Ryan Wilson: Penguins cap situation heading into the summer less than ideal Penguins cap situation heading into the summer less than ideal

so what? The Pens don’t need to make any moves, sign the rfas and call it a summer.
Or if youre like me and think a roster shakeup would benefit the team there are two or three high cost high return assets that could be dealt.

I don’t think the Pens can make another cup final with their current roster, I think this incarnations window has closed. I do think that a couple massive moves could revitalize the team, but we’ve had this discussion a million times.

I’m okay with 3 cups in the Crosby era.

so what? The Pens don’t need to make any moves, sign the rfas and call it a summer.
Or if youre like me and think a roster shakeup would benefit the team there are two or three high cost high return assets that could be dealt.

I don’t think the Pens can make another cup final with their current roster, I think this incarnations window has closed. I do think that a couple massive moves could revitalize the team, but we’ve had this discussion a million times.

I’m okay with 3 cups in the Crosby era.
- stackthepads

Pens could definitely make a run without having to make massive moves. Buy out JJ. Ship Gudbranson, Hornqvist, and Maatta. Open of cap space. Trade futures for current NHLers. Make another run or two with the exact same core. The problem ain’t the Star stars. The problem is the rest of the supporting cast.

Even Rust and Bjugstad make the bad list. Beginning to think the only mid-range cap hits RW likes are the ones like Murray and Dumoulin where they have excess value. Problem is unless you are churning out a bunch of cheap young talent (which the Pens aren't) or find every bargain buy (which means taking chances on guys who have busted elsewhere) you have to have a few of those deals where they just break even or even a little worse.

Some of those contracts aren't going to come close. I'd say Rust and Bjugstad will be worth their price. Hornqvist, Maatta and Gudbranson I believe will fill their roles well but be over-priced though there is a chance all could flop as well so moving them is worth looking into though you have to replace them. JJ is just bad.

Just buy JMFJ out. 1 mil per year for eight years isn’t going to break a future contender.

Pens could definitely make a run without having to make massive moves. Buy out JJ. Ship Gudbranson, Hornqvist, and Maatta. Open of cap space. Trade futures for current NHLers. Make another run or two with the exact same core. The problem ain’t the Star stars. The problem is the rest of the supporting cast.
- j.boyd919

Buying out JJ alone makes a huge difference. I think the best case scenario in moving out Guds is you receive a player in return who costs half of what he makes.

Still, that would go a long way.

I’m not a huge fan of Boedker, but I’d attempt moving Guds or JJ for him. There is no real cap savings, but you only have Boedker for one year.

Plus, you probably have a much easier time moving him right away by retaining a little salary.

JJ Hornqvist and Kessel Maatta out. Bunch of cap space.

I agree with Grinder here. We should try to trade Hörnqvist and Määttä as well as Jacko and Gudbranson (both very unlikely).

Kessel+ should go to Nashville for Subban no doubt.

JJ Hornqvist and Kessel Maatta out. Bunch of cap space.
- Grinder47

Yeah, because they can just dump all those salaries without taking any back.

Yeah, because they can just dump all those salaries without taking any back.
- Rinosaur

Also let’s be real, we’re not trading Johnson or Hornqvist.

But EK is reporting Subban to penguins rumors!!!!

so what? The Pens don’t need to make any moves, sign the rfas and call it a summer.
Or if youre like me and think a roster shakeup would benefit the team there are two or three high cost high return assets that could be dealt.

I don’t think the Pens can make another cup final with their current roster, I think this incarnations window has closed. I do think that a couple massive moves could revitalize the team, but we’ve had this discussion a million times.

I’m okay with 3 cups in the Crosby era.
- stackthepads

Unfortunately, I'm with stackthepads on this window. But I digress on how we get there. Y'all have to remember to compare your wish lists to what GMJR might actually do in real life... I don't think it's going to be a good match up.

But EK is reporting Subban to penguins rumors!!!!
- drew18

Jinxed it Geez

Also let’s be real, we’re not trading Johnson or Hornqvist.
- Victoro311

There’s that, too.

Pens could definitely make a run without having to make massive moves. Buy out JJ. Ship Gudbranson, Hornqvist, and Maatta. Open of cap space. Trade futures for current NHLers. Make another run or two with the exact same core. The problem ain’t the Star stars. The problem is the rest of the supporting cast.
- j.boyd919

Who would be your targets to replace Hornqvist, Gudbranson and Maatta?

But EK is reporting Subban to penguins rumors!!!!
- drew18

Well thats the kiss of death to anyone who wanted to see Subban on the Pens.

Also let’s be real, we’re not trading Johnson or Hornqvist.
- Victoro311

Or Gudbranson

Who would be your targets to replace Hornqvist, Gudbranson and Maatta?
- stackthepads

I'd go Dumoulin, Pettersson, and a cheaper puck mover at LD (Benn?)

Even though he'd be a risk, I might try to sign Ferland in Hornqvist's spot. If not, I look for a good 3rd liner at half the salary, (not sure of a target there). Zucker would fit the salary, but he's more of a Kessel replacement.

So long as the LD is a puck mover, I really like Gudbranson, just not his salary. I like having a physical PK 3rd pairing D though I liked Cole better. Hard to get a guy like that who isn't a possession drain though so I might keep Gudbranson unless I can identify someone and eat the difference.

Who would be your targets to replace Hornqvist, Gudbranson and Maatta?
- stackthepads

Hornqvist- Wilson
Don’t trade Gudbranson
Maatta - Ruhwedel
In a perfect world after we traded Murray Desmithand Jarry would play until one of them defined themselves as the starter.

Hornqvist- Wilson
Don’t trade Gudbranson
Maatta - Ruhwedel
In a perfect world after we traded Murray Desmithand Jarry would play until one of them defined themselves as the starter.
- Grinder47

Jarry isn’t an NHL talent.

But I am not opposed to exploring a Murray trade if the return is great and then go buy a UFA starter.

Hornqvist- Wilson
Don’t trade Gudbranson
Maatta - Ruhwedel
In a perfect world after we traded Murray Desmithand Jarry would play until one of them defined themselves as the starter.
- Grinder47

Kept dreaming for that perfect world.

Who would be your targets to replace Hornqvist, Gudbranson and Maatta?
- stackthepads

I don’t really think Hornqvist is that difficult to replace but I also don’t think he has to be traded either. He can find a place on the roster still. But the other guys have to be the right fit. Right now I don’t think Gudbranson, JJ, Cullen, etc. are really the right fit for an uptempo system.

Try to trade Maatta for Kassian from EDM
Target Jordie Benn for the left side.
Look for a lower tier right handed defenseman for the right side.
Try to bring back Hagelin.

Jake-Sid-McCann
Simon-Geno-Phil
Rust-Bjugstad-Horny
Hags-Blueger/Johnson-Kassian

Dumo-Letang
Benn-Schultz
Peterson-RHD

or if you really want to trade Phil, swap out Phil and Schultz for Subban and sign a RW for the second/third line.

I would be pleased to get Petts at $2MM for 3 years. There are many out there who have him coming in higher. I gotta say though, couldn’t he have had his own blog? Look into our history of drafting puck movers, re-visit Sprong one last time, analyze how he’s done and who he’s played with (fantastic & JJ, Guds, Kola) and how he got to the $2MM mark? What he thinks his ceiling is and why keeping him is important. This blog felt rushed. Felt like a Tanner article. Literally any of us could’ve gone on CapFriendly and seen our space available

I don’t really think Hornqvist is that difficult to replace but I also don’t think he has to be traded either. He can find a place on the roster still. But the other guys have to be the right fit. Right now I don’t think Gudbranson, JJ, Cullen, etc. are really the right fit for an uptempo system.

Try to trade Maatta for Kassian from EDM
Target Jordie Benn for the left side.
Look for a lower tier right handed defenseman for the right side.
Try to bring back Hagelin.

Jake-Sid-McCann
Simon-Geno-Phil
Rust-Bjugstad-Horny
Hags-Blueger/Johnson-Kassian

Dumo-Letang
Benn-Schultz
Peterson-RHD

or if you really want to trade Phil, swap out Phil and Schultz for Subban and sign a RW for the second/third line.
- j.boyd919

Hopefully Phil and Schultz for Subban+ can happen sooner so we can commence further speculation. I’ll jump on board and agree with some that Guds, JJ, and Hornqvist likely aren’t going anywhere although I think Nashville MIGHT welcome a Granlund for Hornqvist swap. 72 is exactly what their PP is missing and he would be a large improvement their over Brian Boyle