To the guy complaining about stats: your logic doesn't make sense. Stats don't change what your "eye test" shows you; they just objectively show you what's been going on. Don't be shocked if he's terrible; people saw it coming. There's nothing that could have been learned by watching him play that doesn't show up in these stats. He didn't score 13 goals on paper and 25 in real life. His possession numbers indicate that when he was on the ice, opposing teams are outshooting his team; that wouldn't change by watching him play.

I've been looking around for awhile now trying to find whatever I can on spaling to gauge what we've got.

Here are a couple posts I found from preds fans in a discussion about which RFAs they should resign this year:

Spaling. Keep. Won't put up too many points for you...but he grinds it out every game and is great on the PK.

Spaling just keeps trying. He's hard working. Another reason I want to keep him.

Spaling has had his moments. He just isn't consistent. I'm afraid that if we let him go, he'll shine somewhere else and we'll be eating it again.

Spaling is absolutely performing his role. His points haven't been bad for a guy with limited TOI and he plays the PK very well. He's also managed to keep his +/- from plummeting so he's not really a liability. Spaling is arguably an emphasis of "Predator hockey" and maybe one of its finest examples, albeit not really flashy or easily recognizable.

Spaling - still kind of a meh, but probably the person I would most likely want to keep. He's a good 3rd line depth player, and a great backup when one of the top 6 gets injured.

From what I gathered from all the posts was that he isn't a stand out player he just goes about his business, but most people wanted to keep him around. I think he may surprise us
- stackthepads

I think that he's one of those players who a lot of people are going to dislike solely based on his cap hit. He'll be the guy tossed in every single proposed deadline trade.

It will be interesting to see what number he is looking for in arbitration, it's not like he has a ton of leverage. I think he gets 2 years $3.25 mil ($1.625 mil per year).

Anybody can operate in hindsight. There is no skill in that.
- Ryan_Wilson

people called for a top 6 + in return for neal and JR delivered. added depth. I for one dont disagree with the idea of stemp and gibbons for the price of Spaling but that call was also made in hindsight. check

I was concerned that Spaling cost us in a few areas. I would've been fine with taking Hornqvist and a pick instead. We're looking at $6.4M or so in space but that'll be shrinking soon. The other thing to consider is that the FA pool is essentially down to just the low price longshot types. Having said that, I wouldn't mind trying to get Setoguchi or Mueller in for really cheap. I'm also okay with letting a few young guys try to fight for spots as well.

people called for a top 6 + in return for neal and JR delivered. added depth. I for one dont disagree with the idea of stemp and gibbons for the price of Spaling but that call was also made in hindsight. check
- ChrisMS

The price and stats of Spaling were known beforehand... Gibbons being dirt cheap, also beforehand. Wanting to keep Stemp, beforehand.

The face that Stemp went dirt cheap, hindsight... does not change wanting those two over Spaling, even if they were 1 mil more combined (3 mil total).

Check, and Mate

I think that he's one of those players who a lot of people are going to dislike solely based on his cap hit. He'll be the guy tossed in every single proposed deadline trade.

It will be interesting to see what number he is looking for in arbitration, it's not like he has a ton of leverage. I think he gets 2 years $3.25 mil ($1.625 mil per year).
- rival22

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't he have to get at least $1.8M per season?

Edit: Strike that. Looks like he was at $1.5M qualifying. Not sure how that goes in arbitration.

people called for a top 6 + in return for neal and JR delivered. added depth. I for one dont disagree with the idea of stemp and gibbons for the price of Spaling but that call was also made in hindsight. check
- ChrisMS

And it's taking into consideration what two players signed for on two different teams. Perhaps Gibbons made that decision based on money, but you can be sure that Stempniak didn't. $900k, especially in NY is peanuts. He had better offers out there, I'm sure. Maybe he doesn't come to Pittsburgh for less than $1.5? A hypothetical yes, but so is the assuming that you could get Gibbons and Stempniak for the price of Spaling.

That isn't the point, the point is you could have 2 players for the price of one.
- Ryan_Wilson

Well with that logic you could have 3 for the price of crosby

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't he have to get at least $1.8M per season?

Edit: Strike that. Looks like he was at $1.5M qualifying. Not sure how that goes in arbitration.

- HopintheCordoba

Qualifying offer has expired, so he can be signed for really any amount. If it gets to arbitration day, it will be interesting to see what each side is proposing.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't he have to get at least $1.8M per season?

Edit: Strike that. Looks like he was at $1.5M qualifying. Not sure how that goes in arbitration.

- HopintheCordoba

Pretty sure everything goes out the window in arbitration, and they go from scratch?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't he have to get at least $1.8M per season?

Edit: Strike that. Looks like he was at $1.5M qualifying. Not sure how that goes in arbitration.

- HopintheCordoba

I think we would receive some compensation if we don't agree to a deal with Spaling, no?

Well with that logic you could have 3 for the price of crosby
- dbell646

Sure, but then you'd be implying (or outright saying, idk) those three players are a better value than Crosby.

Lazy assumption
- Ryan_Wilson

Well then you've watched enough games to form your opinion?

Qualifying offer has expired, so he can be signed for really any amount. If it gets to arbitration day, it will be interesting to see what each side is proposing.
- rival22

Gotcha. I'd imagine he'll get close to 300K more at least...but it's hard to say how the arbitrator will be viewing his value. They may or may not be a person who knows nothing about the game. But, you're right. Interesting.

The price and stats of Spaling were known beforehand... Gibbons being dirt cheap, also beforehand. Wanting to keep Stemp, beforehand.

The face that Stemp went dirt cheap, hindsight... does not change wanting those two over Spaling, even if they were 1 mil more combined (3 mil total).

Check, and Mate
- Guile

nobody, here or anywhere I read, said that players like stemp would be going for as cheap as they were. with the cap rising, most said salaries would go up. so at the draft how was JR supposed to know that he could get caliber players like downie/stemp/etc for 1 mill or less? stemp could have signed for 3+ mil and it wouldn't have shocked people. point is, calling out people for using hindsight immediately after using hindsight is a tad hypocritical.

Sure, but then you'd be implying (or outright saying, idk) those three players are a better value than Crosby.
- BulliesPhan87

Well 3 would add more depth then one. Gibby is a borderline NHL/AHL player the love affair with him is mind boggling.

Sure, but then you'd be implying (or outright saying, idk) those three players are a better value than Crosby.
- BulliesPhan87

for the sake of the argument we have no idea if stemp and gibbons would beat spaling. (though I stand by my belief that gibbons leads the league in SHG this year)

I think that he's one of those players who a lot of people are going to dislike solely based on his cap hit. He'll be the guy tossed in every single proposed deadline trade.

It will be interesting to see what number he is looking for in arbitration, it's not like he has a ton of leverage. I think he gets 2 years $3.25 mil ($1.625 mil per year).
- rival22

The fact that Nash doesn't want to let him go is at least reassuring. But I will take the glass half full approach and say $1.8M spent on Spaling is better than what we were paying for Tanner Glass and Taylor Pyatt.

On the glass half empty side, we could have gotten a better package. Hornqvist, Spaling and a 2nd. Hornqvist and Wilson. Hornqvist and Forsberg. I think all of those would have been fair trades for Neal.

Since everyone in here is arguing the playing abilities of Nick Spaling, i figured i'd change up the subject. Is anyone else as excited as i am to watch the soap opera that will be Ovechkin playing in a Barry Trotz defensive system???

The fact that Nash doesn't want to let him go is at least reassuring. But I will take the glass half full approach and say $1.8M spent on Spaling is better than what we were paying for Tanner Glass and Taylor Pyatt.

On the glass half empty side, we could have gotten a better package. Hornqvist, Spaling and a 2nd. Hornqvist and Wilson. Hornqvist and Forsberg. I think all of those would have been fair trades for Neal.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

We don't know what was available

nobody, here or anywhere I read, said that players like stemp would be going for as cheap as they were. with the cap rising, most said salaries would go up. so at the draft how was JR supposed to know that he could get caliber players like downie/stemp/etc for 1 mill or less? stemp could have signed for 3+ mil and it wouldn't have shocked people. point is, calling out people for using hindsight immediately after using hindsight is a tad hypocritical.
- ChrisMS

Although technically no contracts could be offered or anything, the FA meeting period would help I'd say.

for the sake of the argument we have no idea if stemp and gibbons would beat spaling. (though I stand by my belief that gibbons leads the league in SHG this year)
- ChrisMS

In which league?

The fact that Nash doesn't want to let him go is at least reassuring. But I will take the glass half full approach and say $1.8M spent on Spaling is better than what we were paying for Tanner Glass and Taylor Pyatt.

On the glass half empty side, we could have gotten a better package. Hornqvist, Spaling and a 2nd. Hornqvist and Wilson. Hornqvist and Forsberg. I think all of those would have been fair trades for Neal.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

There's a very very good chance Hornqvist out-performs Neal. You got fair value. There wasn't a hope in hell you'd get Forsberg too.

i was surprised they did not tender gibbons. i also dont know if stemps was just not happy in the role in pittsburgh. my concern is the $ they may offer sutter and spaling. what does that take away from someone else they may want to acquire. the caps spent the $ on orpik instead of gravboski so anything is possible.

why did sutter sign his tender? wasnt it 2.7M? i would have thought he would have asked for more like 3.5-4M/yr. do the pens like him that much? is a long term deal in the works?

There's a very very good chance Hornqvist out-performs Neal. You got fair value. There wasn't a hope in hell you'd get Forsberg too.
- BINGO!

I agree with you there. On all accounts. A pick probably would not have been crazy though. Maybe a forward prospect like Scissons instead.