seasons - I doubtful that they go Panarin but I could see potential to Guentzel’s rookie year. If they don’t? Hagelin, a prospect, and picks likely go out to upgrade our wingers imo

500k too much on

Schultz
Rust
Oleksiak

1 million (at least) too much on

Johnson

2.5 million in extra capspace would look pretty nice.... but....
- RoloTahmasee

I agree except on Schultz and JJ. Schultz was going to get paid and he had a Norris vote that season. JJ should’ve been given a $1-2M show me contract for a year

Another diference is the cap is going up...yearly.
- Barnaby36

That’s not a difference when it equally effects all teams. The fact previously stated that all of those contracts expire this season is a good one. I like this signing, I think that maybe he could’ve been had for less but I’m ok with it. We have so much money tied up on D. In 2 years the cap hits might all look great but right now it’s expensive and we’re up against the cap. I think we’re going to be alright because I think our prospects bail us out just like Guentzel did in the past

If guentzel has another good year, the pens will have an identical roster next year. Hagelin and some of the increased cap will go to guentzel for his raise and the rest will go to signing 4th line guys.
- drummer829

And what if Guentzel has a 70 point season playing with Sid? Well then likely plays himself closer to 6.5M which is more than just dropping Hagelin. And then we need to fill 3C AND depth. Sprong will want to get paid as well (assuming he gels in the top 6, which he may not) oh and btw Murray is only signed for 2 years. So in 1-2 years we could likely see a starting goalie making 5-6M, Guentzel between 5-7, Sprong could be anywhere from 1-6 depending on how he lights it up, Schultz will need to be replaced. It’s certainly a good problem to have but once you get to this point you really need to rely on your ELCs and cheap signings.
Giving Guentzel even $5M and signing our young guys to under $1M leaves us with $4M in cap space to sign a 3C. So let’s say Sheahan plays himself into a 3 year $2.75M contract and puts up 15/20 for 35-40 points with solid wingers
In 2021 if we keep Phil, Sid, Geno, Rust, give Jake $5M, Sheahan $2.75M, keep all our D and replace Schultz at $5.5M. We have ~$12M to sign a starter, a backup, Sprong, ZAR, Blueger, and a pair of 4th line wingers. Fair to assume the goalie situation costs 6-7M. So what’s Sprong going to be worth in 2 years? It’s a big hypothetical but after last year in the AHL he’s a prime Calder candidate. Again, it’s a good problem to have but we down the road we likely trade Phil and replace him with Sprong while maintains strong center depth.
This assumes the cap doesnt increase, but even if it does the players we sign will eat it up.
None of this would be happening if we signed Evander Kane!

Do you believe Hagelin can be re-signed for around $2.5M? He might get better offers on the market but this is what he's worth in my mind.
- Barnaby36

Based off what I’m looking at on Cap Friendly, I don’t think we can afford a luxury of Hagelin at $2.5M unless the cap indeed continues to rise. Lots of X factors like how Sheahan and ZAR get paid after this season. Part of the long-term focus needs to be keeping Schultz’ money open for his eventual replacement
BTW in case you didn’t know, the housing market across the US is going nuts and with inflation rising and treasury rates where they’re at currently it’s looking like a high possibility of a recession within the next couple of years so I don’t think the cap will just go up and up and up

Lol. Simon Despres signed a PTO with Montreal. Great low risk move and after the season he had in the KHL, I bet it pans out for him

Amazing how this board things every hockey player is overpaid. Newsflash if you are a yearly cup contender then on net you are getting fairly good value on the contracts you have. Ian Cole just got 4 per year so Oleksiak at 2 is ok and that includes 1 ufa year where he would be getting 4+ if he can develop into cole or better.

I don’t see Hagelin taking 2.5 any time soon. He will get 4 maybe more.

Well, I guess we'll have lots to talk (read that as complain) about throughout the season.

I'm OK with the $$$ but specially the length (3 years). Oleksiak brings physical play and good skating for a mammoth.
- Barnaby36

Hey JR, what have you done with Barnaby you old bugger??

Lol. Simon Despres signed a PTO with Montreal. Great low risk move and after the season he had in the KHL, I bet it pans out for him
- WSCTeton17

If he can bounce back to the way he played before the concussions then its a steal. I hope the best for him.

I really like the Oleksiak deal. They paid more in AAV to have the contract go for 3 years but I'm totally good with that. I think he has significant upside to his game. Plus, the Pens don't have any solid D prospects that will even sniff the NHL for the next few years.

The Pens wanted 3 D pairs they can cycle through more evenly in the regular season. This group gives you that. Many will point to Johnson-Oleksiak being an overpaid bottom pair, in terms of talent, I think it will be one of the better ones in the league.

Dumo-Letang
Maata-Schultz
Johnson-Oleksiak

Could have had mike green for the same money as jj and oleksiak for less term.
- Feds91Stammer

Source?

From what I read he liked his situation in Detroit and that's where he wanted to stay.

I would of liked a little under 2 mill and perhaps just a year or 2 to prove himself...but I do like what he brings, or can bring, though I didnt always see the things I liked with him. When he gets going and carries the puck himself or when using his booming shot, he's at his best. I really think this guy could improve yet. He's only 25 and he'll get more guidance and a full training camp with the Pens coaches.

I really cant see him getting worse at this stage and if he gets better this could be a steal. For what he brought last year, if he just stayed at that level, then 2.1 mill is a slight over payment but nothing I'm losing sleep over.

Source?

From what I read he liked his situation in Detroit and that's where he wanted to stay.
- MattStrat

Green would have been a mistake for the Pens. I think he would be slotting in under Schultz and people forget how bad he gets in tight checking, playoff games. Everyone here would lost their mind seeing him bail in the defensive zone left and right to avoid hits.

Really talented, but he is just looking to chill into the sunset. In the twilight of his career signing for a team that likely won't make the playoffs shows me comfort is more important than competing for a Cup at this point. Nothing wrong with that.

Green would have been a mistake for the Pens. I think he would be slotting in under Schultz and people forget how bad he gets in tight checking, playoff games. Everyone here would lost their mind seeing him bail in the defensive zone left and right to avoid hits.
- MacPatty

There are some people who still think of the Mike Green that was on Washington and they're straight-up wrong. Everything your'e talking about is just not true about him at all anymore.

Green would have been great for this club IMO. I don't think he's as good as Letang, but he's definitely better than Schultz in every aspect of the game.

Some tidbits from TIOPS:

On Brassard:
The Pens are not trying to move Brassard and haven't been, but they of course listened seriously to any offers. Also, any trade talks of him to MTL for Pacioretty are pretty much BS since MTL is believed to be on this no trade list.

The idea is to see Brass on the wing with Geno a little in camp, but not as a permanent thing. They want to see how comfortable he'd feel there as it sounds like it would be used as needed. The word is despite the lesser role on this team, he's happy to be with the Pens and wants to be there.


Johnson:
Supposedly management wants to see a Dumo/JJ combo in camp so they can put Letang in a #2 role.

Skinner:
Sounds like a deal for Skinner stalled for a few reasons:

1) Pens did not want to move Rust
2) A Maatta package failed possibly because Carolina signed De Haan, which IMO means De Haan would have been their target to replace Maatta.
3) Skinner signing an extension was issue.

My general impression:
-Cullen was brought in to keep center depth in place when they want to slot Brass next to Geno. I'm thinking we won't always see Cullen in the lineup though. I have a feeling Brass on the wing will be decision made before the game.

-The JJ experiment on the 1st pair won't last long unless that (frank)ing Magician, Dumoulin, can make him look really good.

-The Pens are done making moves unless an upgrade at LW comes available. Oh, TIOPS mentioned Jarry is also a big possibility to be part of any deal in upgrading LW.

Some tidbits from TIOPS:

On Brassard:
The Pens are not trying to move Brassard and haven't been, but they of course listened seriously to any offers. Also, any trade talks of him to MTL for Pacioretty are pretty much BS since MTL is believed to be on this no trade list.

The idea is to see Brass on the wing with Geno a little in camp, but not as a permanent thing. They want to see how comfortable he'd feel there as it sounds like it would be used as needed. The word is despite the lesser role on this team, he's happy to be with the Pens and wants to be there.


Johnson:
Supposedly management wants to see a Dumo/JJ combo in camp so they can put Letang in a #2 role.

Skinner:
Sounds like a deal for Skinner stalled for a few reasons:

1) Pens did not want to move Rust
2) A Maatta package failed possibly because Carolina signed De Haan, which IMO means De Haan would have been their target to replace Maatta.
3) Skinner signing an extension was issue.

My general impression:
-Cullen was brought in to keep center depth in place when they want to slot Brass next to Geno. I'm thinking we won't always see Cullen in the lineup though. I have a feeling Brass on the wing will be decision made before the game.

-The JJ experiment on the 1st pair won't last long unless that (frank)ing Magician, Dumoulin, can make him look really good.

-The Pens are done making moves unless an upgrade at LW comes available. Oh, TIOPS mentioned Jarry is also a big possibility to be part of any deal in upgrading LW.
- Rinosaur

If Johnson was brought in to be a #1 then Rutherford needs to be fired imidiately. Good thing it’s TIOPS which is a bigger crock of poop than Ek’s ramblings.

If Johnson was brought in to be a #1 then Rutherford needs to be fired imidiately. Good thing it’s TIOPS which is a bigger crock of poop than Ek’s ramblings.
- Victoro311

Let me clarify. TIOPS wasn't stating that's WHY he was brought in. They're stating that they intend to attempt that to see what happens in the hopes they can make life easier on Letang in a #2 role.

Regardless, if this JJ goes really bad, I think the warm and fuzzies will go bye bye very fast and GM Bill Guerin could be next. Is Guerin still with the Pens or did he go elsewhere?

Some tidbits from TIOPS:

On Brassard:
The Pens are not trying to move Brassard and haven't been, but they of course listened seriously to any offers. Also, any trade talks of him to MTL for Pacioretty are pretty much BS since MTL is believed to be on this no trade list.

The idea is to see Brass on the wing with Geno a little in camp, but not as a permanent thing. They want to see how comfortable he'd feel there as it sounds like it would be used as needed. The word is despite the lesser role on this team, he's happy to be with the Pens and wants to be there.


Johnson:
Supposedly management wants to see a Dumo/JJ combo in camp so they can put Letang in a #2 role.

Skinner:
Sounds like a deal for Skinner stalled for a few reasons:

1) Pens did not want to move Rust
2) A Maatta package failed possibly because Carolina signed De Haan, which IMO means De Haan would have been their target to replace Maatta.
3) Skinner signing an extension was issue.

My general impression:
-Cullen was brought in to keep center depth in place when they want to slot Brass next to Geno. I'm thinking we won't always see Cullen in the lineup though. I have a feeling Brass on the wing will be decision made before the game.

-The JJ experiment on the 1st pair won't last long unless that (frank)ing Magician, Dumoulin, can make him look really good.

-The Pens are done making moves unless an upgrade at LW comes available. Oh, TIOPS mentioned Jarry is also a big possibility to be part of any deal in upgrading LW.
- Rinosaur

Lol wut? Thanks for sourcing the info but I’ve gotta think that anyone thinking that any of our defenders are superseding Letang as our #1 are crazy. He’s easily a top 30 defender in this league which makes him a #1 and a lot of people will argue that he’s top 10 when he’s on his game.
Dumo/JJ doesn’t even make any damn sense. So that means Oleksiak moves to his off side and Schultz becomes a 3rd pairing D man one season removed from getting a Norris vote? Lol. Any pair with Letang on it should be good for 23 minutes a night, Schultz-Maatta should be ok to play 20-21, and that leaves JJ-Rig at 16-17. I don’t think that makes Pens fans crazy confident about that

Let me clarify. TIOPS wasn't stating that's WHY he was brought in. They're stating that they intend to attempt that to see what happens in the hopes they can make life easier on Letang in a #2 role.

Regardless, if this JJ goes really bad, I think the warm and fuzzies will go bye bye very fast and GM Bill Guerin could be next. Is Guerin still with the Pens or did he go elsewhere?
- Rinosaur

He’s still with the Pens

Let me clarify. TIOPS wasn't stating that's WHY he was brought in. They're stating that they intend to attempt that to see what happens in the hopes they can make life easier on Letang in a #2 role.

Regardless, if this JJ goes really bad, I think the warm and fuzzies will go bye bye very fast and GM Bill Guerin could be next. Is Guerin still with the Pens or did he go elsewhere?
- Rinosaur

Billy G is still here. I think he turned down the chance to interview with Carolina.