who would want a player that is 1 year from ufa, 36 years old, gonna play 3rd or 4 th line and cost 3.85 mil?
- martox

Any team that has a lot of free agents after next season. (Like the pens). Who want a quality depth winger without needing to give a Ufa term.

Maybe Phoenix. Kunitz still has a good hero chart

So actually went through and read a lot of previous comments about expansion rules and where people are confused at. Not saying I am correct but this is what my take on the confusing ones are.

All players who have currently effective and continuing “no movement” clauses at the time of the expansion draft (and who decline to waive such clauses) must be protected (and will be counted toward their club’s applicable protection limits).

I take this one as anyone who has a NMC of any kind in the 2017-2018 season must auto be protected. Kunitz, Duper and Daley all end and do not continue to the next season. Thus they are avaliable.

All first and second-year professionals, as well as all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection and will not be counted toward their club’s applicable protection limits.

Anyone who started career before last season, 14-15, is available. So Sprong, Sundquist and Simon are protected. They are still 2nd year pros at this point, IMO. Obviously Murray is not because played all that year in AHL.

All teams must meet the following minimum requirements regarding players exposed for selection in the expansion draft:

One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season or played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.

Two forwards who are a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season or played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.

Some people really mistook this one. They thought that these were only people you had to make avaliable and LV could take. NO! You have to have someone in your group meet these requirements.

Example. Pouliot most likely is not protected. Lets say similiar to this year happens and does not play 40 games in NHL this year. He would also not hit the 70 games over two years. Even though he is unprotected, he does not meet the game requirements and contract requirements. So you would also have to have someone like Cole, who we will anyway, be unprotected.

This rule is to prevent teams signing a lot of 1 year deals this year and only having free agents be unprotected.

This rule also hurts someone like Toronto. They will have a very young team, most be protected automatically. So they will need someone who has played the number of games. So may force them to not protect someone like Kadri even though they would want to. That is what this rule is for.
- mmonana120

If you are correct, this is mostly good news for us. I wish we were more sure on the Fleury situation. I still don't know if he is auto-protected. I've heard half the people saying he is, and half the people saying he isn't because its not a full NTC.

Any team that has a lot of free agents after next season. (Like the pens). Who want a quality depth winger without needing to give a Ufa term.

Maybe Phoenix. Kunitz still has a good hero chart
- sditulli

Someone would definitely take Kunitz. Not saying we'd get a lot in return but theres probably half a dozen teams that would love to have him. 3 stanley cup rings, assistant captain and good in the locker room, still put up 17 goals and .5 ppg despite hands in decline, good possession stats. GM's would take this guy in a heart beat if they have the cap room.

Any team that has a lot of free agents after next season. (Like the pens). Who want a quality depth winger without needing to give a Ufa term.

Maybe Phoenix. Kunitz still has a good hero chart
- sditulli

I just think that kunitz being here the last year is better for us than what he would get if we traded him. I am sure you COULD trade him but you will get almost nothing.

who would want a player that is 1 year from ufa, 36 years old, gonna play 3rd or 4 th line and cost 3.85 mil?
- martox

more importantly to me, how do you replace him? i know he isnt perfect, but i dont see the pens getting much better at a cheaper rate.

more importantly to me, how do you replace him? i know he isnt perfect, but i dont see the pens getting much better at a cheaper rate.
- stayinthefnnet

Agreed. In other news Florida signed Yandle for 7 years 6.35 mil AAV. All I can say is wow

Agreed. In other news Florida signed Yandle for 7 years 6.35 mil AAV. All I can say is wow
- tpcg402

wow is right

Agreed. In other news Florida signed Yandle for 7 years 6.35 mil AAV. All I can say is wow
- tpcg402

Holy poop.

Agreed. In other news Florida signed Yandle for 7 years 6.35 mil AAV. All I can say is wow
- tpcg402

A little cheaper than I expected. Terms a little concerning but AAV looks fine. All depends on how he declines with age. Depends on cap too. If it's up around 100 in seven years then even the back end of deal is fine. I guess I view yandle as a bad 1d but an amazing guy if he's leading your 2nd pairing. I would say he's paid right when you factor in term risks.

Holy poop.
- drummer829

Why are people always amazed at what top guys get in free agency. Can't compare it to rfa pricing. Your not wasting assets on drafting or acquiring. The full costs of the player is salary.

These goligoski and Yandle signings aren't looking good for the pens chances of keeping Schultz.

more importantly to me, how do you replace him? i know he isnt perfect, but i dont see the pens getting much better at a cheaper rate.
- stayinthefnnet

Agree.

Versteeg, Ladd, Hudler, Boedker, McGinn are mostly decent options though if you find one on a fair deal. Might be better to have one of those guys around for a few years.

These goligoski and Yandle signings aren't looking good for the pens chances of keeping Schultz.
- drummer829

why? shultz has proven nothing AT ALL yet to earn more than 2.5 mil. yandle is a good defenemen and je got to cash in. schultz got to cash in with the oilers. he won't get a contract that is higher than the one he had in atleast like 3 or 4 years

why? shultz has proven nothing AT ALL yet to earn more than 2.5 mil. yandle is a good defenemen and je got to cash in. schultz got to cash in with the oilers. he won't get a contract that is higher than the one he had in atleast like 3 or 4 years
- martox

He proved he wasnt as bad as the Oilers. He proved that he could hold his own in the Stanley Cup finals. There are plenty of teams out there who could use him, Dallas for instance.

It will be up to him what he wants to do because there will be a bigger pay day with another team, especially considering he just won a cup, playing for a winner may take a step back to money now.

He proved he wasnt as bad as the Oilers. He proved that he could hold his own in the Stanley Cup finals. There are plenty of teams out there who could use him, Dallas for instance.

It will be up to him what he wants to do because there will be a bigger pay day with another team, especially considering he just won a cup, playing for a winner may take a step back to money now.
- stackthepads

as yohe and alot of other reporters said. schultz is really happy here and is liked. why would he wanna go for the money again and risk getting into a oilers situation again... if he leaves for money he is extremly greedy (smart but very greedy)

as yohe and alot of other reporters said. schultz is really happy here and is liked. why would he wanna go for the money again and risk getting into a oilers situation again... if he leaves for money he is extremly greedy (smart but very greedy)
- martox

It's still a job for these guys. Can't call a guy greedy for accepting the most money possible

These goligoski and Yandle signings aren't looking good for the pens chances of keeping Schultz.
- drummer829

Gogo and Yandle are perceived to be top pairing quality defensemen around the league for whatever reason. They were also signed by teams with a good chunk of cap space. One's far out from being a contender and the other has a lot of cheap young contracts.

A) Something tells me Schultz doesn't have that sort of perception.

B) There's not a lot of teams out there with a lot of cap space to throw around and those that do usually have internal budgets. Pretty much every NHL team has to be frugal for one reason or another.

as yohe and alot of other reporters said. schultz is really happy here and is liked. why would he wanna go for the money again and risk getting into a oilers situation again... if he leaves for money he is extremly greedy (smart but very greedy)
- martox

Thus is a business first and foremost. If the money's close he'd likely stay. If he's being offered 4 by Dallas and we are offering 2.5 he's out and I would be happy for him

Gogo and Yandle are perceived to be top pairing quality defensemen around the league for whatever reason. They were also signed by teams with a good chunk of cap space. One's far out from being a contender and the other has a lot of cheap young contracts.

A) Something tells me Schultz doesn't have that sort of perception.

B) There's not a lot of teams out there with a lot of cap space to throw around and those that do usually have internal budgets. Pretty much every NHL team has to be frugal for one reason or another.
- Victoro311

Letangs contract looks better each time a dman signs

Gogo and Yandle are perceived to be top pairing quality defensemen around the league for whatever reason. They were also signed by teams with a good chunk of cap space. One's far out from being a contender and the other has a lot of cheap young contracts.

A) Something tells me Schultz doesn't have that sort of perception.

B) There's not a lot of teams out there with a lot of cap space to throw around and those that do usually have internal budgets. Pretty much every NHL team has to be frugal for one reason or another.
- Victoro311

Schultz was top pairing in Edmonton and produced pretty close to one there too... It's just his plus minus was horrible.

Letangs contract looks better each time a dman signs
- dbell646

Kind of knew that would happen. It's an older contract now. If Letang had to be re upped after this season he'd be a 9mill or more guy.

Kind of knew that would happen. It's an older contract now. If Letang had to be re upped after this season he'd be a 9mill or more guy.
- MattStrat

Right but I think all of our stars deals look great. We had to suffer when cap was lower but as it goes up we are in better and better shape.

Schultz was top pairing in Edmonton and produced pretty close to one there too... It's just his plus minus was horrible.
- MattStrat

Perception is everything. Obviously I'm just speculating here, but I get the feeling Schultz is viewed as a terrible defensively and his stint as a top pairing defenseman was a failure due to his inability to actually defend. If you're a top pairing guy logging top pairing minutes, ~30 points doesn't come close to making up for allowing an asswhap of goal in the eyes of many.

Why is a player like Lee Stempniak viewed as a vet minimum guy when his production per 60 at 5v5 basically his entire career has suggested that he has more in common with a first liner than a fourth liner? The highest cap hit he's ever carried is 2.5 for crying out loud! Perception.

Perception is everything. Obviously I'm just speculating here, but I get the feeling Schultz is viewed as a terrible defensively and his stint as a top pairing defenseman was a failure due to his inability to actually defend. If you're a top pairing guy logging top pairing minutes, ~30 points doesn't come close to making up for allowing an asswhap of goal in the eyes of many.

Why is a player like Lee Stempniak viewed as a vet minimum guy when his production per 60 at 5v5 basically his entire career has suggested that he has more in common with a first liner than a fourth liner? The highest cap hit he's ever carried is 2.5 for crying out loud! Perception.
- Victoro311

Ok but we do know first hand he's not terrible defensively. We've seen enough of him. He's actually better than average defensively IMO. So back to the production; 2 seasons ago he had 33 points. That puts him within around 5 points or exactly the same amount of points as Doughty, Carlson, Fowler, E. Johnson, J. Johnson, Leddy, Brodie, Faulk, Demers, Green and more that season. Now factor in the fact he did this playing for the worst team in the league and I think you can really see this guy is a definite top 4, maybe even 2. I think Pens fans want to undervalue hoping to get him for real cheap but he will be able to get more elsewhere. Quite possibly a lot more.

Perception is everything. Obviously I'm just speculating here, but I get the feeling Schultz is viewed as a terrible defensively and his stint as a top pairing defenseman was a failure due to his inability to actually defend. If you're a top pairing guy logging top pairing minutes, ~30 points doesn't come close to making up for allowing an asswhap of goal in the eyes of many.

Why is a player like Lee Stempniak viewed as a vet minimum guy when his production per 60 at 5v5 basically his entire career has suggested that he has more in common with a first liner than a fourth liner? The highest cap hit he's ever carried is 2.5 for crying out loud! Perception.
- Victoro311

Problem with perception is it also tells us that there are teams who will perceive him differently now because of the Cup win (See: Scuderi) Offensive upside will get anyone's attention and if a team is lacking that kind of defenseman, it could get him top pairing consideration and a salary more in line with that. The Oilers obviously thought enough of him there.

Logically, you would think a top pairing defenseman would be sound defensively, but I'll go on record as saying that was my knock against Letang and his salary when they gave him his current contract. I didn't think he was a good enough "defenseman' to deserve it. He's gotten better, but if it wasn't for his offensive skills, I still wouldn't "perceive" him as a 1-2 defenseman.