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OT: The forgotten PENS

Starkey, this morning, made a credible argument that someone will be interested in Jarry. He has good career numbers, led the league in shutouts this year and played behind a defense that everyone knows can be a sieve. No need to buy his contract out. There are better candidates for a buyout on the team and, if I'm not mistaken, buyouts are limited.


I saw a tweet from Jesse Marshall last night where he said if the PP was league average, they would've scored 14 more goals, which translates to 4 more wins based on standard metrics.
Think about this. A power play with Crosby guentzel rust and Karlsson was dead last. Hell you’d expect one with Jake and Sid and Karlsson to be at least middle of the pack

Coaching matters. It’s imossible
To defend Sully on this
 
Starkey, this morning, made a credible argument that someone will be interested in Jarry. He has good career numbers, led the league in shutouts this year and played behind a defense that everyone knows can be a sieve. No need to buy his contract out. There are better candidates for a buyout on the team and, if I'm not mistaken, buyouts are limited.


I saw a tweet from Jesse Marshall last night where he said if the PP was league average, they would've scored 14 more goals, which translates to 4 more wins based on standard metrics.
You aren't going to buyout Jarry. That's silly. You hope a team like Edmonton fails because of goaltending (again) and they would be desparate.

A problem the Pens have......You don't become an UFA (unrestricted free agent) until you are at least 27. Most UFA's are 30. The NHL rarely lets young talent leave free agency wise while in their prime.

I will have a list of guys I might target. But the offseason of 2 years ago (Hextall's last) was a disaster with Malkin, Letang and Rackell. I contend just the simple move of letting Malkin walk and signing Vince Troechek would have boosted the Penguins into the playoffs the past 2 years.

Again, I will post a player by player comment later. But they cannot, absolutely cannot bring back Mike Sullivan.
 
And I guess the final thing is buyouts. I'm not sure how exactly they work, I would assume if done, completely cuts all ties to include salary cap obligations?


Actually, buying a contract out does no such thing. What it does is essentially allows you to spread the salary cap hit out over twice as long. So if a guy has three years left on his contract and you buy him out, you can spread the cap hit out over six years instead of three. But the cap hit doesn't go away.
 
Actually, buying a contract out does no such thing. What it does is essentially allows you to spread the salary cap hit out over twice as long. So if a guy has three years left on his contract and you buy him out, you can spread the cap hit out over six years instead of three. But the cap hit doesn't go away.
I guess it's better than nothing, right?

On a different note, should we not be looking too much into that Sullivan started Ned tonight...instead of Jarry? Nothing to play for, season is over and Ned gets the call.
 
In a positive, like 20 years in, Sidney Crosby is still magnificent. Solidly better overall than Mario was at the same age.
 
In a positive, like 20 years in, Sidney Crosby is still magnificent. Solidly better overall than Mario was at the same age.
Please don't compare the two. Mario was stricken with a bad back and Hodgkins disease. Sid had the concussion battle, but, just not the same. Sid is a great hockey player, but, had Mario had no health problems he would own every record the sport has kept. He was the most talented player of all-time.
 
Please don't compare the two. Mario was stricken with a bad back and Hodgkins disease. Sid had the concussion battle, but, just not the same. Sid is a great hockey player, but, had Mario had no health problems he would own every record the sport has kept. He was the most talented player of all-time.
Truthfully I think Sid works harder to stay in shape than Mario did.
 
True. But to be honest, almost every NHL player does now compared to the 80's.
Good point. But Id also submit that Mario was more naturally gifted (the long reach, tall, more physically imposing) than Sid. Guys like that tend to rely more on their natural talent

Sid while talented has had to put more sweat equity into his greatness and seems to be always working on improving areas of his game.
 
Good point. But Id also submit that Mario was more naturally gifted (the long reach, tall, more physically imposing) than Sid. Guys like that tend to rely more on their natural talent

Sid while talented has had to put more sweat equity into his greatness and seems to be always working on improving areas of his game.
Mario is a 1 of 1 guy and he still was really formidable at 36. And, yes, as noted he dealt with a lot off of the ice.

That all said, he was not really known as a worker until he returned from retirement. With Sid, you just see the accumulation of a lot more work throughout the years. Always in top shape, putting levels on levels on the smaller parts of his game.

Sid does not have the consistent bounce he had earlier in his career but he still has the gears when needed and the effort is just a lot more even on both ends.

Also, let’s not forget, Sid went through a terrible 3-4 seasons where he missed a lot of games and really was robbed of his scoring prime (the prime that a guy like McDavid is now in).

Completely different types of players and you will never get an argument from me that at their best, Mario was not a much better player because he just was unreal. But, around 19 years in and at age 36-37, Sid has aged better in the sport. I am sure that even Mario would admit that.
 
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Good point. But Id also submit that Mario was more naturally gifted (the long reach, tall, more physically imposing) than Sid. Guys like that tend to rely more on their natural talent

Sid while talented has had to put more sweat equity into his greatness and seems to be always working on improving areas of his game.
Mario was more naturally gifted than anyone. ANYONE in hockey history. Just injuries/illness held him back. And no doubt if he trained better in the early years, he might not have had the same back issues and would have been even more dominant. I mean Mario smoked as a young player. The inside joke with the Penguins, Mario starts training for the season when he stops putting ketchup on his french fries.
 
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Mario is a 1 of 1 guy and he still was really formidable at 36. And, yes, as noted he dealt with a lot off of the ice.

That all said, he was not really known as a worker until he returned from retirement. With Sid, you just see the accumulation of a lot more work throughout the years. Always in top shape, putting levels on levels on the smaller parts of his game.

Sid does not have the consistent bounce he had earlier in his career but he still has the gears when needed and the effort is just a lot more even on both ends.

Also, let’s not forget, Sid went through a terrible 3-4 seasons where he missed a lot of games and really was robbed of his scoring prime (the prime that a guy like McDavid is now in).

Completely different types of players and you will never get an argument from me that at their best, Mario was not a much better player because he just was unreal. But, around 19 years in and at age 36-37, Sid has aged better in the sport. I am sure that even Mario would admit that.
I calculated at a time Mario missed like 250 games in his prime. At that time, he was essentially averaging a goal a game and 2.2 points a game. So he would have had well over 200 more goals and probably 550-600 more points. Not enough to catch Gretzky in points, but possibly in goals.

Sid had like 180 games missed in his prime when he was averaging well over a point, more like 1.5 points per game. So yeah, his numbers would be significantly higher. I mean in 2010-11 season when he lost the rest of the year because of a concussion, he was well over a 60 goal season, 135 point pace.
 
I calculated at a time Mario missed like 250 games in his prime. At that time, he was essentially averaging a goal a game and 2.2 points a game. So he would have had well over 200 more goals and probably 550-600 more points. Not enough to catch Gretzky in points, but possibly in goals.

Sid had like 180 games missed in his prime when he was averaging well over a point, more like 1.5 points per game. So yeah, his numbers would be significantly higher. I mean in 2010-11 season when he lost the rest of the year because of a concussion, he was well over a 60 goal season, 135 point pace.
Gretzky was protected far more from the goonery in hockey than Mario and Sid. He didnt take near the abuse that both of them did
 
Here's Sid's Point Per Game for every season. Pretty impressive in today's NHL.

1.26
1.52
1.36
1.34
1.35
1.61
1.68
1.56
1.30
1.09
1.06
1.19
1.09
1.27
1.15
1.13
1.22
1.13
1.15
 
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I think it can be said that we have been damn lucky in Pittsburgh as hockey fans being able to watch 4 of the top 10 players who have ever played. We got to see Lemieux, Jagr, Malkin, and Crosby at their best while securing 5 Stanley cups. Pretty awesome, no matter what order you would rank them.
 
I'm pretty sure I remember reading or seeing Lemieux regret the fact that he smoked so much and ate sloppy when he was younger.
They didn't have the nutrition info they do now but he knew he wasn't doing himself any favors adding in his back and Hodgkins.
 
I'm pretty sure I remember reading or seeing Lemieux regret the fact that he smoked so much and ate sloppy when he was younger.
They didn't have the nutrition info they do now but he knew he wasn't doing himself any favors adding in his back and Hodgkins.
He said this a lot after his retirement return and his workout regimen with Jay Caufield (I believe).

The crazy thing or one of about Lemieux is that it has been about 20 years since he played and there has nothing like him at all that has followed. Gretzky was amazing but guys like Crosby (who veered some) and McDavid at points were similarly offensive styled and overly dominant players. Even a guy like Jagr saw someone like Forsberg come later who had some similar characteristics though Forsberg played rougher and Jagr was more skillful.

There has nothing remotely close to Lemieux’s style, size, skill since he left hockey. Nothing in the same stratosphere and there was nothing like him prior either.
 
The Baby Penguins end their season losing in OT, in a game they were leading 3-1 starting the 3rd period.
Dang, it’s the whole organization.
 
Actually, buying a contract out does no such thing. What it does is essentially allows you to spread the salary cap hit out over twice as long. So if a guy has three years left on his contract and you buy him out, you can spread the cap hit out over six years instead of three. But the cap hit doesn't go away.
Not sure I’m utd on this, but I thought the salary also got reduced. For example if the contract was 10m for a year, the team would be hit for 5m over 2 years. Maybe that changed since it was originated, I haven’t kept up.
 
Actually, buying a contract out does no such thing. What it does is essentially allows you to spread the salary cap hit out over twice as long. So if a guy has three years left on his contract and you buy him out, you can spread the cap hit out over six years instead of three. But the cap hit doesn't go away.
Actually a buyout does exactly that thing. The buyout reduces amount owed and extends time in cap hit.

Under age of 26 - only owe player 1/3 of money
Over age of 26- owe 2/3 of Money.

Stay in your lane Joe.
 
Actually a buyout does exactly that thing. The buyout reduces amount owed and extends time in cap hit.

Under age of 26 - only owe player 1/3 of money
Over age of 26- owe 2/3 of Money.

Stay in your lane Joe.


It extends the time of the salary cap hit, but it does NOT reduce the total salary cap hit. You are talking about how much money the team has to put out in actual cash. I am talking about the way that the buyout affects the salary cap, which is what the post I was responding to was talking about.

If you don't know that those two things are different, then yeah, someone here needs to stay in their lane. If you look in the mirror you'll see him.
 
It extends the time of the salary cap hit, but it does NOT reduce the total salary cap hit. You are talking about how much money the team has to put out in actual cash. I am talking about the way that the buyout affects the salary cap, which is what the post I was responding to was talking about.

If you don't know that those two things are different, then yeah, someone here needs to stay in their lane. If you look in the mirror you'll see him.
And guys on 35+ contract, you can buy them out technically, but it does absolutely zero to affect their cap hit. So you are stuck with them, unless you can trade or "Vegas" them and put them on LTIR.
 
It extends the time of the salary cap hit, but it does NOT reduce the total salary cap hit. You are talking about how much money the team has to put out in actual cash. I am talking about the way that the buyout affects the salary cap, which is what the post I was responding to was talking about.

If you don't know that those two things are different, then yeah, someone here needs to stay in their lane. If you look in the mirror you'll see him.
And guys on 35+ contract, you can buy them out technically, but it does absolutely zero to affect their cap hit. So you are stuck with them, unless you can trade or "Vegas" them and put them on LTIR.
- Regarding buyouts in general ...... if a player is under 26, you have to pay him 1/3 of the remaining base salary on his contract spread out over twice the length of the remaining contract + you have to pay him 100% of signing bonuses remaining on his contract in the year they are due ..... if the player is 26 or older it is 2/3 the remaining base salary over twice the years left on the contract + 100% of signing bonuses when they are due ...... you basically save 1/3 or 2/3 of the players base salary over twice the number of years left on the contract depending on the players age.

- The buyout almost always reduces the total cap hit as well ...... it is a bit of a complicated calculation and the cap hit on a buyout is taken over twice the number of years left on the contract as well but the total cap hit that the team takes over the buyout time is almost always less then what they would take in the contract ..... the cap hit in a buyout is not calculated by adding up the cap hit left on the contract and taking the same amount over twice the number of years ..... it is calculated yearly and depends on multiple factors, so the cap hit is often different each year until the year after the contract would have been up if there was no buyout and in those years the cap hit usually equals the buyout cost.

- For example ..... someone asked about buying out Jarry ...... he is 28 y/o and has 4 years left on his contract ...... over those 4 years he is due $20,075,000 ($12,575,000 is in base salary and $7,500,000 is in signing bonuses) ...... therefore, as far as salary, the Pens would owe him 2/3 x 12,575,000 = 8,383,333 in equal amounts over 8 years + 7,500,000 in signing bonuses which are all due in the first 4 years for a total amount of money over 8 years of $15,883,333 instead of the $20,075,000 he is owed in his contract or a savings of $4,191,667.

- Jarry has a cap hit of $5,375,000/year x 4 years or $21,500,000 over 4 years ...... if you do the calculations to figure out his actual cap hit in a buyout each year for 8 years it is as follows .... Year 1 cap hit = $1,022,917 ... Year 2 = 1,997,917 .... Year 3 = 5,297,917 .... Year 4 = 4,797,917 .... Year 5 through 8 = 1,047,917/year x 4 years which = a total over 8 years of $17, 308,336 ...... so instead of a cap hit of 21,500,000 over 4 years, the Pens would have a cap hit of 17,308,336 over 8 years ...... of course, if you buyout a player, you are still paying him and taking a cap hit when the player isn't on your roster and you have to replace him with another player who takes up a salary and cap space ...... GM's in general don't like to buyout players.

- If anyone wants to verify what I said above, go to CapFriendly and they will explain buyouts and what salary the players are owed and what the cap hits would be (there is a buyout calculator and they have them calculated for every player already).

- Regarding 35+ contracts ...... not all 35+ contracts have zero affect on the cap hit in a buy out ...... true, if a 35+ contract is front loaded with salary or has a signing bonus after the 1st year, a buyout doesn't change the cap hit at all, but, if it is not front loaded and doesn't have a signing bonus in the 2nd or later years, the buyout works the same as an under 35 contract and there is some cap savings ...... Hextall structured all the Pens 35+ contracts so a buyout wouldn't change the cap hit ..... look at Varlamov's 35+ contract with the Islanders, the salary is the same each year and there are no signing bonuses so a buyout on him would save some cap space.
 
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- Regarding buyouts in general ...... if a player is under 26, you have to pay him 1/3 of the remaining base salary on his contract spread out over twice the length of the remaining contract + you have to pay him 100% of signing bonuses remaining on his contract in the year they are due ..... if the player is 26 or older it is 2/3 the remaining base salary over twice the years left on the contract + 100% of signing bonuses when they are due ...... you basically save 1/3 or 2/3 of the players base salary over twice the number of years left on the contract depending on the players age.

- The buyout almost always reduces the total cap hit as well ...... it is a bit of a complicated calculation and the cap hit on a buyout is taken over twice the number of years left on the contract as well but the total cap hit that the team takes over the buyout time is almost always less then what they would take in the contract ..... the cap hit in a buyout is not calculated by adding up the cap hit left on the contract and taking the same amount over twice the number of years ..... it is calculated yearly and depends on multiple factors, so the cap hit is often different each year until the year after the contract would have been up if there was no buyout and in those years the cap hit usually equals the buyout cost.

- For example ..... someone asked about buying out Jarry ...... he is 28 y/o and has 4 years left on his contract ...... over those 4 years he is due $20,075,000 ($12,575,000 is in base salary and $7,500,000 is in signing bonuses) ...... therefore, as far as salary, the Pens would owe him 2/3 x 12,575,000 = 8,383,333 in equal amounts over 8 years + 7,500,000 in signing bonuses which are all due in the first 4 years for a total amount of money over 8 years of $15,883,333 instead of the $20,075,000 he is owed in his contract or a savings of $4,191,667.

- Jarry has a cap hit of $5,375,000/year x 4 years or $21,500,000 over 4 years ...... if you do the calculations to figure out his actual cap hit in a buyout each year for 8 years it is as follows .... Year 1 cap hit = $1,022,917 ... Year 2 = 1,997,917 .... Year 3 = 5,297,917 .... Year 4 = 4,797,917 .... Year 5 through 8 = 1,047,917/year x 4 years which = a total over 8 years of $17, 308,336 ...... so instead of a cap hit of 21,500,000 over 4 years, the Pens would have a cap hit of 17,308,336 over 8 years ...... of course, if you buyout a player, you are still paying him and taking a cap hit when the player isn't on your roster and you have to replace him with another player who takes up a salary and cap space ...... GM's in general don't like to buyout players.

- If anyone wants to verify what I said above, go to CapFriendly and they will explain buyouts and what salary the players are owed and what the cap hits would be (there is a buyout calculator and they have them calculated for every player already).

- Regarding 35+ contracts ...... not all 35+ contracts have zero affect on the cap hit in a buy out ...... true, if a 35+ contract is front loaded with salary or has a signing bonus after the 1st year, a buyout doesn't change the cap hit at all, but, if it is not front loaded and doesn't have a signing bonus in the 2nd or later years, the buyout works the same as an under 35 contract and there is some cap savings ...... Hextall structured all the Pens 35+ contracts so a buyout wouldn't change the cap hit ..... look at Varlamov's 35+ contract with the Islanders, the salary is the same each year and there are no signing bonuses so a buyout on him would save some cap space.
Joe isn’t really knowledgeable when it comes to alot of things. As you can see, hockey is on that list: It doesn’t stop him from trying, but just ends up looking like a fool when he actually does.
 
Joe isn’t really knowledgeable when it comes to alot of things. As you can see, hockey is on that list: It doesn’t stop him from trying, but just ends up looking like a fool when he actually does.


As if showing everyone that your reading comprehension wasn't very good once wasn't enough, it's good to see you come back and make sure that everyone noticed.
 
Sid is obviously a lead by example guy. And obviously I am not privvy to behind closed doors, but I kind of wished he would just unload on some of his "buddies".

What is scary, this is two seasons in a row where Sid has been healthy all year. And they blew those years.

And Sid, who has that kind of cache, should be going to management and say "hey this is not working".
The impotent power play again is the main culprit
 
OK. So the Penguins fired Reirdon. It was easy and convenient for Dubas as Reirdon's contract was up. The fact that Sully didn't or wouldn't tells me he is now on the clock.

We don't have to go into the shortcomings of which Reirdon was supposedly responsible. The fact that Sully wouldn't fire him despite bottom of the league performance in those areas, tells me either of an arrogance or a confidence that he knows he can get a job, and likely a better one if he is let go.

This ownership group, who also owns the Red Sox and Liverpool FC so it is not some amateur group with low profile sports entities has shown me nothing. But if Sully can't admit changes are being made, he needs to go sooner more than later.
 
OK. So the Penguins fired Reirdon. It was easy and convenient for Dubas as Reirdon's contract was up. The fact that Sully didn't or wouldn't tells me he is now on the clock.

We don't have to go into the shortcomings of which Reirdon was supposedly responsible. The fact that Sully wouldn't fire him despite bottom of the league performance in those areas, tells me either of an arrogance or a confidence that he knows he can get a job, and likely a better one if he is let go.

This ownership group, who also owns the Red Sox and Liverpool FC so it is not some amateur group with low profile sports entities has shown me nothing. But if Sully can't admit changes are being made, he needs to go sooner more than later.
Yeah I remember everyone being giddy when FSG bought the Pens thinking they were a no nonsense group that knows how and does what is needed to win. They really haven’t shown much along those lines yet.
 
The CBC always has a montage after the Cup is won. Think about this....this almost 4 years to the day when Sid was drafted. I think this worked out....

 
My point here was the Pens went from worst to first in 4 years! That's pretty incredible. I mean sure, they lucked out getting Sid. But people forget they LOST the lottery the year before on Ovechkin, but the the #2 pick that year was Geno Malkin, who would be the #1 overall in any other year besides those 2 years (Ovy and Sid). So they bottomed out at the very right time. Also, Fleury was a #1 pick overall. Just an incredible rise.
 
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