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

[Empoleon8771]

View attachment 1026695

View attachment 1026696
View attachment 1026697

So essentially this.

I'm not going to nitpick too much, but I'd prefer to not bring back Timmins and give Brunicke his spot. The forward group is reasonable because they're not going to go too youth heavy in the top-6, but I'd like the defense to be this to start:

Byram-Letang
Shea-Walker
Graves-Brunicke
Kolyachonok

Eventually Pickering comes up and takes Shea's spot on the 2nd pair.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm not going to nitpick too much, but I'd prefer to not bring back Timmins and give Brunicke his spot. The forward group is reasonable because they're not going to go too youth heavy in the top-6, but I'd like the defense to be this to start:

Byram-Letang
Shea-Walker
Graves-Brunicke
Kolyachonok

Eventually Pickering comes up and takes Shea's spot on the 2nd pair.

Based on Brunicke's AHL play, I don't think he's anywhere close to an NHL gig.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Based on Brunicke's AHL play, I don't think he's anywhere close to an NHL gig.

I thought I read that he was a bit iffy to start but started playing really well at the end.

He missed a good amount of time this year anyway, so him going back to juniors and playing in the WJC won't hurt him. That said, signing Timmins basically just guarantees Brunicke won't really be given a shot to make the team. I wouldn't be mad about it but I'd rather leave the opening for Brunicke, with playing someone like Kolyachonok as a backup.

 

[Gurglesons]

I thought I read that he was a bit iffy to start but started playing really well at the end.

He missed a good amount of time this year anyway, so him going back to juniors and playing in the WJC won't hurt him. That said, signing Timmins basically just guarantees Brunicke won't really be given a shot to make the team. I wouldn't be mad about it but I'd rather leave the opening for Brunicke, with playing someone like Kolyachonok as a backup.

Brunicke IMO shouldn't be near this team next year lol.

 

[Rakell67]

I believe Karlsson should and will be moved,
One of Acciari, Heinen and Hayes should and will be moved (hopefully more than one),
Nedeljkovic should and will be moved,
Rakell should be moved but at the moment I'd say it's 50/50 he gets moved.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I would trade Rakell this off-season but I don't think it's quite 50/50 he gets moved this off-season. I'd put it at more like 25/75 that he gets moved, I think he's more likely to stay.

I think a part of the discussion that isn't quite being touched on is how the new coach will actually set up the lines. The lines Sullivan was going to run (so Crosby-Rust, Malkin-Rakell and Novak-Tomasino duos) may not be what the new coach to runs. Ironically I think Sullivan's setup would be the best way to structure the forward group, but I don't know if the new coach will agree with that.

There probably won't be significant changes, but there will almost definitely be some sort of changes made beyond just roster moves.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Brunicke IMO shouldn't be near this team next year lol.

How do you make that statement??? I'll bet every dollar I have the organization would strongly disagree.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Brunicke IMO shouldn't be near this team next year lol.

It's less about gifting him a spot and more about leaving a spot open for Brunicke to take if he performs to that level.

Like I said, I don't have any issues if they do bring back Timmins, but Timmins being back makes it more likely that Brunicke is unfairly sent back to juniors even if his play warrants staying up. I'm not saying that is definitely going to happen, Brunicke may not even be NHL ready, but they'd be more likely to give Brunicke a chance with Kolyachonok as their 3rd pair RD than Timmins.

 

[Gurglesons]

It's less about gifting him a spot and more about leaving a spot open for Brunicke to take if he performs to that level.

Like I said, I don't have any issues if they do bring back Timmins, but Timmins being back makes it more likely that Brunicke is unfairly sent back to juniors even if his play warrants staying up. I'm not saying that is definitely going to happen, Brunicke may not even be NHL ready, but they'd be more likely to give Brunicke a chance with Kolyachonok as their 3rd pair RD than Timmins.

Timmins seems like a perfect player we could built up and turn into a first ala Sean Walker in Philly.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

There’s pretty much nothing Brunicke can do in camp short of looking like the next Bobby Orr for me to put him on the roster next year

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Team is going to be a disaster in 2026-27 unless Dubas somehow gets a 2C in a calendar year.

Pens will have no shortage of cap space or assets to get what they need.

 

[Duffy13]

Or they could just keep playing him top pairing minutes as he helps with the tank, sells tickets, and can mentor upcoming youth.

Why do we want him mentoring the youth, what could he possibly offer?

Just fling the puck into Sid and Geno's Skates and they'll be able to handle it, no one else though, just throw it to them.... Also ice the puck, like .. A Lot!!! Oh and when you get beat, start cross checking and take a penalty, it shows passion.

LTIR Letang and move on.

 

[Gurglesons]

Pens will have no shortage of cap space or assets to get what they need.

Nashville vibes?

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

Ask and you shall receive....

View attachment 1026543

When I'm driving I can identify every bird thrown my way.

 

[Rudy Russo]

So we are exposing Ponomarev to waivers for Hayes?

Or Heinen and Accari

 

[Pancakes]

There’s pretty much nothing Brunicke can do in camp short of looking like the next Bobby Orr for me to put him on the roster next year

But he already did that in camp last year

 

[Factorial]

Dubas will hire the coach who shares his vision of a retool. changes are coming in Karlsson. maybe one of the forwards. Karlsson holds some cards but a RH D PP player like him with retention will certainly be attractive. A 2 year contract with his level of puck moving and probably better talent has merit.

Karlsson of the second PP unit.

 

[chrisp200]

Brunicke IMO shouldn't be near this team next year lol.

Agree. I thought it was absurd that people thought a 2nd round 18 year old dman was going to make the team this year(that just doesn't happen, like ever). What's the rush to get him in the lineup?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Nashville vibes?

Washington vibes

 

[wej20]

There’s pretty much nothing Brunicke can do in camp short of looking like the next Bobby Orr for me to put him on the roster next year

I'd like him to go back to junior and see what offensive upside is there. Plus making the WJC team would be a great experience. Could he play NHL games at the end of the season like the guys getting signed out of college?

 

[Empoleon8771]

Preemptively deciding Brunicke shouldn’t make the team next year is the exact thing this team has been doing for years that needs to change going forward. If he performs to a level that suggests he’s NHL ready, he should be in the NHL. Maatta had a glorious rookie year when they decided to give him a chance rather than sending him back to juniors, there’s no reason that Brunicke shouldn’t be offered a similar opportunity if his play warrants it.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

Preemptively deciding Brunicke shouldn’t make the team next year is the exact thing this team has been doing for years that needs to change going forward. If he performs to a level that suggests he’s NHL ready, he should be in the NHL. Maatta had a glorious rookie year when they decided to give him a chance rather than sending him back to juniors, there’s no reason that Brunicke shouldn’t be offered a similar opportunity if his play warrants it.

On that note, Pickering should have a chance to make the lineup next year, also. He looked good when he was called up.

 

[Empoleon8771]

On that note, Pickering should have a chance to make the lineup next year, also. He looked good when he was called up.

My ideal defense for next year is trading Karlsson for Walker and futures, trading futures for Byram and running with:

Byram-Letang
Pickering-Walker
Graves-Brunicke
Shea

Is that defense good? Not really, but it sets up their LD way better in the long run with adding Byram and Walker is a prime guy to flip for good value down the line.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Preemptively deciding Brunicke shouldn’t make the team next year is the exact thing this team has been doing for years that needs to change going forward. If he performs to a level that suggests he’s NHL ready, he should be in the NHL. Maatta had a glorious rookie year when they decided to give him a chance rather than sending him back to juniors, there’s no reason that Brunicke shouldn’t be offered a similar opportunity if his play warrants it.

He has missed a ton of time the last 2 years. This team is gonna suck. We have no LD to play with.

This is literally how you ruin guys. Ofc a hungry 19 year old with wheels is gonna have a good camp against other old vets and plugs. But you need to look ahead to him hitting the rookie wall in January with 6 points in 38 games on a dogshit team.

It is incredibly difficult league for teenage defenders if they are top 10 picks. Much less 2nd rounders. If Hughes and Makar can go back to college (not even junior), so can Brunicke. I mean I can’t remember a recent late 1st, much less a 2nd, that played in the league this soon and it worked out in the long run.

 

[Empoleon8771]

He has missed a ton of time the last 2 years. This team is gonna suck. We have no LD to play with.

This is literally how you ruin guys. Ofc a hungry 19 year old with wheels is gonna have a good camp against other old vets and plugs. But you need to look ahead to him hitting the rookie wall in January with 6 points in 38 games on a dogshit team.

Then get a veteran LD to play with him to insulate him? He's going to be asked to be a 3rd pair defenseman. They're not asking him to play 23 minutes a night out of the gate.

It is incredibly difficult league for teenage defenders if they are top 10 picks. Much less 2nd rounders. If Hughes and Makar can go back to college (not even junior), so can Brunicke. I mean I can’t remember a late 1st, much less a 2nd, that played in the league this soon and it worked out in the long run.

Olli Maatta. He turned 19 just before the 2013-2014 season started.