Penguins targetting Parise, Suter

[TysonX504]

what are everyones thoughts on this? With a team that already has big name players with huge price tags (Crosby, Malkin) can they really afford to add in 2 more?

With salaries for those 2 staying the same, Crosby and Malkin cost 17.4 million (24.86% of the cap). You add in Neal (5 mill), Orpik (3.75 mill), Letang (3.5 mill), Fleury (5 mill) and Kunitz (3.75 mill). You're now up to 38.4 million spent or 54.85% of your cap space.

Suter is likely going to cost 6-7 million, so we'll put him down at 6.5 mill. Parise is likely 7-8, so let's go 7.5 mill. 14 million for 2 more premiere players, brings the cap hit up to 52.4 million (74.86%). Thats less then half your team under contract for 75% of your cap space. I'm not even figuring in the backup goalie (2 mill) or Paul Martin (5 mill) as they are trying to trade him (i dont know why anyone would take him at that price). If he stays, that leaves them with 10.6 million to spend on another 10-12 players.


My question, is this wise to do when contracts for Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Orpik, Niskanen, Cooke, Dupuis, Sutter, and another back up goalie are needed in the next 1-2 years?

Discuss

[JTPens58]

I don't think the Pens will go after Suter. They are so deep on D and have a few guys on their first deals that can be just fine at the 6 and 7 spots (Bortuzzo and Strait,), and they like Engelland, Lovejoy, and Niskanen enough to be the 3 and 4, and 5 guys behind Letang and Orpik. And then there is Despres who will be on the team, just not sure in what role (most likely on the second pairing with Niskanen or engelland that pushes Lovejoy back to 5, 6, or 7).

Parise is the guy they will go after. Didn't he come out and say he'd like to play with Sid? And I think he'd take a deal worth 5.5 to 6.5 - a little under what you have stated, simply because he'd put up career numbers as Sid's winger and be a legit contender for the cup every year he was here.

Martin is a good player - when the Pens originally signed him, I liked that move (5 million seemed high, 3 - 3.5 felt better) because I remembered him being solid for the devils. He just hasn't panned out in the Burgh (he's reported that he's had issues with the system and adjusting to it, but is getting there after 2 years)...so I think someone...Leafs perhaps...might have interest in him for the right deal.

[TysonX504]

I don't think the Pens will go after Suter. They are so deep on D and have a few guys on their first deals that can be just fine at the 6 and 7 spots (Bortuzzo and Strait,), and they like Engelland, Lovejoy, and Niskanen enough to be the 3 and 4, and 5 guys behind Letang and Orpik. And then there is Despres who will be on the team, just not sure in what role (most likely on the second pairing with Niskanen or engelland that pushes Lovejoy back to 5, 6, or 7).

Parise is the guy they will go after. Didn't he come out and say he'd like to play with Sid? And I think he'd take a deal worth 5.5 to 6.5 - a little under what you have stated, simply because he'd put up career numbers as Sid's winger and be a legit contender for the cup every year he was here.

Martin is a good player - when the Pens originally signed him, I liked that move (5 million seemed high, 3 - 3.5 felt better) because I remembered him being solid for the devils. He just hasn't panned out in the Burgh (he's reported that he's had issues with the system and adjusting to it, but is getting there after 2 years)...so I think someone...Leafs perhaps...might have interest in him for the right deal.

I've also read Parise wants to be the goto guy, something he can't be in Pittsburgh. He made 6 million this past season, so I dont see him taking less then 6.5-7. Martin simply isnt worth 5 million a year and only trade value would come as a cap hit for a team needing to hit the cap floor. I just see it as a hard contract to move

[JTPens58]

I've also read Parise wants to be the goto guy, something he can't be in Pittsburgh. He made 6 million this past season, so I dont see him taking less then 6.5-7. Martin simply isnt worth 5 million a year and only trade value would come as a cap hit for a team needing to hit the cap floor. I just see it as a hard contract to move

Yep, agreed on Martin - but in the right situation, he could prove to be worth the contract. Unlikely, but possible.

Parise - I guess it just comes down to what he values the most. Being the go-to-guy (which he'd still be on the Pens, just not the biggest go-to-guy), the money, having a chance to put up really strong numbers and be a front runner for the cup...list goes on and on.

I would like to think the difference between 5.5 and 6 and 6.5 and 7 isn't a large enough gap to make a player sign elsewhere, as the Pens have great fans (no just saying that cuz I'm a homer, but because the players have said it), and the newest building in the league, which I believe has a lot of amentities a player finds desirable.

Not always just about the money or role on a team - so many little factors to consider. In the end, all depends on what ranks where on Parise's list of importance. I'd love to see him here, as a top two lines that looks like this is scary good:
Dupuis-Crosby-Parise
Neal-Malkin-Kunitz

[pghin08]

The Pens need Suter more than they need Parise. However, I think they'll definitely sign Parise. He's great friends with Crosby, and whatever Crosby wants, he gets. I'll be pumped to see either one in a Pens uniform.

[centrehice]

I've also read Parise wants to be the goto guy, something he can't be in Pittsburgh. He made 6 million this past season, so I dont see him taking less then 6.5-7. Martin simply isnt worth 5 million a year and only trade value would come as a cap hit for a team needing to hit the cap floor. I just see it as a hard contract to move

Interesting point about Parise being the Go-To Guy. He's going to end up playing with a couple of Pen's Journeymen should Pittsburgh go after him, I don't know how excited he'd be about that.

Now if the Red Wings are the other team that are going after him, he fits better in Detroit because they are more team oriented in on-ice structure. The Pens are more Top-Gun oriented, and he will always be in the Crosby/Malkin shadow.

Being a 3rd line centre in Detroit still allows you to be a Go-To Guy, not so much in Pittsburg.

[pghin08]

Interesting point about Parise being the Go-To Guy. He's going to end up playing with a couple of Pen's Journeymen should Pittsburgh go after him, I don't know how excited he'd be about that.

Now if the Red Wings are the other team that are going after him, he fits better in Detroit because they are more team oriented in on-ice structure. The Pens are more Top-Gun oriented, and he will always be in the Crosby/Malkin shadow.

Being a 3rd line centre in Detroit still allows you to be a Go-To Guy, not so much in Pittsburg.

No chance of Parise playing with a "Pens journeyman". If the Pens sign Parise, lines would look something like this:

Parise-Crosby-Dupuis
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Kennedy-Sutter-Cooke
Vitale-Adams-Tangradi/whoever.

[centrehice]

No chance of Parise playing with a "Pens journeyman". If the Pens sign Parise, lines would look something like this:

Parise-Crosby-Dupuis
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Kennedy-Sutter-Cooke
Vitale-Adams-Tangradi/whoever.

Kennedy is a Journeyman, Cooke as well, Dupuis was one until his breakout year last year. Vitale is a flat-track bully, and Adams should be a career minor-leaguer.

Trust me, you've got as many as any other team.

[pghin08]

Kennedy is a Journeyman, Cooke as well, Dupuis was one until his breakout year last year. Vitale is a flat-track bully, and Adams should be a career minor-leaguer.

Trust me, you've got as many as any other team.

Adams is one of the more under-appreciated players in hockey. Limited offensive skill, but good defensively, and a real team player.

To your point, of course the Pens have journeyman players. My point was just that Parise won't really be playing with them, he'll be alongside Crosby (more than likely) if he comes here.

[mooneyes]

Hate to say it, but I think the pens would go after Parise to replace Crosby...no one would touch him if he took a page out of "silent Joe Sakic's" play book...but he is chippy, mouthy, elbows guys in the chops etc...Someone is going to blast him and he will be done. It is a shame because he is an enormous talent, but has the personality of an arrogant goon.