Pens News
Posted 1:31 PM ET | Comments 19
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Dave Molinari reports the time is now for the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup, as several players will be free agents this summer and they'll lack the salary cap space to retain them all. The UFAs are "Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Pascal Dupuis, Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, Jeff Taffe and Kris Beech, defensemen Brooks Orpik and Mark Eaton and goalie Ty Conklin" while goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is a restricted free agent who could become the target of an offer sheet if unsigned by July 1st. Even if the Penguins spend up to the rising cap ceiling the new contract for Sidney Crosby kicks in next season plus cap space must be reserved for young stars Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal when their current contracts expire in 2009.
Whats your opinion on the UFA class?
Whats your opinion on the UFA class?
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Blog Archive
10 Hits From Behind
12 Boulerice gets 25 games
28 Bruins and Flyers
28 Jones and Bergeron
30 It takes two...to be hit and to get hit
12 Boulerice gets 25 games
28 Bruins and Flyers
28 Jones and Bergeron
30 It takes two...to be hit and to get hit
16 From the Daily News/This just in!!! Go Flyers!!!
18 Capitals Vs. Flyers
19 Game 5 Caps/Flyers...Hockey thoughts
23 Thoughts Game 7/Wash vs. Philly
25 Legion of Doom - All are now out of hockey
28 War of Words
18 Capitals Vs. Flyers
19 Game 5 Caps/Flyers...Hockey thoughts
23 Thoughts Game 7/Wash vs. Philly
25 Legion of Doom - All are now out of hockey
28 War of Words
01 A Quick Thought: Flyers vs. Habs
06 Flyers Vs. Pens
14 Why Not Us!!!
15 Flyers Article
20 Pens News
06 Flyers Vs. Pens
14 Why Not Us!!!
15 Flyers Article
20 Pens News
15 Thoughts
31 Thoughts
14 Thoughts
09 Intent
10 Thoughts
14 Thoughts
05 Passion
Good is all I have to say about that, I would love nothing more then for the pens to break up.
I would bet that Hossa, Roberts (retire?), Beech, Eaton and Conklin are all on the outs. I think they will concentrate on Malone, Dupuis, and possibly Orpik (I like Brooks - his game has improved dramatically in the past 2 years). Ruutu, Hall, Laraque and Taffe could all be back...if they are reasonable in negotiating.
i just thought it was interesting. i can envision the pens falling right back down because they could not secure enough talent because of the cap.
flyers4487 - That's nice...well wishes to you to.
phi1671 - If that happens, then it would be a shame...but it's no different than the same obstacles ANY team will face if they are trying to build a winner - RIGHT? What team will not fall under these guidelines? I guess the real point of your post was to get a bunch o Flyers fans to post the "gloom and doom" predictions for the Pens and FA...so I will just take my comments elsewhere.
OK...one more comment...thought this was interesting...not sure how up to date these totals are...but they seem pretty close....http://nhlsalarycap.info/teams/atlantic/pittsburgh-penguins.phphttp://nhlsalarycap.info/teams/atlantic/philadelphia-flyers.php
i saw this on another web site and i was surprised of how many RFA the Pens have. Icedog relax...you are right it can be gloom and doom with any team. But, it does show what some media fold are saying is that the Pens are almost throwing all their eggs in one basket this year. Take your comments elsewhere...i would hope if you saw an article about the Flyers you would point it out to us. Too funny!!!
should be media folks...
I meant my constructive comments about your original question...I guess I can't embed these links correctly....[URL]http://nhlsalarycap.info/teams/atlantic/pittsburgh-penguins.php[/URL].......[URL]http://nhlsalarycap.info/teams/atlantic/philadelphia-flyers.php[/URL]
all teams can be in the same boat...we all agree on that point
i agree about the time is now for Pitt. The time was now for the Buffalo Sabres last year and they blew it big time. then the exodus began. All teams go in cycles though, just look at Philly. so Pitt will be back, as will Buffalo, as will Philly certainly. but right now, the time is DEFINITELY now for Pitt to go for it all.
icedog - Yes, it is very true that all teams in this cap-driven age will have to really batten down the hatches in order to keep strong teams together, you could possibly run into a team like Detroit, who back when they were getting guys like Hasek and Hull and Robitaille were doing so because guys with larger contracts went to management and said, "here, take back some of my deal and fill this team out." THAT is TEAM. And, sadly, too rare.
in no way should the pens focus on malone. if he takes a big cut then he'll be here next year. but if he wants to land the type of contract that everyone thinks he's going to land, i really hope it's somewhere other then pittsburgh. the main thing with trying to remain competitive is not shelling out big money to guys who shouldn't be getting it. it'd be nice to see them sign orpik, but in no way should they break the bank with malone.
As long as we have our centers we will be fine. It won't exaclty be hard to convince wingers to come here. Sykora even said it too him about 2 minutes to decide. Hossa is gone. If we lose Malone we can always sign another wingers from FA to replace him. The onyl guy that is gonna go that will suck is Orpik as he is the only real physical presence on the blue line
Message Posted
Right now the Pens cap hit for next year is under 27 million. I don't know the exact cap number for next season, but the Pens are at about half. Having sold out 60 straight games along with a full slate of home playoff games this season and a new arena on the way, there's no reason for the Pens not to be able to sign everyone. Malone will definitely take a "hometown" discount to stay, Roberts may retire, Beech, Hall and Eaton are expendable, and with Goligoski tearing up the AHL playoffs, we could move Sydor's 2.5 million salary and/or Whitney's 3 million if need be. I think we could double Malone to 3 million per, triple Orpik to about the same and triple Staal to 2.5 million for 2-3 years without a problem. Geno will get his money no matter what. Hossa is a complete question mark. It could be done, but depending on how much he wants and if he wants to stay. The one problem may be MAF. His asking price is going up with each game he wins.
This isn't anything unexpected. With so many high first round picks from being bad for so long, it was bound to happen. Malkin and Crosby are probably the best two forwards in the game, and Fleury is a franchise goaltender. Unless other Pen's players start disliking money, Shero is going to have to let go of some young talent and find good role players. The Pens are by no means going to fall off the map, but in the Salary Cap age, NO team is going to become the 80's Oilers to which some people are comparing this group. The Flyers are likewise going to need to be selective about who to resign. The difference I see with the Flyers is that they have more very good players than two or three superstars with a good surrounding cast. Still, Flyers will likewise need to unload a few of their talented forwards.
If Carter gets his 4-5 million salary, I can see Staal wanting that too and I can easily see someone throwing him out an offer sheet next year. Malkin will get his 9 million per year. Fleury will be an interesting case. Young and extremely talented. Is 3.5 reasonable for him right now? The Pens could potentionally have 25-26 million tied up on 4 people.
The time is ALWAYS now when you make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. There are never any guarantees (see Pens of '93) no matter how rosy the future may look and it is extremely difficult to get there.