Frustrated with the Pens' season

[pixburgher66]

That and the additions of Martin and Michalek makes moving him and Gogo reasonable.

I think Shero had the best offseason ever...ridiculous how good these editions are.

 

[BlueandWhiteForever]

I think Shero had the best offseason ever...ridiculous how good these editions are.

??

 

[pixburgher66]

??

Thanks grammar police.

 

[Darkstone42]

I love the position this team is in going forward. My plan would be to start saving money on the third and fourth lines (see you later, Cookie) and start stacking the top two. Trading Cooke (someone will take him), and letting Talbot, Godard, Rupp, and Dupuis walk, then replacing them with some of the AHL guys who have proved more than competent, like Jeffrey, Sterling and Vitale, will save the team some money, which they can then use on the top two lines.

If Talbot, Rupp, or Dupuis will come back on pay cuts (no more than $800K for Talbot, no more than $600K for Rupp, and no more than $1 million for Dupuis), they can help fill out those bottom two lines, but other than that, that's where we need to start cutting salary.

 

[elocomotive]

I love the position this team is in going forward. My plan would be to start saving money on the third and fourth lines (see you later, Cookie) and start stacking the top two. Trading Cooke (someone will take him), and letting Talbot, Godard, Rupp, and Dupuis walk, then replacing them with some of the AHL guys who have proved more than competent, like Jeffrey, Sterling and Vitale, will save the team some money, which they can then use on the top two lines.

If Talbot, Rupp, or Dupuis will come back on pay cuts (no more than $800K for Talbot, no more than $600K for Rupp, and no more than $1 million for Dupuis), they can help fill out those bottom two lines, but other than that, that's where we need to start cutting salary.

That's a good plan, but I don't think you'll be able to get those guys for cuts in salary. Some team like Atlanta or Tampa Bay will offer them money for their playoff experience to add some role players around their developing talent or to "toughen up" a little.

Interesting discussion - enjoyed reading it.

 

[Darkstone42]

That's a good plan, but I don't think you'll be able to get those guys for cuts in salary. Some team like Atlanta or Tampa Bay will offer them money for their playoff experience to add some role players around their developing talent or to "toughen up" a little.

Interesting discussion - enjoyed reading it.

That's the concern, but if they don't come back for those lower prices, I wouldn't sign them back at all. They're all very replaceable.

 

[pixburgher66]

I agree Dark that our biggest issue is overpaying our bottom two lines. Sure, having a solid third line can cost you, but there are options out there for a short term that are cheap (seen by the ADDITIONS of Asham and Comrie this offseason). Talbot doesn't deserve any sort of raise, and I'd be surprised if Shero brought him back in general. He's a playoff hero though, so if he performs similar to that again this post-season he may get another look. It's also important that we get TK back...although I fear his recent play may result in a bigger raise than necessary. I really hope not though.

 

[johnnytata]

yes, injuries suck. the wings dealt with it all last year and through a lot of this year.

however, i'm not dumb enough to think the wings have lost anyone the caliber of crosby for as longs as the pens have lost crosby, and losing malkin for the season on top of that must make it doubly frustrating.

as an avid pens hater, i must say, it's much more fun to hate the pens when those guys are playing.

 

[JustAsking]

i could see the lines looking something like this after FA period.. one thing to agree on, pens have plenty to chose from.

Neal-Sid-Malkin
Kunitz-Staal-TK*
Cooke-Letestu-Talbot/Dupuis*
Rupp*-Jeffery*-Adams*
Tangradi

I am big on Rupp. He adds a lot of value to a team built on being tough. Esp since Goddard is gone, all the Pens really have in terms of fighting would be Engelland. Rupp is 6'5'', a perfect 4th liner (that can be scratched depending on match-up to allow tangradi to play). He is not expensive and plays a hard to fill role..and only 31. Adams is great value. TK should get around 1.1. If Letestu is making 625K, Jeffery shouldn't get a bigger contract. I would make Talbot and Dupuis the same offer and see who takes it first.

The Defense and goaltending are already signed.

 

[loki604]

I don't like Rupp because of the way DB uses him. However, he can be decent value for a fourth liner.

I don't want out bottom two lines to be filled with rooks. We have to keep some vets in there. Adams and Talbot on the cheap please.

 

[Darkstone42]

I don't like Rupp because of the way DB uses him. However, he can be decent value for a fourth liner.

I don't want out bottom two lines to be filled with rooks. We have to keep some vets in there. Adams and Talbot on the cheap please.

Adams is a definite because even on a raise he's a bargain. I'll only take Talbot on the cheap, though. And I am now willing to pay for Kennedy, but only on a shortish deal (no more than three years) for small money (no more than $1.3 million, and that would be very much pushing it). Rupp's fine if we pay him less, but at $800K he costs too much for what he brings to the table. Also, I'd rather have Dupuis than Talbot, so if he comes back for no more than $1 million, I'd take him over Talbot at $800K.

 

[loki604]

Adams is a definite because even on a raise he's a bargain. I'll only take Talbot on the cheap, though. And I am now willing to pay for Kennedy, but only on a shortish deal (no more than three years) for small money (no more than $1.3 million, and that would be very much pushing it). Rupp's fine if we pay him less, but at $800K he costs too much for what he brings to the table. Also, I'd rather have Dupuis than Talbot, so if he comes back for no more than $1 million, I'd take him over Talbot at $800K.

I'm still holding out on Talbot until the playoffs. It's not ideal circumstances this year, but he has been a beast in years previous. Things to consider: .5 PPG in the playoffs. And I swear I freaking heard he was 13th all-time in Penguins playoff points, but I can't seem to find a list after a one minute Google search.

Kennedy has been playing well as of late, but honestly 1.3 would be too rich for my blood (I know you said that was pushing it for you). He doesn't have the consistency and has had injury issues.

Rupp would be okay at 600,000, but I don't want to pay him more.

What do people think about Kovy coming back? Would you do it? No? Depends on the price?

At the current moment (and we'll see how he does for the remainder of the season), I would take him on a one year deal for $1.5. Yeah, that's pretty low, but I would like a list of teams that would pay significantly more.

 

[Darkstone42]

I'm still holding out on Talbot until the playoffs. It's not ideal circumstances this year, but he has been a beast in years previous. Things to consider: .5 PPG in the playoffs. And I swear I freaking heard he was 13th all-time in Penguins playoff points, but I can't seem to find a list after a one minute Google search.

Kennedy has been playing well as of late, but honestly 1.3 would be too rich for my blood (I know you said that was pushing it for you). He doesn't have the consistency and has had injury issues.

Rupp would be okay at 600,000, but I don't want to pay him more.

What do people think about Kovy coming back? Would you do it? No? Depends on the price?

At the current moment (and we'll see how he does for the remainder of the season), I would take him on a one year deal for $1.5. Yeah, that's pretty low, but I would like a list of teams that would pay significantly more.

I would love to have Kovy back at that price. If he keeps playing well, if we can get him at anything under $2 million on a one-year deal, I would do it, especially if we save money on the third and fourth lines.

Kunitz - Crosby - Letestu
Neal - Malkin - Kovalev
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Adams and two others

I would love to find someone to take Cooke off our hands, not because he's bad but because his contract is too rich. In that case, Jeffrey would be on my third line.

 

[loki604]

I would love to have Kovy back at that price. If he keeps playing well, if we can get him at anything under $2 million on a one-year deal, I would do it, especially if we save money on the third and fourth lines.

Kunitz - Crosby - Letestu
Neal - Malkin - Kovalev
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Adams and two others

I would love to find someone to take Cooke off our hands, not because he's bad but because his contract is too rich. In that case, Jeffrey would be on my third line.

Do you think I am being completely unreasonable with that price or do you think it's possible? I would love to see what he could do on Malkin's wing.

I could see a team throwing 2.5 at him, but more than that, I am skeptical. And if it's a difference between less than a million, I could honestly see him staying with us, though I know that goes against the common opinion of Kovy.

 

[Darkstone42]

Do you think I am being completely unreasonable with that price or do you think it's possible? I would love to see what he could do on Malkin's wing.

I could see a team throwing 2.5 at him, but more than that, I am skeptical. And if it's a difference between less than a million, I could honestly see him staying with us, though I know that goes against the common opinion of Kovy.

I think he would stay with us in that scenario. And it would definitely be great to see him on Malkin's wing for a one-year deal. I really do think they could click.

It's definitely worth having a conversation with him at the very least. He's got great hands and a sick wrist shot, so why not?

 

[forty_three]

I am admittedly a little dyslexic but when I saw this thread title I thought it said "I am frustrated with the Penises, son."

 

[Darkstone42]

I am admittedly a little dyslexic but when I saw this thread title I thought it said "I am frustrated with the Penises, son."

You should get that fixed. It sounds like it's causing you a lot of problems...

 

[JustAsking]

TK is an RFA. He'll get 2-3 yrs around 900-1.1m. All other RFAs should be resigned, only Jeffery should be on an opening night roster. 3 yrs at 600-750k. Rupp, I place more value on him than most it seems, I see at 2 yrs at around 700-850k. Adams at 2yrs for 600k. Offer Talbot and Dupuis a 2 yr 1.1 million deal, whomever takes it first, sign. With that line-up I posted early, and the signings above, accoording to capgeek, I would be over THIS years cap limit by 700k. The cap should go up at least 2 million, giving the Pens 1.3 millions for injuries throughout the year.

I don't think you can replace what guys like Adams and Rupp bring. Having one rookie in Jeffery is plenty, Tangradi is a good 13. Fits into any line. Letestu will only be in his 2nd yr. Rupp, is young, 31,.. 32 next year... Adams I'm not sure... but his price is too good to let go. I would be careful with letting too many of these older players go for younger guys. There's a reason why Rupp and Adams have won 2 Cups.

Kovy... I don't know.. I can't see him playing pens hockey for 82 games... the idea of him and malkin on the same ice (not PP) scares me when I think about the other team having the puck.

Regardless, the Pens are in good shape...

EDIT: Cooke isn't going anywhere... he better not. Good contract for what he brings.

 

[Darkstone42]

TK is an RFA. He'll get 2-3 yrs around 900-1.1m. All other RFAs should be resigned, only Jeffery should be on an opening night roster. 3 yrs at 600-750k. Rupp, I place more value on him than most it seems, I see at 2 yrs at around 700-850k. Adams at 2yrs for 600k. Offer Talbot and Dupuis a 2 yr 1.1 million deal, whomever takes it first, sign. With that line-up I posted early, and the signings above, accoording to capgeek, I would be over THIS years cap limit by 700k. The cap should go up at least 2 million, giving the Pens 1.3 millions for injuries throughout the year.

I don't think you can replace what guys like Adams and Rupp bring. Having one rookie in Jeffery is plenty, Tangradi is a good 13. Fits into any line. Letestu will only be in his 2nd yr. Rupp, is young, 31,.. 32 next year... Adams I'm not sure... but his price is too good to let go. I would be careful with letting too many of these older players go for younger guys. There's a reason why Rupp and Adams have won 2 Cups.

Kovy... I don't know.. I can't see him playing pens hockey for 82 games... the idea of him and malkin on the same ice (not PP) scares me when I think about the other team having the puck.

Regardless, the Pens are in good shape...

EDIT: Cooke isn't going anywhere... he better not. Good contract for what he brings.

I didn't realize how close they were to the cap. Maybe bringing back Kovy isn't in the cards regardless of his play...

 

[thedddd]

If the cap doesn't change and Tangradi makes the team they have about 3.67 under the cap for 4 forwards.
Who I expect gone: Godard, Asham, (Dupuis or Talbot)*, Conner, Comrie and Kennedy - my reason his RFA price will be too high like Tim Kennedy this year. * one is needed for the PK.

Now this is all hypothetical on Kovy staying for cheap:

1.5 for Kovy - if not Dupuis gets 1.4 again
660k for Adams - need the PK wingers
550k for Jeffrey - his tenure is not long enough to get a raise.
800k for Talbot - need the PK wingers and at 1 million a year is too much.
Total - 3.51 million

Now I see Tangradi in WBS again due to the team needing toughness so Rupp will probably be back at 800K so that salary is a wash.
Kunitz- Crosby - Kovy
Neal - Staal - Malkin
Cooke - Letestu - Jeffrey
Rupp - Talbot - Adams

Now if Kovy doesn't come back and put Dupuis in there:

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis again
Neal - Staal - Malkin
Cooke - Letestu - Jeffrey
Rupp - Talbot - Adams
NOTE: Jeffrey/Letestu will get top 6 time when needed and both can play Center.
You keep enough good PK wingers: Cooke, Staal, Adams, Talbot and maybe Dupuis.

Then if Talbot walks you can keep Rupp at the 800k and plug in Tangradi or even an Asham again.