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.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Stars' fan stopping by. Was reading up on Karlsson and all of your thoughts. Karlsson is obviously still an elite defenseman, and he's someone Dallas had been interested in acquiring both times he was available in the past. He fits an immediate need for us and likely makes us a Cup favorite for the next two years. But a deal has to make sense for both sides.

Firstly, Nill has already stated that Stankoven, Bourque, and Bichsel will not be moving. If one of those is required, then there is likely no deal to be had.

Secondly, if this were a deadline deal, it would require Dumba to move out and a minimum of 1.7M retained. We are expecting Heiskanen to return before the end of the season, so him going to LTIR is unlikely. If that does happen, though, then the cap hit is not an issue at all.

It would be very uncharacteristic for Nill to move consecutive firsts, but he supposedly has a directive from ownership to do everything possible to win a Cup while this window is still open. We will see if that changes things. He's blended staying competitive with a long-term vision so far, but we've also never been this close to a Cup under his tenure.

Obviously, a trade for Karlsson begins with the 2026 1st. Outside of Hemming, we don't really have any other particularly strong prospects (and Hemming is really only there because he's a 2024 1st round pick - he struggled early, but has picked it up lately). Kyrou, Stranges, Martino, etc. should all be on the table but don't have a ton of value.

As much as we would like (and need) a top 4 defender for this upcoming playoff run, I just have a hard time seeing the assets and money work at the deadline. If Karlsson is even actually available, it seems more like an offseason move. That just feels like it makes more sense for every potential party involved.

Personally, I'd move basically any combo of picks and non-roster prospects to get this done, and that's a sentiment I think most Stars' fans agree with. But we're not the one making the deals or writing the checks.

If Bourque or Bischel aren't on the table plus + retain on EK65 AND take on Dumba's cap hit I'm not interested-- I'll wait to the summer to try and move Karlsson then.

It's completely reasonable Johnston and Stankoven are off limits; the others you have to give to get a little bit.

If you read above some Pens fans were not even happy with Borque.

A rising cap. 10 million cap hit to 7-5 depending on package.
2.5 years left.

I don't know if a 1st is enough quite frankly.
I think a prospect like Borque is needed.

Not to be nosy, but no GDT for tomorrows game yet?

Feel free to sign up for making GDTS.

I haven't made one this year. The effort of the ice ain't worth a GDT

 

[Empoleon8771]

San Jose only got the Granlund, Rutta, Hoffman and the Penguins 1st for Karlsson and the Penguins 1st was projected to be around 20th overall after adding Karlsson. The Stars 1st is projected to be worse and will almost assuredly be worse, but Karlsson's also having a much worse season than he did when he won the Norris.

Even with the rising cap, I'm extremely skeptical you'd get more than like a 1st and 3rd for Karlsson, and that's with taking a cap dump back and also retaining. Karlsson has only been a 56 point player for the Penguins, and while he'd be better for Dallas the Penguins can't ask for a price based on him being better elsewhere. If the Penguins could get Dumba and a 1st for Karlsson at $7 million, there really isn't a good justification for not doing it. You're not going to get much better than that for Karlsson.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah, I mean, EK has value, he's just been neutered by a coach that's fanatical about zero event hockey. The team's gonna retain heavily, most likely, and he's due a huge bonus on July 1st so if the Pens wait and deal him in the summer, it makes a whole lot more sense.

Unless someone makes a deal so compelling the team can't turn it down at the TDL, might as well wait until the summer. EK's likely gonna get a lot more in the off season imo.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah, I mean, EK has value, he's just been neutered by a coach that's fanatical about zero event hockey. The team's gonna retain heavily, most likely, and he's due a huge bonus on July 1st so if the Pens wait and deal him in the summer, it makes a whole lot more sense.

Unless someone makes a deal so compelling the team can't turn it down at the TDL, might as well wait until the summer. EK's likely gonna get a lot more in the off season imo.

The Sharks made that gamble with Karlsson as well and it didn't pay off.

Penguins Nearly Missed Chance to Trade for Erik Karlsson

Had the Edmonton Oilers not missed their opportunity, the Pittsburgh Penguins wouldn't have landed Erik Karlsson.

thehockeynews.com

Karlsson was allegedly almost traded to Edmonton at the 2023 deadline for a similar package to what Ekholm went to the Oilers for (Barrie, Schaefer and a 1st), with the Sharks retaining a bit more and possibly looping in a 3rd team to make the money work. When that didn't end up working out, they instead went with the Penguins offer which was definitely less at the time. Granted I think the Penguins deal had the Sharks retaining less and it ended up working out for the Sharks, but I don't think the "he'll have more value in the off-season" is necessarily true. Remember he has a full NMC and can hand pick any location he goes to.

Either way I think they should take any deal where they can get a 2026 1st at this point. I don't think they're likely to get much more than that and you're better off getting the guaranteed 2026 1st over potentially missing out on it because you wanted a 2026 1st and a good prospect. If you could get Dumba, Kyrou and a 2026 1st for Karlsson without ridiculous retention, I'd jump on that.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

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

Agreed, with Rakell signed and the cap going up, this is a solid add for a contending team for the next few seasons! I'm looking for a 1st and a solid prospect in return, preferably a 2026 1st but 2025 would work as well depending on prospect returning