Salary Cap: '24-'25 Salary Thread: Crosbicles Volume MMXXV - Poolman and Poolparty?!?

[Gurglesons]

Tbh I find the "Is Dubas a bad gm" conversation rather boring. Mostly because even bad GMs have good runs (see Rutherford, Jim). And formerly good gms have bad ones (see Lamiorello, Lou).

Hextall made some good moves too despite being largely bad.

At least with Dubas it seems like he's acknowledged his mistakes. He hasn't tried to mortgage the future to contend this year. He has moved on from Jarry. They're not endlessly parading Ryan Graves out on the ice like the Pens insisted on doing with Jack Johnson when he was sucking up the joint.

Now the hope (for me at least) is can Dubas have a good run. Now that the Pens seem to have a relatively clear direction and are sticking to it let's see where that takes us.

Let's see what they do this deadline and next offseason before we declare the organization has a relatively clear direction.

 

[HandshakeLine]

The idea that we can’t judge a GM’s performance until they are terminated is a dumb one, that’s my hot take and I’m sticking to it.

 

[Pancakes]

Let's see what they do this deadline and next offseason before we declare the organization has a relatively clear direction.

Eh I've seen enough to think that they're pretty committed to their current course. He's been dumpster diving for young players like Glass and Tomasino and has otherwise not been moving out assets for veterans. They took on Hayes just to get a 2nd out of it. They haven't re-signed MP and it seems pretty clear he's a goner by the TDL whether they're in it or not.

We can debate whether or not Dubas has gone far enough with the rebuild but it's pretty clear that's their general direction imo.

The idea that we can’t judge a GM’s performance until they are terminated is a dumb one, that’s my hot take and I’m sticking to it.

For me the boring thing is most all of us agree he's been bad. I guess there's some disagreement on how bad, but this topic is like arguing about Mike Sullivan. We all know they have stunk. What more is there that is novel or topic-worthy to say? Until Dubas has new moves to judge we're stuck rehashing how badly he's fumbled everything else.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

For me the boring thing is most all of us agree he's been bad. I guess there's some disagreement on how bad, but this topic is like arguing about Mike Sullivan. We all know they have stunk. What more is there that is novel or topic-worthy to say? Until Dubas has new moves to judge we're stuck rehashing how badly he's fumbled everything else.

You aren't wrong but there sure isn't gonna be much to talk about unless it's the various ways in which this team f***ing sucks at everything it attempts.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I thought I read somewhere that the club has to get "permission" from the player to be sent to the ECHL. Is that a thing?

A better route would be - trade Neds ASAP and bring up Larsson. Then Murashov to WBS.

That's a sink or swim situation for Joel and Larsson but...at this point, why not.

Larsson was hurt last night. They'll keep Ned for a while because of this long road trip, but if Blomqvist does well, Ned could be moved by the deadline.

 

[HandshakeLine]

For me the boring thing is most all of us agree he's been bad. I guess there's some disagreement on how bad, but this topic is like arguing about Mike Sullivan. We all know they have stunk. What more is there that is novel or topic-worthy to say? Until Dubas has new moves to judge we're stuck rehashing how badly he's fumbled everything else.

Outside of some notable exceptions, yes. But again, whose fault is this? Not ours. If you’re bored with hearing about it, hope Dubas actually does something worth discussing.

 

[SEALBound]

Larsson was hurt last night. They'll keep Ned for a while because of this long road trip, but if Blomqvist does well, Ned could be moved by the deadline.

My underlying goal was always to get Murashov to the AHL so that's one way to do it as well. Not the preferred method but it serves its purpose none-the-less.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Larsson was hurt last night. They'll keep Ned for a while because of this long road trip, but if Blomqvist does well, Ned could be moved by the deadline.

I'm betting on the Pens being trash on the road as they have been.

6 -10 - 5

 

[DesertedPenguin]

My underlying goal was always to get Murashov to the AHL so that's one way to do it as well. Not the preferred method but it serves its purpose none-the-less.

The good thing is Murashov's reportedly had a great approach to being in Wheeling, and he's getting a lot of game experience.

 

[SEALBound]

The good thing is Murashov's reportedly had a great approach to being in Wheeling, and he's getting a lot of game experience.

And he's killing it as well. He's still very young. I'm sure it's easy to show the depth chart the organization currently has and explain to him why he's there. That's certainly easier to digest than "you're in the ECHL because you suck".

 

[Andy99]

Larsson was hurt last night. They'll keep Ned for a while because of this long road trip, but if Blomqvist does well, Ned could be moved by the deadline.

Think they’re going to have a hard time moving Ned unless he goes on a heater and really plays well for a stretch around the deadline…he has another year left on his contract and he’s making $2.5M, which is rather costly for a true backup…

 

[SomeDude]

His boss must have given him permission.

Which boss is up for debate, I guess. All I know is he's not allowed to do things.

Wasn’t allowed in Toronto either. He’s never been allowed to do anything, therefore he should not be held responsible for the messes that always seem to be around him.

Not a bad gig for $3 mill a year.

 

[Pens1566]

Why are we burdening another state with jarry? WV doesn’t deserve that.

Meh, Wheeling has it coming ...

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Wasn’t allowed in Toronto either. He’s never been allowed to do anything, therefore he should not be held responsible for the messes that always seem to be around him.

Not a bad gig for $3 mill a year.

7M a year! Isn't that neat?

Hey he and Sullivan make a good pair -- they are never REALLY wrong and it's always someone else's fault.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Think they’re going to have a hard time moving Ned unless he goes on a heater and really plays well for a stretch around the deadline…he has another year left on his contract and he’s making $2.5M, which is rather costly for a true backup…

The lack of good goaltending in the NHL the last couple of years could make teams desperate at the deadline. That said, you're probably correct, and I would think the Pens are more likely planning/hoping for the following to happen:

1. Blomqvist establishes himself as the No. 1 through the rest of this year, even if there are the customary hiccups for a rookie goaltender. Ned plays well enough to be a serviceable back-up.
2. Murashov continues to play well through the end of the year, while Gauthier shows he's healthy and plays well.
3. They trade or buyout Jarry in the offseason.
4. Blomqvist and Ned are the goalies next season. Murashov and Gauthier move to the AHL.
5. They trade Ned at the deadline next season and Murashov or Gauthier get promoted to the NHL because they've played well.

 

[PensFutures]

And he's killing it as well. He's still very young. I'm sure it's easy to show the depth chart the organization currently has and explain to him why he's there. That's certainly easier to digest than "you're in the ECHL because you suck".

I think the org adding a goaltending coach in Wheeling is helping as well. He and Gauthier get a little more than just facing shots in drills all week.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Wasn’t allowed in Toronto either. He’s never been allowed to do anything, therefore he should not be held responsible for the messes that always seem to be around him.

Not a bad gig for $3 mill a year.

How’s our GM search coming by the by?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

How’s our GM search coming by the by?

He SAID he was getting the best man for the job.

Are you not satiated?

 

[Ulf5]

Yeah, watching gurg and seal rehash the Jake trade every 2 weeks is getting a bit annoying.......

 

[Ulf5]

No, since Ludvig was a waiver claim off of the Pens by Colorado, if Pens reclaimed him while on waivers he could be sent straight to WBS.

From one of the top AHL reporters:





Poolman trade was indeed a forward/defenseman contract swap. My point was that Ludvig is obviously better and younger than Poolman, and had Ludvig been available at that time, they would have done a deal for him instead. They'd still be at 49 contracts, which they probably don't want to budge from, and would have a better defenseman.

As it is, we may see another forward for defenseman minor league trade if these injuries continue in WBS.

Claim Ludvig- 24, put Poolaman- 29, on waivers.

 

[SEALBound]

Claim Ludvig- 24, put Poolaman- 29, on waivers.

Problem would be is if no one claimed him. Then what do you do...?

 

[SomeDude]

How’s our GM search coming by the by?

Top candidate is a fellow named Lyle Zubas. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

I would forgive Dubas for being bad at his job and nominate him for the HHOF if he said that he is hiring his twin brother as GM and continued a charade of giving interviews with a fake mustache for 5 years. Just to see how Josh Yohe spins it to make it seem not only believable, but a great thing for the city of Pittsburgh.

 

[Darren McCord]

Think they’re going to have a hard time moving Ned unless he goes on a heater and really plays well for a stretch around the deadline…he has another year left on his contract and he’s making $2.5M, which is rather costly for a true backup…

Meh Ned is tied for 49th in goalies paid.

that means out of 64 starters and backups only 15 make less than him.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Top candidate is a fellow named Lyle Zubas. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

I would forgive Dubas for being bad at his job and nominate him for the HHOF if he said that he is hiring his twin brother as GM and continued a charade of giving interviews with a fake mustache for 5 years. Just to see how Josh Yohe spins it to make it seem not only believable, but a great thing for the city of Pittsburgh.

I think it rules how insanely low the expectations were for Dubas and how he’s struggling to clear that very low bar.

 

[Andy99]

Meh Ned is tied for 49th in goalies paid.

that means out of 64 starters and backups only 15 make less than him.

Very few true backups make $2.5 or more…those that do like Jake Allen and Varlomov have a lot more experience…a few other like Knight were paid as young goalies with the expectation they would grow into a 1b job at least even if they haven’t…but when you’ve paid your top goalie, it’s rare to pay someone else $2.5 or more