Pit is gonna be squeezin the cap next year.

[CatScrap]

With Sid and Malkin down, the Penguins have done a great job at filling in the ranks and adding depth to an already potent offense. IF Crosby comes back this year, I think he will have the best supporting cast he has ever had, minus Malkin that is.

However, an interesting problem as arose from the trades that have been made in steel city, they are going to be either struggling to find ways to shed salary next year, or brining in a bunch of cheapers to fill in the lower ranks.

Currently the Penguins have about 56.3 million already committed towards next years cap with Fleury and backup signed, 5 legit D-men, and 7 legit Forwards signed. The best scenario for the Burg will be if the NHLPA exercised their option to force the cap up, which would bring the NHL cap to 62 million next year.

IF this happens The Penguins will have roughly 5.7 million to sign 6 players, a 3rd pair d-man, 2 3rd line forwards and 3 4th line forwards, and then use current amateur players for filling in depth. This would leave an average of .95 million per player available.

In all of your opinions, what do you think Shero will do? Will he fill in his final 2 lines with AHL calibre players and fill up the last D-man spot the same way? Will he trade Kunitz, Neal, Staal to free up cap space for a more legit 3rd and 4th line? OR with Malkins average year this year, Will they attempt to see what they can get for him?

My opinion is to move Malkin, That will leave you with 14.4 million to sign a 3rd pair D-man, and 3 3rd line players and 3 4th line players. This gives you an average of 2.05 million per player to spend. Staal is fully capable of handling second pairing duties, and with the extra money, you could make it so the Burgh can roll out 4 legit scoring lines. They would have the Sid line, line 1, The Staal line, the second line 1, and then 2 legit other lines that would allow the Penguins to come out and attack the opposing team without giving them a chance to breathe for 60 minutes straight. Plus, alot of draft picks could be had for Malkin.

What you guys think?

 

[evolver115]

Keep Malkin. Fill out roster with AHL players. Hell, half of the good ones are here, already.

Shero will be fine. The man has a plan, and knows what he's doing.

My .02

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I haven't checked the numbers myself, but based on what you're saying I think he'll have to move a fairly large salary. Unless he want to either take just about equal salary, or garbage, back it will probably have to be one of Malkin, Fleury, Staal or a top 4 D-man.

I'd bang some tires on Malkin deals myself. Jordan Staal can fill the role of 2nd line center and I'd be willing to bet that Malkin would bring a top 6 winger and at least a pick/prospect that could be a 2nd center within 3 years.

Instant depth could be had from a Malkin trade.

 

[Darkstone42]

The defense is set, and I don't think it changes unless Despres is ready next year, in which case I think Niskanen is dealt. The goaltending is also set. I think if any of the forwards who are UFAs this offseason want raises, they get cut. AHLers and cheap veterans can replace them. I'm referring specifically to Talbot, Kennedy, Dupuis, Adams, Asham, and Rupp. They have enough from Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Staal, Letestu, and Kunitz up front to justify that strategy.

 

[Darkstone42]

I also think that if anyone gets moved, it has to be Malkin. He's underachieved the last two seasons and hasn't earned his paycheck, but someone will pay a hefty price for his potential.

 

[CatScrap]

IF none of them ask for raises, that would put them right at the max salary cap of 62 million before bonuses. And still have them only having 6 d-men on salary, 5 legit and 1 AHLer with ABSOLUTELY no depth. They would only have 20 men on the roster. This seems kinda tight when you can trade 1 player and fill up your entire team with top rate players and have 23-24 men on the roster for depth. Just seems like a no brainer to me to start shopping around Malkin at the Draft.

And remember, this all hinges on the salary cap going up another 2.6 million next year. If it doesn't then if your Shero, you HAVE to move something around....

 

[pixburgher66]

The defense is set. Michalek-Martin, Letang-Orpik, Niskanen-Engelland are all signed, with Despres going to be pushing for an NHL spot. The offense is set up the middle with Sid-Geno-Staal-Letestu, the wings are where the trouble lies. The Pens aren't going to be getting a big name winger, but we now have Kunitz-Neal-Cooke signed, with Jeffrey and TK being on RFA deals. At this point it becomes a thing of who do you want to keep and who do you send out? There's a lot of guys that are the same type of players (like Rupp, Adams, Talbot, etc.), of those types I'd resign Adams, consider Dupuis, and resign Sterling and a few of the other AHL guys. It's not gonna be an easy offseason, but I don't think a Malkin trade will happen this offseason.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

The rest of the league KNOWS this and Malkin getting hurt this season is a bad scenario for Pitt. I said exactly this same thing wahen they signs Martin and Michalek last offseason. The Pens were gong to run into trouble. I look for Malkin to get moved this offseason and the Pens to get something like. 60 on the dollar for his fair value. Signings both of those d men for the contract length they did shortened the Penguins window in my opinion.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Also the Martin and michalek contracts are pretty much unmovable in the offseason. You may get something at a deadline for them but they were way way overpaid in terms of years, IMO.

 

[Darkstone42]

IF none of them ask for raises, that would put them right at the max salary cap of 62 million before bonuses. And still have them only having 6 d-men on salary, 5 legit and 1 AHLer with ABSOLUTELY no depth. They would only have 20 men on the roster. This seems kinda tight when you can trade 1 player and fill up your entire team with top rate players and have 23-24 men on the roster for depth. Just seems like a no brainer to me to start shopping around Malkin at the Draft.

And remember, this all hinges on the salary cap going up another 2.6 million next year. If it doesn't then if your Shero, you HAVE to move something around....

According to capgeek.com, the Penguins have 7 defensemen signed through next year: Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Letang, Niskanen, Engelland, and Lovejoy.

 

[CatScrap]

According to capgeek.com, the Penguins have 7 defensemen signed through next year: Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Letang, Niskanen, Engelland, and Lovejoy.

True, but do you trust Engelland or Lovejoy enough to have them be your 3rd or 4th d-man if 1 or 2 of your top end guys get hurt? They aren't developed enough yet to be counted towards your main starters, should be more depth players than anything else. IMO.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

True, but do you trust Engelland or Lovejoy enough to have them be your 3rd or 4th d-man if 1 or 2 of your top end guys get hurt? They aren't developed enough yet to be counted towards your main starters, should be more depth players than anything else. IMO.

When you are paying your 3/4 pairing 9mil a year, you don't have much of a choice.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I'd trade Staal well before even considering trading Malkin. I think Depres has a good chance of making the Penguins next year as well.

I also think it's important to realize that Malkin will be coming off ACL & MCL surgery. The trade market isn't going to be as good as many think.

 

[CatScrap]

Either way, I'm not saying that they are painted into a corner and HAVE to trade Malkin, I just think that it would be in the team's overall best interest to do it, as it would create enough cap space to improve the team as a whole more than just having him on the roster would. I mean having more than 14 million on hand to sign 5-6 forwards, if you don't want to bolster your D a little, could really fill your team out to the point where you would be a bear to play, not that your push over's now.

 

[Dacks]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, Pittsburgh is fine for next year. I mean, they might have to fill the lower half of their lineup with AHL players, but that's what they've done the past two seasons anyway. None of the key parts are being moved because of finances. And the cap is definitely going up next year. The NHL has been doing well lately, just signed a huge sponsorship deal and I expect a TV deal as well.

The following are signed next year and won't be traded because they represent the core of this team's identity:

Forwards: Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Kunitz, Neal. Defense: Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Letang. Goalies: Fleury.

The following are signed next year for dirt cheap, no reason to trade them:

Letestu, Tangradi, Vitale, Lovejoy, Engelland, Johnson.

That really only leaves Cooke ($1.8) and Niskanen ($1.5) with big contracts. I doubt Shero will trade Cooke, I guess we'll see how Niskanen plays. If salary needs to be shed, it will come from one of those two.

The rest will be filled with guys who resign at reasonable prices, or will be replaced by WBS players who are showing they can step up.

 

[CatScrap]

I'd trade Staal well before even considering trading Malkin. I think Depres has a good chance of making the Penguins next year as well.

I also think it's important to realize that Malkin will be coming off ACL & MCL surgery. The trade market isn't going to be as good as many think.

I'm thinking they could pick up some good offers though. I could see him going to Edmonton for Brule and Hall. This would leave you with 8.7 million left for 4 more forwards if you think your Defense is sound.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I'd trade Staal well before even considering trading Malkin. I think Depres has a good chance of making the Penguins next year as well.

I also think it's important to realize that Malkin will be coming off ACL & MCL surgery. The trade market isn't going to be as good as many think.

That's a good point. If you want to move Malkin it might be best to wait and let him play well (hopefully) for a few months and then move him in-season. The downside to this is if he doesn't come back in good form or happens to sustain another serious injury then his value is really depleted.

Another point worth considering is the health of Crosby. He now has a history of having sustained a serious head injury. Heaven forbid he were to get another one early next year. He could be just shutdown for a whole season. His long term health is now unfortunately in question, IMO. There aren't many better replacements for Sid than Malkin.

Shero has some real decisions to make but I think a huge offer for Malkin would be hard to resist.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

They can scrape things together for 2 more years and things will get interesting after that. Thea following season all three centers contracts are up. The season after that, letang and orpik will be vastly underpaid assuming salary inflation and continued good performance and be due a hefty raaise. I am not sure when fleurys deal is up but 5. Is bargain for him as well.

I do think the long term plan sees Malkin as an eaventual salary dump and only one of 44 or 58 sticking around.

The window for this pens team is really 2 more seasons. Sheri is shrewd and smart and knows this. He probably has a plan but it could get interesting.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, Pittsburgh is fine for next year. I mean, they might have to fill the lower half of their lineup with AHL players, but that's what they've done the past two seasons anyway. None of the key parts are being moved because of finances. And the cap is definitely going up next year. The NHL has been doing well lately, just signed a huge sponsorship deal and I expect a TV deal as well.

The following are signed next year and won't be traded because they represent the core of this team's identity:

Forwards: Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Kunitz, Neal. Defense: Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Letang. Goalies: Fleury.

The following are signed next year for dirt cheap, no reason to trade them:

Letestu, Tangradi, Vitale, Lovejoy, Engelland, Johnson.

That really only leaves Cooke ($1.8) and Niskanen ($1.5) with big contracts. I doubt Shero will trade Cooke, I guess we'll see how Niskanen plays. If salary needs to be shed, it will come from one of those two.

The rest will be filled with guys who resign at reasonable prices, or will be replaced by WBS players who are showing they can step up.

You make some good points but two counters. In order to trade Cooke or niskanen you have to have a trade partner. Unlike the NFL, you cannot just release them. Cooke has a NTC as well, remember. Also, the wbs guys are playing well but do you trust them to play this well over the course of an 82 game season at the NHL level. Vitali and Connor etc. are good players but guys like dupuis and Talbot etc. are proven NHL regulars.

 

[CatScrap]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, Pittsburgh is fine for next year. I mean, they might have to fill the lower half of their lineup with AHL players, but that's what they've done the past two seasons anyway. None of the key parts are being moved because of finances. And the cap is definitely going up next year. The NHL has been doing well lately, just signed a huge sponsorship deal and I expect a TV deal as well.

The following are signed next year and won't be traded because they represent the core of this team's identity:

Forwards: Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Kunitz, Neal. Defense: Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Letang. Goalies: Fleury.

The following are signed next year for dirt cheap, no reason to trade them:

Letestu, Tangradi, Vitale, Lovejoy, Engelland, Johnson.

That really only leaves Cooke ($1.8) and Niskanen ($1.5) with big contracts. I doubt Shero will trade Cooke, I guess we'll see how Niskanen plays. If salary needs to be shed, it will come from one of those two.

The rest will be filled with guys who resign at reasonable prices, or will be replaced by WBS players who are showing they can step up.

First off, Tangradi and Vitale are 4th line depth players at best right now. They should be healthy scratched for in case you get an injury, not solid reliable players.

Second, if you don't mind not having any depth at D you can have Lovejoy and Engelland be your interchangable 5-6 combo. Just pray you don't get an injury.

However, I wil give you the fact that Letetsu is a great up and coming center who you guys do have locked up for cheap.

This still leaves you with 6 d-men and no depth, 6 forwards, not counting tangradi and vitale as I don't see them as NHL calibre yet, and 2 goalies. So your fielding a team of 14 men for a 51.57 million cap hit.

You should still sign 2 D-men for depth, cheap guys, and 8 forwards, 6 to fill your lines and 2 for depth, again depth players are cheap. Assuming .65 million each for your 4 depth players and the cap being raised the max it can of 62 million next year, this leaves you with 7.8 million to sign 6 forwards for your team.

In other words, you can keep Malkin and the gang and have a team that has a thin Defense with 1 great line, 1 really good line, and 2 AHL lines.

OR

You can move some cap space in the off season and Have over 2 million a player to spend on your 5-6 Dmen, leaving Lovejoy and Engelland as depth, as well as 6 forwards, again leaving tangradi and vitale for depth. This would leave your team with a good Defense with some depth, a Great first line, a really good second line, and Good 3rd and 4th line with some depth on forward as well. It just really makes more sense to me.

Again this is just my opinion, but personally I hope you keep Malkin and do what you said, as I would rather play against a team where I only need to lock down 1 or 2 lines instead of 4 that has to over play it's top 2 defensive pair because of a lack of depth.