Salary Cap: 24-25 Salary Thread Crosbicles Volume MXIIX: Rust out, Marner in, all part of the plan!

[Gurglesons]

Well at minimum, if we’re trading Rakell for a young player or prospect, it has to be someone who projects with additional growth as a top six player or top 4 D…otherwise don’t trade him…I don’t think we need any more third line players tbh…we have a ton of young players who project as middle six…we need quality…that’s why I’d rather trade someone like Rakell with our first round pick, either to move up in the draft or to trade for a better quality of player, especially a center if we can land one

Laf was a top six forward on the kings last year tho

 

[Andy99]

Laf was a top six forward on the kings last year tho

But that was like Sullivan playing Bunting or Novak or DOC in the top six…ideally if you have top six talent (and the Kings don’t), those guys aren’t playing there

 

[Jacob]

I think I’d rather get more future-y futures than an already mid-20s forward.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The draft is in LA this year, so I’m not sure they’ll want to trade their 1st. If that’s the case, I’d try to do Rakell to LA for Spence and Greentree.

 

[Gurglesons]

But that was like Sullivan playing Bunting or Novak or DOC in the top six…ideally if you have top six talent (and the Kings don’t), those guys aren’t playing there

Nah.

 

[Rudy Russo]

Kan Dingerski suggesting today that we trade Rakell to LA for Turcotte or Laferriere…lol…come on, those are mediocre to bust players…awful trade…if we’re trading with the Kings, the only young player they have that I want is Byfield lol…no on Spence, Clarke is maybe…I’d give LA the Rangers pick if we get it + Rakell for Byfield lol

Greentree better be included in the deal for Rakell.

 

[Ryder71]

We should be all over this!

 

[Ryder71]

Kan Dingerski suggesting today that we trade Rakell to LA for Turcotte or Laferriere…lol…come on, those are mediocre to bust players…awful trade…if we’re trading with the Kings, the only young player they have that I want is Byfield lol…no on Spence, Clarke is maybe…I’d give LA the Rangers pick if we get it + Rakell for Byfield lol

A 1st, Clarke and Moore.

 

[Ryder71]

Greentree better be included in the deal for Rakell.

That's their no 1 or 2 prospect. I'd love to see it but I doubt they give him up.

 

[Rudy Russo]

That's their no 1 or 2 prospect. I'd love to see it but I doubt they give him up.

Dubas can throw in the rights to Ponomarev and a pick.

 

[Freeptop]

This is a lazy argument that I even heard Bettman regurgitating. It's not 1995 anymore where people could make money hand over fist wherever they lived.

Now do i think anything should be done about this? Nope, state/province taxes are not the leagues problem. Does this absolutrly factor into player contracts and signings right here right now in 2025? Absolutely.

Just because Bettman made the argument doesn't mean it's wrong, though.

I can also speak to the difference cost-of-living makes from first-hand experience. I used to live and work in Silicon Valley. When I moved back to Pittsburgh, I took a 20% cut in pay, and yet ended up with more money in my pocket after expenses, and the difference in taxes was not nearly enough to account for that.

Seriously, real estate prices alone are a massive difference. I couldn't afford a house out there. As soon as I moved back to the Pittsburgh area, I bought a 4 bed/3 bath house on 2 acres of woodland. At the time I left, that would have been been $5-10 million, easy, in Silicon Valley - just for the land alone. I didn't even come close to 1/10th of that price here.

Do things like taxes factor in? Sure, but it's far from the top priority. When one weigh pros and cons of different teams, the Lightning and Panthers check off a lot of boxes on the pro-side, including the most important ones. Not having to pay state income tax is on the list, sure, but it's likely pretty far down the list. If it wasn't, the Bruins, Rangers and Kings would have a really difficult time signing anyone, considering those teams are in three of the most highly taxed states, and yet, they don't seem to have the same problem, now do they?

I think it's rather more likely that the Leafs have a difficult time getting players to take discounts, or to sign there in the first place, is the way that their players tend to be treated by the media and the fans the moment anything goes wrong. And they haven't exactly been doing well enough in the playoffs to make up for that, either.

 

[Ryder71]

Dubas can throw in the rights to Ponomarev and a pick.

What pick? That's a very broad spectrum a 2hd? a 5th? Even so I doubt the Kings give him up. Maybe.

 

[Rudy Russo]

What pick? That's a very broad spectrum a 2hd? a 5th? Even so I doubt the Kings give him up. Maybe.

You never know. The Kings need to do something due to losing again to the Oilers in the playoffs and the Ducks with their young talent and rumored to be hard after Marner.

 

[Zbynek]

But that was like Sullivan playing Bunting or Novak or DOC in the top six…ideally if you have top six talent (and the Kings don’t), those guys aren’t playing there

I read this post and for a brief moment panicked that Michael Bunting still played for the Penguins. Then I googled it and remembered we traded him to the Predators. Phew.

 

[Ryder71]

You never know. The Kings need to do something due to losing again to the Oilers in the playoffs and the Ducks with their young talent and rumored to be hard after Marner.

I don't think Rakell makes up that difference TBTH.

 

[Lust for Life]

It might be my drunken ass but what the f*** are you guys even arguing about

 

[Rudy Russo]

It might be my drunken ass but what the f*** are you guys even arguing about

Sex

 

[Ugene Magic]

Tbh even getting a first plus a good young player *and* a prospect feels excessive for Rakell (or Rust) but I guess that's where the market is probably at for them.

If Dubas can get such a package for Rakell or Rust I feel like you take that and run.

This is the problem with people's outlook on these players. These are not UFA TDL players we are talking about.

Rakell is a top talent the Pens waited for years to get because the Ducks wouldn't sell low on him.

You all feel it's excessive, but they come with 3 years term. These guys command two top NHL ready prospects and a 1st or why even trade them. The Pens can reap the rewards of two wingers for 3 more years at the cheap cost of 5.0 over a shit return of a late 1st and a B/C level prospect.

You guys have to get the old ways or the flat cap prices out of your heads.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

So, what value do you believe Rust has, or Rakell for that matter? Can you give an example as to what you realistically would expect, curious.

I don't think they hold equal value, mainly because I think the pool of teams that want Rust is a lot deeper than for Rakell.

For Rakell, an unprotected first in 2026 is fair value, but that should be the starting point. Try to get a prospect back if you can.

For Rust, I think you can probably ask for three assets in return. Two picks and a prospect or one pick and two prospects, et al.

 

[Ryder71]

This is the problem with people's outlook on these players. These are not UFA TDL players we are talking about.

Rakell is a top talent the Pens waited for years to get because the Ducks wouldn't sell low on him.

You all feel it's excessive, but they come with 3 years term. These guys command two top NHL ready prospects and a 1st or why even trade them. The Pens can reap the rewards of two wingers for 3 more years at the cheap cost of 5.0 over a shit return of a late 1st and a B/C level prospect.

You guys have to get the old ways or the flat cap prices out of your heads.

But they AREN'T winning with this team so why keep him? It's just nonsensical. Living in mediocrity helps no one. I don't expect both Rust AND Rakell to be moved but I expect one of them will be. What's the point of keeping them on a team going nowhere?

 

[Ryder71]

I don't think they hold equal value, mainly because I think the pool of teams that want Rust is a lot deeper than for Rakell.

For Rakell, an unprotected first in 2026 is fair value, but that should be the starting point. Try to get a prospect back if you can.

For Rust, I think you can probably ask for three assets in return. Two picks and a prospect or one pick and two prospects, et al.

That'd be great. However these guys are 32 and 33 years old. I don't know where their value tops out at but the sooner they're moved, the better. In theory anyhow.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Assuming Tomasino and Dewar are re-signed...Pens are too crowded, there will be players shipped out.

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Koivunen
Hallander-Novak-Tomasino
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Heinen K. Hayes

Poulin, Puustinen, Imama, Broz, A. Hayes

That's why I said "current". No one knows what will happen from here.
But I'd say it's very likely Dewar and Tomasino get extended, after strong performances with us. They didn't do it for long enough to price themselves out either.
Dubas is gonna wanna follow-up what is looking like winning trades, so far.

I still think Heinen will be one of our 12 best Forwards. He's always produced well as a Penguin.
Just a matter of how much the coach likes him, and how much they're prioritizing youth over vets.

I don't think Acciari should be a regular anymore. Yeah, I know he's a PK'er, but his performance there alone isn't enough to warrant a spot imo. That's especially the case when you got WBS'ers to develop.

 

[3074326]

Yes, but beware of the angry Leafs Dubas haters...

Perhaps the most whiney bunch of hockey fans outside of the NYR fanbase. Specifically the Dubas haters.

The people who still complain about the Pens getting Crosby are high on that list too!

 

[Jag68Sid87]

That's why I said "current". No one knows what will happen from here.
But I'd say it's very likely Dewar and Tomasino get extended, after strong performances with us. They didn't do it for long enough to price themselves out either.
Dubas is gonna wanna follow-up what is looking like winning trades, so far.

I still think Heinen will be one of our 12 best Forwards. He's always produced well as a Penguin.
Just a matter of how much the coach likes him, and how much they're prioritizing youth over vets.

I don't think Acciari should be a regular anymore. Yeah, I know he's a PK'er, but his performance there alone isn't enough to warrant a spot imo. That's especially the case when you got WBS'ers to develop.

I respect the fact that you are the Heinen champion of this board. I actually do. But the second part of your sentence is key for me. Prioritizing youth over vets. To me, this season is all about that, and there are certain players that absolutely need to be fazed out. Heinen is one of those players. That said, if he comes to camp and makes an impression and wins a regular spot, more power to him. If he turns into a Beauvillier, who gets parlayed for a second rounder, great!

I don't think he is the first guy I would move out. I see him as a perfect 13th forward, someone who can be placed on any line to replace any struggling young forward.

As for Acciari, we need to move on from him. Trade him to NYR for whatever they offer. I would also move on from Lizotte, personally. He has some value in a trade market where 75% of the league (or more) is looking to add centers. I would keep Lizotte in the event we move on from Novak (mainly because of that contract coupled with his injury history). But I would rather have Novak on the fourth line than Lizotte. I want depth to spill onto the fourth line.

And then of course, there is Kevin Hayes. No idea what we do with him. I think I do agree on Dewar and Tomasino, though I also would not mind throwing them into deals that make sense for us. Ditto Timmins.

At some point, Dubas has to have a conversation with Drury to discuss the players that each new head coach desires from the opposite rosters.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Perhaps the most whiney bunch of hockey fans outside of the NYR fanbase. Specifically the Dubas haters.

The people who still complain about the Pens getting Crosby are high on that list too!

Well that is literally everybody, so...