Ryan Wilson: Kris Letang Stands To Gain The Most From Johnston Hire Kris Letang Stands To Gain The Most From Johnston Hire

I have no problem with Letang. I don't get why some people don't like him!

GMJR told the Fan that Neal is not on the trade block, but is getting calls about him because of rumors floating around.

Good read Gunner.

I agree on Letang. I saw more of the old 58 in the playoffs this past year. Still not back to what he was but hopefully he'll get there.

I am also hoping he can regain some confidence that will translate to his point play on the PP.

GMJR told the Fan that Neal is not on the trade block, but is getting calls about him because of rumors floating around.
- cap1681

Also heard lots of chatter concerning a potential Fleury for Niemi deal...

I would still like to see Letang shipped out though, not sure COL would go for it, but thoughts?:

Letang <-> COL: E Johnson + Parenteau + 1st rounder (#23) + (maybe we can get another asset for bottom 6 or a mid-level prospect?)

GMJR told the Fan that Neal is not on the trade block, but is getting calls about him because of rumors floating around.
- cap1681

Hopefully someone gives him an offer he cant refuse.

Also heard lots of chatter concerning a potential Fleury for Niemi deal...

I would still like to see Letang shipped out though, not sure COL would go for it, but thoughts?:

Letang <-> COL: E Johnson + Parenteau + 1st rounder (#23) + (maybe we can get another asset for bottom 6 or a mid-level prospect?)
- mventres

I think they'd just shoot for Nisk first before any type of trade. PLus that's a lot for 58.

It will be interesting to see how the coach and his adjustments pan out. After reading about him I am very hopeful moving forward. He has a lot to learn about the team in a short time to make draft and personnel decisions. I wish him luck in improving the bottom two lines.

Hope we finally draft some forwards.

Nothing more annoying than posting a funny comment on the last blog, only to find you've started another. The hopes and dreams of a "Ha ha" officially crushed.

Hopefully tanger has a bounce back Norris type year. The new system will certainly help him "GET TO HIS GAME". As for him on the power play I think martin, malkin is a way better option. Letang seems to struggle getting set up and he drives me nuts with shot selection and misses the net more than anything.

I think they'd just shoot for Nisk first before any type of trade. PLus that's a lot for 58.
- 87_71_11_29

Big difference between Nisk and Letang...given Nisk wants 5.5-6/year especially. Not sure it's too much for Letang though. Johnson is very good, not spectacular. COL has been aiming to deal PA for a while now, and PIT can use him on the top 6. The #23 in this year's draft isn't too much to toss up for COL. From the perspective of COL, they trade a good D, a player they want to trade anyway and a pick that may or may not develop in 3-4 years for a legit #1 D-man. Pretty fair I think...hence why I could see PIT wanting another minor piece. Just a thought...

Posted this on the prior thread concerning TIOPS saying the Penguins are interested in David Moss, Radim Vrbata, and Benoit Pouliet:

I like all three of those names, but would be warry of over-paying for Pouliet. He came up big in the Playoffs, but he is still a 15G, 36pts player. He does bring size, which is valuable, but i wouldn't pay him more than $2.5M/yr on a 3yr deal.

Pipe-dream of a roster w/ $70M Cap.

- Sign Vrbata for $3M/yr as a UFA
- Re-Sign Jokinen for $3M/yr, who didn't generate as much interest as previously thought. Kulemin as a back-up plan at $3M/yr.
- Pouliet at $2M/yr. Moss as a back-up plan.
- Sutter re-signed at $3.25M/yr and Despres at $1M/yr. Samuelsson as weel at $600K
- Gibbons and Vitale on the 4th line, but could be swapped out for anyone. Do't know enough about 4th liners around the league to make an eductaed guess as to which UFA's would fit.
-

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Radim Vrbata ($3.000m)
Beau Bennett ($0.900m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Jussi Jokinen ($3.000m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.250m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Benoit Pouliot ($2.000m) / Joe Vitale ($0.550m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.550m)
Craig Adams ($0.700m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7.250m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.000m) / Olli Maatta ($0.894m)
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Philip Samuelsson ($0.605m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $70,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $69,074,167; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $925,833

I have no problem with Letang. I don't get why some people don't like him!

- Pens8729

Same. I think many people's biggest issue is contract. Second, biggest issue is turnovers. Both are a non-issue for me. A Letang turnover will always be better than an Orpik/Scuderi turnover.

As Gunner said, the contract is not going to be as bad as we think. This will be the hardest year to swallow his cap hit and it will continue to be a non-factor as the cap rises.

I'm really interested to see how much this new coach can help Letang. He and Despres and Pouliot our 3 high ceiling guys. I think Johnston can help them reach that potential. Martin should continue to flourish as well. We could be a really dynamic team.

Hopefully someone gives him an offer he cant refuse.
- 87_71_11_29

I like where GMJR's head is at if this is true:

"
depaoli
The Neal thing is this: They're not shopping him but are listening. There's a difference. Price is high but he's not a player who is off limits. They want 2 NHL roster players in return, top prospect/pick but the center piece would have to be immediate help.
"

I agree with that. 1 of the 2 roster players must be able to play in the top 6 though. The prospect/pick is icing on the cake.

I have no problem with Letang. I don't get why some people don't like him!

- Pens8729

To be honest it really doesn't matter because he is at this point in time untradeable.

Posted this on the prior thread concerning TIOPS saying the Penguins are interested in David Moss, Radim Vrbata, and Benoit Pouliet:

I like all three of those names, but would be warry of over-paying for Pouliet. He came up big in the Playoffs, but he is still a 15G, 36pts player. He does bring size, which is valuable, but i wouldn't pay him more than $2.5M/yr on a 3yr deal.

Pipe-dream of a roster w/ $70M Cap.

- Sign Vrbata for $3M/yr as a UFA
- Re-Sign Jokinen for $3M/yr, who didn't generate as much interest as previously thought. Kulemin as a back-up plan at $3M/yr.
- Pouliet at $2M/yr. Moss as a back-up plan.
- Sutter re-signed at $3.25M/yr and Despres at $1M/yr. Samuelsson as weel at $600K
- Gibbons and Vitale on the 4th line, but could be swapped out for anyone. Do't know enough about 4th liners around the league to make an eductaed guess as to which UFA's would fit.
-

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Chris Kunitz ($3.850m) / Evgeni Malkin ($9.500m) / Radim Vrbata ($3.000m)
Beau Bennett ($0.900m) / Sidney Crosby ($8.700m) / James Neal ($5.000m)
Jussi Jokinen ($3.000m) / Brandon Sutter ($3.250m) / Pascal Dupuis ($3.750m)
Benoit Pouliot ($2.000m) / Joe Vitale ($0.550m) / Brian Gibbons ($0.550m)
Craig Adams ($0.700m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7.250m) / Paul Martin ($5.000m)
Simon Despres ($1.000m) / Olli Maatta ($0.894m)
Rob Scuderi ($3.375m) / Philip Samuelsson ($0.605m)
Robert Bortuzzo ($0.600m) /
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.000m)
Jeff Zatkoff ($0.600m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $70,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $69,074,167; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $925,833
- s0rcerer1984

Each one of these I see, including several I have done, have cemented the fact that although most of these fantasy lineups do indeed improve the roster, I have yet to look at one and say "that's a cup team right there".

As I have said many times, this may be a 2-3 year mini-rebuild.

Niskanen told Pittsburgh he is testing free agency. There is no way you get anything for his rights anymore.

Gunner, does this style that Johnston employs help with developing puck moving defenders such as Despres as well? It seems like Bylsma's system was just a lot to handle for a young puck mover.

Each one of these I see, including several I have done, have cemented the fact that although most of these fantasy lineups do indeed improve the roster, I have yet to look at one and say "that's a cup team right there".

As I have said many times, this may be a 2-3 year mini-rebuild.
- 87_71_11_29

I don't necessarily disagree with you but most of these fantasy rosters seem to be an improvement to last years team. And we survived pretty long last year. The issue last year was that we relied on too few to do too much.

I am of the belief that we can win a cup next year. You can't ever underestimate 87, 71, 58, 14, 18, 7. They may all frustrate us at times for one reason or another but we have a very talented core. It takes luck, depth scoring, and hard work (not using the word grit). By luck I don't just mean the bounce of the puck but you get cheap depth guys like Max Talbot who play way above their regular abilities.

Niskanen told Pittsburgh he is testing free agency. There is no way you get anything for his rights anymore.

Gunner, does this style that Johnston employs help with developing puck moving defenders such as Despres as well? It seems like Bylsma's system was just a lot to handle for a young puck mover.
- usethe1-2-2

After reading this I think so. With more support and shorter passes I think the right decision becomes more clear and quickly

Letang got flagged due to his contract. Bottom line is the majority of the time, the team is much more noticeably worse when 58 is out of the lineup than anyone else. So long Nisk, you had a decent season but you can now rake it in. If Nisk were to stay he would have been letang 2.0 here with his $6mil hit and marginally above average play. Pens fans are too use to 87 and 71 when someone else has a cap hit and does not perform to the super elite level, the witch hunt begins.

Niskanen told Pittsburgh he is testing free agency. There is no way you get anything for his rights anymore.

Gunner, does this style that Johnston employs help with developing puck moving defenders such as Despres as well? It seems like Bylsma's system was just a lot to handle for a young puck mover.
- usethe1-2-2

I believe so. We'll see, in theory, definitely, in execution, time will tell.

Max Talbot was the most underrated loss in the past 5 years

His pregame ritual with Fleury, energy, and he was a team guy

1.7 million per looking like a steal

(I read his camp offered Shero 3 years 3.5 Total and Shero refused)

After reading this I think so. With more support and shorter passes I think the right decision becomes more clear and quickly
- dbell646

That makes me beleive this system is more friendly to the defense, thus, making it easier to bring in more of the young guys and not have to overpay for veteran defense on the open market.

Carrying this over from the last thread. The talk of B.Pouliot pricing himself out of our plans because he was played in the cup finals (and played well) is true. I agree. We need to find the "next" guy like that and buy low. I really like Peter Mueller as a dark horse, zero risk candidate. Also, M. Foligno is another guy who I'd consider trading for at a low cost.

For the sake of discussion, is there a chance that Scuderi may not look nearly as bad under Johnston's system? He played for DB during the Cup run but than left LA right after. Any chance he less dumpster fire and more savy veteran?