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

[SEALBound]

2025 Salary Cap thread and we are debating drafting Ovi vs Malkin and who should have won Conn Smythes in 16/17. Never changed HFPens.

 

[SEALBound]

I want that Rangers pick to fall in 2025, but I'm getting a bit scared that it will slide to 2026. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a 2025 pick has a better chance of making an impact sooner than a 2026 pick.

Unprotected in 2026. If they take a massive shit, could be higher than 14th ov in a "deeper" draft.

I tend to believe that if they move EK or Rakell, the first they get would be 2026. In that case, I'd rather 2 in 2025 and 2 in 2026. It's even possible that they elect to move BOTH and each return a 2026 1st and we could end up with 4 1sts.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

If you want a real fun thought experiment, ask yourself if Sid would have had such a great career without Geno.

Both have benefited enormously from being on the same team together, and I think they both recognize this. Fans on the other hand...

Malkin and Ben R = the most underappreciated Pittsburgh athletes of their generation

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Nah let it slide.

To me the realistic “risk” of it sliding is picking like 16th this season vs 25th next year. Yeah that stinks but not the end of the world. Your upside, while only like a tiny chance, is getting a top 10 pick. I’ll take that risk.

 

[TimmyD]

Fans can root however they want, but it's just like the Sullivan stuff -- we know he's a problem. He needs to go. We're all on board at this point, even me. But it doesn't need to invade every conversation. It's nice to talk about a prospect's skillset and how it might translate to the NHL level without every response being, "Yeah, but Sullivan will ruin him."

So with Rakell and Karlsson, I just wish we'd let things play out. Let's have something tangible to complain about rather than freaking out about something that may not even come to pass.

Two problems with this. First when talking about a prospect and their skill set and how it could translate to the NHL level, how the coach will use him or not use him plays a role in that discussion so it’s always relevant and always going to get brought up. Second, when it comes to Rakell and Karlsson, we just had something tangible happen to complain about when it came to them not moving Rakell at the deadline. The Penguins have always been an old boys/country club type of atmosphere. We have all said that for years… so yes, them keeping Rakell (and Karlsson for that matter) so they can boast about having a hometown boy in two meaningless Sweden games doesn’t really seem very far fetched for this team.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Can look at it in dollars with a draft value chart I found online

If you take the $ this June: You can have a max of $272 dollars.

If you wait a year. the max is $1,000. The lowest it can be is $133.

Is there a slight ding because you got the $ earlier? Yes.

I don’t fault you for taking the cash now. Maybe you need to pay rent. But a rich man waits… (not that it’s anyone’s decision lmao)

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

JFresh tweet reminded me- might be unpopular but bring these back as the home/away

Our current jerseys are so tired and I hate the gold they used.

As long as they don't bring back the weird blocky "stripes" from the '09 Cup era. f***in' godawful jerseys imo. Worse than the gradient robopen.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

JFresh tweet reminded me- might be unpopular but bring these back as the home/away

Our current jerseys are so tired and I hate the gold they used.

I'm in the minority among Pens fans, but I loved these.

Not nearly as much as the white robo Pen of the late 90's, though. That was my favorite Pens jersey ever.

The weird gray disappearing gradient robo Pen jersey can gtfo tho.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

2025 Salary Cap thread and we are debating drafting Ovi vs Malkin and who should have won Conn Smythes in 16/17. Never changed HFPens.

GLad we have Malkin he was a beast in 09 and wouldn't have it any other way

Crosby in 17 no question.
Crosby in 16 can be up for some debate. But I'm giving it to Crosby if voting based on how the games went and how important Crosby was.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Nah let it slide.

To me the realistic “risk” of it sliding is picking like 16th this season vs 25th next year. Yeah that stinks but not the end of the world. Your upside, while only like a tiny chance, is getting a top 10 pick. I’ll take that risk.

Mostly myself as well. We might lose out on 50 bucks but I'd flip a coin to win 500

 

[SEALBound]

Nah let it slide.

To me the realistic “risk” of it sliding is picking like 16th this season vs 25th next year. Yeah that stinks but not the end of the world. Your upside, while only like a tiny chance, is getting a top 10 pick. I’ll take that risk.

I will fully admit that I have NO idea what Drury's plans for the off-season are but right now, if I had to pick, I would say their 2026 1st will be closer to a top 10 pick than 25th.

As long as they don't bring back the weird blocky "stripes" from the '09 Cup era. f***in' godawful jerseys imo. Worse than the gradient robopen.

HEY HEY HEY! I will NOT have you besmirching the greatest Pens jersey of all time. Gradient RoboPen was the pinnacle of Pens uniforms.

 

[Jacob]

In the interview that Dubas did last week, he straight up said that offer sheets will be something they will look at. I think it will be a priority this summer to steal a young player from a cap strapped team

I’m seeing K’Andre Miller is an RFA, young, on a team with a bunch of new contracts hitting the books.. not having a great year. Seems like an offer sheet candidate. Nic Hague might be another. Maybe Samberg.

I’d eye McTavish but Anaheim would match easily.

 

[pistolpete11]

I will fully admit that I have NO idea what Drury's plans for the off-season are but right now, if I had to pick, I would say their 2026 1st will be closer to a top 10 pick than 25th.

Miller was their big swing, so it's possible they are broken beyond repair.

However, they've still got a lot of talent and I think they will likely fire Lavy and get a new coach bump for at least a year.

Still worth the gamble they don't, though.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I will fully admit that I have NO idea what Drury's plans for the off-season are but right now, if I had to pick, I would say their 2026 1st will be closer to a top 10 pick than 25th.


HEY HEY HEY! I will NOT have you besmirching the greatest Pens jersey of all time. Gradient RoboPen was the pinnacle of Pens uniforms.

I'm sure Baldwin loves your money for cheap painted on jerseys that probably cost $5.00/$10.00 bucks each to make. It was equal to an iron on T-shirt.

The Robo whites are rank 5th in a worst to first jersey, where the gradient ranks last at #10.

Worst to First: Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys

 

[Gurglesons]

I’m seeing K’Andre Miller is an RFA, young, on a team with a bunch of new contracts hitting the books.. not having a great year. Seems like an offer sheet candidate. Nic Hague might be another. Maybe Samberg.

I’d eye McTavish but Anaheim would match easily.

No chance Winnipeg lets Samberg go he’s been their best D this year.

KAM has been a huge disappointment. I think Hague is a cap casualty and you could get him for a 2nd and a small add. Would absolutely love to take a chance on him.

 

[Gurglesons]

I want that Rangers pick to fall in 2025, but I'm getting a bit scared that it will slide to 2026. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a 2025 pick has a better chance of making an impact sooner than a 2026 pick.

A 2026 unprotected 1st probably has more value in a trade this summer though. If Dubas goes that route.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I’m seeing K’Andre Miller is an RFA, young, on a team with a bunch of new contracts hitting the books.. not having a great year. Seems like an offer sheet candidate. Nic Hague might be another. Maybe Samberg.

I’d eye McTavish but Anaheim would match easily.

I think K'andre would be a pretty easy match for the Rags at around a 4.6m aav (2nd round pick). They might not be able to match that for Cuylle though

 

[eXile3]

I want that Rangers pick to fall in 2025, but I'm getting a bit scared that it will slide to 2026. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a 2025 pick has a better chance of making an impact sooner than a 2026 pick.

Who ever we take this year probably won’t see the same ice as Sid or the core. Unless we get incredibly lucky none of these guys are playing in the NHL anytime soon so it shouldn’t matter.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I don't think this is the year to do offer sheets. The cap going up and all, I'd think teams would match unless Dubas does something silly and over offers on the offer sheet to just get a guy.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I’m seeing K’Andre Miller is an RFA, young, on a team with a bunch of new contracts hitting the books.. not having a great year. Seems like an offer sheet candidate. Nic Hague might be another. Maybe Samberg.

I’d eye McTavish but Anaheim would match easily.

I think K'andre would be a pretty easy match for the Rags at around a 4.6m aav (2nd round pick). They might not be able to match that for Cuylle though

I don't think this is the year to do offer sheets. The cap going up and all, I'd think teams would match unless Dubas does something silly and over offers on the offer sheet to just get a guy.

1 year 4.6 million offers for a 2nd. I can definitely see us attempting to use it.

I would with our cap space. Even if it doesn't work that can help us.

 

[SEALBound]

I'm not wasting a 2nd on KAM. He's really fallen off and Rags fans are sick of him. I think that's a guy you can get for a 3rd and someone else. Honestly, maybe something like 3rd + rights to POJ for rights to KAM.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Hague would be awesome

 

[Ugene Magic]

1 year 4.6 million offers for a 2nd. I can definitely see us attempting to use it.

I would with our cap space. Even if it doesn't work that can help us.

Considering they can't offer sheet anyone until July 1st or just after the draft, that makes the Caps 2025 2nd out of play.

Now you are talking one of the 3 - 2026 2nds. But I believe it has to be your own?

I don't think 4.6 is high enough for a team not to match, and why are you offering for a single year term anyways? You are going after guys to have better control for longer.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Considering they can't offer sheet anyone until July 1st or just after the draft, that makes the Caps 2025 2nd out of play.

Now you are talking one of the 3 - 2026 2nds. But I believe it has to be your own?

I don't think 4.6 is high enough for a team not to match, and why are you offering for a single year term anyways? You are going after guys to have better control for longer.

You can only ever use your own draft picks for offer sheets.

One of the reasons I think we don't see many.

I also have 0 issues using a 35th overall pick for a NHL player. I'd turn down a high 2nd for a young RFA that plays NHL games.

@Ugene Magic
I didn't answer the 2nd part. We do 1 year because we can sign them after for a longer time we hope. 1 year puts that team in a tough challenge where now the QO is higher and the player is 1 year closer to UFA.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Considering they can't offer sheet anyone until July 1st or just after the draft, that makes the Caps 2025 2nd out of play.

Now you are talking one of the 3 - 2026 2nds. But I believe it has to be your own?

I don't think 4.6 is high enough for a team not to match, and why are you offering for a single year term anyways? You are going after guys to have better control for longer.

The 2026 picks are the ones to keep an eye on.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Pens use almost every 2025 pick on their own draft, depending on how that extra 1st pick falls with the Rangers. If the Rangers pick slides to 2026, the Pens would have 1 1st, 1 2nd, and 3 3rds in the 2025 draft. I'd bet they'd keep all of them.

The 2026 picks would then be up for potential offer sheets. They have their own 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

For reference, this was the offer sheet compensation scale for the 2024-25 season. The scale will be similar for the 2025-26 season.

AAV	Draft picks required
$1.51MM or less	No compensation
$1.51MM to $2.29MM	Third-round pick
$2.29MM to $4.58MM	Second-round pick
$4.58MM to $6.87MM	First and third-round picks
$6.87MM to $9.16MM	First, second and third-round picks
$9.16MM to $11.45MM	Two firsts, a second and third-round picks
Over $11.45MM	Four first-round picks