Salary Cap: 24 25 Salary Thread Crosbicles Volume Mmxxvii Retool over Time to Go for A Cup in 2026

[Ugene Magic]

I think no matter how much they tear up the AHL, the NHL is just such a different caliber of game and at a higher speed, so I don't put nearly as much stock in AHL performance predicting NHL results for skaters as I would for goalies. There's just been so many cases of guys with great AHL numbers not doing much of anything in the NHL that I find it hard to put a whole lot of stock in them.

Of course, the amount of guys outside of role players who have no results in the AHL who make a successful transition to the NHL is even smaller.

Yeah, right now it is a bunch of half cooked spaghetti thrown at the wall. But the more they keep throwing the more a chance they get a keeper or two with an outside chance of getting a top liner.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Yeah, right now it is a bunch of half cooked spaghetti thrown at the wall. But the more they keep throwing the more a chance they get a keeper or two with an outside chance of getting a top liner.

Exactly. I don't think it's impossible to hit that franchise player later in the 1st, but odds of it are much, much smaller these days, so you'd be better off taking as many swings as you can.

 

[Darren McCord]

Exactly. I don't think it's impossible to hit that franchise player later in the 1st, but odds of it are much, much smaller these days, so you'd be better off taking as many swings as you can.

I think the best prospect in the system is Murashov. Good teams have a #1 center, #1 dmen and #1 goalie. Great teams have the #1 winger as well.

Out of the system right now, Murashov is the best chance to become that #1 goalie. They have no other prospects who fit the other 3 categories.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I always want to hold off on talking about goalies until other teams get tape on them. There's also a lot of guys who look unbeatable when they enter the league and then fall off fast and hard once teams get a read on them or injuries strike (Murray). Murashov looks good, but so did a lot of our goalies who have fallen by the wayside.

Plus I want to see how mentally he can handle our atrocious team defense.

 

[Khelandros]

 

[HandshakeLine]

lol

 

[Darren McCord]

I always want to hold off on talking about goalies until other teams get tape on them. There's also a lot of guys who look unbeatable when they enter the league and then fall off fast and hard once teams get a read on them or injuries strike (Murray). Murashov looks good, but so did a lot of our goalies who have fallen by the wayside.

Plus I want to see how mentally he can handle our atrocious team defense.

I mean true but at the same time it's still the best hope we have lol. That uncertainty is why he has a chance too haha

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Not saying its easy and they don't need one. But it's more important to have a functional development system first. I really think Shero was the last GM to actually have that. JR burned everything to the ground and Hextall just was good chilling out and hoping someone else would do it.

Define functional development system? Is that in Wheeling, WBS and the big club? Individual Development coaches?

I can't speak to any of those things (bc I don't follow them closely enough) except for what I see with the big club. And the fly in the ointment for "development" is Sullivan and I know he sucks at it.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Sullivan had success with Rust, and the team claims they love him, but it is absolutely WILD how many guys come here and have career lows.

 

[Empoleon8771]

At the deadline I said I wouldn't move Rakell unless a top tier young player was coming back, and I'm sticking to that requirement as a trade I'd have for him. I know this team needs as many draft picks as possible to get the next franchise pieces it needs, but I also think late 1sts have low hit rates for giving that and I'd demand a young prospect who looks to be on a better trajectory than just a late 1st.

This team needs quality more than anything at this point. I know you could hit on a quality prospect by getting 2 late 1sts for Rakell, but I'd much rather demand a top young asset and get fewer assets but a better individual asset. Even if the value is less, I'd want to do Clarke from LA for Rakell before I'd do 2 LA 1sts for Rakell.

 

[Darren McCord]

Define functional development system? Is that in Wheeling, WBS and the big club? Individual Development coaches?

I can't speak to any of those things (bc I don't follow them closely enough) except for what I see with the big club. And the fly in the ointment for "development" is Sullivan and I know he sucks at it.

Functional would be having prospects that work through wheeling and WBS to make it to the big club. So ya you won't know until the players start graduating next year. But ya Sullivan being with the big club next year will tank and development with the big club.

Maybe Spezza can convince Dubas to can him since I dont think anyone else will.

 

[Darren McCord]

At the deadline I said I wouldn't move Rakell unless a top tier young player was coming back, and I'm sticking to that requirement as a trade I'd have for him. I know this team needs as many draft picks as possible to get the next franchise pieces it needs, but I also think late 1sts have low hit rates for giving that and I'd demand a young prospect who looks to be on a better trajectory than just a late 1st.

This team needs quality more than anything at this point. I know you could hit on a quality prospect by getting 2 late 1sts for Rakell, but I'd much rather demand a top young asset and get fewer assets but a better individual asset. Even if the value is less, I'd want to do Clarke from LA for Rakell before I'd do 2 LA 1sts for Rakell.

I am hoping that LA gets swept and Blake makes a panic move to overpay for Rakell. Since he will be in the hot seat. I just hope he doesnt get fired first lol

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Sullivan had success with Rust, and the team claims they love him, but it is absolutely WILD how many guys come here and have career lows.

People coming here and having career lows doesn't bother me if we were winning. I mean back in the late 90's where the Devils were dominating, it wasn't surprising to see players crater there.

But when you don't win AND your players are not producing? Well that's a great way to tank anyone's value.

 

[HandshakeLine]

People coming here and having career lows doesn't bother me if we were winning. I mean back in the late 90's where the Devils were dominating, it wasn't surprising to see players crater there.

But when you don't win AND your players are not producing? Well that's a great way to tank anyone's value.

I hate everything that the 90s Devils stand for, so I don't agree there. And Bobby Holik is a family friend, so don't think I haven't told him so!

Basically, I hate zero-event defensive-first hockey, which is what I see Sullivan turning us into. I mean, even with his recent comments about making sure young players learn to grind, I just hate that kind of hockey. It's boring. It's not even particularly effective!

 

[Icarium]

Additionally, when you tank, you start to lose credibility. And dignity. And more than anything, you lose what we like to call a “winning culture.” And I assure you, that kind of culture is far more precious than slotting fifth instead of eighth in the draft.

Ah, yes, Josh Yohe, the Penguins have had such a splendid winning culture over the last few seasons that they shouldn't do anything to jeopardize it.

I get the scorched earth rebuild are risky but winning culture? In this f***ing team? Come on. It's isn't 2017 anymore, or even 2021.

That the Penguins still play as hard as they do every night is a testament to Crosby and the culture he’s cultivated in Pittsburgh.

But they don't play hard every night. not even close. No team does, mind you, but the Pens one of the worst offenders in the "didn't mentally show up for the game" category.

Yeah, a few years of playing with Crosby and other good players will do a lot of good for our prospects. Doesn't mean we have to pretend that the team's culture right now is anything better than a bona fide laughing stock.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Yohe is so slimy, lol.

 

[eXile3]

Groats in all honesty could very well be a 3rd liner/2nd line tweener. I think people are overvaluing the state of our prospects. I don't think any of our prospects can be the top driver both at forward and defense.

I don't think any project to a 1st liner.

I would disagree there. Everything about his pedigree and production suggests he could certainly turn out to be a 1st liner.

I could see him putting up 60-70 points with a physical game which would be a 1-2 LW in today’s game.

Will that happen, anyone saying they know is lying, but I’m not ready to sell him short just yet.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I hate everything that the 90s Devils stand for, so I don't agree there. And Bobby Holik is a family friend, so don't think I haven't told him so!

Basically, I hate zero-event defensive-first hockey, which is what I see Sullivan turning us into. I mean, even with his recent comments about making sure young players learn to grind, I just hate that kind of hockey. It's boring. It's not even particularly effective!

Yea I can't stand the Devils to this day for what they did to the sport.

And that's the crux of my argument: Sullivan is the WORST of both worlds. He doesn't win AND he doesn't know what to do with exciting players.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

But they don't play hard every night. not even close. No team does, mind you, but the Pens one of the worst offenders in the "didn't mentally show up for the game" category.

Yeah, a few years of playing with Crosby and other good players will do a lot of good for our prospects. Doesn't mean we have to pretend that the team's culture right now is anything better than a bona fide laughing stock.

Remember when we had to beat the lowly Jackets and Hawks to get into the playoffs?
The team sure played hard those nights huh?

 

[Ugene Magic]

I am hoping that LA gets swept and Blake makes a panic move to overpay for Rakell. Since he will be in the hot seat. I just hope he doesnt get fired first lol

That should have happened this last TDL.

An offer they can't refuse.

Moore, 2 of Clarke/Turcotte/Spence/Helenius and like Reilly Walsh. a Masshole for Sully to drool over.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I hate waiting for Sullivan to get fired, but I really don't see any potential improvement for this team with him behind the bench. Some of yinz seem more hopeful that he gets the axe after this season, but man, I just don't see it.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

M Pett is having a rough go of it with the Canucks. That was highway robbery getting a 1st for him and DOC.

Wish we could have done the same with Raks but I see why they kept him.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I’m not saying I don’t think they should move him- they should at some point the next 2 years

But if no one was willing to go 2 1sts +… does seem like the typical late first and some B prospect was all that was out there.

A lot of times that ends up being nothing so I get holding on to him to see if he could get more as cap goes up… with the risk being you get a 2nd and prospect vs a 1st and a prospect. It’s something I understand.

Agreed if he was a UFA I'd be very upset. If we somehow become a playoff team maybe he stays but his contract is pretty darn good and for 2 more years I do wonder if a team will step up and pay more. We will have to wait and see.

Apparently the price was two firsts, a top prospect and young roster player…lol…come on, that’s saying we don’t want to trade this guy…Rakell’s value is not as good as Rantanen’s…not as good a player…a first and a top prospect OR young roster player is actually what his value is…if he gets better than that, great…but that’s a good return

Price should be high and obviously negotiation tactic of here's what we want. If someone gave a lower offer it is a negotiation and possible he'd take it.

If it was a late 1st + B prospect. Well a lot of people here complain about those assets and say they won't amount to anything.

I do think they would but also realistically Rakell imo should get more.

 

[Darren McCord]

Agreed if he was a UFA I'd be very upset. If we somehow become a playoff team maybe he stays but his contract is pretty darn good and for 2 more years I do wonder if a team will step up and pay more. We will have to wait and see.



Price should be high and obviously negotiation tactic of here's what we want. If someone gave a lower offer it is a negotiation and possible he'd take it.

If it was a late 1st + B prospect. Well a lot of people here complain about those assets and say they won't amount to anything.

I do think they would but also realistically Rakell imo should get more.

Meh people love 1rst round picks and hate prospects.

If we drafted a player in the first round and he was 5th in scoring in the AHL this year as a rookie people would gush over them. But since we traded for a prospect (Koivunen) who is doing the same, the deal was awful.

The Canes first last year ended up being a guy who is having a worse D+1 year than his draft year but he would of been better than Koivunen as well.

Tampa trades 1rst round picks like candy because they know they will be late and never turn out to be the players they want.

 

[Khelandros]

Yea I can't stand the Devils to this day for what they did to the sport.

And that's the crux of my argument: Sullivan is the WORST of both worlds. He doesn't win AND he doesn't know what to do with exciting players.

Exciting players don't win Championships. Grinders, muckers, defensively responsible minded middle aged third/fourth line forwards win Championships. Being excellent on the PK (while actually being terrible on the PK) wins Championships. Having low event hockey (at least in the offensive zone) wins Championships. Who cares if you are giving up 30+ shots a game, as long as you play the game the right way (Mass. style low event hockey).