Ryan Wilson: Spaling and Penguins Avoid Arbitration and Agree to Terms Spaling and Penguins Avoid Arbitration and Agree to Terms

Spaling saw top 6 forward minutes as well as time on the power play in Nashville last year. He is not going to be afforded the same offensive opportunity he saw while he scored his career high 13 goals last year.

Perfectly put. I'm OK with this deal if he brings something new to the table for our 3rd line BUT at the same time we could've signed Winnik/Booth/Stempniak for a lot less.

Wait and see approach here..

How much of an upside is there to Spaling compared to Glass?

Penguins most common bottom 6 from last year (based on games played) - Sutter, Glass, Vitale, Adams, Pyatt, Megna, Kobasew


Penguins projected season opener bottom 6 this year: Sutter, Spaling, Downie, Goc, Comeau, Adams, Megna

That's a hell of a lot better.

How much of an upside is there to Spaling compared to Glass?
- WVPensFan22

He can't be any worse right? I hear a lot bout Spaling lack of footspeed. Glass had this problem but his hockey IQ was just bad. I expect Spaling to be decent on that front.

How much of an upside is there to Spaling compared to Glass?
- WVPensFan22

You are looking to compare apples to oranges

Spaling saw top 6 forward minutes as well as time on the power play in Nashville last year. He is not going to be afforded the same offensive opportunity he saw while he scored his career high 13 goals last year.

Perfectly put. I'm OK with this deal if he brings something new to the table for our 3rd line BUT at the same time we could've signed Winnik/Booth/Stempniak for a lot less.

Wait and see approach here..
- Barnaby36

I believe that the Pens have intentions of playing Spaling in the top 6. If that is the case, then the contract is a potentially good deal.

I think the only reason I am ok with 2.2 is that he is still young and has some potential. I honestly could care less if he scores a goal. I want a high plus/minus. I want that third line to be a shutdown line again. I think that is most important. We need important role players to relieve the pressure off the top two lines.

As long as Spaling can put up 30 points (which should be easier on your team), this is a pretty good deal.

Your depth at C is now (for players that can play C):

Crosby
Malkin
Sutter
Spaling
Goc
some 4th liners

You have 3 legit 3rd line centres, do you think you'll move Spaling/Goc to wing and keep Sutter or is Sutter pretty much gone?

If sutter signs for in the 3 to 3.5 range, there is not much wiggle room around the cap. I know we discussed at length Sutter for Perron but do you think it's feasible to move him for a pick and prospect?

As long as Spaling can put up 30 points (which should be easier on your team), this is a pretty good deal.

Your depth at C is now (for players that can play C):

Crosby
Malkin
Sutter
Spaling
Goc
some 4th liners

You have 3 legit 3rd line centres, do you think you'll move Spaling/Goc to wing and keep Sutter or is Sutter pretty much gone?

If sutter signs for in the 3 to 3.5 range, there is not much wiggle room around the cap. I know we discussed at length Sutter for Perron but do you think it's feasible to move him for a pick and prospect?
- ystoil

Goc will be our 4th line C for sure. He was a great signing.

As for Sutter, I expect him to re-sign for 2 years, $3.2M per.

Do you want Sutter? Send us Perron or Yakupov on the deal

How much of an upside is there to Spaling compared to Glass?
- WVPensFan22

As a Preds fan, i think the price is a little high but your comparing a guy to night and day teams of Pitt and Preds. I believe he will be much better for you guy's than us scoring wise.

ps....no comparison to Glass

As long as Spaling can put up 30 points (which should be easier on your team), this is a pretty good deal.

Your depth at C is now (for players that can play C):

Crosby
Malkin
Sutter
Spaling
Goc
some 4th liners

You have 3 legit 3rd line centres, do you think you'll move Spaling/Goc to wing and keep Sutter or is Sutter pretty much gone?

If sutter signs for in the 3 to 3.5 range, there is not much wiggle room around the cap. I know we discussed at length Sutter for Perron but do you think it's feasible to move him for a pick and prospect?
- ystoil

I dont see Sutter signing for less than $4 mil per. Rumor has it he is seeking $5-$5.5 mil per. So lets just say the Sutter situation is going to be very interesting. And to answer your question, Sutter would net more than a pick and prospect. Thats just how it is in today's market even for a third line player.

Well if you want your bottom 6 to improve, you gotta pay em! I have never seen Spaling play so I wont pretend to know anything about him. That being said, nobody here knew anything about Dupuis and he was a throw in depth 4th liner in the Hossa trade and he has worked out here as a border line top 6.

Isnt Spaling a C or can atleast play C? I see no real need for Sutter at this point and would not pay him over 3.5. A long shot possible scenario Kap makes the squad and your bottom 6 could look like:

Kunitz-Sid-Kap
BB-71-PH
Downie-Spaling-Dupes
Comeau-Goc-Megna

Goc will be our 4th line C for sure. He was a great signing.

As for Sutter, I expect him to re-sign for 2 years, $3.2M per.

Do you want Sutter? Send us Perron or Yakupov on the deal
- Barnaby36

Moroz + 3rd

I dont see Sutter signing for less than $4 mil per. Rumor has it he is seeking $5-$5.5 mil per. So lets just say the Sutter situation is going to be very interesting. And to answer your question, Sutter would net more than a pick and prospect. Thats just how it is in today's market even for a third line player.
- joescullz

At the end of the day, it prolly is an overpayment of about $500 000/yr but it is only a 2 year term... So not the end of the world..

2013-2014: The bottom 6 sucks!
2014-2015: They're paying 16% too much for the bottom six not to suck!

I think the only reason I am ok with 2.2 is that he is still young and has some potential. I honestly could care less if he scores a goal. I want a high plus/minus. I want that third line to be a shutdown line again. I think that is most important. We need important role players to relieve the pressure off the top two lines.
- toad268

What made that shutdown line great though was that they could score goals. It goes back to the defensive defenseman theory. You need to be capable of transitioning and driving possession regardless of whether or not you are considered more "defensive-minded"

How much of an upside is there to Spaling compared to Glass?
- WVPensFan22

Spaling is already a considerably better player than Glass. And he'll get even better.

Moroz + 3rd
- ystoil

Make it a 2nd and you have a deal!

It's not contracts like Kris Letang that hurt you; it's spending $9 or $10 million on guys like Scuderi, Sutter and Spaling that hurts you.

And of those contracts, it's not spending 2.2 million on Spaling that hurts you, it's spending 3.375 on Scuderi and likely 4.2 million on Sutter that hurts you.

Spaling saw top 6 forward minutes as well as time on the power play in Nashville last year. He is not going to be afforded the same offensive opportunity he saw while he scored his career high 13 goals last year.

Perfectly put. I'm OK with this deal if he brings something new to the table for our 3rd line BUT at the same time we could've signed Winnik/Booth/Stempniak for a lot less.

Wait and see approach here..
- Barnaby36

at the draft there was no way to know that those players would sign for as cheap as they did. it should say something that they all lasted as long as they did into FA as well, resulting in their having to take such cheap deals. spaling has youth and potential. it was a good deal at this juncture.

I thought Jokinen was payed way too much in FA. But lets say both Sutter and Jokinen would sign with the Pens for 2 years @ $3.8M...who would you rather have?

lets not forget that the pens now have 5 centers signed giving them more leverage over sutter.

There is zero positive about this agreement. He isn't a player that is worth anything north of 2 million. Should have insisted on something else instead of Spaling, who was a known RFA and looking for an increase based on his numbers in Nashville last year. He isn't that good.