Ryan Wilson: The Impact Injuries Have On Teams And Their Chances At The Cup The Impact Injuries Have On Teams And Their Chances At The Cup

So... this just confirms we have injury issues in Pittsburgh...

Perron-Crosby-Dupuis
Kunitz-Malkin-Hornqvist
Winnik-Spaling-Comeau
Bennett-Sutter-Downie
Lapierre-Adams

Martin-Letang
Ehrhoff-Maatta
Pouliot-Lovejoy
Scuderi-Cole

Fleury
Greiss

This is the Pittsburgh Penguins team that was constructed for the 2015 playoff run.

I would argue that this lineup is not at all was constructed for their playoff run. None of the bold players were part of the lineup on opening night. I can see maybe including Pouliot and even possibly Perron but the above mentioned lineup never had a chance of all playing together. Moves were made in reaction to injuries etc. Injuries are apart of the game and the Gm's role is to react and make the best move possible if available. Perron is a question mark to be aquired if Dupuis is still playing. Granted money would probably have moved elsewhere to make it happen but there are so many what ifs. To say this is the squad the Penguins envisioned going into the playoffs with is quite a stretch.

Perron-Crosby-Dupuis
Kunitz-Malkin-Hornqvist
Winnik-Spaling-Comeau
Bennett-Sutter-Downie
Lapierre-Adams

Martin-Letang
Ehrhoff-Maatta
Pouliot-Lovejoy
Scuderi-Cole

Fleury
Greiss


You can maybe claim we were going to obtain Winnik and Perron all along, however, Where are you magically getting more cap space if this is the team we were gunning for? Dupuis changed the Perron deal since we didn't have to shed cap space. Martin was rumored to be traded for a rental winger, also a cap dump. RW, you need to redo the numbers here, because that team, while amazing good on paper, is impossible cap wise.

Also, I think without the Dupuis injury, obtaining Perron would have bumped someone down from the top 6 to the third line, and etc to the 4th, Goc should have looked a bit better, and no (frank)ing Lapierre.

And then, the bottom 4 on defense, all up in the air if Maatta not injurred, because that changed the entire game for us.

Perron-Crosby-Dupuis
Kunitz-Malkin-Hornqvist
Winnik-Spaling-Comeau
Bennett-Sutter-Downie
Lapierre-Adams

Martin-Letang
Ehrhoff-Maatta
Pouliot-Lovejoy
Scuderi-Cole

Fleury
Greiss



You can maybe claim we were going to obtain Winnik and Perron all along, however, Where are you magically getting more cap space if this is the team we were gunning for? Dupuis changed the Perron deal since we didn't have to shed cap space. Martin was rumored to be traded for a rental winger, also a cap dump. RW, you need to redo the numbers here, because that team, while amazing good on paper, is impossible cap wise.

Also, I think without the Dupuis injury, obtaining Perron would have bumped someone down from the top 6 to the third line, and etc to the 4th, Goc should have looked a bit better, and no (frank)ing Lapierre.

And then, the bottom 4 on defense, all up in the air if Maatta not injurred, because that changed the entire game for us.
- Guile

who would they move for Perron?

Sutter? if they coulda, they woulda.
Martin? Need him now.
Hoff? NMC
Scuds? NMC
Kuni? then another hole in the top 6

So there really was no way to do it, unless they moved Martin to free space then Perron. Then again, they need Martin now.

This is basically what I have been arguing.

who would they move for Perron?

Sutter? if they coulda, they woulda.
Martin? Need him now.
Hoff? NMC
Scuds? NMC
Kuni? then another hole in the top 6

So there really was no way to do it, unless they moved Martin to free space then Perron. Then again, they need Martin now.
- sammy87

Spaling and Klinkhammer. That was easy. Rutherford said he was going to acquire a top 6 BEFORE Dupuis' injury. Perron was probably already targeted before the injury.

who would they move for Perron?

Sutter? if they coulda, they woulda.
Martin? Need him now.
Hoff? NMC
Scuds? NMC
Kuni? then another hole in the top 6

So there really was no way to do it, unless they moved Martin to free space then Perron. Then again, they need Martin now.
- sammy87

Sutter, Kunitz, Dupuis, Martin, Scuds would have been the choices to move, all near his cap hit (Scuds and Dupuis a bit lower).

But hell, I don't know, I am asking Ryan straight up how this would have worked without the injuries.

Spaling and Klinkhammer. That was easy. Rutherford said he was going to acquire a top 6 BEFORE Dupuis' injury. Perron was probably already targeted before the injury.
- jfkst1

We wouldn't have had Klinkhammer... because again, this is an article about a NON injury plauged team. Also you are still short on cap by 1 MILLION.

Sutter, Kunitz, Dupuis, Martin, Scuds would have been the choices to move, all near his cap hit (Scuds and Dupuis a bit lower).

But hell, I don't know, I am asking Ryan straight up how this would have worked without the injuries.
- Guile

I agree that some of the moves, like the Despres trade, wouldn't have happened if the team were healthy. Maybe not even Winnik. But I don't think health would have prevented Perron if they wanted him. And the team overall would obviously be better if healthy and not needing to make so many in-season moves.

The sky is falling!

We wouldn't have had Klinkhammer... because again, this is an article about a NON injury plauged team. Also you are still short on cap by 1 MILLION.
- Guile

Well to make it easiest, they could have traded Sutter.

Well to make it easiest, they could have traded Sutter.
- jfkst1

No complaints there... I think Perron > Sutter in most eyes in general.

Winnik I really think we wanted all along, hes fit that JR model.

Also on Despres... seems like that was not planned, but when it came up we did it, same with Bortz for Cole. I believe JR said when interviewed on those trades, that those two players were not listed as available on the Thursday before, then the weekend they were so he jumped. Given Despres issues here... whatever, don't care about him anymore.

No complaints there... I think Perron > Sutter in most eyes in general.

Winnik I really think we wanted all along, hes fit that JR model.

Also on Despres... seems like that was not planned, but when it came up we did it, same with Bortz for Cole. I believe JR said when interviewed on those trades, that those two players were not listed as available on the Thursday before, then the weekend they were so he jumped. Given Despres issues here... whatever, don't care about him anymore.
- Guile

I like the bortz/cole trade. Still not fan of despres/lovejoy trade.

Scuds is going to get burned against the isles if thats our opponent.

Sutter, Kunitz, Dupuis, Martin, Scuds would have been the choices to move, all near his cap hit (Scuds and Dupuis a bit lower).

But hell, I don't know, I am asking Ryan straight up how this would have worked without the injuries.
- Guile

So move a top 6 roster player for another top 6 when your need is additional top 6 support?

Scuds has a NMC, I think Martin as well.

Why the hell would EDM want our garbage 3C for only 1 more season?

So no we would not have Perron unless Dupes went down.

No complaints there... I think Perron > Sutter in most eyes in general.

Winnik I really think we wanted all along, hes fit that JR model.

Also on Despres... seems like that was not planned, but when it came up we did it, same with Bortz for Cole. I believe JR said when interviewed on those trades, that those two players were not listed as available on the Thursday before, then the weekend they were so he jumped. Given Despres issues here... whatever, don't care about him anymore.
- Guile

Even if they made no moves and stayed healthy they would be legit contenders. I just don't understand how one team can be in the top 10 for injuries 6 years in a row. It's like a statistical anomaly unless there is something they are doing wrong.

So move a top 6 roster player for another top 6 when your need is additional top 6 support?

Scuds has a NMC, I think Martin as well.

Why the hell would EDM want our garbage 3C for only 1 more season?

So no we would not have Perron unless Dupes went down.
- sammy87

Move a top 6 for a YOUNGER top 6, yes.

Edmonton is doing a lot of questionable things.

Pretty much, just don't see how the cap was working on it.

So move a top 6 roster player for another top 6 when your need is additional top 6 support?

Scuds has a NMC, I think Martin as well.

Why the hell would EDM want our garbage 3C for only 1 more season?

So no we would not have Perron unless Dupes went down.
- sammy87

It's not unreasonable to think an NHL GM could make a series of moves with an end objective in mind. Move Sutter to another team for a pick and then make the trade with Edmonton. How hard is that?

So move a top 6 roster player for another top 6 when your need is additional top 6 support?

Scuds has a NMC, I think Martin as well.

Why the hell would EDM want our garbage 3C for only 1 more season?

So no we would not have Perron unless Dupes went down.
- sammy87

Everyone rags on Sutter but yet no one can name an attainable better replacement. If you want ROR or Staal, better be willing to sacrifice future and be limited with building around them. We'll have to sign bum players like zack boychuck, glass, payatt, etc.. Sutter is fine with what he brings to the table. In fact, if he wouldn't have been in such a slump earlier this year, he would have broken his goal record and probably have put in 25 or so.

Everyone rags on Sutter but yet no one can name an attainable better replacement. If you want ROR or Staal, better be willing to sacrifice future and be limited with building around them. We'll have to sign bum players like zack boychuck, glass, payatt, etc.. Sutter is fine with what he brings to the table. In fact, if he wouldn't have been in such a slump earlier this year, he would have broken his goal record and probably have put in 25 or so.
- joescullz

I'd much rather have Santorelli or Soderberg for $3.3m/yr (which is probably higher than they'll sign for) than Sutter. I really liked Perreault as a UFA and he was having a great year as a 3C until he got injured.

Do court cases count in your equation? If so, the Kings might have lost a few more than your chart shows. Jus saying.......

The sky is falling!
- znagle

Do court cases count in your equation? If so, the Kings might have lost a few more than your chart shows. Jus saying.......
- Gretz2Kurri

They have Suspensions under a separate category. Still would be way below Pittsburgh's MGL total if you added Voynov into the Kings total. Pens are at 300 and Kings MGL + suspensions = 187.

It's not unreasonable to think an NHL GM could make a series of moves with an end objective in mind. Move Sutter to another team for a pick and then make the trade with Edmonton. How hard is that?
- jfkst1

Its not, but if you're moving someone like Sutter or Scuds most likely there is salary coming back the other way. I can't imagine a GM taking either for a pick. I think it would have happened if it were possible.

Do court cases count in your equation? If so, the Kings might have lost a few more than your chart shows. Jus saying.......
- Gretz2Kurri

Gonna go with no... because its "injury".