Owt, the Penguin GM

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Four key points were found out today.

1.) Salary Cap Max was set to 73 million.
2.) Calgary told JR to go pound salt asking for #6 overall for Fleury.
3.) Because of #2, Calgary has changed their efforts to Bishop.
4.) Calgary is infatuated with Murray and tried heavy around the trade deadline to get Murray. They have offered #6 pick overall for him and are willing to package more around that #6 pick overall for him.

On 2 & 3........you don't know that. Bishop has about the same cap hit, but only has a year left, so with MAF, at least they have salary control over the next 3 seasons.

Remember folks, the reasons why MAF MIGHT be traded are pretty much 2 fold.

1) With the upcoming Expansion draft next year, the rules set forth make it almost with all certainty the Pens would have to protect MAF because of his no movement clauses (unless he would agree) and lose Murray. For nothing.

2) MAF has a $5.75 MM cap hit. MM has a 0.700 MM Cap hit. Even when they redo MM's contract after next season, they have control over him to a point.

So that is why the Pens are looking to move MAF. Now one other thing, and this is not that unpalatable and is somewhat less risky, since the Pens roster is somewhat set, only likely needing to add a Dman to replace Lovejoy, you can keep MAF into next year and see what teams have injuries or goalie situations. As we have seen with Montreal the past season, a goalie injury can wreck a team's season. But you are taking a risk of that happening.

I still think MAF will be moved. Likely they won't get the #6, but probably Calgary's #35th in the 2nd rd and say Backlund, a fairly decent forward. And someone will be moved for a Dman, because the Pens are pretty thin there.

IF I was GM, I would add Derek Pouliot to a possible Fleury deal and see what I can get in return. Yeah, yeah, I know.....Pouliot is a young defenseman and his future is in front of him. Maybe, he is also a Ray Shero 1st rd draft pick and that track record is not so good.

 

[PhPanther1]

Ever think a team might offer MM a contract to get us to swallow the poison pill? Let's say Murray plays great this year and an Edmonton offers him a $7 million contract for 5 years. Definately not out of the price range for a young Stanley Cup winning goalie that had a solid year after. That would force the Pens into matching the deal, thus killing their cap and forcing their hand at trading a core player or they decline to match and then have NO goalie having traded Fleury away.

So to keep themselves away from the above, if they do trade Fleury, they have to now go and commit to Murray THIS year with an extension eventhough imo he's still unproven over an 82+ game season.

 

[Jpripper88]

It was a hypothetical which is why I said "if the cap weren't a concern".

I never said the cap wasn't real. I am just giving my opinion that, all things being equal, I think Fleury is the better (safer) bet moving forward for the Penguins.

You didn't say that in your initial post about the subject. You didn't say any of that. You said that in the follow up after I pointed out why that doesn't work in a vacuum.

It doesn't make any sense to discuss the options as if the cap isn't a concern or all things (namely we are talking about Murray vs. Fleury's salaries) are equal because it is and they aren't. The salary difference (along with age as a sub factor) is literally what is driving the trade. If MAF could cost the Penguins $800k a year the next two years, they wouldn't even entertain trading him and they would have $4M+ to spend to improve the team.

 

[Jpripper88]

Ever think a team might offer MM a contract to get us to swallow the poison pill? Let's say Murray plays great this year and an Edmonton offers him a $7 million contract for 5 years. Definately not out of the price range for a young Stanley Cup winning goalie that had a solid year after. That would force the Pens into matching the deal, thus killing their cap and forcing their hand at trading a core player or they decline to match and then have NO goalie having traded Fleury away.

So to keep themselves away from the above, if they do trade Fleury, they have to now go and commit to Murray THIS year with an extension eventhough imo he's still unproven over an 82+ game season.

I really doubt it he gets an extension with money in this year.

I also, highly, doubt a team would make him a big RFA offer because of the compensation involved. If Edmonton (or anyone) offered him $7M they would have to have their own 2018 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft choices and surrender them all. Matt Murray isn't worth that salary or compensation to any team. He especially isn't worth that to any of the teams who are bad enough to have the cap space or picks to trade. Edmonton would be trading (at worst, if they make a big improvement) something like #10, #40, and #70 for Matt Murray AND cap strapping their team to a goalie who won't be a superstar at that point.