I never thought he was worth U$3M but he does do a good job when playing with Sid and Guentz. He'll be fine.
- Barnaby36

$3M per season isn't really that much for a middle 6 forward. Everyone is looking at the 53 point season and is expecting him to replicate that but when you look at comparable contracts/players... $3m for 30 points a seasons is average. Is he struggling a bit right now? Yeah, but he still has 24 points in 64 games. For perspective, Kunitz ended last season with 29 and he was making 3.75m? Sheary is fine.

I think Kühnhackl is a staple on the 4th line. That's just my feeling with Sullivan at the helm. He does block some shots and fights all game. I'm fine with him there.

As for Rowney I'd rather see him as our 13th forward. Jooris seemed to be a nice pick up and we could try him while we don't get Aston-Reese back.
- Barnaby36

No, I get Kuhn on the 4th, but he wants him on the first line with Sid. lol

$3M per season isn't really that much for a middle 6 forward. Everyone is looking at the 53 point season and is expecting him to replicate that but when you look at comparable contracts/players... $3m for 30 points a seasons is average. Is he struggling a bit right now? Yeah, but he still has 24 points in 64 games. For perspective, Kunitz ended last season with 29 and he was making 3.75m? Sheary is fine.
- j.boyd919

He's been the reverse of Sheahan or Hagelin where he did a lot of damage early, cooled a bit, and now outside that 2 goal game has fallen off a cliff. And in Sheary's case, I'd he isn't scoring, he's not helping much in other ways as he tends to lose the puck a lot when he's pressing.

The more interesting argument is he needes as a top 9 guy here anymore with Simon, ZAR, and next year Sprong all making considerable less.

He's been the reverse of Sheahan or Hagelin where he did a lot of damage early, cooled a bit, and now outside that 2 goal game has fallen off a cliff. And in Sheary's case, I'd he isn't scoring, he's not helping much in other ways as he tends to lose the puck a lot when he's pressing.

The more interesting argument is he needes as a top 9 guy here anymore with Simon, ZAR, and next year Sprong all making considerable less.
- Tojo.

I could see him getting dumped in the off season, but he's still "average."

It's very feasible that Fleury gets to 500 wins. Regardless of whether or not he does, he probably ends up in the top 5 of all time wins category. He already has 3 cups. I'm all for advanced stats but not when judging the hard numbers of a player's career and how it affects their chances at the HOF. In the same way you'll never convince anyone outside of Pittsburgh that Lemieux is better than Gretzky, you'll never convince anyone that a goaltender with 500(+/-) wins and 3(+) cups doesn't belong in the HOF.
- Le_Magnifique

So Chris Osgood should be in the HHOF? He has a better win% than MAF (4th all-time), has 3 Cups, 400 wins (most pre-shootout era), has 2 Jennings Trophies, is 8th all-time in playoff wins, and 4th all-time in playoff shutouts. Yet despite all of these numbers (and if they had shootouts in the 90s, he'd probably have 500 +/- 20 wins), Chris Osgood, to me, does not belong in the HHOF.

Rust
Sheahan
Oleksiak
Simon
Kühnhackl
Jarry

All of the above are RFAs after this season. Any opinions about their new contracts?

Rust
Sheahan
Oleksiak
Simon
Kühnhackl
Jarry

All of the above are RFAs after this season. Any opinions about their new contracts?
- Barnaby36

Do the Baby Pens have any young defensemen with top-6 upside? I know they've hit the jackpot with a few forwards and goalies, but if they have any AHL defenseman that could be ready for the big show next year, they may decide to get rid of Oleksiak. I also don't think they'll keep Sheahan, as he's basically a 4th line center in this setup but will want middle-6 money.

Do the Baby Pens have any young defensemen with top-6 upside? I know they've hit the jackpot with a few forwards and goalies, but if they have any AHL defenseman that could be ready for the big show next year, they may decide to get rid of Oleksiak. I also don't think they'll keep Sheahan, as he's basically a 4th line center in this setup but will want middle-6 money.
- jmatchett383

Honestly I think both Sheahan and Oleksiak will return. Sheahan $3M and Oleksiak $2M.

We've got Bengtsson in WBS that could be something. We have a lot of 6-8ths D down there though: Trotman, Czuczman, Tinordi, Pedan, Corrado, Prow

Rust
Sheahan
Oleksiak
Simon
Kühnhackl
Jarry

All of the above are RFAs after this season. Any opinions about their new contracts?
- Barnaby36

Rust - 3.0-3.75m for 3 or 4 years
Sheahan - 2.75-3.5m for 3 years
Oleksiak - 1.2m for 2 years
Simon - 950k for 2 years
Kuhn - 850k for 2 years
Jarry - 1.2m for 2 years

hopefully?

Nobody will remember this game if we put up a good showing against Sid's childhood team Montreal.

We'll get the W tonight.
- Barnaby36

Didn't get the W and still nobody will remember this game. Nobody needs to. The Pens have another level they are trying to reach and while losing to the Rangers doesn't seem to help that, I still think there were positives.

I think Brassard has finally been getting more and more comfortable over the last few games and his line was very good.

The Pens got a point out it and I'm fine with it. Look at Boston and Tampa; they've both put up some stinkers against mediocre teams recently. Tampa got blown out 7-4 to OTT yesterday. Bruins got bounced by CHI a few days ago.

The Pens will still have a couple of losses before the season is out that we'd all wish they'd had.

Overall, the only reason the Pens lost last night IMO is because they fell asleep at the wheel. They walked in to NY, figured they'd dominate which they did through two periods and slacked off in the third. By the time OT rolled around they were just too much in the hole.

My guess is tonight we'll see a no-joke Pens team.

Rust - 3.0-3.75m for 3 or 4 years
Sheahan - 2.75-3.5m for 3 years
Oleksiak - 1.2m for 2 years
Simon - 950k for 2 years
Kuhn - 850k for 2 years
Jarry - 1.2m for 2 years

hopefully?
- j.boyd919

Sounds about right.

Rust $3-3.5M
Sheahan $3M
Oleksiak $2M
Simon less than $1M
Kühnhackl less than $1M
Jarry a little above $1M

Honestly I think both Sheahan and Oleksiak will return. Sheahan $3M and Oleksiak $2-2.5M.

We've got Bengtsson in WBS that could be something. We have a lot of 6-8ths D down there though: Czuczman, Tinordi, Pedan, Corrado, Prow
- Barnaby36

I think it will help their cap if they can move on from both Hags and somehow move Hunwick. Right now, they have a little under $5M signed for next year (using a static cap) so those 2 right there put them over the limit. Rust, Jarry, and Simon will get decent, fair raises (maybe $4.5M -$5M total). Once the Pens got Brassard, I saw Sheahan as the odd man out next year. Oleksiak is the wild card to me. But again, if they can free up the $4M Hags makes and the cap goes up by even 5%, they should be okay.

Rust - 3.0-3.75m for 3 or 4 years
Sheahan - 2.75-3.5m for 3 years
Oleksiak - 1.2m for 2 years
Simon - 950k for 2 years
Kuhn - 850k for 2 years
Jarry - 1.2m for 2 years

hopefully?
- j.boyd919

I think you're pretty close there on most of them give or take a little. I think Sheahan gets at most $3M, but I bet if they go three years they can nab him at $2.5M, but he's a hard player to gauge IMO as far as how his value will be measured.

I can definitely see Oleksiak getting between $1.2 to $1.5.

Sheary is fine. You guys just expect the moon. He's in line with average 2nd line production, while bouncing up and down the lineup.
- j.boyd919

Yup.

Kuhnhackl is by far the biggest possession drag on the team. He should never play
- Tojo.

Fixed.

All kidding aside I'm fine with Kuhn playing. I think every team has a Kuhnhackl on their fourth, but good teams don't have two versions of him flanking their 4C.

Either Kuhn or Rowney, not both.

I want to see Jooris at wing one of these next games.

I could see him getting dumped in the off season, but he's still "average."
- j.boyd919

I agree with that. He's about worth his salary, but they have a lot of cheaper guys who can fill that role. If he went nuts with Crosby again, different story.

Sounds about right.

Rust $3-3.5M
Sheahan $3M
Oleksiak $2M
Simon less than $1M
Kühnhackl less than $1M
Jarry a little above $1M
- Barnaby36

While I do think Oleksiak has played well, I'm not sure if he's played 2M well yet. I could see the pens offering 1.5 for a year or 2 as a prove it kinda thing given his shaky production in Dallas. Sheahan, like Rinosaur said I think is tough to peg, but I think i was Victoro who pointed how paying a little more for a "4C" so we have the 3C to take over when Brassard walks after next year might be a good idea.

While I do think Oleksiak has played well, I'm not sure if he's played 2M well yet. I could see the pens offering 1.5 for a year or 2 as a prove it kinda thing given his shaky production in Dallas. Sheahan, like Rinosaur said I think is tough to peg, but I think i was Victoro who pointed how paying a little more for a "4C" so we have the 3C to take over when Brassard walks after next year might be a good idea.
- j.boyd919

I understand the Oleksiak situation but when we look at our roster and see Hunwick getting $2.25M it gets hard to not think Olesiak can at least get something close to that. He's a 6´7" guy with good mobility too. His agent will probably ask for $2M.

While I do think Oleksiak has played well, I'm not sure if he's played 2M well yet. I could see the pens offering 1.5 for a year or 2 as a prove it kinda thing given his shaky production in Dallas. Sheahan, like Rinosaur said I think is tough to peg, but I think i was Victoro who pointed how paying a little more for a "4C" so we have the 3C to take over when Brassard walks after next year might be a good idea.
- j.boyd919

I forget what Niskanen and Cole got, but I think they were both in similar situations and were handled very much the same.

I think you'll see a two year, maybe three year bridge deal depending on how JR handles this.

If they can get $1.2ish for three years on Oleksiak I'm taking that every day of the week.

Rust
Sheahan
Oleksiak
Simon
Kühnhackl
Jarry

All of the above are RFAs after this season. Any opinions about their new contracts?
- Barnaby36

Rust 3x3M
Sheahan 3x2.5M
Oleksiak 3x2.25M
Simon 2x900k
Kuhnhackl 1x700k (potential non-tender or move for a pick due to roster crunch)
Jarry 2x900k-1.25M (since he may spend next year in the AHL they might get a discount by giving him a one way deal).

While I do think Oleksiak has played well, I'm not sure if he's played 2M well yet. I could see the pens offering 1.5 for a year or 2 as a prove it kinda thing given his shaky production in Dallas. Sheahan, like Rinosaur said I think is tough to peg, but I think i was Victoro who pointed how paying a little more for a "4C" so we have the 3C to take over when Brassard walks after next year might be a good idea.
- j.boyd919

I see them going higher and giving him term. Years will matter a lot to average with him. Could see the number lower if 1 or 2 years, maybe around 1.5M

I understand the Oleksiak situation but when we look at our roster and see Hunwick getting $2.25M it gets hard to not think Olesiak can at least get something close to that. He's a 6´7" guy with good mobility too. His agent will probably ask for $2M.
- Barnaby36

Hunwick... blah.

Fixed.

All kidding aside I'm fine with Kuhn playing. I think every team has a Kuhnhackl on their fourth, but good teams don't have two versions of him flanking their 4C.

Either Kuhn or Rowney, not both.

I want to see Jooris at wing one of these next games.
- Rinosaur

They sent Jooris down yesterday. Correct me if I'm wrong, but since he was an emergency call up, he had to go back to WB once Rust was going to play? I don't think Jooris counted as one of the 4 post trade deadline call-ups. Can anybody verify that?

I think it will help their cap if they can move on from both Hags and somehow move Hunwick. Right now, they have a little under $5M signed for next year (using a static cap) so those 2 right there put them over the limit. Rust, Jarry, and Simon will get decent, fair raises (maybe $4.5M -$5M total). Once the Pens got Brassard, I saw Sheahan as the odd man out next year. Oleksiak is the wild card to me. But again, if they can free up the $4M Hags makes and the cap goes up by even 5%, they should be okay.
- jmatchett383

Their cap situation should be easily manageable. While I am not counting on 82M, nobody expects a stagnant cap with Vegas revenue added in. Might need to shave 1 or 2M, but that's it.

Hags has been running strong with Malkin the past 2 months. Think they finish out his deal and have that space for next off-season.

They'll likely try to move Hunwick.

Oleksiak is their number 5 defenseman and should be reasonable enough to keep.

They only have one more year of Brassard at 3M, so I think they keep Sheahan as a luxury next year and a necessity afterwards. They have an excess at wing with 10 guys capable that are under control so that's the more likely place to cut. Could see Sheary being squeezed out for cheaper talent.

Do the Baby Pens have any young defensemen with top-6 upside? I know they've hit the jackpot with a few forwards and goalies, but if they have any AHL defenseman that could be ready for the big show next year, they may decide to get rid of Oleksiak. I also don't think they'll keep Sheahan, as he's basically a 4th line center in this setup but will want middle-6 money.
- jmatchett383

We have one actual defensive prospect in the AHL and he's no sure thing. It's mostly vet fillers.