Penguins Update: Who’s Out There—Part II

1. Hey Guys
   I would love to be Dumo’s agent right about now. Based on these crazy early numbers on the market he will get 3.5 to 4 million for 6 years easily !
   I do not even want to guess what Schultz will receive. I wonder now if we can really afford to sign them both and get a 3rd line center with talent.
   JR’s job just got a lot tougher.
   There is big money being thrown around for mediocre talent .
   Lets go Pens

   1. The saving grace is the draft picks that need to be sent to sign an RFA. FYI: I moved to Rick’s new post.

2. Getting back to the Discussion of the Caps and Orlov, since they gave Orlov $5.1mil how much will they have to pay Evgeny Kuznetsov? Just saying that deal may hurt them big time. Even if he is forced to take a cheap salary now, they may burn some bridges in the future

   1. I don’t get it at all. In the mean time Colorado picked up a Colin Wilson from Nashville. So the Duchene trade likely.

      1. Interesting.

         I did see CBJ put their 2 cents in for Duchene, but they were only offering R Murray and a prospect so the Pens could easily top that.

3. They are now saying Niemi is a done deal with Pittsburgh.

   1. Any idea on $$$$

      1. They are saying $700k one year.

         1. That sounds like a very good deal. With the number of Goalie Prospects in the org, that makes tons of sense.

4. Bonino to preds 4/5 years @5.5 mil a year. He beat them for the Cup then robbed them blind.

   1. Thanks for the updates, Phil.

      Holy schnikes … $5.5 mil??? I love Bones and all, but he’s way overpriced at that rate.

      Rick

      1. It came in at 4 years $4.1 a year. Early TSN reports were wrong. $4.1 makes more sense.

   2. 4 years

5. Pens got defenseman Matt Hunwick from Toronto. Daley to Detroit. Hainsey to Toronto – 2 year deal. No amounts until noon.

   1. Daley 3 years $3.18 mil a year.

   2. Hunwick 3 year $2.5, $2.5, $1.75 or $2.25 a year against cap

      1. That is just crazy for a number 7 d man on a normal Pen’s team.
         He is over the hill. Is that the best we can do ???
         TSN reports Bones has a 4 year, 4.1 million cap hit per year. Hainsey went to the Leafs for 2 years. I would rather keep him and I am not in favor of over paying for 35 + year olds usually.
         What do you think Schultz will get now ???

         Thoughts?

6. I think Niemi is the best choice solid back-up, what about Stone from Calgary on d?? Should be a fun day or couple of them!!

   HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!

   1. Stone resigned with Calgary

   2. Happy Canada Day to you and Jim, Pen’s 4ever!

      I thought Stone looked intriguing as well, but Calgary signed him to a three-year deal. A local hockey buddy mentioned Niemi last night, too.

      Whenever I’ve watched Niemi play, he’s always appeared sharp. Then again, ex-Pen Johan “Moose” Hedberg used to look that way to me, too, and guys found a way to score on him.

      Niemi had a pretty rough go with Dallas last season. But he posted five shutouts for San Jose as recently as 2014-15 and led the NHL in wins (24) in 2012-13.

      Hopefully, he feels like he’s got something to prove and bounces back.

      Rick

   3. Same to you p4e !!

      Karl Alzner just signed with Montreal for 5 years and 23 million an hour ago.
      It is starting.
      Cheers

7. Apparently CBJ is making a pitch for Duchene, the report I read said CBJ offered Ryan Murray and another player off of their roster. Honestly I think the Pens could easily beat their offer without hurting their themselves. Sorry, I am not a fan of Ryan Murray.

8. The Trib is reporting that Bonino priced himself out of the Pens range and that they are close to a deal on a 3rd line C. They said they weren’t all that impressed with the FA Cs.

   The Article also says that the Pens are resign to losing Daley and Hainsey and that they feel that keeping the roster in tact seemed counterproductive this year so although it doesn say that they were looking outside the system from the get-go, it infers it.

   1. I read that and was thinking Duchene maybe. Then I was thinking if the Pens trade a “D” and Hainsey goes elsewhere then ouch! Maybe the Daley/Hainsey thing is a ruse to get Pouliot signed today! Then sign Hainsey.

      The Caps are setting ridiculous prices again Orlove $5.1 a year for 6 years. Holy crap that ups Shultz’s number.

      1. I didn’t see the Caps stupidity yet. You would think that they would eventually learn after over-paying Orpik and Niskannen. I hope that maybe Schultz is pretty much set, because if Orlov becomes the standard Schultz and Shattenkirk are about $6 – $7mil and I am not sure who really has that much room.

      2. Hey Phil and Other Rick,

         I truly don’t know what the Caps are thinking. Five million for Orpik? And now $5 mil for Orlov, who’s okay but nothing special?

         Guess they’re desperate not to let anyone else walk.

         Still, with Alzner, Schmidt and Shattenkirk leaving town? Unless they have a slew of young, blue-chip defensemen nobody knows about, they’re gonna be Hurtin’ (with a Capital ‘H’) this year on D.

         Rick

         1. Hey Rick, I was just saying the same thing,

            $5.75 for Niskanen 78GP 5G 34A 39Pts NTC
            $5.50 for Orpik 79GP 0G 14A 14Pts NTC
            $5.10 For Orlov 82GP 6G 27A 33Pts NTC in 2019-2020

            That becomes
            $16.35 for 11G 75A 86Pts in 3 D men 21.8% of their Cap Space. I have no idea what goes thru their minds.

9. Hey Guys…
   I just read that JAGR needs a job !! You guys know the local politics much better than I do. Do we sign for 1.5 million a year for old time sake ??
   Reports say last year his bonuses and contract exceeded the 5 million per year level. His posted salary was 3.5 million a year for last year.
   Not worth it in my opinion.! But I have been wrong many times before…
   Any Ideas ??

   1. If Jagr could play LW I would say that would make sense, but with the number of good young RWs on this team, I wouldn’t even think about signing him.

   2. Hey Jim,

      Jagr is just playing Florida for more money. He won’t play for a discount. That’s what he does. He’s been getting offers from Florida, and has no interest in going elsewhere unless they pay more than the probably $2.5-$3 they are offering. He’s probably trying to get Mcphee to throw some cash his way.

      Pens will sign him for a day league minimum when he wants to retire so he can retire a Penguin.

10. Hey Rick,

    Good stuff, Thanks for putting all of this together for a one (actually 2-stop counting yesterday) stop shop look FAs.

    Honestly, the more I look at it, the less I am impressed with the FA market, particularly when we get here to the D and G. The only D man that I would look at seriously is Shattenkirk and unless the Pens clear tons of cap space in a hurry, there isn’t a snow balls chance of that happening.

    Honestly, even though I got comfortable with Hainsey, at just under $3 mil, I am not all that sure that the value is there in comparison to what is on the roster. To steal the baseball terminology, Hainsey’s hockey version of runs above the average replacement player may not be enough to justify any type of raise at all. If he signs for where he is now, that is about as high as I would go for him.

    In goal, wow, the only one I would have really tried to bite on was Condon and he resigned with Ottawa. However, given what Buckley was quoted as saying and the current state of the Pens G situation (Lots of good young goalies) I agree with you Rick, Niemi on the cheap may be the best answer. Sign him on a 1 year deal on a cheap, prove you still have it contract so you aren’t tied down next year when Jarry may be ready to assume a regular role on the big squad.

    Honestly, I think a trade may be in order to improve the D. The Pens may be able to get a good D man by dangling a spare RW. Even that may not happen. It appears that when teams may be willing to throw draft picks at Vegas but want to over-charge the Pens for anything, or at least the only players that may benefit the Pens.

    It will be interesting to see if Sakic screws up with Duchene and loses him to FA in 2-years because he over-estimates his value, particularly if Col has another bad season as a team which will no doubt reduce Duchene’s production even more, causing him to lose more value.

    1. I agree, the defense market just isn’t there. I think the Pens will sign Hainsey and leave Daley & his not so good knees to another team. I think maybe the Pens don’t want to pay his crazy price for a chance he won’t be able to play a whole season.

       I see money going like this:
       Hainsey – 2yr – $2.75 a year
       Dumoulin – 4-5yr – $3.5 – $3.75 a year
       Shultz – 4-5yr – $4.5 – $5 a year

       Like you said, maybe a trade for another defenseman or maybe Pouliott is ready. I could see Rust or Sheary (if signed) going for someone. Maybe Hagelin is thrown in just to get to normal salary.

       In goal I would bet the Pens end up with Niemi maybe a 2 year $2 – $2.5 mil a year deal. I would really rather have Mason though.

       The Pens should be signing some guys today. Should be fun to watch where the $$ numbers come in. As $$ go, I don’t see Bonino going for crazy dollars people are talking his numbers aren’t there, but I didn’t think Orpik would either!

       1. Hey Phil,
          Daley is very close to going to Detroit reports are saying.Boston is in the hunt too. Either way he is gone. Bonino looks like he won the Power Ball lottery I think you guys have because many teams are bidding for him now.8 to 10 teams are interested reports are saying.
          I am glad for him because he has certainly paid his dues. Plus he is looking for a long term contract with 5- 6 years in length. If I was JR and could get the money, would I sign him for 6 years at 4 million plus. No way.. That has been a reoccurring problem with the Pens in giving long term deals to players who do not pan out.
          Reports from Minnesota have said they have reached out to Matt Cullen to have a 2 year deal, to play at home. By – By Cullen !
          One of the best play off performers we have since he came to Pittsburgh.
          Kunitz is gone. Everybody wants a piece of him.
          Shattenkirk is gone… He has many options to pursue.

          Please JR get Schultz signed before Shattenkirk gets a 6.5 to 7.5 million dollar deal from some crazy GM wanting to make a name for himself. Then the others will come looking to get Justin.

          We need another option to consider. Move Kessel to 3rd line and let him anchor it. Get a Russian winger for Geno. Yakupov !! ST. Louis did not qualify him. Get him for 1 million for a 1 year deal plus a second year option if it worked out. Malkin and Gonchar could work on this kids psyche and get him playing again. He has the talent.
          Just screwed up in the head. They had him playing on 3rd and 4th lines in a defensive situation. That is like entering a Clydesdale in the Kentucky derby. He is a project for sure.
          Colorado has a Russian center man they got from Buffalo. He is big and fast. Just lost his game !! Grigorenko ?
          He may be a 4th line center in the making.
          As someone said, we need a big trade today to reset the pieces before tomorrow !
          Lets go Pens..

          1. Interesting thought about Yakupov. If he could be signed for the right price and skate him with Malkin, maybe he could turn his game around, but the price would need to be right to justify the chance. I would hate to have money tied up in a bust.

             I do agree, Kessel should have his own line, most of the time. But they would need to get a Center for him.

          2. Hey Jim,

             Really interesting call on Yakupov. Number 1 overall pick back in 2012. Started out fine…17 goals in 48 games back in 2012-13…and has regressed ever since.

             Perhaps a case of Schultz-itis with the Oil? Who knows.

             He’s a left-handed shot, but like Jagr plays right wing. I don’t know if he’s able to play on the left side. But if he can, he may certainly be worth the risk. He’s only 23.

             The Hockey News scouting report raves about his speed, shot and ability, but questions his work ethic and overall hockey sense, especially in the d-zone.

             Perhaps Sullivan could get him dialed in.

             Rick

       2. If the Numbers work out like you list them, I wouldn’t complain. I would be willing to go up to $5.5 for Schultz if I had too, but only because of the question mark that Letang is. Because of Letang, Schultz’s value is a little higher than I normally would set it.

          Part of me hates to give up Hagelin right now, since he is a natural LW, but if the Pens could get a good D man for him and either Rust or Sheary I’d jump on it. I would rather keep Rust and trade Sheary though. Sheary has the better scoring touch, but Rust has been a better clutch player.

          I would love to see Pouliot step up. I hate to be wrong and when I first saw him I said he would be a big time player. As of now Pouliot is making me look bad.

          Also, I would love to see the Pens find a way to keep Bones, if it could be done for the right $$$. As you said, he is more than a solid defensive Center but his Offensive numbers just aren’t there. I read an article yesterday that compared him to the old 2 9er and I thought that was a good comparison. The article focused more on the players perspective of grabbing the $$$. However, I was thinking more of the contribution level. Bourque was solid defensive forward with great wheels, but offensively he wasn’t a top 6. Unfortunately some team was willing to throw big $$$ at him but he was soon out of the league because he priced himself out. Hopefully the Pens at least get Schultz in the fold today

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