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

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

 

[Jared Grayden]

Even if this is to be believed- and it is debatable at best- being a "top General Manager" for a little over a year is not some massive achievement. He's the highest paid NHL executive so he should be among the best for many years to deserve his contract. No different than how a top paid player would be assessed.

 

[PamBallam]

Whoa, a 2028 5th! That's why they pay him the big bucks. That isn't to say he's been bad, but idk if that is really bragworthy.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Even if this is to be believed- and it is debatable at best- being a "top General Manager" for a little over a year is not some massive achievement. He's the highest paid NHL executive so he should be among the best for many years to deserve his contract. No different than how a top paid player would be assessed.

It's mostly just about sides here. People who have decided early on not to like him will continue to feel that way, regardless of what he does. Even if he had the best year of any GM in 2026-27, they'll still find something to latch onto.

That's the way this board works.
I've made an attempt not to pick a side. I feel the trades and drafting have been really good, bordering on excellent. The signings less so.
He also loses points for the trades and signings he's not making. Rakell shouldn't be here anymore for example. And they're gonna keep Rust and EK, based on what Dubas hinted at.
If that happens, that's us passing on 3 1sts at a time where those should be our #1 priority.

But overall I'm very much down with him orchestrating rebuild over a lot of other GMs. He's highly motivated with draft and development...possibly more than any other GM. He was a scout and AHL GM for a long time. That matters.

 

[Gurglesons]

Wow we turned a bunch of shit into a bunch of shit and a 1st!

 

[Jared Grayden]

It's mostly just about sides here. People who have decided early on not to like him will continue to feel that way, regardless of what he does. Even if he had the best year of any GM in 2026-27, they'll still find something to latch onto.

That's the way this board works.
I've made an attempt not to pick a side. I feel the trades and drafting have been really good, bordering on excellent. The signings less so.
He also loses points for the trades and signings he's not making. Rakell shouldn't be here anymore for example. And they're gonna keep Rust and EK, based on what Dubas hinted at.
If that happens, that's us passing on 3 1sts at a time where those should be our #1 priority.

But overall I'm very much down with him orchestrating rebuild over a lot of other GMs. He's highly motivated with draft and development...possibly more than any other GM. He was a scout and AHL GM for a long time. That matters.

I'd agree his moves aimed for the future have been strong. The problem is as you alluded to, the org. doesn't appear to be setting any defined long term objective. Or to quote the PK Subban rant recently, "if it's a rebuild then rebuild." If it's not a rebuild then give Crosby the best team you can before he retires to try to make the playoffs and deal with the consequences after. Half-assing the direction will fail at everything.

 

[cygnus47]

Call me boring, but plays like the deflection goal he had last game are still commonpace for Sid and qualify as highlights to me.

Precision plays that require a deft touch and perfect timing are just as impressive to me as Dangles McSnipeshow.

IMO Sid’s playmaking has proved to be his most unique skillset. He makes one or two moves in an instant with two other sticks going for the puck and then feathers flat passes through them insanely consistently on either hand. He does what Gretzky did playmaking but with two guys on his back and two more guys trying to intercept the puck.

He used to have even more weapons. He did the neutral zone one man blasts and taking on everyone but he has talked about how that meant ignoring defensive responsibilities. Plus his foot speed doesn’t have that edge to it anymore. He also doesn’t work as much in front of the net anymore, but 20 years of NHL hockey with neck and head injuries and a smashed jaw will do that to a man. His goals have come from perfect execution on rushes, deflections and smart shots and working around the net rather than looking for a hundred shots a night.

But his ability to grind on the boards with the puck and make perfect passes with traffic and heavy coverage is unparalleled.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I'd agree his moves aimed for the future have been strong. The problem is as you alluded to, the org. doesn't appear to be setting any defined long term objective. Or to quote the PK Subban rant recently, "if it's a rebuild then rebuild." If it's not a rebuild then give Crosby the best team you can before he retires to try to make the playoffs and deal with the consequences after. Half-assing the direction will fail at everything.

Yeah, we also need to account for what he's not allowed to do. FSG did not give him true free reign like they claimed, at that initial presser.
Dubas is on record saying he had a mandate when he came here, from a recent interview. He didn't choose this retirement tour for the core. He's being placed in a difficult position, where he can't commit 100% either way.

So we gotta weigh everything, or just succumb to agendas/bias.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

IMO Sid’s playmaking has proved to be his most unique skillset. He makes one or two moves in an instant with two other sticks going for the puck and then feathers flat passes through them insanely consistently on either hand. He does what Gretzky did playmaking but with two guys on his back and two more guys trying to intercept the puck.

He used to have even more weapons. He did the neutral zone one man blasts and taking on everyone but he has talked about how that meant ignoring defensive responsibilities. Plus his foot speed doesn’t have that edge to it anymore. He also doesn’t work as much in front of the net anymore, but 20 years of NHL hockey with neck and head injuries and a smashed jaw will do that to a man. His goals have come from perfect execution on rushes, deflections and smart shots and working around the net rather than looking for a hundred shots a night.

But his ability to grind on the boards with the puck and make perfect passes with traffic and heavy coverage is unparalleled.

He also willingly chose to not use his max speed in dangerous situations anymore, following his return from the concussions. That adjustment was very clear to me right away. He stops up all the time, watching defenders closely. He was not like that before David Steckel. He charged through the middle ice in the O-zone.

On the one hand this surely prevented some injuries, but maybe hurt his point totals in some seasons.

 

[Ulf5]

Way to early to judge. But that pile of trinkets has nearly reached it's peak value.
That hill of magic beans still has potential and tons of room for growth. Dubas can get lucky on prospects (Fernstrom), picks. He can trade players or picks for more beans.
The 1st, two 2nds and Fernstrom is a good start for MP and a whole lot of nothing.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

I'd agree his moves aimed for the future have been strong. The problem is as you alluded to, the org. doesn't appear to be setting any defined long term objective. Or to quote the PK Subban rant recently, "if it's a rebuild then rebuild."

Not a viable option with Crosby on the team; nor is it a viable option to chase Crosby away in order to rebuild.

If it's not a rebuild then give Crosby the best team you can before he retires to try to make the playoffs and deal with the consequences after.

Not a viable option because in order to have a team that 'should' make the playoffs, (as opposed to just barely squeaking in if everything goes right), you need a minimum of one player who is both several years younger and better than Crosby currently is. You should probably have more than one.
If we could snag, say, Mitch Marner in the offseason, it would be a different story. Maybe this could become a viable option then. But it hasn't been a viable option for the past few seasons.

Half-assing the direction will fail at everything.

Unless you get really lucky, yes.
But one thing that can help with getting really lucky is to have lots of lottery tickets, which we do.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Not a viable option with Crosby on the team; nor is it a viable option to chase Crosby away in order to rebuild.

Not a viable option because in order to have a team that 'should' make the playoffs, (as opposed to just barely squeaking in if everything goes right), you need a minimum of one player who is both several years younger and better than Crosby currently is. You should probably have more than one.
If we could snag, say, Mitch Marner in the offseason, it would be a different story. Maybe this could become a viable option then. But it hasn't been a viable option for the past few seasons.

Unless you get really lucky, yes.
But one thing that can help with getting really lucky is to have lots of lottery tickets, which we do.

Not only is rebuilding very viable, it would be the path plenty of orgs. take at this point. They choose not to. Most likely due to perceived short term financial gain with long term cost uncertainty. They are not the Pittsburgh Crosbys. Plenty were Penguins fan before Crosby was born and will be Penguins fan long after he has retired. Lemieux spent his last four years on non-playoff teams. Gretzky spent three of his last fives years on non-playoff teams. Crosby was part of the longest sustained stretch of team success out of any cap era player. Rebuilding is not some major disrespect to him, it's the inevitable nature of the league he was a part of and beneficiary of. At this point they are addicts chasing their one last hit before ODing.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Dubas has 100% done a great job since about the Guentzel trade last year, I don't think you can deny that.

It's hilarious to me that this team sold a ton of assets and got good value for them, but they got Dewar (3 goals and 4 points in 7 games with 18 hits) and Timmins (1 goals and 4 points in 7 games and +7) for a 5th and they're outperforming most of the guys they traded.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Dubas has 100% done a great job since about the Guentzel trade last year, I don't think you can deny that.

It's hilarious to me that this team sold a ton of assets and got good value for them, but they got Dewar (3 goals and 4 points in 7 games with 18 hits) and Timmins (1 goals and 4 points in 7 games and +7) for a 5th and they're outperforming most of the guys they traded.

It's the same 3-4 Hextall lovers that we are talking about

Also, the same people that bring up they shouldn't have traded for EK and signed Jarry which was the best option at the time are the same that wanted this team to still be all in until 58-71-87 were here..

Hopefully everything KD has acquired in the last 12 months are so works out in the long run, whether it's prospects, future picks or trades that will happen in the next few months!!

 

[Andy99]

Not a viable option with Crosby on the team; nor is it a viable option to chase Crosby away in order to rebuild.

Not a viable option because in order to have a team that 'should' make the playoffs, (as opposed to just barely squeaking in if everything goes right), you need a minimum of one player who is both several years younger and better than Crosby currently is. You should probably have more than one.
If we could snag, say, Mitch Marner in the offseason, it would be a different story. Maybe this could become a viable option then. But it hasn't been a viable option for the past few seasons.

Unless you get really lucky, yes.
But one thing that can help with getting really lucky is to have lots of lottery tickets, which we do.

I would argue that “rebuilding” is actually the way to help Sid the most in his last couple years…getting young top talent like McKenna is the only way forward to becoming a contender, not signing Marner…that’s why getting as high a draft pick as possible in this draft and hopefully getting a player ready to start at least by the 2026-27 season is crucial…

Also firing the coach and bringing up the best of the current players we’ve developed is needed: Murashov, Pickering, Koivunen, McG, Broz…

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Not a viable option because in order to have a team that 'should' make the playoffs, (as opposed to just barely squeaking in if everything goes right), you need a minimum of one player who is both several years younger and better than Crosby currently is.

Strong disagree.

How many players are even better than Crosby at this stage? A number of current playoff teams don't even have one player as good as Crosby, let alone better.

Washington's arguably the best team in the league and they don't have anyone better than Crosby.

 

[Beauner]

Dubas has 100% done a great job since about the Guentzel trade last year, I don't think you can deny that.

It's hilarious to me that this team sold a ton of assets and got good value for them, but they got Dewar (3 goals and 4 points in 7 games with 18 hits) and Timmins (1 goals and 4 points in 7 games and +7) for a 5th and they're outperforming most of the guys they traded.

I don't have any targets in mind, but I'd love to see more trades like this in the offseason. Kinda like what we did with getting Reilly Smith for a 3rd, or Tomasino. Use some of those mid-round picks and get some guys cheap who are either cap casualties, need a change of scenery, fell out of favor or or just aren't a fit with their current team.

That's the way you build this back up. There's a chance it fails (like with Smith), but on the other hand that's how Washington climbed back so quickly. Mangiapane and Strome are 2 guys that immediately come to mind.

Enough with the Nieto's and Graves' and other guys who were never really much of anything even in their best days.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Absolute insanity of a contract.

 

[The GM]

I guess chychrun isn’t signing here for $6m after all

 

[Andy99]

Absolute insanity of a contract.

And that’s why counting on good players to become available (unless they want to leave their club) isn’t going to happen with the cap going up so much…

 

[Andy99]

I guess chychrun isn’t signing here for $6m after all

He wasn’t going to sign here for $10M AAV either I hate to tell people lol…everyone thinks all these good players are dying to come here for some reason

 

[Malkinstheman]

Pretty insane how much the caps are betting on this season not being a huge outlier. Now they've locked up Chychrun and their goaltending to big contracts

 

[Gurglesons]

Dubas has 100% done a great job since about the Guentzel trade last year, I don't think you can deny that.

It's hilarious to me that this team sold a ton of assets and got good value for them, but they got Dewar (3 goals and 4 points in 7 games with 18 hits) and Timmins (1 goals and 4 points in 7 games and +7) for a 5th and they're outperforming most of the guys they traded.

I mean, I think it’s really easy to argue.

The Penguins are in the same position they were last year both in the future and in the now.

Dubas has acquired a bunch of magic beans that could potentially change the future outlook, but nothing he has acquired is anything that has changed our future outlook at this point.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

"Dubas, historically speaking, every season where they have canned a coach, they are pretty darn good at winning a cup shortly after. Comments on Sullivan?"

"Sully isn't the problem. He is one the great coaches in the league, and ideal for our retool." blah blah blah - Dubas.

Wonder if he semi-regrets a SIX year extension. There does come a point when you're no longer performing at elite levels where your motivation starts to die off.

That's a valid point. I personally could never be a hockey player. Can't play day-in day-out motivating myself on a team that doesn't have a chance.

I guess you are playing for stats, contracts, and because you enjoy it a ton?

 

[66-30-33]

He wasn’t going to sign here for $10M AAV either I hate to tell people lol…everyone thinks all these good players are dying to come here for some reason

Even when we were winning cups nobody good wanted to come here.