Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm
While it's always possible, remember what Fleury looked like at the beginning of the year. He was losing starts to Dany Sabourin. As well as he played in the playoffs, he's done it for about a 40 game stretch (when he came back in early March through the playoffs). That would be a huge risk for another team--especially when players like Lundqvist, universally seen as a superior player, make I believe around $4M
They can keep Sid, Malkin and Hossa...it would be tight, but can be done. Anything Malkin signs this summer doesn't take effect until 2009-10, when Sydor ($2.5M), Sykora ($2.5M) and Gill ($2.1M) all come off the books.
Sure it would be risky-- Sid ($8.7) Hossa ($8M guess), Malkin ($8.5M ?), Staal ($3.5M ?) = $28.7M on 4 forwards against say a $58-60M cap that season. Add in Fleury at $4M, Gonchar in the last year of his deal ($5M) and Ryan Whitney ($4M) you are approaching $42M. $16-18M to spend on about 15 players (8 forwards to fill out the lineup + a spare, 4 D+ 1 spare, back up goalie and an extra skater somewhere). So you'd have guys like Letang one their 2nd deals making $1.5M or so, offset by young 4th liners making $400K. Guys like Talbot who are great character guys, but will not rise above 3rd liners, and won't see much more than $1.25-$1.5M.
That obviously precludes them from keeping Malone and Orpik. And put alot of pressure on scouts, and more so, Wilkes-Barre, to develop the kids there now to step up in about a year or 2. They have guys like Alex Goligoski who is tearing up the AHL playoffs as a 21 year old D. He could make someone like Whitney expendable, saving $2-3M. They have guys who were drafted in the 2nd and 3rd round in 2005 like Carl Sneep and Brian Strait, who will not be 30 min D men, but if they can be solid on the 2nd or 3rd pair on their entry level and secondary contacts, it can work.
And, while it's probably overblown, there are players who might like the chance to play with Sid or Malkin. This season, Petr Sykora called Ray Shero at 12:03 am on July 1st to say he wanted to come to Pittsburgh. There will always be FA who want a chance to win, and may be willing to sign shorter term deals (Sykora $5M over 2) who can fill a role.
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