Not a total rebuild. But I do think Dubas wants to remake thew roster with more size, grit, youth and of course developing the prospects. Dubas is now in the trade for prospects and if not, then picks. This is a multi year program with the 2026 draft needed to add needed high end talent as well. I suggest sullivan has to go and a change to a new voice is needed.
Salary Cap: '24-'25 Salary Thread: Crosbicles Volume MMXXVI: Sid is Still Goat
- Thread starter Zirakzigil
- Start date
Honour Over Glory
#firesully
- Jan 30, 2012
- 82,263
- 46,609
It's not really a choice. It's all dependent on the Rangers.
They won't deal Raks. He's one of the main reasons Sid's line doesn't look like shit.
f*** Evander Kane
We’ve become unlikeable enough, we don’t need that shitwad
We’ve become unlikeable enough, we don’t need that shitwad
Honour Over Glory
#firesully
- Jan 30, 2012
- 82,263
- 46,609
Employing Mike Sullivan as the coach sabotages all of it.
Misusing the prospects, if he even bothers to use them at all. Awful line up management, lack of development, etc. That's the anti-rebuild hire.
With that said, he's exactly what this franchise deserves.
He just needs to play the Edzo part and help us suck long enough to get generational talent and then get fired/leave to be replaced by someone better.
Pens have the 2nd worst record in the conference, but the Sabres have 4 games in hand...this team may end up dead last in the eastern conference. This is a team in a rebuild; the front office just doesn't want to admit it.
AuroraBorealis
Back-to-back hater
They can attempt it all they want. They're still not gonna win a playoff series in the next 3 years.
Plans and reality are two different things.
Dubas planned to win the division in the first year here. They finished 5th, 26 points behind the leaders.
Also it's not just a pick you get back for Rakell, but his cap space you'd otherwise waste.
Big Friggin Dummy
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2019
- 26,903
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That better have been Rakell's last game as a Penguin, man. It's gonna be so f***ing dumb when they hang on to him, but predictable.
Neither do a large portion of the fanbase.
IcedCapp
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2009
- 36,253
- 12,535
i have a question:
I see this sentiment a lot. "Dubas won't admit it, he doesn't even know"
does he have to openly admit it? What does that accomplish? Is the sentiment really that the FO looks at the roster, realizes Sid and Geno have been mostly-healthy the last two seasons, and they're slipping further and further out of playoff contention, and they just don't get that they're not contenders? Dubas has taken NO action to suggest he believes they can contend since the EK trade.
This team would be unquestionably better with Jake and MP. He traded them both. There are rumours he's trying to trade EK and others. He hasn't given up any assets. He's acquired bad players FOR assets. Like, sometimes people can admit stuff through actions even if they don't through words.
Completely agree with the above. He came in to a team that barely missed the playoffs. He tried to add a top 6 forward, resign the #1 goalie, and add 2 top 4 defenseman his first off season. Those moves happened early in his tenure. When they clearly weren't working out he started the sell off.
Dubas is clearly rebuilding. If he starts trading 22 year olds for 30 year olds then I will say he's got no idea what he's doing.
Yeah that’s just bad leadership. One of the core things he should be doing is setting direction for a long term strategy.
Sid came out and said he believed the FO when they said we would be competitive sooner than later. Your org is misaligned if you aren’t clear about your path forward.
I honestly don’t think that’s it. I think Dubas has deluded himself into thinking he’s going to master mind this team into a playoff team in the next two years.
Randy Butternubs
FDJT
Planning and actually accomplishing are two different things. I'm probably pessimistic, but the Pens being competitive by 27-28 seems farfetched.
Big Friggin Dummy
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2019
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It definitely feels like there's been a shift in approach, and I think it started when Jake decided he was going to test FA. He made the team's decision for them as to whether to keep or trade him. The taking on guys like Hayes and Glass for picks was actions speak louder than words imo.
But we still have some of this half assed shit with reports coming out that Rust is viewed as this invaluable core piece, and how the team's gone to him and told him they won't ask him to waive and all that.
Just full commit. We'll see what happens between now and October, but I'd be lying if I said I was confident that they're gonna trade Rakell and take advantage of the career year he's having at 32, or that they'll do what they have to do this summer to move EK (or the aforementioned Rust, whose NTC drops in July). Slowly getting these Tomasinos, Kolys, etc. doesn't really accomplish anything in the way of competing or tearing things down to pile up draft capital and young difference makers for the long haul.
But we'll have to wait and see. I'm not hopeful that they'll move Rakell, and I think that's an absolute no-brainer. I have zero confidence they'll ever trade Rust. I'm not optimistic that they'll deal EK because that's going to require hefty salary retention if you're gonna try to get anything of value back. Prove me wrong, Dubas. Please.
But we still have some of this half assed shit with reports coming out that Rust is viewed as this invaluable core piece, and how the team's gone to him and told him they won't ask him to waive and all that.
Just full commit. We'll see what happens between now and October, but I'd be lying if I said I was confident that they're gonna trade Rakell and take advantage of the career year he's having at 32, or that they'll do what they have to do this summer to move EK (or the aforementioned Rust, whose NTC drops in July). Slowly getting these Tomasinos, Kolys, etc. doesn't really accomplish anything in the way of competing or tearing things down to pile up draft capital and young difference makers for the long haul.
But we'll have to wait and see. I'm not hopeful that they'll move Rakell, and I think that's an absolute no-brainer. I have zero confidence they'll ever trade Rust. I'm not optimistic that they'll deal EK because that's going to require hefty salary retention if you're gonna try to get anything of value back. Prove me wrong, Dubas. Please.
Empoleon8771
Registered User
Will he? His contract has 3 years left after this year and I'm pretty convinced this team is more than 3 years away from being competitive again.
Malkin is retiring after next year. Karlsson is almost definitely gone after his bonus is paid in July. Letang keeps regressing more and more and will be a boat anchor sooner than later. Even taking out the issues with the rest of the roster, the core is falling off way too fast for me to think this team is anywhere even close to a playoff team.
After next season, Rust is probably going to be their 2nd best player. No team with Rust as their 2nd best player is anywhere even close to a playoff team.
It doesnt matter when you or I believe they will be good. Thats their plan. All analysis of trading Rakell should start within those assumptions.
It sure does, but thats what theyre trying to do none the less and any analysis of the Rakell situation should be within those parameters
Empoleon8771
Registered User
Nothing with how they've operated since the Guentzel trade suggests that is their plan.
They're "rebuilding" without officially saying it.
All irrelevant. If you want to say its a flawed plan, go for it. I wont necessarily disagree.
But thats the reality. All answers of the question of “should they trade Rakell?” need to work within that reality.
I don’t know about this, but they’re definitely in a better place than the Pens lol…we need a whole lot more top five draft picks …
www.espn.com
How the Blackhawks jump-started their rebuild -- and why they can contend soon
The Seth Jones trade returned a potential franchise goaltender in Spencer Knight. Here's how the future looks in the Windy City.
KrisLetAngry
MrJukeBoy
If a deal with a 1st + is offered then yes I will most likely be upset with Dubas for not taking the moment. I suppose I'd say no if the cap dump was bad I'd expect more then.That better have been Rakell's last game as a Penguin, man. It's gonna be so f***ing dumb when they hang on to him, but predictable.
Neither do a large portion of the fanbase.
It's kind of like the Blues with Schenn
Only moving him if price is met.
Empoleon8771
Registered User
I don’t know about this, but they’re definitely in a better place than the Pens lol…we need a whole lot more top five draft picks …
How the Blackhawks jump-started their rebuild -- and why they can contend soon
The Seth Jones trade returned a potential franchise goaltender in Spencer Knight. Here's how the future looks in the Windy City.
I cannot think of a team I'd rather be less than the Blackhawks right now.
It's a mess outside of Bedard and Bedard isn't as good as he was projected to be.
Jacob
as seen on TV
- Feb 27, 2002
- 50,797
- 28,340
Rakell seems like the kinda guy Vegas would acquire at the deadline.
Nevermind they have no 1sts.
Nevermind they have no 1sts.
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Delete…trying to embed a picture and can’t find post on JFresh but apparently Ned has turned into the worst starting goalie in the league according to JFresh on March 4 posting of goalie WAR rankings lol (the only ones lower were backups)
Same here. If it's like 2 2nds and cap dump, I'd rather just keep him around to juice Crosby's stats and see if there's a better deal to be had at the draft.
But if you can get a 1st (especially in 2026) and a nice prospect then you have to move off Rakell. There will be wingers you can sign in free agency if you are really worried about McGroarty and Koivunen being too far away to step in next year.
would also add how many teams that arent in rebuilds ship out their most consistent relatively young top 4 defenseman for a 1st and lottery ticket
Empoleon8771
Registered User
I think the other thing to consider with trading Rakell is that you can replace Rakell with someone else you can trade later. If you trade Rakell for Moore and a 1st, you then have Moore to play with Crosby for a year or two, put up a 50-60 point season and then you can likely trade him for a 2nd+ as well. If you just hold onto Rakell, you're just going to get what you trade Rakell for.
The same logic applies to signing a UFA. Trading Rakell and replacing him either in that trade or via UFA with someone else you will trade later is the best way to accrue assets.
The same logic applies to signing a UFA. Trading Rakell and replacing him either in that trade or via UFA with someone else you will trade later is the best way to accrue assets.
