Me too, because if you trade him, don't kid yourself, that's a position you have to backfill with another acquisition.

I don't think everybody's "find" of 2016, K%ero, is quite that guy. Decent enough player in some role for sure, but people have long undervalued all Kruger does . . .
- John Jaeckel

Kruger's $3M cap hit did not become worth it overnight. Put that towards a $2M signing and savings.

So now with Hossa's money they're going to nix the deal with LVGK and keep Kruger and his 3m cap hit because they can? Seems like we can do better with the money...
- busmaster

Taking Kruger in the draft was pretty much never really considered. I believe the deal was We trade them Kruger (with prospect/pick) for something in return and they pick TVR.

You can't look at each situation and deal individually. There are a number of moving parts on all fronts right now. My recommendation would be to let it all play out and evaluate afterward. Otherwise, there likely will be a lot of misplaced anger/outrage/verbal abuse.

.... Just a little patience.... yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhh....

I'm afraid that Bowman's concept of the value of Panarin, a scoring machine in the 99.98/99.99 percentile in the league is going to be dramatically disappointing. Especially now that that line of Panarin Kane and Anisimov with it's proven chemistry has become even more important to the well-being of the team given the loss of Hossa. Why would Stan want to gamble that away? Stan knows that if they bring a guy who has 30 goals on another team it absolutely does not guarantee those goals will happen in Chicago. So he should trade a near sure thing for a crapshoot? Really bad idea.
- Savoy

AGAIN WITH THIS!

We all get it. You have a thing for Panarin! Unfortunately hockey is a team sport. Teams with 1 good line get knocked out in the first round because they are 1 dimensional. Teams with 4 lines are more of a complete team with fewer holes that the defense must then account for.

In review: 4 lines = GOOD
1 line = MUCH LESS GOOD.

Kruger's $3M cap hit did not become worth it overnight. Put that towards a $2M signing and savings.
- ObeseOprah

Kruger's cap hit is only not worth it when the team is cap strapped - they are not anymore. If they can pick up a possible replacement (a Paquette or Riley Nash type, not a Dominic Moore), then it's a good value swap. Or pick up a better center option for 2C with room, great. But if either such a player is not out there, then I keep Kruger as he's 1) excellent at his role and 2) it's been hard for center to please Q.

Me too, because if you trade him, don't kid yourself, that's a position you have to backfill with another acquisition.

I don't think everybody's "find" of 2016, K%ero, is quite that guy. Decent enough player in some role for sure, but people have long undervalued all Kruger does . . .
- John Jaeckel

And trading Kruger anywhere means Stanbo gets bent over again because its seen as a salary dump necessity.

So if a trade(s) are going to happen, wonder who it is?

I'm so confused.....what's happening?

Instead of trading Kruger now, maybe they look at getting out from Anisimov's contract instead?

Leaves you with Toews-Schmaltz-XXXX-Kruger as your centers, plus Anisimov's contract runs 2 years longer than Kruger's and at $1.5M more per year.

Taking Kruger in the draft was pretty much never really considered. I believe the deal was We trade them Kruger (with prospect/pick) for something in return and they pick TVR.

You can't look at each situation and deal individually. There are a number of moving parts on all fronts right now. My recommendation would be to let it all play out and evaluate afterward. Otherwise, there likely will be a lot of misplaced anger/outrage/verbal abuse.

.... Just a little patience.... yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhh....
- Chunk

I thought the rumor was that Vegas was going to pick Kruger and then trade them TVR for "future considerations". That's what some other teams is doing in that situation - Fleury is being selected and then a pick is being traded later.

AGAIN WITH THIS!

We all get it. You have a thing for Panarin! Unfortunately hockey is a team sport. Teams with 1 good line get knocked out in the first round because they are 1 dimensional. Teams with 4 lines are more of a complete team with fewer holes that the defense must then account for.

In review: 4 lines = GOOD
1 line = MUCH LESS GOOD.
- Tuke17

But this can't be right... Panarin is really good.

Kruger's cap hit is only not worth it when the team is cap strapped - they are not anymore. If they can pick up a possible replacement (a Paquette or Riley Nash type, not a Dominic Moore), then it's a good value swap. But if such a player is not out there, then I keep Kruger as he's 1) excellent at his role and 2) it's been hard for center to please Q.
- L_B_R

If they keep Kruger at $3mil and trade Anisimov at $4.5 mil, I will riot in the streets. AA >>>> Kruger. Different usage, sure, but please don't bring back the "untapped offensive potential" nonsense with Kruger. He is what he is, a defense only 4C that matches up against top competition and makes a lot of money.

Instead of trading Kruger now, maybe they look at getting out from Anisimov's contract instead?

Leaves you with Toews-Schmaltz-XXXX-Kruger as your centers, plus Anisimov's contract runs 2 years longer than Kruger's and at $1.5M more per year.
- Hawksfan37

$1.5 mil for 40 more points per year, 6 more inches in height, and 25lbs in weight. Ansimov is far more than $1.5mil better of a player than Kruger.

The Hossa thing still hurts but I realized with those savings in cap space we can make a play for Dadunov and Ship and create our Russian line. This moves Kane with Toews and Panik Hartman and Schmaltz on line 3. We still need another top 6 wing. But that can be resolved with the VGK trade or moving AA to that wing spot.

for tonight's awards show, there will be 4 expansion segments where 8,8,8 and 6 player announcements for VGK will be revealed.

$1.5 mil for 40 more points per year, 6 more inches in height, and 25lbs in weight. Ansimov is far more than $1.5mil better of a player than Kruger.
- EnzoD

I don't disagree with a word you're saying, but you also get more back for Anisimov in a trade too.

If they keep Kruger at $3mil and trade Anisimov at $4.5 mil, I will riot in the streets. AA >>>> Kruger. Different usage, sure, but please don't bring back the "untapped offensive potential" nonsense with Kruger. He is what he is, a defense only 4C that matches up against top competition and makes a lot of money.
- EnzoD

It's all about replacements in the system / ones you might be able to get. Kero exists, and while he looks promising, he did not play Kruger's role last year so there's no way to really know. He certainly wasn't quite there statistically.

And there have been a lot of people on here talking about how Kane can carry anyone, so it might be easier to replace his center than it would to get a good value shutdown center.

The Hossa thing still hurts but I realized with those savings in cap space we can make a play for Dadunov and Ship and create our Russian line. This moves Kane with Toews and Panik Hartman and Schmaltz on line 3. We still need another top 6 wing. But that can be resolved with the VGK trade or moving AA to that wing spot.


- gifman

Shipachyov is already signed to play in Vegas and they're not looking to trade him.

It's all about replacements in the system / ones you might be able to get. Kero exists, and while he looks promising, he did not play Kruger's role last year so there's no way to really know. He certainly wasn't quite there statistically.

And there have been a lot of people on here talking about how Kane can carry anyone, so it might be easier to replace his center than it would to get a good value shutdown center.
- L_B_R

I see your logic, but I think you can find a 4C for $1mil, and not many 2Cs for $4.5mil. Now, if Anisimov gets you a young dman or young Top 6 forward in a trade package, by all means. I simply think Kruger, especially with his diminished skill set due to injuries, is replaceable for a cheaper price.

Kruger's cap hit is only not worth it when the team is cap strapped - they are not anymore. If they can pick up a possible replacement (a Paquette or Riley Nash type, not a Dominic Moore), then it's a good value swap. But if such a player is not out there, then I keep Kruger as he's 1) excellent at his role and 2) it's been hard for center to please Q.
- L_B_R

'They are not anymore', yes they are dude. We still have 5-7 AHL guys filling out our ranks. The $3M going towards Kruger's ZERO offensive ability could be better used.

He's great at D, great on the PK, useless on offense. You don't pay $3M for 17 points unless it's a shutdown defenseman.

Put $1.5 towards two 3rd liners and we'll be in better shape.

- j.boyd919

It's 5 years away unfortunately, but looking forward to seeing what Penguins fans' takes are when Crosby goes on LTIR for concussions in the summer of 2022 instead of retiring, and doesn't play the last 3 years of his 12 year contract and lo and behold, the Pens avoid a cap recapture penalty.

Going to go out on a limb and say the takes will be pretty different than what they are saying today.

It's all about replacements in the system / ones you might be able to get. Kero exists, and while he looks promising, he did not play Kruger's role last year so there's no way to really know. He certainly wasn't quite there statistically.

And there have been a lot of people on here talking about how Kane can carry anyone, so it might be easier to replace his center than it would to get a good value shutdown center.
- L_B_R

This is true. Hawks maybe better off to keep Kruger and just find another low salary option. Despite the never ending debate on the value of a Faceoff win, it would be nice if they could find a C that can win draws, and go to the net.

It's 5 years away unfortunately, but looking forward to seeing what Penguins fans' takes are when Crosby goes on LTIR for concussions in the summer of 2022 instead of retiring, and doesn't play the last 3 years of his 12 year contract and lo and behold, the Pens avoid a cap recapture penalty.
- Hawksfan37

- j.boyd919

And to think we felt sorry for you after the Crosby concussion years. Your aging and top heavy core will catch up with you as well. Good luck winning another cup when Crosby is eating his meals through a straw and Letang is in a full body cast.

I'm sure Malkin will stick around when the going gets tough, just like Datsyuk and Kovalchuk.

- j.boyd919

FRANK OFF.....JACKASS

This brought to you by a lack of actually reading the CBA.
- Antilles

And this brought to you by a Cupless franchise fan who spends way too much time attempting to outline potential negative scenarios on the thread of the team he envies. Take off to the Preds thread. They are the team that eliminated the Blues this year.