There are only four UFA's you negotiate with: Letang, Rust, Malkin, and Rakell, in that order. The remaining guys get whatever you deem they are worth, nothing more.

Letang is the easiest but the toughest. He gets what he wants. The only thing is, you can't just hand him the moon.

Rust will be tough, he wants money. This is his one and only chance to get top dollar. He already has two rings, plus he's played with two of the best in Crosby and Malkin.
If you're close, go ahead and try to sign him. If not, oh well.

Malkin, you negotiate with him the same as Rust. You get a number and stick with it. Malkin may get a little more leeway. I think he has one or two more good years left. I would consider him on the wing before I let him go.

Rakell possibly wants to remain here. Especially if Rust leaves. That gives him the inside track to Crosby.

Ah, bonuses n' sh!t. I just figured they would factor into the overall picture.

Would he really get more than 3.2 mill per in arbitration? 32 points in basically a full season (3 games shy) getting top 6 minutes for stretches of time.

If he could be had for 1.5 or less I think I'd keep him.
- MattStrat

I don't think Kapenan is a good fit, so I see no reason to keep him at any cap hit. Same goes for Sucker.

I don't think Kapenan is a good fit, so I see no reason to keep him at any cap hit. Same goes for Sucker.
- j.boyd919

Yeah I wont lose any sleep over those guys if they go. I will say though, I believe Zucker is a good fit that had a lot of sh!tty luck the past few seasons. Its too bad about his cap hit hahah

Yeah I wont lose any sleep over those guys if they go. I will say though, I believe Zucker is a good fit that had a lot of sh!tty luck the past few seasons. Its too bad about his cap hit hahah
- MattStrat

Nah. Zucker needs to be the third worst player on the 2nd line, with PP time to be a good fit. He won't get that in Pittsburgh.

Ah, bonuses n' sh!t. I just figured they would factor into the overall picture.

Would he really get more than 3.2 mill per in arbitration? 32 points in basically a full season (3 games shy) getting top 6 minutes for stretches of time.

If he could be had for 1.5 or less I think I'd keep him.
- MattStrat

The comparables I could come up with for Kap:

Beauvillier - 4.15m
Kubalik - 3.7m
Olofsson - 3.05m

Yeah I wont lose any sleep over those guys if they go. I will say though, I believe Zucker is a good fit that had a lot of sh!tty luck the past few seasons. Its too bad about his cap hit hahah
- MattStrat

I doubt Kapanen wants to return. Trading him at the draft is probably the way to go. Going rate is a third rounder for negotiating rights on a good player. Take whatever you can get.

I doubt Kapanen wants to return. Trading him at the draft is probably the way to go. Going rate is a third rounder for negotiating rights on a good player. Take whatever you can get.
- Thunderbolt

I will offer 2 2nds for Kap and Pettersson

The comparables I could come up with for Kap:

Beauvillier - 4.15m
Kubalik - 3.7m
Olofsson - 3.05m
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah F that.

If Kap drove to the net most of the time instead of stopping short on boards and turning, I'd say most here would want to keep him haha...how many times did we see him do that this past season? hahah 50? 75?

If Kap drove to the net most of the time instead of stopping short on boards and turning, I'd say most here would want to keep him haha...how many times did we see him do that this past season? hahah 50? 75?
- MattStrat

I dunno, when you're the first man in with the puck because you're fast, and its a 1v2, driving the net is a pointless play:
a. no one is there to follow up on your drive to the net
b. likely to just get rubbed off the puck or poke checked since there's 2 D back

Pulling up and looking for a trailer is usually the right play in those situations, the problem is he can't execute what to do AFTER pulling up at all. The plays just die.

Kapenan was one of the most frustrating players I've ever watched in a Pens jersey. In no way do I want to subject myself to that type of torture again for an entire season.

I dunno, when you're the first man in with the puck because you're fast, and its a 1v2, driving the net is a pointless play:
a. no one is there to follow up on your drive to the net
b. likely to just get rubbed off the puck or poke checked since there's 2 D back

Pulling up and looking for a trailer is usually the right play in those situations, the problem is he can't execute what to do AFTER pulling up at all. The plays just die.

Kapenan was one of the most frustrating players I've ever watched in a Pens jersey. In no way do I want to subject myself to that type of torture again for an entire season.
- j.boyd919

hahaha my issue is that there was so many times he had the foot speed to beat a defender to the outside but still opted to stop short on the boards and curl back....almost like a really, really bad habit he couldnt help haha

I dunno, when you're the first man in with the puck because you're fast, and its a 1v2, driving the net is a pointless play:
a. no one is there to follow up on your drive to the net
b. likely to just get rubbed off the puck or poke checked since there's 2 D back

Pulling up and looking for a trailer is usually the right play in those situations, the problem is he can't execute what to do AFTER pulling up at all. The plays just die.

Kapenan was one of the most frustrating players I've ever watched in a Pens jersey. In no way do I want to subject myself to that type of torture again for an entire season.
- j.boyd919

He needs to drive deeper into the zone before he pulls up. And then yeah the execution part is broken after that.

Depends. GMs showed pretty good restraint last summer.

Here are what some rate production comparables make:

Vrana - 5.25m
Buchnevich - 5.8m
DeBrincat - 6.4m
Kreider - 6.5m
Meier - 6m

Obviously these were mostly RFA signings but I would be very disappointed if Yzerman signed him to more than 4 x 6.5m
- Feds91Stammer

The GMs have shown a little more restraint lately which is why I put in that qualifier. But still UFA is going to get more then RFA on comparable production. That and he has 3 years at that rate so even with Pens centers it won't look flukey.

I don't think Kapenan is a good fit, so I see no reason to keep him at any cap hit. Same goes for Sucker.
- j.boyd919

Agreed. No reason to make Carter play by himself for another year.

The GMs have shown a little more restraint lately which is why I put in that qualifier. But still UFA is going to get more then RFA on comparable production. That and he has 3 years at that rate so even with Pens centers it won't look flukey.
- Tojo.

All these comparables were based on a 3 year sample size btw.

Really the only priority right now is to resign Letang.

Agreed. No reason to make Carter play by himself for another year.
- Grinder47

I thought Carter usually played with his teammate’s wives.

Really the only priority right now is to resign Letang.
- Grinder47

And Malkin and at least one of Rust and Rakell.

I struggle with what to do with Kapanen because he is such a frustrating player, but I think he has legitimate talent.

He just has 0 hockey IQ. He carries the puck into the zone, which is great. But instead of doing anything with it, he just carries it towards the corner and stops. He takes away his shot and tries to fling it across the ice or he gets it taken away from him. He is easily outmuscled and just lacks situational awareness.

I have no idea what you do with him. Id hate to waste a spot on him next year, but I also worry we sell him for nothing and he puts up 25 goals next season.

And Malkin and at least one of Rust and Rakell.
- Feds91Stammer

If the Penguins go into Day 1 of FA with Letang and Malkin signed for less than their current $16.75M cap hits plus Rakell at around $4.5-5M... that's a huge win.

If the Penguins get Letang/Malkin signed at any price, I'll take it. I think Rakell at $4.5M is smarter than Rust at $6M.

I struggle with what to do with Kapanen because he is such a frustrating player, but I think he has legitimate talent.

He just has 0 hockey IQ. He carries the puck into the zone, which is great. But instead of doing anything with it, he just carries it towards the corner and stops. He takes away his shot and tries to fling it across the ice or he gets it taken away from him. He is easily outmuscled and just lacks situational awareness.

I have no idea what you do with him. Id hate to waste a spot on him next year, but I also worry we sell him for nothing and he puts up 25 goals next season.
- SuperHenderson13

My take is he needs to be on a speed and skill 3rd line and that isn’t happening in PIT.

And Malkin and at least one of Rust and Rakell.
- Feds91Stammer

Malkin should be last priority only if you have wingers in place that can help him.

I struggle with what to do with Kapanen because he is such a frustrating player, but I think he has legitimate talent.

He just has 0 hockey IQ. He carries the puck into the zone, which is great. But instead of doing anything with it, he just carries it towards the corner and stops. He takes away his shot and tries to fling it across the ice or he gets it taken away from him. He is easily outmuscled and just lacks situational awareness.

I have no idea what you do with him. Id hate to waste a spot on him next year, but I also worry we sell him for nothing and he puts up 25 goals next season.
- SuperHenderson13

Brian Boyle is a better NHL player than Kapanen. Dude belongs in the Swiss league.

Malkin should be last priority only if you have wingers in place that can help him.
- Grinder47

Disregarding your illogical view of Malkin. If he’s gone who is your 2C? And this has to be someone that actually plays center in the NHL.

I wonder if Kapanen picks up women the same way he plays hockey…

Sees a girl at the bar, starts walking over then peels away at the last second.