Salary Cap: '24-'25 Salary Thread: Crosbicles Volume MMXXVI: Sid is Still Goat

[The GM]

Do you ever think about how Hextall is the worst GM ever and he drafted out best forward, defenseman and goaltender currently in the system?

They should really make a GM of the year award and name it after Hextall

 

[Pancakes]

Do you ever think about how Hextall is the worst GM ever and he drafted out best forward, defenseman and goaltender currently in the system?

Sorta like how Shero was reviled near the end but he drafted Jake Guentzel, Matt Murray, Bryan Rust, etc.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2025/02/24/vladislav-kolyachonok-matt-grzelcyk-utah-hockey-club/stories/202502240036

I completely forgot this guy even existed and apparently so did Mike Sullivan

 

[Gurglesons]

They should really make a GM of the year award and name it after Hextall

Hextall stinks. It’s just funny how many people try to anoint Dubas the same way they did while Hextall was here.

 

[Turin]

Not in a rush to trade Karlsson in-season if a really low first with the Pens retaining AND taking on Dumba is the offer. That sucks. You're basically getting a prospect in 4 years and marginal cap savings + using a retention slot. There's literally no point.

 

[Jacob]

A Cup-contending team offers us their 1st this year for Rakell, do you take it? Considering weak draft, Sid needs a winger, could get the same (or more) later.

 

[chethejet]

Pens maybe can get into top 5. Dubas has more options in the off season with cap increase and more teams willing to deal for Karlsson and or Rust with his NMC gone. Pens may have a really good pick in 2026 if Rangers suck. Add in Pens 2026 pick and getting higher end talent in those 2 years and now there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Malkinstheman]

A Cup-contending team offers us their 1st this year for Rakell, do you take it? Considering weak draft, Sid needs a winger, could get the same (or more) later.

I wouldnt. For me Rakell isnt a must move. The price for him starts with 2026 1st + good prospect.

 

[Turin]

A Cup-contending team offers us their 1st this year for Rakell, do you take it? Considering weak draft, Sid needs a winger, could get the same (or more) later.

Not unless they have a good idea that they can flip it for something else

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Ultimately if Dallas wanted to make a quantity move for retained EK65 I’d want it to look like ‘26 1st +’26 2nd + Bertucci + Hemming + Dumba. Prob not realistic with his NMC. Also that could be a whole lot of nothing.

Just not sure anything seems enticing enough but I guess it ensures we’d be absolutely terrible next season.

A Cup-contending team offers us their 1st this year for Rakell, do you take it? Considering weak draft, Sid needs a winger, could get the same (or more) later.

If it comes with a decent prospect sure.

If not - pass.

 

[BobCole]

I wouldnt. For me Rakell isnt a must move. The price for him starts with 2026 1st + good prospect.

I would love to see this kind of return for Rakell but I'm not sure if this is realistic.

 

[Gurglesons]

I wouldnt. For me Rakell isnt a must move. The price for him starts with 2026 1st + good prospect.

Yes.

Then you go full court press on Marchand on a one or two year deal with limited trade protection.

 

[Factorial]

A Cup-contending team offers us their 1st this year for Rakell, do you take it? Considering weak draft, Sid needs a winger, could get the same (or more) later.

No. Ricky Rack-All is for more valuable to Sid than a late first round pick in 2025.

 

[JRS91]

Do you ever think about how Hextall is the worst GM ever and he drafted out best forward, defenseman and goaltender currently in the system?

Hextall made some really poor decisions, but I think Rutherford is more to blame for the current state of this team.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Yes and I'd like to see Atlantis someday, Andy.

Just go to Nassau Bahamas my dude.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

With the situation in LA around Brandt Clarke, I want to amend my position that Rakell would get a better package in a trade in the offseason rather than right now in-season. I could see LA overpaying for Rakell in-season, and getting a better deal for him than if we waited until the offseason. Rob Blake is the kind of foolhardy GM who just might give us Clarke + for Rakell.
But other than a trade to LA, we will get more for Rakell by waiting until the offseason.

Yes.

Then you go full court press on Marchand on a one or two year deal with limited trade protection.

Marchand? Why are we trying to get older?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Marchand? Why are we trying to get older?

1. Because he'd give Sid another legit winger.
2. Because he'd be a UFA and cost nothing.
3. Because with limited trade protection, we could move him when the time came for assets.
4. Because the commitment would be minimal.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

1. Because he'd give Sid another legit winger.

For how long? The wheels look like they're in the process of coming off.

2. Because he'd be a UFA and cost nothing.
3. Because with limited trade protection, we could move him when the time came for assets.
4. Because the commitment would be minimal.

Sure, but that's true for multiple UFA wingers. Why Marchand specifically?

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

would you sign Boeser to 6x6?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The issue with signing/trading for guys who could make an impact is that you're definitely wasting assets in a desperate, vain attempt to feign relevance, *and* you're gonna watch these assets' value tank in this system and under this coach.

It just makes no damn sense. Fire Sully and maybe you've got an argument, but this team's as married to Sully as they are Sid, and that's f***ing maddening and bizarre.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I would 100% go after Marchand if he'd be interested in playing here, letting Crosby play out the rest of his career on a Marchand-Crosby-Rust line would be terrific to help him produce and go further up the all time point list. The issue though is I figure Marchand leaves solely to go chasing after a cup, I think he almost definitely ends up in Edmonton or Colorado (especially with the MacKinnon connection).

I think the realistic best option is just trading Rakell and loading up L1 with Malkin-Crosby-Rust. It doesn't require any unlikely UFA signings, it pushes Malkin to a more appropriate role (supporting top-6 winger) and it will help both Sid and Geno put up more points until they retire.

would you sign Boeser to 6x6?

I'd be significantly more inclined to say yes to this if the Penguins had any sort of young or prime aged 2C to play him with. But as is, I don't see much of a fit. He'd be signed to play as the 2nd line RW and this team doesn't have a playmaking center that can mesh with him long-term.

I know Zegras isn't a realistic option, but if the Penguins had someone like that as their 2C, I'd be significantly more inclined to throw that kind of deal at Boeser.

With the situation in LA around Brandt Clarke, I want to amend my position that Rakell would get a better package in a trade in the offseason rather than right now in-season. I could see LA overpaying for Rakell in-season, and getting a better deal for him than if we waited until the offseason. Rob Blake is the kind of foolhardy GM who just might give us Clarke + for Rakell.
But other than a trade to LA, we will get more for Rakell by waiting until the offseason.

If the Penguins are trading for Clarke, I think it would probably be something like Rakell and the NYR 1st for Moore and Clarke. Which I'd do without much issue.

That deal basically splits up to Rakell for Moore and a 1st and Clarke for 2 1sts (IMO similar value to the Jiricek trade), so the Penguins are adding the extra 1st in that deal.