So it’s been a long while since I posted anything but
suddenly I have the urge so I’m going with it. Who knows, maybe I’ll start a
new trend and keep up with it! Anyone knows…
Back to the point- the Penguins won their 4th
Stanley Cup! They started off slow, like
real slow. They weren’t even near the playoffs in December when Mike Johnston
was fired and Mike Sullivan was brought up from Wilkes-Barre. The year changed
and down the stretch they were easily the most dangerous team to face. As you
were watching them, you could almost tell they knew it could happen again. And
let’s not forget the last time they switched coach’s mid-season: it ended with
Sidney Crosby fulfilling his destiny and raising his first cup as the youngest
captain in history no less.
Mike Sullivan and Jim Rutherford turned a 200 foot rink,
into a speed skating contest with some hockey players. He took the finally
health Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, and brought in veterans,
a sniper, and some speed before rounding out the team with call ups that
Sullivan trusted from Wilkes-Barre. He brought in Matt Cullen, who already had
a ring from his days with Rutherford in Carolina. He traded for Phil Kessel
which in retrospect is looking like an absolute steal since he got Toronto to
keep some salary. He brought in Carl Hagelin, a former Penguin tormentor when
on the Rangers for his speed and brought in Nick Bonino in place of Brandon
Sutter (who ironically took the injury bug with him to Vancouver). The 3 headed
monster of 2009 was Crosby, Malkin, and Jordan Staal down the middle. The new 3
headed monster would take on a new shape. Crosby, Malkin, and the feared HBK
line of Hagelin, Bonino, and Kessel.
Marc-Andre Fleury carried the team in the beginning of
the season while Rutherford was still molding it. When Fleury went out with a
concussion, Jeff Zaktoff admirably played in his place, and the team decided to
call up the goalie of the future. With one fateful call, Marc-Andre Fleury
might have lost his net in Pittsburgh permanently through no fault of his own.
Matt Murray stood on his head like past great rookie goalies. He was compared
to Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden, the head of the class when talking about playoff
goalies. Without intending to, the fate
of Fleury was most likely sealed when Matt Murray led the team to a Stanley Cup
over the San Jose Sharks.
The Penguins dictated the style and pace of play during
the series. They handled the Rangers with ease and went toe-to-toe with the
President’s Trophy winning Capitals. They faced the hardest test of the
playoffs against the Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals, but even then
you got the sense they had found another gear and were already planning on a
summer with Stanley.
On paper the Sharks and Penguins were an even match that
would make for a worthwhile Cup Final. Both are speedy teams, with big name players
who can come through in the clutch. The problem was that the Sharks were
overwhelmed by the Penguins speed and without Martin Jones in net the score
easily would have 12-2 Penguins. The Penguins not only outshot every team in
each series, they were doing it by double the amount, close to triple in some
games. Unable to close it out at home in game 5, they finished the series in
San Jose during game 6, winning a second cup in the Crosby-Malkin era exactly
seven years after the first one.
The problem with winning usually is the roster has to
start being dismantled. In Pittsburgh’s case, they are in the unusual (and
envious) position of being able to keep it almost in perfect order. Short of
Ben Lovejoy and Nick Schultz possibly walking, and Beau Bennett not taking his
qualifying offer (seriously did he even play enough games to get his name on
the cup? He’s always injured) their only contract issue is now in the most
important position- the net.
Matt Murray played more playoff games than regular season
games, and most likely played Fleury out of town. In most years, they would
both be coming back and have a shot at winning the starting job, but with the
expansion draft next off season all but certain, the team can only protect 1
goaltender from expansion per league rules. Any player with no movement clause must
be protected automatically.
Fleury of course happens to have the NMC and a limited no
trade in which he can block a trade to 12 teams each year. Based on the way the
rules currently read, they are forced to protect Fleury and let Murray be
exposed (and most likely taken because I’d build a roster with him on it if
starting from scratch). The expansion draft protections that we know of right
now are the following:
-
7 forwards, 3 defensemen, 1 goalie OR 8 skates (forwards/defensemen), 1
goalie
-
No movement clauses through the 17-18 season
must be protected
-
Teams are required to expose at least 2 forwards
and 1 defensemen who have played 40 games in the 16-17 season or a combined 70
between the 15-16 and 16-17 combined
What I find interesting is that a team that has more
defensemen than the first option of protecting 7 forwards, they will have that
opportunity but will protect 2 less players in the end. It adds a layer for
some teams to work through. Since it doesn’t change the number of goalies
allowed, it really doesn’t affect the Penguins in the end. Plus 2 extra players
you might be on the fence about losing is a big deal, especially if they are
younger but over 2 pro seasons.
There’s a lot of math that will be happening by all the
teams. Another note is that regardless of AHL or NHL, if you are in year 3 or
past, in order to be exempt then your name must be on the exemption list so no
burying Murray in the A as my first thought was. I am not sure how exactly they
can protect them both without really stretching. One thing is that Murray’s
contract expires next season and Vegas will be required to take at least 20 of
their 30 still under contract. I think trading Fleury at the deadline, even if
they get less in the end is better just in case Murray falls apart. Goalies are
fragile players as we are well aware. Vegas will be required to hit the cap
floor of $54 million while the ceiling will be $73 million while building their
team. Since they will be the only expansion team that season, they have the
chance to build a somewhat decent roster.
Based on the protections, here’s what the Penguins could
potentially make their protected list.
**required to be protected due to NMC
Forwards
1-Sidney Crosby**
2-Evgeni Malkin**
3-Phil Kessel**
4-Patric Hornqvist
5-Carl Hagelin
6-Nick Bonino
7-Conner Sheary or Bryan Rust have a shot at making this
list since they are young. If they play the way they did in their callups this
season to fill out the roster, it’s not out of the realm of reality
Let’s keep the HBK line going for a while. They only
gelled at the end of the regular season. It could be really fun to watch an
entire year of them tearing it up!
I know, I know. I am exposing Chris Kuntiz, but I have
to. He meets the game requirements and he’s been regulated to the 3rd
line most recently.
Defensemen
1-Kris Letang**
2-Olli Maata- he’s still the future and he matured a lot
this season, especially in the playoffs
3-Brian Dumoulin- he’s got the size and speed they need
moving forward
4-Derek Pouliot? Trevor Daley who finally found a team he
fit on again? I really don’t know. The fourth could be a crapshoot.
Goalie
1-Marc-Andre Fleury** – currently you have to protect him
but if they trade him then Matt Murray is absolutely the guy you protect. He’s the
future.
