If the Pens were fully healthy once Geno returned, they would need to move a salary quickly, so you'd need someone who could do that.

Basically it only really works for the whole season if the Pens always have a significant salary on long-term IR. But if they at least had someone they know they could move, it could help get through Geno's injury at least.

Probably too risky to try, just something I've been kicking around in my head.
- Tojo.

LTIR doesn’t work that easy.

Bettman is being an incredibly condescending jerk at this press conference.
- Tojo.

What is he covering?

I really wish they’d allow teams one or two compliance buyouts since the flat cap is in place for a few years.

What is he covering?

I really wish they’d allow teams one or two compliance buyouts since the flat cap is in place for a few years.
- Rinosaur

Why would you want that? That provides zero help for the Pens and tons of help for others. I can't think of anyone you would realistically buy out.

Even Matheson, our worst contract. You think the Pens are going to just flush that much money down the drain to dump him? I doubt it.

Why would you want that? That provides zero help for the Pens and tons of help for others. I can't think of anyone you would realistically buy out.

Even Matheson, our worst contract. You think the Pens are going to just flush that much money down the drain to dump him? I doubt it.
- MacPatty

This is actually a good point. We know Ownership is extremely against buy outs and has a self-imposed no buy out rule that they've only broken for Johnson, a completely untenable situation. No reason to think they'd buy out Matheson who provided on-ice value last season.

If the Pens were fully healthy once Geno returned, they would need to move a salary quickly, so you'd need someone who could do that.

Basically it only really works for the whole season if the Pens always have a significant salary on long-term IR. But if they at least had someone they know they could move, it could help get through Geno's injury at least.

Probably too risky to try, just something I've been kicking around in my head.
- Tojo.

Just have Geno sit the year out with an infected hangnail and be 100% ready for game 1 of the playoffs.... Boom 9.5 Million in capspace for new players

LTIR doesn’t work that easy.
- Feds91Stammer

Can you explain why not? I honestly don't know.

Can you explain why not? I honestly don't know.
- Tojo.

It’s pretty convoluted but the easiest way to put it is if the cap is 80m and the teams current cap is 79m. You place a 3m player on LTIR you actually only get 2m in relief and have to work under a 79m cap now. It gets more complicated when talking about activating someone and placing someone else on LTIR. The way the calculation works is why you will see those paper moves to manipulate the figure before putting someone on LTIR. It also cripples cap flexibility in terms of making trades.

This series is over in 5

Islanders were a much better version of what Montreal has to offer. Price might steal one or the Habs forwards might have a breakthrough game

Isles/Habs would have been interesting

Vegas/Tampa would have been fun

This is gonna suck

This series is over in 5

Islanders were a much better version of what Montreal has to offer. Price might steal one or the Habs forwards might have a breakthrough game

Isles/Habs would have been interesting

Vegas/Tampa would have been fun

This is gonna suck
- TheGame316

VGK won game 1 against MTL 4-1.

VGK won game 1 against MTL 4-1.
- Rinosaur

And?

Tampa is clearly the better team here and MTL already looks like they don't have an answer for it

They don't have the tight defensive structure and physicality the Islanders had to mitigate Tampa's offense

And?

Tampa is clearly the better team here and MTL already looks like they don't have an answer for it

They don't have the tight defensive structure and physicality the Islanders had to mitigate Tampa's offense
- TheGame316

And? While you may ultimately be right, and I believe Tampa wins this series, I think it’s basing the whole series on Game 1 is dumb.

And? While you may ultimately be right, and I believe Tampa wins this weird, I think it’s basing the whole series on Game 1 is dumb.
- Rinosaur

Islanders are better then Montreal and they struggled against Tampa, even though they took them to 7

It isn't a stretch to say this will likely be a short series

But pretend different if it helps you to be entertained

Serious question... does anyone here care if Tampa repeats as champions? That would obviously put them in the same group as the Penguins as the only teams to repeat in the salary cap era.

Is being first the only important part of this or is being the only team the more important part? For me, I dont care how many teams repeat... I think its cool the Penguins did it first.

Islanders are better then Montreal and they struggled against Tampa, even though they took them to 7

It isn't a stretch to say this will likely be a short series

But pretend different if it helps you to be entertained
- TheGame316

Never said a short series is a stretch. I said basing it all on Game 1 is dumb, which it is.

Colorado beat VGK in 7-1 in Game 1 and most people believed COL was the better team before the series started, and then thought it was over after Game 1.

Never said a short series is a stretch. I said basing it all on Game 1 is dumb, which it is.

Colorado beat VGK in 7-1 in Game 1 and most people believed COL was the better team before the series started, and then thought it was over after Game 1.
- Rinosaur

Who says I was basing it on Game 1?

I expected Tampa would have an easier time generating offense against Montreal than they did against the Isles and The Habs defense wouldn't be as effective in stopping them

Game 1 just confirmed my suspicions on what I already expected would happen

Who says I was basing it on Game 1?

I expected Tampa would have an easier time generating offense against Montreal than they did against the Isles and The Habs defense wouldn't be as effective in stopping them

Game 1 just confirmed my suspicions on what I already expected would happen
- TheGame316

You literally just based it all on Game 1.

Never said a short series is a stretch. I said basing it all on Game 1 is dumb, which it is.

Colorado beat VGK in 7-1 in Game 1 and most people believed COL was the better team before the series started, and then thought it was over after Game 1.
- Rinosaur

Easy to see that Colorado just had over a week off, played a tired Vegas team with a Cold Lehner in net

What is the Habs excuse?

You literally just based it all on Game 1.
- Rinosaur

Montreal played like I expected them to play. Tampa played like I expected them to play

Based on those expectations and what played out in the actual game, I said I expect this will be a short series

Why would I expect anything different for the rest of the series?

Neither team offers any surprises at this point in the playoffs. They both are what they are

You literally just based it all on Game 1.
- Rinosaur

His post literally said nothing about game 1.

They are outmatched, but don't count on the Canadiens to fold. They will have a better game 2.

And?

Tampa is clearly the better team here and MTL already looks like they don't have an answer for it

They don't have the tight defensive structure and physicality the Islanders had to mitigate Tampa's offense
- TheGame316

3 of the 4 teams the Pens played in the 2017 run played better than the Pens. Pens were severely outplayed at times. I wouldn't argue that Tampa isn't a better team than Habs, who could possibly do that with a straight face? But the better on paper or on the ice team doesn't always win.

Serious question... does anyone here care if Tampa repeats as champions? That would obviously put them in the same group as the Penguins as the only teams to repeat in the salary cap era.

Is being first the only important part of this or is being the only team the more important part? For me, I dont care how many teams repeat... I think its cool the Penguins did it first.
- SuperHenderson13

I care in a fun sports fan kind of way. Kinda in the same way my dad has fun with Dolphins being the only team to go undefeated in the NFL. I enjoy the bragging right but it's not going to ruin my day when another team inevitably repeats. I just prefer it to not be this Lightning team.

Can't believe I'm actively rooting for Canada's Cup drought to end. Never thought I'd see the day.

Serious question... does anyone here care if Tampa repeats as champions? That would obviously put them in the same group as the Penguins as the only teams to repeat in the salary cap era.

Is being first the only important part of this or is being the only team the more important part? For me, I dont care how many teams repeat... I think its cool the Penguins did it first.
- SuperHenderson13

I would really like the Pens to solely own that distinction. Plus, if the Bolts do repeat, they could very well 3peat and then they're in true dynasty talks. Not to mention if they do it this year its with all the shady cap maneuvering and sh!t. I ask myself are the Bolts in the final without Kucherov?...and Im not so sure the answer is yes, it is however very possible.

I would really like the Pens to solely own that distinction. Plus, if the Bolts do repeat, they could very well 3peat and then they're in true dynasty talks. Not to mention if they do it this year its with all the shady cap maneuvering and sh!t. I ask myself are the Bolts in the final without Kucherov?...and Im not so sure the answer is yes, it is however very possible.
- MattStrat

I love the cap related butthurt.

Serious question... does anyone here care if Tampa repeats as champions? That would obviously put them in the same group as the Penguins as the only teams to repeat in the salary cap era.

Is being first the only important part of this or is being the only team the more important part? For me, I dont care how many teams repeat... I think its cool the Penguins did it first.
- SuperHenderson13

They cheated... they don't deserve it. And while people will argue it fits within league rules, to me its the equivalent of a guy doing steroids and not getting caught. Kucherov = Lance Armstrong.

Frankly, as far as I am concerned, they are the *asterisk* champions.

*2019 - Covid lockdown bubble champs
*2020 - Cheat the salary cap champs.

Go Habs!