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

[CheckingLineCenter]

His values at its highest why didn’t you trade him for the next Sam Poulin?!

Also… his deal isn’t up for awhile.

Who knows. I know there’s this ADHD/impulsive push to trade Rakell right this second because he hypothetically could play worse next season but if he isn’t moved we really don’t know what was offered vs what wasn’t.

 

[BillyOcean]

No. I don't.

Rangers will bounce back next season. You risk the opportunity to pick mid first to later, I don't see the Rangers pick being above 15th overall next year at all. Drury is a wanker of a GM but if he has an elite goalie and some solid young players, which he does, he will likely make a coaching change this summer and they'll be back to being a better team..

Even incompetent teams figure out how to fix their shit quicker than the Pens ever will.


Nah, that pick isn't going to be higher next year at all. They will be a better team next year. Because unlike the shit show we like, those teams actually make necessary changes when they've failed once or twice, let alone f***ing 3yrs straight and really, much longer than that.

Willing to take the risk

 

[Turin]

Or they can trade him for the next David Pastrnak.

Some of the arguments against trading Rakell on here are absolutely bizarre. This team sucks and is rebuilding, why do they need to hold onto Rakell? That doesn't mean trade him for a shitty return, but a 1st rounder+ is not a shitty return for Rakell.

A late first is pretty a shitty return. There's over a 75% chance that a pick above 20th overall does nothing noteworthy in the league. Pastrnak is the single greatest player ever at his draft number. Why not trade him for a 7th? Could get Datsyuk or Hornqvist.

 

[Empoleon8771]

A late first is pretty a shitty return. There's over a 75% chance that a pick above 20th overall does nothing noteworthy in the league. Pastrnak is the single greatest player ever at his draft number. Why not trade him for a 7th? Could get Datsyuk or Hornqvist.

That late 1st is more value than what they paid for him in the first place.

I don't understand how this place constantly bitches about not having young talent but then also scoffs at the idea of trading Rakell for a 1st rounder, which gives them the best chance at getting young talent. The thought process of "any 1st sucks because it will be the next Sam Poulin" is exactly how you won't rebuild a team. And for what? So Rakell can put up 60 point seasons as the Penguins finish in the basement of the league?

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

If this loser can get traded, so can ned.

 

[DRAGO 18]

For whatever it's worth, NHL Network speculating an Evander Kane + deal for Rickard Rakell

 

[cookthebooks]

lol wat on earth

 

[Turin]

That late 1st is more value than what they paid for him in the first place.

I don't understand how this place constantly bitches about not having young talent but then also scoffs at the idea of trading Rakell for a 1st rounder, which gives them the best chance at getting young talent.

I'm not "this place" and I don't "constantly bitch about not having young talent."

Clang and a 2nd is pretty close to a late first.

For whatever it's worth, NHL Network speculating an Evander Kane + deal for Rickard Rakell

Would need to be heavy a +

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm not "this place" and I don't "constantly bitch about not having young talent."

Clang and a 2nd is pretty close to a late first.

Okay so you're just refusing to accept the reality for what this team is at this point.

If they get offered a 1st for Rakell, they'd be downright morons to not take it. Rakell isn't going to solve shit for the rebuild. A 1st might.

 

[BillyOcean]

A late first is pretty a shitty return. There's over a 75% chance that a pick above 20th overall does nothing noteworthy in the league. Pastrnak is the single greatest player ever at his draft number. Why not trade him for a 7th? Could get Datsyuk or Hornqvist.

Eh. Pretty flawed logic. Why draft at pick say #6 if there's only one good player historically picked at that position? It's just an example.

It's also not factoring in the perceived value that pick has as leverage in a trade.

What if the Penguins leveraged two first rounders this year to move up in the round? It's more likely a team would be interested in that deal to acquire additional picks.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Just trade the guy. Stop the dumb bullshit. Dubas probably has his pick of offers on the table, take one and be done with it.

Rakell doesn't matter to this team as anything more than a trade chip, just like Granlund didn't matter to the Sharks. If Rakell was pacing for 30+ goals on some team like the Preds and got dealt for a 1st+, people would say it was a great trade--rightfully so. People can't view this through a non-Pens fan lens so they get donkeybrains about it.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Do people forget that the Penguins got Rakell for Clang and a 2nd?

If you force yourself to trade him right this second, the return could very well be similar. (And I’d argue a late 1st is really not too different than a 2nd tbh)

He’s got a lot of term left. Sit back and if someone ponies up- great. If not- great. Can move him in summer or next TDL. Or the ones after.

No reason to back yourself into a corner thinking there is only one option and set a internal deadline for no reason.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If you force yourself to trade him right this second, the return could very well be similar. (And I’d argue a late 1st is really not too different than a 2nd tbh)

He’s got a lot of term left. Sit back and if someone ponies up- great. If not- great. Can move him in summer or next TDL. Or the ones after.

No reason to back yourself into a corner thinking there is only one option and set a internal deadline for no reason.

Or he returns to his normal level, which is not what he is this year, and you're getting a far less return than selling him right now at his peak value in a seller's market.

Nyquist just brought back a 2nd rounder and he has 21 points in 58 games this year. The market after Rakell is essentially barren. If you can get a 1st for Rakell, which I'd be willing to bet you can with the current market, you simply can't say no to it.

 

[Turin]

Okay so you're just refusing to accept the reality for what this team is at this point.

If they get offered a 1st for Rakell, they'd be downright morons to not take it. Rakell isn't going to solve shit for the rebuild. A 1st might.

No I just think you shouldn't give away players for pennies on the dollar because that's a good way to be a terrible GM. He's literally not going anyway, and if anything he could increase his value next year by having less term + showing this year wasn't a fluke and that his 2024 season was the real outlier. The Pens are going to be bad for a little while yet unless something miraculous happens, a prospect who won't play until the 2029 season won't be that important to the rebuild in the grand scope of things.

Or he returns to his normal level, which is not what he is this year, and you're getting a far less return than selling him right now at his peak value in a seller's market.

Nyquist just brought back a 2nd rounder and he has 21 points in 58 games this year. The market after Rakell is essentially barren. If you can get a 1st for Rakell, which I'd be willing to bet you can with the current market, you simply can't say no to it.

His normal level with Pittsburgh is closer to what he is now than what he was last year, playing on a team with a historically bad powerplay.

 

[Sideline]

For whatever it's worth, NHL Network speculating an Evander Kane + deal for Rickard Rakell

It depends entirely on the plus. Edmonton is going to be picking late so even Kane and the 2026 1st is betting a lot on him having trade value this time next year. It's an interesting concept though.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Evander Kane has a NMC. Why would he want to come here?

Unless he's LTIRetired...

 

[Sideline]

Evander Kane has a NMC. Why would he want to come here?

Unless he's LTIRetired...

I think it's a 16 team list.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Or he returns to his normal level, which is not what he is this year, and you're getting a far less return than selling him right now at his peak value in a seller's market.

you have no idea what offers are man. Teams may be factoring that in already. They may not. He may not regress.

But to sit here and say he’s gotta go by Friday no matter what is exactly how you lose a deal.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I think it's a 16 team list.

You are correct. His NMC ended at the end of February as per CapWages.

 

[Empoleon8771]

No I just think you shouldn't give away players for pennies on the dollar because that's a good way to be a terrible GM. He's literally not going anyway, and if anything he could increase his value next year by having less term + showing this year wasn't a fluke and that his 2024 season was the real outlier. The Pens are going to be bad for a little while yet unless something miraculous happens, a prospect who won't play until the 2029 season won't be that important to the rebuild in the grand scope of things.

You're not giving Rakell away for "pennies on the dollar" by trading a 1st for him.

Your logic here is absolutely terrible. You're keeping a win-now player on a clearly rebuilding team, which accomplishes literally nothing for them, based on the idea that a 1st rounder is "pennies on the dollar" for him when it's more than they paid for him in the first place. Saying that a 1st won't be important in the rebuild, as if Rakell somehow would be important in the rebuild, makes no sense. All Rakell offers is putting up points on a terrible team.

His normal level with Pittsburgh is closer to what he is now than what he was last year, playing on a team with a historically bad powerplay.

Where did I say anything about last year? If he reverts back to what he was last year, he's untradeable. No one would want him.

He is at his peak value right now. There is almost no chance Rakell performs at the same level next year as this year.

you have no idea what offers are man. Teams may be factoring that in already. They may not. He may not regress.

But to sit here and say he’s gotta go by Friday no matter what is exactly how you lose a deal.

You don't need a crystal ball to say that a guy shooting 6% above his career average will most likely regress back to his norm.

Rakell is at his peak value right now. If the offers aren't good for him now, they'll never be good for him. And even beyond all of that, what does keeping him accomplish?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

You are correct. His NMC ended at the end of February as per CapWages.

That's odd. I thought those clauses changed/ended every July when the hockey year essentially rolled over.

 

[Andy99]

lol… probably on his no trade list…

 

[Empoleon8771]

That's odd. I thought those clauses changed/ended every July when the hockey year essentially rolled over.

His contract is weird because he signed his deal with Edmonton during the season after being released from San Jose IIRC.

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

Just trade him for the best package you get offered. There is no way he has this type of season next year. Don’t overplay your hand Dufus.

 

[Turin]

You're not giving Rakell away for "pennies on the dollar" by trading a 1st for him.

Your logic here is absolutely terrible. You're keeping a win-now player on a clearly rebuilding team, which accomplishes literally nothing for them, based on the idea that a 1st rounder is "pennies on the dollar" for him when it's more than they paid for him in the first place. Saying that a 1st won't be important in the rebuild, as if Rakell somehow would be important in the rebuild, makes no sense. All Rakell offers is putting up points on a terrible team.

Sure you are. Seth Jones, a bad defenseman on a bad contract just got traded for a 1st and a potential starting goalie. Trent Fredric just got traded for a 2nd and 4th for f*** sakes. Rakell is a legitimate top line winger at the moment and his contract will be more than ideal with the cap going up if he keeps it up. The Pens aren't rebuilding JUST THIS YEAR at the TRADE DEADLINE. They have time to trade him, and if all the offers are comparable to Trent Fredric, just wait for more.

Just trade him for the best package you get offered. There is no way he has this type of season next year. Don’t overplay your hand Dufus.

Except he had the same kind of season in 2023.