I'm a little disappointed that pens aren't going to do anything in free agency... I love hearing all the rumors involving them this time of year and see who they miss out on... Now Friday is kinda like

I'm a little disappointed that pens aren't going to do anything in free agency... I love hearing all the rumors involving them this time of year and see who they miss out on... Now Friday is kinda like
- nh4442

Well, when you win the cup and still have the majority of that team in tact, it seems kinda silly to potentially spend more than you should on a player who's perceived value rises simply because of the time of year.

I think Hoffman, Kreider, and Rakell could all fit into the offer sheet category. Theoretically, if we were feeling bold and dumped off some salary we could OS one of those players.

As great as someone like Trouba or Lindholm would be....and even if they are worth the money...its just too much money for our structure. I'm not overly concerned with the picks. The picks given up in an offersheet are far, far less than TDL or even regular trade prices.

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...prospects-penguins-worst/

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2015/08/11/oilers-deemed-to-have-best-group-of-prospects-penguins-worst/
- martox

Not that big of a deal. The Penguins don't have any 1st round picks from the last few years that are considered prospects.

Edit: Just noticed that was from last year

btw this is for you vic http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1051786

Not that big of a deal. The Penguins don't have any 1st round picks from the last few years that are considered prospects.

Edit: Just noticed that was from last year
- cap1681

aw well the irony is real. that WORST prospect group helped us win the cup and that BEST oilers group helped them once again to come almost last

The compensation system and the value of draft picks has changed considerably since the Weber offer sheet, I don't think we'll ever see another offer sheet like that where 4-1st round picks are the compensation because of the increased value draft picks have seen over the last few years but now as RW pointed out, offering guys like Hoffman mid-range contracts in the 5M/year range is much more realistic than it was even a few years back.

There's no doubt I could be wrong about this but I think as soon as we see 1 or 2 of those mid-range offer sheets were going to start seeing them much more frequently. As far as the risk, there isn't an RFA available that is worth the risk of an offer sheet to Murray that we either can't match or we hurt the team by matching. It may have no effect on whether someone throws an offer sheet at Murray next year but I feel safer right now with offer sheets being uncommon than I would if they were commonly used.
- jaydogg1974

McDavid's post elc contract is going to be huge. I htink his first contract could run 13-14/year. I could definitely see a team in a marquee market going the offer sheet on him and forcing Edmonton to match something very high or let him walk for 4 1st. For a team like the rangers adding the games best player is worth 4 1st.

I could see them offer sheeting him at like 7 years 100 million.

Then structuring it
19, 19 ,19, 11, 11, 11, 10

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2015/08/11/oilers-deemed-to-have-best-group-of-prospects-penguins-worst/
- martox

Meh... our top prospects have over the minimum amount of games now to count.

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2015/08/11/oilers-deemed-to-have-best-group-of-prospects-penguins-worst/
- martox

Best part is 5 of those terrible prospects helped us win the cup this year

Shows you how much water beginning of the year predictions hold.

McDavid's post elc contract is going to be huge. I htink his first contract could run 13-14/year. I could definitely see a team in a marquee market going the offer sheet on him and forcing Edmonton to match something very high or let him walk for 4 1st. For a team like the rangers adding the games best player is worth 4 1st.

I could see them offer sheeting him at like 7 years 100 million.

Then structuring it
19, 19 ,19, 11, 11, 11, 10
- sditulli

I guess if a player like McDavid actually made it to that point then I could see it being a possibility but I don't see McDavid ever getting to that point, much like when Crosby & Malkin came off of their elcs there's going to be no consideration to trying a bridge deal because he will already be 1 of the best players in the league, Edmonton knew the day they drafted McDavid that he was going to be 1 of the highest paid players in the league when his elc ends, they'll have him locked up long term as 1 of the top paid players in the game before anyone ever gets the chance to throw an offer sheet at him just as we did with Sid & Geno.

aw well the irony is real. that WORST prospect group helped us win the cup and that BEST oilers group helped them once again to come almost last
- martox

The problem is that the "experts" evaluate things like prospect pool in a vacuum, they only look at top end talent and assume that the team with the most perceived top end talent has the best system but a team like the Pens doesn't need a system full of potential top end talent for their system to be effective, as we saw first hand this year, they need a system that has players who can step in when needed and contribute solid minutes and play within their system, the Pens are loaded with that type of player even though there isn't a ton of potential top end talent and there's still plenty more where the 1st wave came from, with players like Sundqvist, Guentzel, Simon and Bleuger still waiting in the wings, the Pens farm system will be exactly what they need for the remainder of the Sid/Geno era.

Winning the cup is worth "burning the system to the ground". Every other team would be willing to go that route as long as you win a championship. Pity the Rags, their system is toast and they never get over the top. Now they're in salary cap hell.

Plus, like others have said, the system isn't completely devoid of talent. Star potential players, probably not. But a couple NHL players....yeah, I think so.

It seems we have all our picks for future drafts and some salary cap relief coming next year. Nobody on the team has a painful contract either. Cough, cough.....New York.

So I'm sure everyone/most have seen this already but per Lebrun "One GM has told me, "If anyone offer-sheets one of my guys on Friday, I will offer-sheet one of his guys every year for the next 10 years".

Just thought that was pretty interesting considering the current conversation.

So I'm sure everyone/most have seen this already but per Lebrun "One GM has told me, "If anyone offer-sheets one of my guys on Friday, I will offer-sheet one of his guys every year for the next 10 years".

Just thought that was pretty interesting considering the current conversation.
- jaydogg1974

Is that legal? Could be possible a comment like that would violate anti-trust or labor laws?

If Google or Apple made a similar comment about the other stealing employees it would result in big problems for them.

I guess if a player like McDavid actually made it to that point then I could see it being a possibility but I don't see McDavid ever getting to that point, much like when Crosby & Malkin came off of their elcs there's going to be no consideration to trying a bridge deal because he will already be 1 of the best players in the league, Edmonton knew the day they drafted McDavid that he was going to be 1 of the highest paid players in the league when his elc ends, they'll have him locked up long term as 1 of the top paid players in the game before anyone ever gets the chance to throw an offer sheet at him just as we did with Sid & Geno.
- jaydogg1974

Depends on McDavid. I believe Edmonton can sign him a year before he would be RFA so locking in 80-90 million in earnings and not taking a year of injury risks is a big deal.

But he's the odd guy who will actually have a RFA market at the high end of the scale. Would be tough for him to turn down a long-term deal at 12/year and play out the year while risking a career ending injury.

Is that legal? Could be possible a comment like that would violate anti-trust or labor laws?

If Google or Apple made a similar comment about the other stealing employees it would result in big problems for them.
- sditulli

I can't see how it really could be, the entire free agency system was established for people to "steal" other teams employees. I could see the NHL having a big issue with it and could see it as a form of tampering but I can't see how there could be any legal ramifications since extending offer-sheets to other team's player is a legal act.

Winning the cup is worth "burning the system to the ground". Every other team would be willing to go that route as long as you win a championship. Pity the Rags, their system is toast and they never get over the top. Now they're in salary cap hell.

Plus, like others have said, the system isn't completely devoid of talent. Star potential players, probably not. But a couple NHL players....yeah, I think so.

It seems we have all our picks for future drafts and some salary cap relief coming next year. Nobody on the team has a painful contract either. Cough, cough.....New York.
- madmike71

exactly. dude the pens just won the cup. that second one of the 87 era that had been so elusive. (frank). yes.

i'm not going to do a dance that the system isnt top notch, but okay. its all relative. and again, its not totally gloom and doom. this team isn't sitting in an awful spot moving forward. it could be worse.

exactly. dude the pens just won the cup. that second one of the 87 era that had been so elusive. (frank). yes.

i'm not going to do a dance that the system isnt top notch, but okay. its all relative. and again, its not totally gloom and doom. this team isn't sitting in an awful spot moving forward. it could be worse.
- stayinthefnnet

Yup. The goal is the cup not the system.

Yup. The goal is the cup not the system.
- madmike71

Precisely. The system will have more relevance near the end of the Sid/Geno era but for now all it needs to do is exactly what it did last year and it's in good position to do that for the next few years.

Retweeted Michael Russo (@Russostrib):

Matt Cullen says his "intention" and hope is to sign with Pittsburgh right now if the #penguins can make space

Translation:So what Cullen is saying is he would like to sign with pens but they don't the space to meet his demands. Someone's contract has to go if Rutherford is going to add depth. If lovejoy & schultz depart, we have no one to replace our 6 d-men.

So I'm sure everyone/most have seen this already but per Lebrun "One GM has told me, "If anyone offer-sheets one of my guys on Friday, I will offer-sheet one of his guys every year for the next 10 years".

Just thought that was pretty interesting considering the current conversation.
- jaydogg1974

That is quite a commitment to assets on their part... but couldn't that same GM in theory, QO a player they kinda really don't care too much about (Beau Bennett for example) and let the team take him for picks?

http://insidepittsburghsp...d-the-ben-lovejoy-market/

http://insidepittsburghsports.com/story/cullen-negotiations-big-numbers-flying-around-the-ben-lovejoy-market/
- joescullz

cullen will be back and it won't be above 1.2 mil

Tyutin got bought out. I'd assume he's a potential Lovejoy replacement.