Penguins Need to Negotiate With Justin Williams

[thepittman]

http://thehockeywriters.com/penguins-ne ... -williams/

The Pittsburgh Penguins need to bring in another top six forward. General manager Jim Rutherford has already stated that the upcoming free agent class is quite weak, but that does not mean there are not a few quality players about to hit the open market.
Justin Williams contributed a goal and an assist in his first game since March 21 (Photo by Bob Fina).

Justin Williams contributed a goal and an assist in his first game since March 21 (Photo by Bob Fina).

One of those is the Los Angeles Kings’ forward Justin Williams. The 33 year-old wing has been an integral part of the Kings since 2008-2009. This past season Williams appeared in 81 games, scored 18 goals, assisted on 23 more for a total of 41 points and was a plus 8 skater.

Williams and the Penguins almost were a union earlier in this season, but Olli Maatta’s shoulder injury forced them to not execute. The rumored trade was involving Justin Williams and Pittsburgh’s defenseman Paul Martin. However, after defensive injuries, the Penguins had to walk away from the trade, despite desperately needing Williams’ help.
Justin William’s Expiring Contract

He has been a member of the Kings for quite some time, but his contract is expiring. Williams was signed to a four-year/$14.6 million dollar contract, which had an annual cap hit of $3.65 million.

The Penguins will have some salary cap room to play with as defenders Christian Ehrhoff and Martin both are unrestricted free agents. The departure of those two alone will free up over $9 million in cap space.

But Pittsburgh must be cautious, former GM Ray Shero gave Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis large contracts in their mid-thirties and they have slowed down dramatically.

It the Penguins want to make a run at Justin Williams without being stuck with another aging veteran player, they need to keep his contract duration short.

Ideally the Pens would be able to sign Williams to a two-year/$6-8 million dollar contract with a cap hit under $4 million per season.
Addressing One of the Penguins Biggest Weaknesses

Head coach Mike Johnston loves his puck possession system and Williams would fit right in. Take a look at his HERO chart, courtesy of Own The Puck.

Dashboard 1 (1)

The Penguins have had issues with puck possession and Williams is one of the best in the NHL at driving possession. He is capable of playing alongside star players, he is a Conn Smythe winner and capable of scoring 20 goals a season.

During the Kings’ last playoff run that ended with the hoisting of the Stanley Cup, Williams produced 25 points (9 goals and 16 assists) in 26 games played.
Penguins Need to Try and Win Now

Like it or not, Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup window is closing. Mainly because their star players in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury all are getting older and suffering more injuries.
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

If one thing has been proven in the last two years, it’s that the Penguins falter when their core players are not healthy and playing. Even missing Letang and Malkin playing hurt at the end of this season crippled the team.

Could Williams production slow down drastically like Chris Kunitz’s did this year? Absolutely. But Williams is worth the risk and Pittsburgh’s management will prove to their fans they are still committed to winning a Cup.

Adding Williams wouldn’t be the easiest move and many believe that the Penguins have the prospects to replace their free agents, but they do not have enough. Letting most of your free agents walk and expecting that prospects can make the jump, is not a proven way to win the Cup.

Pittsburgh must rely on a combination of veterans and youth to make a serious run. There will be a lot of personnel changes this offseason, but the Penguins must consider and try to negotiate with Justin Williams.

Stay tuned, I’ll be discussing more free agent and trade targets for the Penguins in upcoming weeks.

[thepittman]

[count2infinity]

If they can get him for 3.5ish a year for 2 years, I'd like the signing. Much more than that (and I think he'll likely get more than that), no thanks.

[Kicksave]

If they can ditch Kunitz' contract, then I'm all for giving him that money for a few years.

[Defence21]

The Penguins need wingers, but is a 33-year old really the right direction? All the rage is how Shero messed up re-signing Kunitz and Dupuis when he did, granted both were for longer term than two years, but the point remains: this team needs to get younger, and signing a 33-year-old doesn't cut it in my opinion. I want to see all signings be under the age of 30. Combine that with the departures of Martin, Ehrhoff, and Adams, as well as the potential departures of Scuderi, Kunitz, and Dupuis, and this team will be drastically younger.

[mikey]

If it's short-term, it's ok with me. The need to get younger is going to need to be homegrown and we just aren't there yet. It's tough to acquire impactful young goal-scorers. The time when goal-scoring occurs is before they reach unrestricted free agency quite often...

[Silentom]

2 years max, and maybe.

[large garlic]

The Penguins need wingers, but is a 33-year old really the right direction? All the rage is how Shero messed up re-signing Kunitz and Dupuis when he did, granted both were for longer term than two years, but the point remains: this team needs to get younger, and signing a 33-year-old doesn't cut it in my opinion. I want to see all signings be under the age of 30. Combine that with the departures of Martin, Ehrhoff, and Adams, as well as the potential departures of Scuderi, Kunitz, and Dupuis, and this team will be drastically younger.

Pretty much how I feel too. As I've said in several other threads, I think the Pens would do well to accept the fact that they're not legit contenders right now. They're not just one player away from winning the Cup, so they shouldn't go out and overspend on older UFAs. Take a couple year re-tooling period. Bank draft picks and cap space, and hopefully integrate some younger, hungrier players in the lineup. Then, in 2-3 years, when the big 4 are in their early 30s and guys like Maatta and Pouliot are moving into their prime, look for guys like Williams to put them over the top.

[Jim]

Both Kunitz and Dupuis are under contract for one more year. There is a chance that injuries might force Dupuis to retire or stay on LTIR (see: Pronger, Chris), but we should expect Kunitz's cap hit to say on the books.

I could see Williams wanting to cash out this contract. It is not likely that he will sign a short term deal. If he does that (say a 2 year deal) then he would be 36 come the start of the season on the following contract and he will not get a lot of $ then. I could see him going for a 4 year deal to pull some extra $ when he is 36 and 37. Maybe even viewing this contract as a career ender.

I would not mind seeing Williams on the Pens next year, I just do not think that it would be good financial bang for the buck over the term.

[columbia]

If interested, I suspect that some GM would outbid the pens and give him three years.

[Gaucho]

Trade Despres for a top six wi... crap.

[Jim]

Trade Despres for a top six wi... crap.

Nah, the best Despres could get would be another 3rd pair dman. Maybe a 4th line, low-end 3rd liner.

[llipgh2]

Source of the post Like it or not, Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup window is closing. Mainly because their star players in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury all are getting older and suffering more injuries.
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Yes, Fleury's getting older. But he's not exactly injury prone. So to include him in the injury category is kind of stupid.

[cadams]

If they can ditch Kunitz' contract, then I'm all for giving him that money for a few years.

For this to work they NEED to move Kunitz too. I'd even look to trade Kunitz and Sutter for Williams rights and Richards with them retaining half the cap hit. Then sign Williams for 3 years, $10 million. We would shave about $1 million off the cap doing that too.

[Craig]

Richards seems to be toast. Burnt toast.

[mikey]

[MR25]

I thought I was getting away from those kind of posts when I switched boards...

Guess not.

[mikey]

Moving Kunitz to get Richards is like curing the flu with cancer...

[Kicksave]

Mike Richards is still a thing?

[mikey]

In the AHL, yes...

[meow]

Yea, but that #leadership.

[Pavel Bure]

Someone is going to overpay Chris Drury style. Williams is "clutch" and has 2 rings. He's gonna get paid and it won't (god willing) be here.

[Craig]

I dont think i ever noticed drury retire. As far as i know he abruptly left.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

2 years with Williams would be awesome. He's old though so hell probably look for a longer contract. He's one of my favorite non-Pens though and would be perfect for this team

[llipgh2]

In the AHL, yes...

I thought the Kings brought Richards back up at the end of the season?