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

[pistolpete11]

He was a 60 point guy last season at age 38, there’s no guarantee he’s that for 2026-2027 at age 40.

I don't have access to the article, but I imagine nothing would be signed until after this coming year. If he falls off that hard this year, then he'd probably rethink wanting to play another year anyway.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't have access to the article, but I imagine nothing would be signed until after this coming year. If he falls off that hard this year, then he'd probably rethink wanting to play another year anyway.

That’s why I think it’s a moot point because Malkin will likely not perform well enough to want to play another year in the NHL. I don’t think next year is going to be equal or better than last year, it’s only going to go down.

 

[Deport Ogie]

That’s why I think it’s a moot point because Malkin will likely not perform well enough to want to play another year in the NHL. I don’t think next year is going to be equal or better than last year, it’s only going to go down.

Maybe, although it's hard to estimate anything given the transition state of the team. I don't find it to be completely outside the realm of possibility that he gets into a better system with more appropriate linemates and has a decent year.

I believe it was called out in that (or some other) article that he is particulary excited to try and play with Novak.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Maybe, although it's hard to estimate anything given the transition state of the team. I don't find it to be completely outside the realm of possibility that he gets into a better system with more appropriate linemates and has a decent year.

I believe it was called out in that (or some other) article that he is particulary excited to try and play with Novak.

He’s not going to get better linemates because they’re selling, though. It is incredibly likely that Malkin is worse this year than next year, both because of age and the team selling.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I don't know why Marchand would do that unless he's willing to just chill with Sid and have fun regular seasons for the next three years.

Pens aren't sniffing the playoffs in that time I don't think

He wants to be paid. He was underpaid he wants a big contract.

Especially in the case of the Pens, feels like trades won't happen until July. Karlsson's bonus and Rusts NMC dont go away until July 1st. Also teams will want to talk to Marner/Ehlers before paying for Rust/Rakell anyways

Yep. Rakell and Rusts market is a similar market. Wouldn't surprise me if some teams didn't want the term because they were hoping for Ehlers or Marner etc.

Is Rust enough to pull Isaac Howard and Conor Geekie with TB sending a bad contract back?

We would definitely have to add for Geekie. My two cents.

Geno is fine and if he wants to play in the NHL next season they should sign him. 60 point pace with dogshit wingers on a dogshit team not even playing pp1 100% of the season. Not like we’re gonna be any decent either.

Oh and he’s one of the best 25 players to ever play hockey.

If Malkin wants to re-sign, you re-sign him.

So dumb.

Lets pretend he gets to a 50 point pace next year. Then says I would love to play again. I do it. I tell him you may be winger or 3C we give you 4 million NMC 3 million signing bonus. Go have fun.

If we got a young C to play beside him his playmaking would be pretty rad. Make the other winger be a work horse and let Malkin be the old man.

 

[Deport Ogie]

No, not better. More appropriate perhaps is the term I should use. Meaning having a coach who actually considers what Malkin is now and who, on the team, fits with that better rather than just finding whatever square peg didn't fit with Sid and sledgehammering him into Geno's round hole. That sounds dirtier than I intended.

And you're right. It is likely. However as I said before, fandom is not always objective and I'm going to hold out some hope gawdammit.

 

[Empoleon8771]

No, not better. More appropriate perhaps is the term I should use. Meaning having a coach who actually considers what Malkin is now and who, on the team, fits with that better rather than just finding whatever square peg didn't fit with Sid and sledgehammering him into Geno's round hole. That sounds dirtier than I intended.

And you're right. It is likely. However as I said before, fandom is not always objective and I'm going to hold out some hope gawdammit.

I do think they have a good winger duo for Malkin, it’s running with Koivunen-Malkin-Rust. Issue is I’d bet most people here don’t want Rust here next year.

I’ve already said I’d rather keep Rust than Rakell, but if they do keep Rust, I’d prefer to run with that L2 and have McGroarty and Crosby as 2/3 of L1.

 

[Gurglesons]

We need to stink, Malkin stinks, we need to move on from him, is just an absolutely bizarre mindset..

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Keep Geno.

 

[Empoleon8771]

We need to stink, Malkin stinks, we need to move on from him, is just an absolutely bizarre mindset..

This team needs to get younger and holding onto a 40+ year old guy who has regressed significantly for nostalgia reasons isn’t how you get younger.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

He was a 60 point guy last season at age 38, there’s no guarantee he’s that for 2026-2027 at age 40.

So? we just trotted out 20 pt Kevin Hayes for a season

Geno can do that at 40. Who cares.

He is good enough to where he should get to make the call.

 

[Lust for Life]

A highly speculative article from our favorite village idiot, Yohe. Meh.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

We need to stink, Malkin stinks, we need to move on from him, is just an absolutely bizarre mindset..

Exactly. Keeping him aligns with sucking for a pick.

If you want him gone you a bum.

 

[IcedCapp]

none of this matters until we fire Sully.


Also, the easiest way to extend Geno's career is to do the one thing this board is always adamantly against: putting him on wing with a good 200 ft centre so he doesn't have to kill himself

 

[TimmyD]

This team needs to get younger and holding onto a 40+ year old guy who has regressed significantly for nostalgia reasons isn’t how you get younger.

So then get a younger guy that can play center (a guy like Rossi comes to mind) and play him as your 2c and make Geno your 3c. You can get younger and keep Geno.

 

[Lust for Life]

I just have a hard time believing that Dubas has decided a year out that he's not gonna re-sign him. And when the report comes from Yohe, I have a double hard time believing it.

 

[Gurglesons]

This team needs to get younger and holding onto a 40+ year old guy who has regressed significantly for nostalgia reasons isn’t how you get younger.

"nostalgia reasons".

Malkin is a top 30 all time NHLer. He should retire a Penguin.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I just have a hard time believing that Dubas has decided a year out that he's not gonna re-sign him. And when the report comes from Yohe, I have a double hard time believing it.

I agree. I think Dubas may be leaning in that direction, but he seems pragmatic enough to let the season play out and have a few conversations with Malkin about how he feels, how he's performing, etc. before making a final decision.

 

[pistolpete11]

"Getting younger" means getting good, young players, not just artificially lowering their average age by getting rid of Malkin.

Again, show me the alternative and maybe it makes sense to tell Malkin "no thanks". Where it looks like they will be, though, I really don't see the harm in bringing him back if he wants.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Well I was going to say that maybe it's worth actually seeing how he plays before Old Yellering the poor guy but he went out of his way to say how much he is itching to play with Tommy Novak so I have to assume some kind of brain eating parasite has taken deep hold and that retirement is definitely for the best.

But no really why would the team re-sign what is probably a like 10ish goal 40 point center who can't play in his own end and is likely to miss ~15-20 games between injury and sheer exhaustion? In most ways I wish his deal were already up so he didn't have to pathetically drag himself through next season.

 

[Gurglesons]

Well I was going to say that maybe it's worth actually seeing how he plays before Old Yellering the poor guy but he went out of his way to say how much he is itching to play with Tommy Novak so I have to assume some kind of brain eating parasite has taken deep hold and that retirement is definitely for the best.

But no really why would the team re-sign what is probably a like 10ish goal 40 point center who can't play in his own end and is likely to miss ~15-20 games between injury and sheer exhaustion? In most ways I wish his deal were already up so he didn't have to pathetically drag himself through next season.

Tommy Novak rocks.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Tommy Novak rocks.

I mean... I guess we have only just barely gotten to see him play so fair enough, there.

But I am gonna go way out on a limb and say that Tommy Novak rocks about as hard as current-day Axl Rose.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah, I mean, Geno's showing his age. That's all. He's not good enough to prolong the rebuild or anything--shit, not even Sid is on his own.

Geno's said in the past he wants to play his final season with his real number 11. So if he switches numbers this summer or mid-season next year, that'll probably be a significant indicator. Dunno if he follows through on that plan though.

As for the "get younger" thing, that doesn't matter. That was always a talking point for the argument that this team should try and pull a Washington to extend their window. Ship's sailed. Team's dead. The age and composition of the roster doesn't matter. If Geno wants to stick around, keep him until he's done. Trade whatever has value (EK, Rust, Rakell).

Also, I don't believe for a f***ing SECOND that Geno knows who Tommy Novak is, let alone his first name.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Also, I don't believe for a f***ing SECOND that Geno knows who Tommy Novak is, let alone his first name.

Literally zero chance

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, I mean, Geno's showing his age. That's all. He's not good enough to prolong the rebuild or anything--shit, not even Sid is on his own.

Geno's said in the past he wants to play his final season with his real number 11. So if he switches numbers this summer or mid-season next year, that'll probably be a significant indicator. Dunno if he follows through on that plan though.

As for the "get younger" thing, that doesn't matter. That was always a talking point for the argument that this team should try and pull a Washington to extend their window. Ship's sailed. Team's dead. The age and composition of the roster doesn't matter. If Geno wants to stick around, keep him until he's done. Trade whatever has value (EK, Rust, Rakell).

Also, I don't believe for a f***ing SECOND that Geno knows who Tommy Novak is, let alone his first name.

I feel like Novak's agent somehow got involved, here. What a bizarre thing to even bring up.

Malkin probably just lost count of the like 27 guys he was stuck with last year and was able to recall one of the last names on the list.