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

[Rudy Russo]

And poor POJ couldn't crack the lineup...

Did Disco Dan make this current penguins lineup?

 

[sovietsanta87]

Hope not. We were just kinda mulling about it due to someone saying we lost the ovi lottery. I guess, technically we did... I wonder if we would have taken Geno over him if we had the chance...

If you go back and watch the coverage of that draft they made it sound like we were really hoping to get Ovi

 

[Rudy Russo]

If you go back and watch the coverage of that draft they made it sound like we were really hoping to get Ovi

I think that season the penguins had the worse record in the NHL, but lost the draft lottery to Washington. Ovi was the clear number one prospect in the draft with Geno the number two, Just like McDavid and Eichel their draft year.

 

[sovietsanta87]

I think that season the penguins had the worse record in the NHL, but lost the draft lottery to Washington. Ovi was the clear number one prospect in the draft with Geno the number two, Just like McDavid and Eichel their draft year.

The irony is everyone loved ovechkin’s defense compared to malkin’s

 

[PamBallam]

It really confuses me as to why as this board trends very negative, I'm starting to trend very positive regarding next season.

It will take Dubas Acing the offseason with zero wasted acquisitions like Graves or Nieto... but if he does his job correctly, this team could get real interesting real quick

I can't speak for everyone, but for me, it all comes down to Mike Sullivan. Acquire all the draft picks in the world, draft as many great prospects as possible, make a bunch of great free agent signings... none of it matters if this organization truly sees Sullivan as the guy to lead this team into the future.

 

[DesertPenguin]

I think I'm convincing myself we don't need to add at F at all next season, and this is a path to compete plan, not a tank plan. Competing is going to require a lot of luck. No way around it. Washington has like 7 guys redefining their careers this season. We need that kind of luck to line up to do the same, so be it.

Were going to get a Center in the top ten, and hopefully we win the lottery for a top two player. That's a player who slots into Geno's spot in two seasons time when he retires.

Assuming we are lucky and our prospects pan out, that gives us this:

Rakell Sid Rust
McGroarty Geno/Draft Koivunen
Ponomarev Novak Tomasino
Dewar Lizotte Acciari/anyone

That's not bad. Top end talent isn't what you want but it can be three scoring lines deep if guys pan out.

In goal, same deal. We need luck that one of our young goalies make it. We have two lotto tickets in Blom and Murashov. Fine.

Defense is a car wreck. Trade Karlsson if you want, but no matter what, pay up to 10M to Chychrun, Gavrikov, Proverov in that order. If that doesn't work send the NYR pick for a guy. That's where the biggest impact can be made and where our system, while deep, will not be able. To help much until after Sid hangs it up.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

What are we hoping for with the Rangers pick? For them to hopefully end up 14th/15th?

Or a roll of the dice and hope they keep losing and let it ride on them potentially sucking or being good next year and taking the pick where it lands.

Would assume the latter and pray they fall off completely next year in a better overall draft.

 

[Gurglesons]

If you go back and watch the coverage of that draft they made it sound like we were really hoping to get Ovi

Penguins fans trying to rationalize Malkin over Ovechkin is honestly some of the most embarrassing shit I’ve ever seen.

 

[Ryder71]

Clearly some here aren't aware, but because we lost the draft lottery in '04, it heightened our chance of getting Crosby the next year. So yeah, better we got Geno.

 

[Rudy Russo]

What are we hoping for with the Rangers pick? For them to hopefully end up 14th/15th?

Or a roll of the dice and hope they keep losing and let it ride on them potentially sucking or being good next year and taking the pick where it lands.

Would assume the latter and pray they fall off completely next year in a better overall draft.

2026 unprotected pick- For me.
Drury hopefully is still their GM
Shesterkin contract extension starts next season. Zibanejad, Kreider, Miller, Trocheck and Lafreniere are still signed to huge deals, and Panarin is in his last year (2025-2026).

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Moving Letang to the left side is either intentional tanking or insanity

Sullivan is way too stupid to intentionally tank. He’s legitimately trying dumb shit that he thinks is brilliant.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

However shitty this lineup is, using it as an example of how a retool has failed is either misguided or deliberately misleading.

We are in the beginning stages of the retool - taking on bad contracts and moving out useful players for futures. Of course the lineup is bad. It was expected to be bad. Teams typically don't pay other teams to take on good players.

Most teams that were once consistent playoff teams, start to retool when they miss the playoffs once and are about to the second time. This team is going for a third and the ownership still wants them to pander to Sullivan.

Absolutely none of what fsg wants, works in a retool.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Most teams that were once consistent playoff teams, start to retool when they miss the playoffs once and are about to the second time. This team is going for a third and the ownership still wants them to pander to Sullivan.

Absolutely none of what fsg wants, works in a retool.

I don't see how any moves are pandering to Sullivan, and I don't even like Sullivan.

We're in a "retool" now, selling off good players for futures, and the roster is bad. What part of that is Sulivan pandering? He sure as hell didn't want Guentzel moved.

 

[Andy99]

Good…hasn’t played in two weeks…hopefully he gives up at least 4 goals…let the tank proceed!

 

[SEALBound]

What are we hoping for with the Rangers pick? For them to hopefully end up 14th/15th?

Or a roll of the dice and hope they keep losing and let it ride on them potentially sucking or being good next year and taking the pick where it lands.

Would assume the latter and pray they fall off completely next year in a better overall draft.

I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer hoping for 25 vs 26. We want the highest draft pick possible, whichever year that may be.

If it's 14/15ov and in 2025, I am hoping for Jack O'Brien if he falls, but then Carter Bear or Malcolm Spence.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

What are we hoping for with the Rangers pick? For them to hopefully end up 14th/15th?

Or a roll of the dice and hope they keep losing and let it ride on them potentially sucking or being good next year and taking the pick where it lands.

Would assume the latter and pray they fall off completely next year in a better overall draft.

I’d prefer it slides just bc I’m a gambling man but there’s no right answer

The Met is so weak and they have Shesterkin so it’s hard to see them being bottom 5 bad next season. But you never know..

 

[Ulf5]

I’d prefer it slides just bc I’m a gambling man but there’s no right answer

The Met is so weak and they have Shesterkin so it’s hard to see them being bottom 5 bad next season. But you never know..

If the Rags hope to keep Cuylle and K'Andre, they're not going to have much money to be players in ufa. Even if they find someone to dump Kreider on. They still have a handful of other RFAs besides those 2. While they're only likely to get minimum raises, added to Miller and Cuylle takes a large chunk of their available cap. If not all.
So they're basically going to be the same crappy team, only a year older. $7 mil for Laf? Oof.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

The Met is so weak and they have Shesterkin so it’s hard to see them being bottom 5 bad next season. But you never know..

Shesty could easily pick up an injury. Then they're beyond toast. It's a die worth rolling.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I'm kind of hoping the Rangers decide to give the #10/#11 to the Pens, If they have that option. Walking out of this draft with a potential combo like Eklund + O'Brien would be pretty awesome

 

[BusinessGoose]

I don't think NYR have the option. If it's inside 14 i think they keep this year regardless??

 

[Andy P]

Going to be interesting to see where the pens fall in the draft (definitely top 10 I would think) and if NYR keep their pick or send it to 2026

Either way, I think you need to find a way to get rid of Heinen, Acciari, and Nedjelkovic (frees up $6.75 mil). There is just no need for them on the team. Guys like Hayes and Lizotte are replaceable but with Ponomarev coming up next year either full time or call ups, you need to give him a chance to succeed. Have they said if he plans to be a 3rd or 4th line center? This puts you at 23 max roster spots. With contracts and retained salaries coming off the books, this gives you about 71.7ish million on the roster with about 23.8 million in cap space with 95.5 million for the cap. I gave raises to Tomasino, Dewar, and Timmins. For a that amount of cap space with 3 roster spots open, you can either try to make a run or continue the re-tool. Unfortunately I cant see Sullivan keeping young guys over Hayes but all it takes is for Jarry to have a good run and this team is playoff hockey accessible.

Trade: Heinen (2.25), Acciari (2), and Nedjelkovic (2.5)
Let walk: Nieto, Grzelcyk, and Joseph
Buyout: Johnson (.917)

Rakell (5) - Crosby (8.7) - Rust (5.125)
??? (???) - Malkin (6.1) - Tomasino (3?)
McGroarty (.950) - Novak (3.5) - Koivunen (.806)
Dewar (1.25?) - Lizotte (1.85) - ??? (???)
Extras: Hayes (3.58)
Call Ups: Ponomarev (.950?), Broz (.925), Poulin (.775)

??? (???) - Letang (6.1)
Pickering (.887) - Karlsson (10)
Graves (4.5) - Timmins (1.5?)
Extras: Shea (.900) and Kolyachonok (.775)
Call Ups: St. Ivany (.775)

Jarry (5.375)
Blomqvist (.887)
Call Ups: Larsson (.775)

 

[Victor Z]

Going to be interesting to see where the pens fall in the draft (definitely top 10 I would think) and if NYR keep their pick or send it to 2026

Either way, I think you need to find a way to get rid of Heinen, Acciari, and Nedjelkovic (frees up $6.75 mil). There is just no need for them on the team. Guys like Hayes and Lizotte are replaceable but with Ponomarev coming up next year either full time or call ups, you need to give him a chance to succeed. Have they said if he plans to be a 3rd or 4th line center? This puts you at 23 max roster spots. With contracts and retained salaries coming off the books, this gives you about 71.7ish million on the roster with about 23.8 million in cap space with 95.5 million for the cap. I gave raises to Tomasino, Dewar, and Timmins. For a that amount of cap space with 3 roster spots open, you can either try to make a run or continue the re-tool. Unfortunately I cant see Sullivan keeping young guys over Hayes but all it takes is for Jarry to have a good run and this team is playoff hockey accessible.

Trade: Heinen (2.25), Acciari (2), and Nedjelkovic (2.5)
Let walk: Nieto, Grzelcyk, and Joseph
Buyout: Johnson (.917)

Rakell (5) - Crosby (8.7) - Rust (5.125)
??? (???) - Malkin (6.1) - Tomasino (3?)
McGroarty (.950) - Novak (3.5) - Koivunen (.806)
Dewar (1.25?) - Lizotte (1.85) - ??? (???)
Extras: Hayes (3.58)
Call Ups: Ponomarev (.950?), Broz (.925), Poulin (.775)

??? (???) - Letang (6.1)
Pickering (.887) - Karlsson (10)
Graves (4.5) - Timmins (1.5?)
Extras: Shea (.900) and Kolyachonok (.775)
Call Ups: St. Ivany (.775)

Jarry (5.375)
Blomqvist (.887)
Call Ups: Larsson (.775)

Some solid linemates for Malkin would be nice (if for no other reason to have them on standby to be snatched away when Sid needs help).

But the #1 priority just like it was 2 seasons ago and 1 season ago, is a top pairing LHD. We've had zero viable options since Dumo left; Petts on his best day was a #2 LD.

Dubas went out and got us Graves and Gryz (yikes) and whenever possible Coach Galaxy Brain put a helpless fawn like POJ in that spot.

We need a REAL #1 LD and we need it before October.

Unless the "plan" (whatever that is) is to tank hard in 2025-26, in which case just resign POJ, reunite the POJ-Letang comedy act, and give them 20+ minutes a night.

 

[Fogel]

Rangers have the choice to keep or defer to 2026.

 

[Andy P]

Some solid linemates for Malkin would be nice (if for no other reason to have them on standby to be snatched away when Sid needs help).

But the #1 priority just like it was 2 seasons ago and 1 season ago, is a top pairing LHD. We've had zero viable options since Dumo left; Petts on his best day was a #2 LD.

Dubas went out and got us Graves and Gryz (yikes) and whenever possible Coach Galaxy Brain put a helpless fawn like POJ in that spot.

We need a REAL #1 LD and we need it before October.

Unless the "plan" (whatever that is) is to tank hard in 2025-26, in which case just resign POJ, reunite the POJ-Letang comedy act, and give them 20+ minutes a night.

I am all for trying to find a rugged scoring LW for Malkin and a top pairing D for Letang like Chychrun but the problem is does Dubas want to try and turn around the roster already or continue to build the system.

 

[Ryder71]

Good…hasn’t played in two weeks…hopefully he gives up at least 4 goals…let the tank proceed!

And CLB desperately needs this game, so hopefully they bring a very good effort.