Ryan Wilson: My Pittsburgh plan for the expansion draft My Pittsburgh plan for the expansion draft

Pretty good blog. I agree with most things except: if I had to chose between Petts or Maths, I'd prefer Maths I think. Ideally, for me anyway, is that they're both gone for the start of the season.

In other news, while watching the game last night, Sportsnet was advertising their upcoming "GM week" of specials and coverage of the 3 big NHL dates from the 21st to 28th. I'm half stoked for it haha.

Going back to the Tkachuk for Jake talk for a moment...

1) It makes sense if you're Hextall and Burke. Tkachuk is exactly their type of player.

2) Jake is a fair return for CGY to keep a scoring winger and they save money.

That said, I think the best the Pens could hope for is a bridge deal after this coming season. I honestly don't know what power RFA's hold in this situation, but I don't see why Tkachuk would want to extend long-term on a sinking ship. Yeah, I'm sure there's still an allure for younger players to play alongside Sid or Geno, but we all know that won't last long. These guys want the best balance of money and chance to contend. They want to be on a team heading up, now down.

On one hand, if he didn't want to re-sign, the Pens can likely move his rights for quality futures which is something the Pens badly need. On the other hand, only having him for one season and losing him cuts that perceived window down much faster than they'd like.

I think the Pens are best served on smaller support moves like looking into guys like Coleman if they can move out salary to make room.

Going back to the Tkachuk for Jake talk for a moment...

1) It makes sense if you're Hextall and Burke. Tkachuk is exactly their type of player.

2) Jake is a fair return for CGY to keep a scoring winger and they save money.

That said, I think the best the Pens could hope for is a bridge deal after this coming season. I honestly don't know what power RFA's hold in this situation, but I don't see why Tkachuk would want to extend long-term on a sinking ship. Yeah, I'm sure there's still an allure for younger players to play alongside Sid or Geno, but we all know that won't last long. These guys want the best balance of money and chance to contend. They want to be on a team heading up, now down.

On one hand, if he didn't want to re-sign, the Pens can likely move his rights for quality futures which is something the Pens badly need. On the other hand, only having him for one season and losing him cuts that perceived window down much faster than they'd like.

I think the Pens are best served on smaller support moves like looking into guys like Coleman if they can move out salary to make room.
- Rinosaur

His qualifying offer will be 9m next year.

I'm in on the Jake for Tkachuk trade. I think Jake has hit his ceiling and we won't see anything better from him moving forward. His last 3 playoffs haven't blown any skirts up either. Having said that, I would try to get Tkachuk without losing Jake if possible.

If Jake stays on the team, id like to see him back with geno when he returns.

Going back to the Tkachuk for Jake talk for a moment...

1) It makes sense if you're Hextall and Burke. Tkachuk is exactly their type of player.

2) Jake is a fair return for CGY to keep a scoring winger and they save money.

That said, I think the best the Pens could hope for is a bridge deal after this coming season. I honestly don't know what power RFA's hold in this situation, but I don't see why Tkachuk would want to extend long-term on a sinking ship. Yeah, I'm sure there's still an allure for younger players to play alongside Sid or Geno, but we all know that won't last long. These guys want the best balance of money and chance to contend. They want to be on a team heading up, now down.

On one hand, if he didn't want to re-sign, the Pens can likely move his rights for quality futures which is something the Pens badly need. On the other hand, only having him for one season and losing him cuts that perceived window down much faster than they'd like.

I think the Pens are best served on smaller support moves like looking into guys like Coleman if they can move out salary to make room.
- Rinosaur

I’d be happy to try a tarasenko trade. Although he shoots left and we have too many of those, he plays rw and that’s Pittsburgh’s weakest position up front.

For tkachuk his grit would be a great add but his ppg is less than jake (could be a Crosby thing) and tkachuk would cost 7m this season, 9 next, then who knows after that. Maybe for Brady. All it takes is one kassian to make Matthew look like a female dog. In terms of $ I just don’t like it. Rust is most likely gone after this year so I’d be looking to add grit or skill on the right side and keep the cost
friendly contract of jake in Pitt.

I'm in on the Jake for Tkachuk trade. I think Jake has hit his ceiling and we won't see anything better from him moving forward. His last 3 playoffs haven't blown any skirts up either. Having said that, I would try to get Tkachuk without losing Jake if possible.

If Jake stays on the team, id like to see him back with geno when he returns.
- taleisyreXIII

Yeah Tkachuk and his 5 points in 15 playoff games will really help.

I'm in on the Jake for Tkachuk trade. I think Jake has hit his ceiling and we won't see anything better from him moving forward. His last 3 playoffs haven't blown any skirts up either. Having said that, I would try to get Tkachuk without losing Jake if possible.

If Jake stays on the team, id like to see him back with geno when he returns.
- taleisyreXIII

Yeah. Hitting your ceiling as a first line 40 goal winger? LAME.

His qualifying offer will be 9m next year.
- Feds91Stammer

Ah, well yeah, so the best-case scenario is the Pens having him for one year then flipping his rights for some futures. Again, not a terrible idea if there are any quality UFAs to sign. A gamble nonetheless.

I agree with the protection list as we stand right now.

Everyone here is down on him but I am 100% certain that Seattle will take Zucker if he is available. He is a top 6 winger and maybe his cap hit is a tiny bit higher than ideal, he would be a great player to get for them.

We need to clear out cap space on defence more than offence. I would be finding a way to convince Seattle to take one of Pettersson or Matheson. Give them Blueger to take Pettersson or Matheson. We have probably the worst dollar value defence in the league right now outside of the Sharks and all of the not good contracts are sticking for years.

Yeah. Hitting your ceiling as a first line 40 goal winger? LAME.
- Rinosaur

He won't do that again is my point...he is coming down.

He won't do that again is my point...he is coming down.
- taleisyreXIII

He was over a point per game this season. How exactly is that coming down?

EDIT: He was on pace to score around the mid 30's mark in goals in a regular season. 17 of his 23 goals came at ES.

I don't see the downward trend.

The comments on the Pens being in bad shape cap wise (in the same ballpark as Tampa) is just wrong though. The Pens don't have much space but we have a full roster with the exception of needing to pick up 2 4th liners.

The teams in trouble have more cap space but have to sign really important players.

He won't do that again is my point...he is coming down.
- taleisyreXIII

He may not hit 40 goals again, but it is really hard to score 40 goals. Importantly, he can make plays and isn't just a pure shooter so he can score less goals and still be a big contributor. I don't see anything in him that shows he is on the decline.

The one thing I loved about Jakes exit interview is he basically admitted that he got pushed around and said that he wanted to focus a significant amount of time in the offseason getting stronger.

The comments on the Pens being in bad shape cap wise (in the same ballpark as Tampa) is just wrong though. The Pens don't have much space but we have a full roster with the exception of needing to pick up 2 4th liners.

The teams in trouble have more cap space but have to sign really important players.
- MacPatty

This is a gross oversimplification of the Pens' situation.

@MacPatty

This is the Pens' starting situation:


That free space is enough to sign Blueger with probably a few hundred K left over. They'd still need two more bottom six guys. Players need to be moved out just make room for ZAR and one additional winger, maybe Freddy.

Also, this doesn't include POJ.

The comments on the Pens being in bad shape cap wise (in the same ballpark as Tampa) is just wrong though. The Pens don't have much space but we have a full roster with the exception of needing to pick up 2 4th liners.

The teams in trouble have more cap space but have to sign really important players.
- MacPatty

A full roster that can’t win a playoff series. What an enviable position they’re in.

A full roster that can’t win a playoff series. What an enviable position they’re in.
- Feds91Stammer

You're not helping his narrative.

I'm in on the Jake for Tkachuk trade. I think Jake has hit his ceiling and we won't see anything better from him moving forward. His last 3 playoffs haven't blown any skirts up either. Having said that, I would try to get Tkachuk without losing Jake if possible.

If Jake stays on the team, id like to see him back with geno when he returns.
- taleisyreXIII

This post is a special kind of stupid.

I think the list is a good list. I'd argue that you need to protect Chad Ruhwedel over Friedman but that's splitting hairs at best.

I don't think it matters as the Kraken will take ZAR or Bleuger depending on who they take from other teams. They aren't going to take one of our defenseman even to get them to the min. cap. They'll have lots of other legit players to get them there and they'd take Zucker to get them there over our D.

Jake getting traded might be a reality, we really don't know yet, and the only reason he would be traded would be to reimagine this team with the type of players Hextall and Burke like, so IMO anyone thinking of trading Jake because he's somehow subpar in any way is out to lunch.

Jake getting traded might be a reality, we really don't know yet, and the only reason he would be traded would be to reimagine this team with the type of players Hextall and Burke like, so IMO anyone thinking of trading Jake because he's somehow subpar in any way is out to lunch.
- Rinosaur

Trading Jake would be peak stupidity. There’s almost zero chances you get a player back that provides better cap value.

I think the list is a good list. I'd argue that you need to protect Chad Ruhwedel over Friedman but that's splitting hairs at best.

I don't think it matters as the Kraken will take ZAR or Bleuger depending on who they take from other teams. They aren't going to take one of our defenseman even to get them to the min. cap. They'll have lots of other legit players to get them there and they'd take Zucker to get them there over our D.
- coohill

These arguments are really only good in bubble. Seattle will make decisions based on all players available. They're going want younger cheap players, but they will also need larger contracts to hit the cap floor. That said, Zucker makes sense to US, but they may have options in his price-range that make more sense which might make any other player a more likely candidate.

Trading Jake would be peak stupidity. There’s almost zero chances you get a player back that provides better cap value.
- Feds91Stammer

Obviously. Stupid or not, I'm just speaking from a point that we really don't know what Hextall has planned. To assume that GM's don't have their own agenda and won't make irrational moves to execute their agenda would be peak stupidity lol.

I thought Hextall had a conservative deadline and made a wise move, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, but again, we really don't know yet.