Well they brought us to the promise land 3 times...and there's franchises that haven't even been there once. I'm on board with making these guys last years as enjoyable and as competitive as possible, because they are both fierce competitors who will not want to just fizzle next season and also they deserve it. The thing is Geno was on pace for one of his best seasons ever last season, so I dont want to get on like these guys are done on the ice. With the right moves and players around hem this team could still be a contender.
- MattStrat

Why can't the Pens just go with what they have? Don't trade anymore high picks or any of the few young guys they have. Giving up high draft pick and young players is just dumb at this point. They are not Colorado whose top players (Mackinnon - 25, Rantennen -23 and Makar turns 22 end of the Oct) will have many great chances to win a multiple Cups. They can afford to and probably should do that. When your best players are in their mid 30's and have played a lot hockey over time, just makes zero sense.

I already said I cant prove it in a previous post...but its certainly not far fetched and not near as far fetched as every single signing that was better, of which there were many, that didn't/wouldn't want to play for the Pens.

JR could of signed players for more than one season.
- MattStrat

That's obviously not GMJR's strategy with Marino (and Blueger) to sign for next year with no money coming off the books

He probably could have fit in Fast, assuming of course that Fast would choose the Penguins over the Canes for the same money. What if he cost 2.5 Million x 3 years for the Penguins? still a good deal?

Who else?

Can you imagine the uproar if he gave someone a multi year deal and then was forced to trade another (possibly more valuable) piece next year to make capspace for Marino? or if he had to add in a sweetener to make room?

Maybe ERod and Jank were the absolute best players they could sign for 700k. Keep in mind those players and their 700k can be easily wiped out, so you can't even say GMJR wasted capspace on them. The cap is still there, all you have to do is waive these guys and "poof" it's gone

Contracts have been short term but VERY FEW have been only 1 year

We have NO MONEY coming off our cap at the end of this year and we have to resign Marino

We cannot tie up a bunch of money beyond 2020/2021 on cap dumps or free agents
- TheGame316

Minor point, but Bjugstad's retained 2M will be gone. Not enough, but gets about half of Marino's raise at least. They'll likely still have to dump a player or 2.

Lol wut. Oof. You should probably log off for the day. Come back when you’ve le... actually no. Don’t come back.
- j.boyd919

You're the one who admitted this team probably won't win another Cup with these players but you still want to trade away everything? Now that makes a lot of sense.

Minor point, but Bjugstad's retained 2M will be gone. Not enough, but gets about half of Marino's raise at least. They'll likely still have to dump a player or 2.
- Tojo.

Even with Bjugs money coming off, and assuming Marino gets 4.5 million, it leaves 5 Million for 5 players and that includes Blueger

So, we need to get used to this 700k ERod/Jank or taking chances on guys coming in on their ELC's

Even with Bjugs money coming off, and assuming Marino gets 4.5 million, it leaves 5 Million for 5 players and that includes Blueger

So, we need to get used to this 700k ERod/Jank or taking chances on guys coming in on their ELC's
- TheGame316

Yeah, don't disagree with your larger point. I think they could have squeezed in one more player at about 3M, so to answer your earlier point I would have signed Fast. I get there will be a sacrifice the next year and accept it.

Honestly 3LD was the spot they were primed to do that with POJ and Riikola, but then they added Matheson. I also would have gone small salary at one 3rd line spot, so I mostly agree with what you are saying.

My prediction is a LD goes in the off-season to pay for raises. They will juggle for one year and then a bunch of contracts will expire.

You're the one who admitted this team probably won't win another Cup with these players but you still want to trade away everything? Now that makes a lot of sense.
- stevens87

Yup because I would like to keep my HOFers around for the remainder of their careers and try to keep the team competitive for their sake. Just because your a miserable dishonorable twat doesn’t mean I am.

GMJR was basically just looking for specific players, rather than trying to get the best possible deals and the most for the cap space. In particular he was trying to get fast, high energy players. I don't really have a problem with it.

However, if Matheson ends up being a total bust next season I think it should mean GMJR's job. The salary of that deal is a bit high but the length is just nuts for an unproven defenseman.

So, you'd have Johnson at 5 instead of Kapanen at 3.2 and no capspace left right now? Because Hornqvist and his 5.3 Million is still here if we don't have Matheson and his 4.8

and then you have to figure out where the money comes from for Marino next year with 3 more years of Johnson at 5 Million and 2 more years of Horn at 5.3
- TheGame316

The Penguins didn’t have to re-sign McCann. They could have still tried to find a trade for Hornqvist. My point is JR rushed and made hasty decisions instead of waiting out the market.

The Penguins didn’t have to re-sign McCann. They could have still tried to find a trade for Hornqvist. My point is JR rushed and made hasty decisions instead of waiting out the market.
- Rinosaur

Because the market would have been bullish for Hornqvist. I’d bet it would have taken #15 overall plus to move him with nothing coming back. Look at the cost of Moving Marleau last year with 1 year left in a non flat cap world for a comparable. We’ll see what it takes for Tampa to move Johnson, a much more versatile player

So, now no Kapanen, No McCaan and you have 2 More holes to fill

And you are still assuming that players would come here over other destinations, and you would get pick of the litter

All this “younger and faster” talk has me eyeing up Joe Thornton for 3rd line center

Yup because I would like to keep my HOFers around for the remainder of their careers and try to keep the team competitive for their sake. Just because your a miserable dishonorable twat doesn’t mean I am.
- j.boyd919

Yea, organizations, of all leagues, don't get players like Crosby often. An unquestionable generational talent, that radiates professionalism, and wins you championships. You honor their wishes as best you can, even if it means signing JJ.

All this “younger and faster” talk has me eyeing up Joe Thornton for 3rd line center
- jchst22

lelelel

No, but you are an bumhole!
- stevens87

Damn, Boyd annoys me sometimes, but you don't got to go that low bro...its just a hockey forum, take it easy....

Damn, Boyd annoys me sometimes, but you don't got to go that low bro...its just a hockey forum, take it easy....
- joecool2931

How low is it to refer to someone as a TWAT? Can't we have a discussion/disagreement without first name calling?

Yea, organizations, of all leagues, don't get players like Crosby often. An unquestionable generational talent, that radiates professionalism, and wins you championships. You honor their wishes as best you can, even if it means signing JJ.
- joecool2931

I would include Geno in that as well. That guy has been playing “second fiddle” his entire career (at least from a media perspective) and has not complained or asked out once (that we know of). Always takes accountability and just wants to win too.

Damn, Boyd annoys me sometimes, but you don't got to go that low bro...its just a hockey forum, take it easy....
- joecool2931

My pleasure, joecool.

Because the market would have been bullish for Hornqvist. I’d bet it would have taken #15 overall plus to move him with nothing coming back. Look at the cost of Moving Marleau last year with 1 year left in a non flat cap world for a comparable. We’ll see what it takes for Tampa to move Johnson, a much more versatile player

So, now no Kapanen, No McCaan and you have 2 More holes to fill

And you are still assuming that players would come here over other destinations, and you would get pick of the litter
- RoloTahmasee

I’m assuming absolutely nothing. You have a reading issue. JR misread the market and didn’t wait things out to explore other options. That’s all I’m saying.

I would include Geno in that as well. That guy has been playing “second fiddle” his entire career (at least from a media perspective) and has not complained or asked out once (that we know of). Always takes accountability and just wants to win too.
- j.boyd919

Agreed

But there is an argument to make that you can't do it for all the players.

personally, i think they should keep/honor all 87/71/58, partially because i think they will all retire at the same time or within 2 years and they have been staples for Sids entire captaincy.

But if you were to argue thats to many, then i would just do Crosby.

I’m assuming absolutely nothing. You have a reading issue. JR misread the market and didn’t wait things out to explore other options. That’s all I’m saying.
- Rinosaur

You “wait and explore” and you either lose McCann or he gets an uncertain number in arbitration, and now it’s hard to budget

You “wait and explore” and maybe some team trades their high second for Kapanen and then we’re still looking for a young, fast, cost controlled RFA Right Winger

You “wait and explore” and all your top target free agents you want go to other teams bidding for their services and all that’s left is other teams cap dumps via trade or the Free Agents that nobody else wanted

Agreed

But there is an argument to make that you can't do it for all the players.

personally, i think they should keep/honor all 87/71/58, partially because i think they will all retire at the same time or within 2 years and they have been staples for Sids entire captaincy.

But if you were to argue thats to many, then i would just do Crosby.
- joecool2931

Nah I agree with you 100%.

87/71/58 should all be in the black and yellow for their careers and their numbers should be in the rafters when they’re done.

You “wait and explore” and you either lose McCann or he gets an uncertain number in arbitration, and now it’s hard to budget

You “wait and explore” and maybe some team trades their high second for Kapanen and then we’re still looking for a young, fast, cost controlled RFA Right Winger

You “wait and explore” and all your top target free agents you want go to other teams bidding for their services and all that’s left is other teams cap dumps via trade or the Free Agents that nobody else wanted
- RoloTahmasee

You’re fixating on arbitrary examples I gave, so just look passed those.

And you know what, if they missed out on Kapanen because someone gave less then good! JR doesn’t overpay and they can more properly use those assets.

You’re acting like other options weren’t possible and Kapanen was the only one. I’m totally fine if Kap is not a Penguin right now.

The fact is there are possibilities you and I can’t think of that could have been there, or at the end of the day JR makes the same exact moves. He was impatient.

You’re fixating on arbitrary examples I gave, so just look passed those.

And you know what, if they missed out on Kapanen because someone gave less then good! JR doesn’t overpay and they can more properly use those assets.

You’re acting like other options weren’t possible and Kapanen was the only one. I’m totally fine if Kap is not a Penguin right now.

The fact is there are possibilities you and I can’t think of that could have been there, or at the end of the day JR makes the same exact moves. He was impatient.
- Rinosaur

A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush

GMJR wanted to get younger and faster

He looked at the FA pool and he looked at who was available for trade and their salary, identified Kapanen and paid the asking price

You can sit back and wait for the “possibilities” and wind up holding an empty bag

What did we really miss out on? Craig Smith? Jesper Fast? Tyler Toffoli? Best cases being they actually chose to come here for similar dollars instead of the teams they went to?

Who’s out there right now? Hoffman and Dadanov? Why are they STILL out there?

Did our current Cap situation cost us Tyler Ennis or Kyle Turris, or did those guys seem pretty dead set on going to the situations they are now in?

You and RW think the same way. That you can thread the needle every free agency and get all the players after you’ve already seen the results. Monday Morning Quarterbacking

A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush

GMJR wanted to get younger and faster

He looked at the FA pool and he looked at who was available for trade and their salary, identified Kapanen and paid the asking price

You can sit back and wait for the “possibilities” and wind up holding an empty bag

What did we really miss out on? Craig Smith? Jesper Fast? Tyler Toffoli? Best cases being they actually chose to come here for similar dollars instead of the teams they went to?

Who’s out there right now? Hoffman and Dadanov? Why are they STILL out there?

Did our current Cap situation cost us Tyler Ennis or Kyle Turris, or did those guys seem pretty dead set on going to the situations they are now in?

You and RW think the same way. That you can thread the needle every free agency and get all the players after you’ve already seen the results. Monday Morning Quarterbacking
- RoloTahmasee

You’re really dense.

JR has actually done a nice job of setting up the cap situation in 2022 with his moves so far, and if the following things happen:

- Move Petterson or Matheson in the expansion draft
- Get Marino and Bluegar at reasonable prices (Under $7M Combined)
- Young guys (POJ, Poulin, Legare) are ready to go
- Willing/able to move McCann or Tanev

He can go big game hunting with $7-8 million in cap space. Next season (2021) was always going to be a crapshoot and I really think 2022 is their last good shot, so I'd rather go all out then vs. now. After that, so many contracts expire that 70% of the current roster may not be here in the Fall of 2022.