Ryan Wilson: Pittsburgh's Salary Cap Situation Pittsburgh's Salary Cap Situation

Well if someone else won't.....................fisted again.

So, the Pens are skating on thin ice in regards to the cap anyway you look at it. Looks as though without trading a player/create cap space, Shultz will play elsewhere. I know everyone says it's easy to replace cheap talent, but I'm not so sure there's too many Culldogs running around out there. What low end Dman can step in in place of both Lovejob & Shultz provided Pouliot can't get his poop together?

It's looking more like a Flower trade is a necessity to finish the team & move forward.

There's no reason to move on from Fehr and Cole - they both had pretty good playoff runs, and finding cheaper replacements for them would be next to impossible. Especially Cole.

I agree with moving Fehr, but not Cole. With Sundqvist looking get into the lineup and possibility of re-signing Cullen for one more year, Fehr is expendable.

They have cheaper replacements for Fehr...Wilson, Rust, Sundquest....I see him as being bait and easier to move than Kunitz. Cole was bad most of the season, I would walk from him if possible.

I am intrigued by a Murray/Kunitz return.

In regards to Sprong.....

If he is out until mid February, can he remain with the Pens on LTIR until he's "healthy" then be sent back to Juniors?

He was injured at the NHL level so can they hold onto him without burning another year of his ELC?..... even if it's just to make sure he isn't playing too early in Charlottetown and risking re-injury which would put his 2017-2018 season in doubt.

I doubt they move any of those players. Especially Cole. MAF is the guy that gets moved and it will be at his request. I have no idea why they'd want to move Cole, he was a quality player at an affordable hit this year (sans the Johnston months).

I doubt they move any of those players. Especially Cole. MAF is the guy that gets moved and it will be at his request. I have no idea why they'd want to move Cole, he was a quality player at an affordable hit this year (sans the Johnston months).
- madmike71

Yep, he was really good down the stretch and into the playoffs. When your team issue for next year is likely to be defensive depth, why discard a capable defenseman?

And I'll be interested to see a full-year Fehr.

The reality is that the Penguins can stand pat if they want to, re-sign Lovejoy to a short-term, small raise kind of contract and be just fine.

I agree, not sure why there would be any rush to dump Cole, thought he played really well. I would keep Fehr around too, I am just not ready to hand the 4C spot over to Sun just yet, plus if there is an injury, I like Fehr as a 2nd line C for a short term than Sun jumping up. I really hope Cullen comes back, but would not blame him one bit if he decided to ride off into the sunset, a perfect way to go.

I think MAF will waive his NMC, and allow the Pens to see what is out there, I also believe the Pens will do right by MAF. They won't trade him to a place where he won't be put into a good situation. I would hate to see this drag out, I would hope a deal is in place in by draft day.

I said before, don't fix what ain't broke. Move fleury, sign a competent backup (enroth would be my choice) and that would allow you to keep lovejoy and most likely Schultz. Cullen could comeback as well if he wants to give it another go. Still should have plenty of cap room to work with at the deadline. They also have all of their 2017 picks plus could add a few more if fleury is traded

Kessel... its almost like his anti social attitude is becoming massively beloved

http://961kiss.iheart.com...ine-skipped-out-14827341/

Generalfanager.com actually updated their site to show the projected cap just over 73M and Dupuis on LTIR, that left them with 2.4M in cap space. That's really not a bad position to be in for a team that just won the Cup and CAN return pretty much the exact roster, it puts them in the great position of having room to make upgrades if there are upgrades available and if not return a Cup winning roster nearly intact with plenty of cap space to upgrade during the season is necessary. I'd bet there isn't a GM in the league that wouldn't kill their wife to be in the position the Pens are in.

I agree, not sure why there would be any rush to dump Cole, thought he played really well. I would keep Fehr around too, I am just not ready to hand the 4C spot over to Sun just yet, plus if there is an injury, I like Fehr as a 2nd line C for a short term than Sun jumping up. I really hope Cullen comes back, but would not blame him one bit if he decided to ride off into the sunset, a perfect way to go.

I think MAF will waive his NMC, and allow the Pens to see what is out there, I also believe the Pens will do right by MAF. They won't trade him to a place where he won't be put into a good situation. I would hate to see this drag out, I would hope a deal is in place in by draft day.
- Thorny

That's not how NMC's work, he doesn't and won't completely waive the clause and allow the Pens to move him anywhere, they will work out a deal with a team and then ask him to waive it to go to that team, it won't be an issue of the Pens doing right by him because the power of where he goes will always be in his hands and up to him to determine.

By the sounds of it and the recovery time frame, I would guess that Sprong has a Hills Sachs labrum tear that resulted from his shoulder coming out of socket and ripping through the labrum. My son went through it last year and it was horrible, absolutely no physical activity of any kind for 6 months after surgery then 2-3 months of rehab. My prayers go out to him because having witnessed it first hand it wasn't pretty and takes a lot of work to come back from.

Trade kuni and flower for picks , put dupes on LTIR and they can sign Enroth Schultz and Okposo and call it done

By the sounds of it and the recovery time frame, I would guess that Sprong has a Hills Sachs labrum tear that resulted from his shoulder coming out of socket and ripping through the labrum. My son went through it last year and it was horrible, absolutely no physical activity of any kind for 6 months after surgery then 2-3 months of rehab. My prayers go out to him because having witnessed it first hand it wasn't pretty and takes a lot of work to come back from.
- jaydogg1974

poop... my little bro tore his labrum his sophomore year in college. took him almost a full year to recover (D2 football gave near zero help for rehab or therapy poop, just footed the bills).

Of course, Penguins can provide far superior support, but yeah... I'd be surprised if he got any decent playing in next season.

Trade kuni and flower for picks , put dupes on LTIR and they can sign Enroth Schultz and Okposo and call it done
- nh4442

Why would they have any interest in signing a player like Okposo? He's going to be overpaid on a long term deal and doesn't fit the mold of what the yeam is trying to do is a move the Pens should never consider. Also how is trading 2 players that were major contributors to the team winning the Cup (Fleury in the regular season and Kunitz in the post season) for players that won't help the team for 2-3 years if ever supposed to improve the team? You've made some bad roster suggestions in the past but these are just out there.

That's not how NMC's work, he doesn't and won't completely waive the clause and allow the Pens to move him anywhere, they will work out a deal with a team and then ask him to waive it to go to that team, it won't be an issue of the Pens doing right by him because the power of where he goes will always be in his hands and up to him to determine.
- jaydogg1974

I am certain Fluery and his agent will be involved in what teams Rutherford talks to. I would be surprised if Fluery's agent hasn't already reached out to numerous teams. Rutherford will cooperate as long as Fluery cooperates. If Fluery becomes an ass about it then you say welcome back to Pittsburgh next year as our backup.

poop... my little bro tore his labrum his sophomore year in college. took him almost a full year to recover (D2 football gave near zero help for rehab or therapy poop, just footed the bills).

Of course, Penguins can provide far superior support, but yeah... I'd be surprised if he got any decent playing in next season.
- Guile

It took my son 9 months to get back into game action but over a year later he still isn't back to where he was before the injury

I am certain Fluery and his agent will be involved in what teams Rutherford talks to. I would be surprised if Fluery's agent hasn't already reached out to numerous teams. Rutherford will cooperate as long as Fluery cooperates. If Fluery becomes an ass about it then you say welcome back to Pittsburgh next year as our backup.
- Thunderbolt

They absolutely could go that route and let his agent try to find a team that is interested and then try to work a deal with that team, I was just pointing out that it has nothing to do with the Pens doing right by Fleury because he and his agent will always be in control of where he plays next year.

Like I've said all along, we're fine with the cap. The only move we have to make is saying good bye to our good friend MAF because we need to protect Murr and it sounds like he's going to request out anyways. Him requesting a trade will make it easier to stomach from a personal fan standpoint. I'm gonna miss that goober.

It took my son 9 months to get back into game action but over a year later he still isn't back to where he was before the injury
- jaydogg1974

He didn't end up playing again after the rehab anyway.... new coach brought in, tried to run out all older players and remove scholarships. Luckily if ya do the good old "threaten to sue" because he had no right, you kept it. He got his degree, which is all I was concerned with for my bro.

Kessel... its almost like his anti social attitude is becoming massively beloved

http://961kiss.iheart.com...ine-skipped-out-14827341/
- Guile

would Penguins be interested in a trade like this?

Pavelec (900k retained), Perrault and Harkins for MAF and Fehr


Perrault would be a great top-9 addition, an upgrade over Fehr, as well Harkins provides some depth to the prospect pool. Pavelec can play mentor/backup to Murray.
Jets get a for sure #1 goalie so they don't have to rush Hellebuyck, Hutchinson or Comrie. Perrault traded gives more opportunity for Armia, Ehlers and Lowry to show what they can do offensively.
Pens also shed 1.75M off the cap while retaining all positional depth.
it's a hockey trade simply put.

Trade kuni and flower for picks , put dupes on LTIR and they can sign Enroth Schultz and Okposo and call it done
- nh4442

Kunitz won't be traded unless he asks and the odds of that happening are slim. There are three reasons players won't be back next year and they are all on the players.

1) Financial: Lovejoy, Schultz are examples.
2) Personal: Cullen and Dupuis (retirement).
3) Professional: Fluery (reduced roll).

Rutherford is not going to move any pieces on the big team unless he is forced.

would Penguins be interested in a trade like this?

Pavelec (900k retained), Perrault and Harkins for MAF and Fehr


Perrault would be a great top-9 addition, an upgrade over Fehr, as well Harkins provides some depth to the prospect pool. Pavelec can play mentor/backup to Murray.
Jets get a for sure #1 goalie so they don't have to rush Hellebuyck, Hutchinson or Comrie. Perrault traded gives more opportunity for Armia, Ehlers and Lowry to show what they can do offensively.
Pens also shed 1.75M off the cap while retaining all positional depth.
it's a hockey trade simply put.
- LukeHerrington

Really not interested in Pav... hes had only 1 average year in his career. I'd rather just resign Zatkoff.

Perreault... also... don't see him as much better than Fehr. He'd be getting the 4th line center, not top 6 type minutes, so thats a waste.

Sorry, your trade... is just bad.


edit: oh... and Perre is out long term due to a concussion... HOLY (frank) NO THANKS... we do not need more of that in Pittsburgh