Salary Cap: 24-25 Salary Thread Crosbicles Volume MXVI: End of season wrap up

[Gurglesons]

I'm curious - what in Dubas' comments do you think he was calling Karlsson out for complacency? I think he was absolutely criticizing him for inconsistency and that Karlsson has high goals but isn't necessarily doing the physical things needed to help achieve those goals.

"I had a long meeting with Erik on Friday," Dubas said. "My push to him would be that his actions have to match his ambitions. That's in consistency, preparation, training, like every other player on the team."

Karlsson actually said the same thing, as transcribed by Taylor Haase:
"Little too volatile than you would have liked, would have liked to kept a little bit more consistency throughout the season."

I think there is a merging of two of Dubas' thoughts - his criticism of Karlsson's game and the overall complacency that Dubas is guarding against. I agree with you that Hayes would be chief among those culprits. I think Graves is another.

His answer about complacency was in regards to a question about Erik Karlsson. Sorry that I'm taking it so far by saying that Dubas being asked a question about Erik Karlsson and going off about complacency is such a stretch.

 

[Peat]

Oh it's ALL shit. Occasional guilty pleasure for some (like me) but shit. And has only gotten worse.

I would say that I'm actually the opposite on your two specific examples. To me McDonald's has actually improved over time while Wendy's has nosedived. But again I weight heavily based on consistency. It's gross but I can almost always be fine enough with a Big Mac from just about any McDonald's. And their fries are of course super addictive.

Also the McFlurry is a bit underrated. And I would posit that being able to order a cardboard box full of warm chocolate chip cookies at any time via Doordash etc. is a stoner's dream.

I dunno about best and maybe it's just the ignorant American with blowed-out tastebuds that have spent years marinating in MSG, salt, piles of sugar and various chemicals but I um... rather like Taco Bell. You have to like the five ingredients they use for literally everything though, of course.

I mean given the options in most one-strip, stroaded, plaza-encrusted Dollar General towns in this country... you could do worse?

I can eat at Taco Bell. As someone who doesn't really do cheese, it's a tough menu to order from (although my favourite thing there is the quesadilla, go figure) but it's not bad. But best? Eesh. If nothing else, it's not worth what it does to your guts!

I do like MSG tho.

I do also really like McDonald's fries. Makes no sense to me how they're generally so good but there we go. Also, one time we got an ice cream cake from DQ doordashed to a beer tasting. Was a great idea until it sat in our stomach like a bowling ball and we all went to sleep.

Also, so people get a chance to insult my jank taste...

... I really like Arbys.

Like 9 times out of 10 if its fast food and my choice, it's gonna be Chipotle or one of the chicken places. But there's something weirdly satisfying about Arbys.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I’m cool with their ground beef

Their chicken is fine but not for me. Reminds me of like frozen Trader Joe’s chicken.

But I got their steak once on accident… nah mate. Never again. That shit was cat food or something.

I can do the beef it's just... a little weird. Almost like pellets of cumin and beef flavored Styrofoam or something.

I'll EAT the chicken but both it and especially the beef MUST be repacked Fancy Feast or something. Gnarly.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If I'm in the mood for some fast food I just pop into one of the 8,000 pizzerias around and grab a couple of slices for like 4 bucks tbh. I don't eat meat so outside of Taco Bell there's really not many choices for fast food.

 

[Gurglesons]

I can eat at Taco Bell. As someone who doesn't really do cheese, it's a tough menu to order from (although my favourite thing there is the quesadilla, go figure) but it's not bad. But best? Eesh. If nothing else, it's not worth what it does to your guts!

I do like MSG tho.

I do also really like McDonald's fries. Makes no sense to me how they're generally so good but there we go. Also, one time we got an ice cream cake from DQ doordashed to a beer tasting. Was a great idea until it sat in our stomach like a bowling ball and we all went to sleep.

Also, so people get a chance to insult my jank taste...

... I really like Arbys.

Like 9 times out of 10 if its fast food and my choice, it's gonna be Chipotle or one of the chicken places. But there's something weirdly satisfying about Arbys.

Haven't eaten meat in like 10+ years, but Arby's rocked whenever I did.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

What big swing should the Pens take this off season? The only one I can see as being feasible is trying to sign Marner. They should do that.

Beyond that? Doubt there's anything in trade that would be big enough to move the dial towards contention.

The key for Washington - and why it's a good model, but not a direct comparison - was that they drafted much better than the Penguins have. So the Caps could take some big swings because they had fewer targets to actually swing at.

The Caps had to rebuild a nice ranch house. The Penguins are rebuilding a two-story, six-bedroom, four-bath with a walk-out basement and in-ground pool.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Yeah... well... anyway... is it just me or has Wendy's gone like... WAY downhill the last ten-ish years?

It used to be a favorite guilty fast food pleasure but I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot barge pole, now.

It's definitely a lot more inconsistent. I still prefer it over the other major fast food offerings where I live, but you have to find the right location instead of trusting that every Wendy's will be solid.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I find Arby’s appalling

Not true fast food, but CAVA is my go to quick food spot

They started here in DC area though. So they’re everywhere for me.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Arby's is wild. I think the only place I'd feel more confident in giving me food poisoning is White Castle.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I can eat at Taco Bell. As someone who doesn't really do cheese, it's a tough menu to order from (although my favourite thing there is the quesadilla, go figure) but it's not bad. But best? Eesh. If nothing else, it's not worth what it does to your guts!

I do like MSG tho.

I do also really like McDonald's fries. Makes no sense to me how they're generally so good but there we go. Also, one time we got an ice cream cake from DQ doordashed to a beer tasting. Was a great idea until it sat in our stomach like a bowling ball and we all went to sleep.

Also, so people get a chance to insult my jank taste...

... I really like Arbys.

Like 9 times out of 10 if its fast food and my choice, it's gonna be Chipotle or one of the chicken places. But there's something weirdly satisfying about Arbys.

Arbys gets a bad rep and I do understand why. Their roast beef is weird IMO and that's their hallmark soooooooo...

BUT everything else on the menu is generally pretty good if not a bit overpriced. Could do worse. About middle of the pack for me but certainly not at the bottom like so many people seem to think.

McDonald's fries are enough to recommend it over many other options IMO. Like I keep saying with fast food consistency is king.

So like you just CAN'T eat cheese, right? It's not a choice. Right?

RIGHT?!?

 

[Peat]

Yeah, I'm vegetarian so I just get black beans crunch wraps and spicy potato tacos.

Next time I go there I'll try the spicy potato tacos.

Which will probably be soon as my wife gets Taco Bell cravings weekly.

Arbys gets a bad rep and I do understand why. Their roast beef is weird IMO and that's their hallmark soooooooo...

BUT everything else on the menu is generally pretty good if not a bit overpriced. Could do worse. About middle of the pack for me but certainly not at the bottom like so many people seem to think.

McDonald's fries are enough to recommend it over many other options IMO. Like I keep saying with fast food consistency is king.

So like you just CAN'T eat cheese, right? It's not a choice. Right?

RIGHT?!?

Nah it's a choice. I mean, it's not good for me, I know the day after a spicy dairy meal there will be hell to pay (although maybe that's the gluten as I'm now learning), but I just don't really enjoy the taste of cheese. I could learn to like it, but why learn to like another unhealthy food when I can live without it?

edit: While continuing to possibly horrify people -

95% of all bacon burgers from fast food places are better without the bacon.

 

[Gurglesons]

The key for Washington - and why it's a good model, but not a direct comparison - was that they drafted much better than the Penguins have. So the Caps could take some big swings because they had fewer targets to actually swing at.

The Caps had to rebuild a nice ranch house. The Penguins are rebuilding a two-story, six-bedroom, four-bath with a walk-out basement and in-ground pool.

The key for Washington is they've held themselves accountable for not having a competitive team and pivoted every year.

The Penguins wouldn't even sell Rakell for pennies on the dollar to get potentially a top 5 pick this season.

You think if Washington was in our position at the deadline they aren't blowing everything to smithereens that they could?

 

[Gurglesons]

Next time I go there I'll try the spicy potato tacos.

Which will probably be soon as my wife gets Taco Bell cravings weekly.

They have cheese on them lol.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I love Taco Bell but big believer in keeping it simple there

Taco Bell is also something you have to eat and then be done for the day. You can't go to Taco Bell and then go see a show or something. There's just no way you're going to last. Best to get home, chow down, put on sweatpants, and just be ready for when it hits.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

It's definitely a lot more inconsistent. I still prefer it over the other major fast food offerings where I live, but you have to find the right location instead of trusting that every Wendy's will be solid.

This is true since I HAVE had good Wendy's in recent years... just not at any nearby locations. But that's a big mark against them.

It seems like the last like five Spicy Chickens I've gotten from there had the consistency of a giant rubber glove coated in old corn flakes.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Taco Bell is also something you have to eat and then be done for the day. You can't go to Taco Bell and then go see a show or something. There's just no way you're going to last. Best to get home, chow down, put on sweatpants, and just be ready for when it hits.

It's like the strong edible of the fast food world but instead of being uncomfortably high you nearly shit yourself.

 

[Darren McCord]

Okay.

So...

Ovechkin is 39.

Sid is 38 next year.

Carlson is 35.

Letang is 38 next year.

Wilson is 31.

Rust is 33 next year.

We likely aren't competing for a playoff spot next year. So let's just say we try to do the Caps model two seasons from now.

So you're asking a 34 year old Rust, 39 year old Crosby and 39 year old Letang to effectively be what amounts to a 40+ goal scorer, 30+ goal scorer and 51 point, 23 minute defenseman on the current Caps.

Point was Malkin and Karlsson leaving won’t mean much.

Emulating the caps is drafting well and taking risk on young talent that was given away like stroke and chycrun not relying on old players.

It’s not tearing it down but trying to create a transition instead.

Will it work. Probably not but a lot of rebuilds don’t without luck

 

[Gurglesons]

Point was Malkin and Karlsson leaving won’t mean much.

Emulating the caps is drafting well and taking risk on young talent that was given away like stroke and chycrun not relying on old players.

It’s not tearing it down but trying to create a transition instead.

Will it work. Probably not but a lot of rebuilds don’t without luck

Yes it will. Because now you are needing to acquire a top pairing defenseman and another top six forward.

You can't do the Washington model if you don't have the support staff that Washington had.

The reality is we are forcing ourselves into doing a full rebuild, Dubas is just not saying it.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I legitimately like McDonald’s hot black coffee. Like whatever bean or roast they use is consistently solid across the country.

Haven’t had their ice cream in a brick but crushed it in HS.

Once every 2ish years I’m like “a McDouble would be good rn”. Then I get one and it never is. Must be nostalgia propping it up.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

His answer about complacency was in regards to a question about Erik Karlsson. Sorry that I'm taking it so far by saying that Dubas being asked a question about Erik Karlsson and going off about complacency is such a stretch.

I know. He started his answer with the complacency tangent. Maybe I am parsing his words, but to me it felt like Dubas wanted to get ahead of the idea that players "Want to stay here" by pointing out that it's not always the right move. He said the Penguins want to treat people right and make it an enjoyable environment, but expectations need to be high and he wants to avoid complacency.

I truly don't think that was a jab at Karlsson, but the question included the idea of wanting to stay in Pittsburgh and Dubas said that was a recurring theme in exit interviews so he jumped on it.

THEN he went into his criticism of Karlsson. The responses came right after each other from the same question, but I think they were two separate thoughts.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Taco Bell is also something you have to eat and then be done for the day. You can't go to Taco Bell and then go see a show or something. There's just no way you're going to last. Best to get home, chow down, put on sweatpants, and just be ready for when it hits.

Oh for sure.

It is a late night drunk uber eats for me. Or I’m in a place like central PA — food hell with limited options.

 

[Gurglesons]

I know. He started his answer with the complacency tangent. Maybe I am parsing his words, but to me it felt like Dubas wanted to get ahead of the idea that players "Want to stay here" by pointing out that it's not always the right move. He said the Penguins want to treat people right and make it an enjoyable environment, but expectations need to be high and he wants to avoid complacency.

I truly don't think that was a jab at Karlsson, but the question included the idea of wanting to stay in Pittsburgh and Dubas said that was a recurring theme in exit interviews so he jumped on it.

THEN he went into his criticism of Karlsson. The responses came right after each other from the same question, but I think they were two separate thoughts.

I just think it's a dogshit move to criticize Karlsson when Dubas purposefully sabotaged the team last year and is continuing down the path.

Just be honest about it. "When we acquired Erik, we were in a different mindset. I hope Erik is willing to be a part of the solution here, but I also understand we may be moving in a direction that he did not anticipate when he was traded here."

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Nah it's a choice. I mean, it's not good for me, I know the day after a spicy dairy meal there will be hell to pay (although maybe that's the gluten as I'm now learning), but I just don't really enjoy the taste of cheese. I could learn to like it, but why learn to like another unhealthy food when I can live without it?

edit: While continuing to possibly horrify people -

95% of all bacon burgers from fast food places are better without the bacon.

B...but... cheese IS healthy! I have often heard it called a SuperFood! By... experts.

I dunno what I'd do without cheese, man. What do you think plugs up all the booze? I have a very delicate ecosystem arranged here, Peat.

And yeah man... it seems like bacon at both fast food and chain restaurants is either horrifically over or under-cooked. Besides I can make a way better burger than any sad-sack TGI Fridays or whatever.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

The key for Washington is they've held themselves accountable for not having a competitive team and pivoted every year.

The Penguins wouldn't even sell Rakell for pennies on the dollar to get potentially a top 5 pick this season.

You think if Washington was in our position at the deadline they aren't blowing everything to smithereens that they could?

The Caps have not picked higher than 8th (2023, Ryan Leonard).

The year they burned it down at the deadline, they traded the following pieces:
Dimitry Orlov (pending UFA)
Garnet Hathaway (pending UFA)
Marcus Johnansson (pending UFA)
Erik Gustafsson (pending UFA)
Lars Eller (pending UFA)

They did not trade anyone with term. The Pens have traded their assets who were UFAs - Guentzel, Eller, DOC, Pettersson. They haven't traded guys with term, other than Bunting.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I like to think that BlindWilly's guttyworks look like a level from like Abe's Exoddus or something.