So the buy out essentially saved them a bunch of money for one year? Why even bother to buy them out? I thought it was 2/3 salary over twice the length of contract, or something along those lines.
- wsldck

In terms of team culture it seemed to be addition by subtraction. I heard it was a good old boys club with Staal, Parise and Suter which needed to change, hence why all moves to get rid of them seemed bad at face value but smart in the actual results.

Believe this upcoming season is the really bad one for the buyouts, then it gets a bit easier. Remember too, both players were paid big up front so the buyout was cap hit heavy and light on actual cash. So prudent for small market ownership where they will spend to the cap still but have lighter actual salaries to pay.

From Lebrun:

“The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to have ongoing discussions with pending UFAs Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. However, sources say things were status quo on both those fronts.

Both players clearly want to stay put but the sense I got Wednesday is that they’re struggling to wrap their minds around what that means as far as the Penguins’ ability to sign them under the salary cap. Pittsburgh has about $23 million to spend and plenty of other holes in the lineup to fill.

There’s still hope on each front, but we’re getting closer to hard decisions here.”
- kfinl170

What would you rather have?

1. 58 and 71 but not much cap to fill the gaps cuz your paying plugs like carter and McGinni


2. Freed up cap and need to shop/trade to fill holes?

3. One of 58 or 71


You know 1 is basically a fringe playoff team

Rolling the dice with 2 but it’s inevitable eventually. Could surround 87 with more talent

3 maybe the best option but not guaranteed to happen .

What would you rather have?

1. 58 and 71 but not much cap to fill the gaps cuz your paying plugs like carter and McGinni


2. Freed up cap and need to shop/trade to fill holes?

3. One of 58 or 71


You know 1 is basically a fringe playoff team

Rolling the dice with 2 but it’s inevitable eventually. Could surround 87 with more talent

3 maybe the best option but not guaranteed to happen .
- sammy87

Option 1

What would you rather have?

1. 58 and 71 but not much cap to fill the gaps cuz your paying plugs like carter and McGinni


2. Freed up cap and need to shop/trade to fill holes?

3. One of 58 or 71


You know 1 is basically a fringe playoff team

Rolling the dice with 2 but it’s inevitable eventually. Could surround 87 with more talent

3 maybe the best option but not guaranteed to happen .
- sammy87

The problem is is that if you have 1RD and 2C as holes, you arent easily filling them with free agents

The problem is is that if you have 1RD and 2C as holes, you arent easily filling them with free agents
- SuperHenderson13

Some people can’t seem to grasp this. Look at what Seattle did w/ all that precious cap space. Hex & Francis’ styles seem kinda similar too.

The problem is is that if you have 1RD and 2C as holes, you arent easily filling them with free agents
- SuperHenderson13

I agree. I think it's easier to get a 2c than a 1RD. Which is why I push for Letang to resign. Other than Klingberg and Letang there is a big drop off of RHD talent this FA.

I thought he’d go for more than a mid first in a meh draft and an OK prospect. I know teams could hold their feet to the fire to an extent but I thought multiple offers would drive the price more than that .
- kfinl170

That's a pretty solid return for a player's rights.

Fiala then signs with Kings for 7.88 per for 7 seasons. His numbers are comparable to Rust's but his cap hit is 2.755 mill more....however, he is 5 years younger though haha.

Fiala then signs with Kings for 7.88 per for 7 seasons. His numbers are comparable to Rust's but his cap hit is 2.755 mill more....however, he is 5 years younger though haha.
- MattStrat

Yeah and you could assume Rust has peaked as far as performance and the last 2-3 yrs will be decline so it makes sense a 25 yr old makes more.

The problem is is that if you have 1RD and 2C as holes, you arent easily filling them with free agents
- SuperHenderson13

Very true. But if you are forced to overpay for them they are forcing your hand a bit. If the Pens aren't a playoff team FSG doesn't make $$$. I dont think there is necessarily a right or wrong scenario here.

Very true. But if you are forced to overpay for them they are forcing your hand a bit. If the Pens aren't a playoff team FSG doesn't make $$$. I dont think there is necessarily a right or wrong scenario here.
- sammy87

If you are signing replacements via Free Agency, you are forced to overpay even more so than what you're "overpaying" Letang and Geno.

That's a pretty solid return for a player's rights.
- Rinosaur

He agreed to a deal within 30 min of the trade being announced, so it wasn’t for just his rights IMO, that deal was already completed

He agreed to a deal within 30 min of the trade being announced, so it wasn’t for just his rights IMO, that deal was already completed
- kfinl170

How many teams realistically had the cap space and assets to make that deal?

Fiala then signs with Kings for 7.88 per for 7 seasons. His numbers are comparable to Rust's but his cap hit is 2.755 mill more....however, he is 5 years younger though haha.
- MattStrat

Now compare their age 25 seasons.

How many teams realistically had the cap space and assets to make that deal?
- Feds91Stammer

Probably LA, NJ, OTT. Limited pool I agree and I know teams could hold MIN feet to the fire knowing they HAD to move him which naturally drives down the price. But I did think teams would bid the final offer higher than it ended up being.

Probably LA, NJ, OTT. Limited pool I agree and I know teams could hold MIN feet to the fire knowing they HAD to move him which naturally drives down the price. But I did think teams would bid the final offer higher than it ended up being.
- kfinl170

Guerin has also shown to be a below average GM.

Now compare their age 25 seasons.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah Rust didnt hit his power stride until 27...gelling well with Sid or Geno certainly helps too...not everyone does