I think the sticking point is the NMC/NTC. You can be sure Letang wants to control where he plays his prime years and I can't blame him. He's not signing for 8 years to find himself playing in Florida for 7.
- madmike71

Florida? Really?

Most of us would dream about living in Florida and getting a $7M check every year.

by "objective sanity" you mean he obviously puts forth his opinion of the matter and supports it by using cherry-picked stats? Ever heard the expression "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining?"
- ChrisMS

why do you feel the need to attack the person who takes the time to put these up for us?

I think the sticking point is the NMC/NTC. You can be sure Letang wants to control where he plays his prime years and I can't blame him. He's not signing for 8 years to find himself playing in Florida for 7.
- madmike71

Hence the alternate 6M deal. If he signs for somewhere south of 6.5M Shero will give him his NTC.

Nice to see Ben Lovejoy got a 3 year / $3.3 mil extension in Anaheim. Great dude... Even thanked the Pens via Twitter.

Letang will resign...

Nice to see Ben Lovejoy got a 3 year / $3.3 mil extension in Anaheim. Great dude... Even thanked the Pens via Twitter.
- rival22

Very nice guy. $1.1M/year sounds pretty good to him. Does he start every game in Anaheim?

Nice to see Ben Lovejoy got a 3 year / $3.3 mil extension in Anaheim. Great dude... Even thanked the Pens via Twitter.
- rival22

I hope that's 3.3 total?

Letang will resign...
- lloyd095

Is this your feeling or is it something you heard?

Is this your feeling or is it something you heard?
- Orpik44

He doesn't want to go. If that's the case he will make the right decision. 8 years 54 million is a lot of change

He doesn't want to go. If that's the case he will make the right decision. 8 years 54 million is a lot of change
- lloyd095

8 years @ $6.75M per

A lot of money but we know he's worth it....he could get more outside.

8 years @ $6.75M per

A lot of money but we know he's worth it....he could get more outside.
- Orpik44

Yea but is that what's most important to him? He wants to stay and he has to take less to have a chance every year.

8 years @ $6.75M per

A lot of money but we know he's worth it....he could get more outside.
- Orpik44

Wow Da Man, you were right. Dead on right.

All the fans give you crap, but you end up being right.

Wow.

Nice to see Ben Lovejoy got a 3 year / $3.3 mil extension in Anaheim. Great dude... Even thanked the Pens via Twitter.
- rival22

Lovejoy>Niskanen

Yea but is that what's most important to him? He wants to stay and he has to take less to have a chance every year.
- lloyd095

We won't know for sure until we see ink on the paper

I still get mad when I think about what Marian Hossa left behind (7 year deal) and chose Detroit over us for a 1 year deal..

Lovejoy>Niskanen
- Genev21

This year, absolutely. Nisky was crappy.

In normal circunstances, Niskanen is the better player.

Wow Da Man, you were right. Dead on right.

All the fans give you crap, but you end up being right.

Wow.
- Daman

??? What's up with the 3rd person thing

We won't know for sure until we see ink on the paper

I still get mad when I think about what Marian Hossa left behind (7 year deal) and chose Detroit over us for a 1 year deal..
- Orpik44

Hossa wasn't tight with this roster like Letang is

by "objective sanity" you mean he obviously puts forth his opinion of the matter and supports it by using cherry-picked stats? Ever heard the expression "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining?"
- ChrisMS

Nothing is stopping you from writing your own blog in the myhockeybuzz section. Here is the link. You can cherry pick your own stats and then present them.

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/

by "objective sanity" you mean he obviously puts forth his opinion of the matter and supports it by using cherry-picked stats? Ever heard the expression "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining?"
- ChrisMS

Where are your stats genius?

Where are your stats genius?
- powerhouse

Let's not get too personal here. Chris is a nice guy and Gunner is an awesome writer.

if letang accepts, you guys are gonna have about $19 mil (assuming the cap stays the same) to sign 7 forwards (including sutter), 4 dmen, and 1 backup goalie next offseason. you think you guys can do it?

it's a bit under 2 mil per player if you average it out...it's doable, but it's gonna be tough.

i think shero's logic is that you can stick a decent prospect or a player making $2 mil on either crosby or malkin's line and they'll pot 20+ goals. gonna be tough to get a solid top 6 or even top 4 defense though.

if letang accepts, you guys are gonna have about $19 mil (assuming the cap stays the same) to sign 7 forwards (including sutter), 4 dmen, and 1 backup goalie next offseason. you think you guys can do it?

it's a bit under 2 mil per player if you average it out...it's doable, but it's gonna be tough.

i think shero's logic is that you can stick a decent prospect or a player making $2 mil on either crosby or malkin's line and they'll pot 20+ goals. gonna be tough to get a solid top 6 or even top 4 defense though.
- rangerdanger94

After next year the cap will continue to rise until the next lockout.

After next year the cap will continue to rise until the next lockout.
- Ryan_Wilson

maybe, maybe not. i think i read a couple articles that said that the way the cap formula is set, it might not rise for the next 1-2 offseasons and then start to move up towards the $70 mil it was prior to the lockout a little more than halfway through the CBA's lifespan.

Hence the alternate 6M deal. If he signs for somewhere south of 6.5M Shero will give him his NTC.
- cygnus41

I appreciate your thought process, but Letang isn't going to trade dollars for a NMC. At this stage in his career, why should he?

I get the feeling Shero just made his "highest and best". It's going to be an interesting few days.

if letang accepts, you guys are gonna have about $19 mil (assuming the cap stays the same) to sign 7 forwards (including sutter), 4 dmen, and 1 backup goalie next offseason. you think you guys can do it?

it's a bit under 2 mil per player if you average it out...it's doable, but it's gonna be tough.

i think shero's logic is that you can stick a decent prospect or a player making $2 mil on either crosby or malkin's line and they'll pot 20+ goals. gonna be tough to get a solid top 6 or even top 4 defense though.
- rangerdanger94

The Penguins have operated this way for years now. It works for them. Much better this way than looking for a way out of guys contracts 2 years from now.