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

[Turin]

The people who are obssesed with the idea of getting McKenna will hate it but looking at the Pens cap space + the new coach reality, there is definitely a path to being good enough to make people here mad.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I bet if he were to get dealt that he'd like to be on Detroit.

It would make sense to send him to Detroit but I don't know if Yzerman would want to add Rust to be the 3rd line RW and he would need to move out Tarasenko (33pts last year is brutal). Kane plans on staying I think and is happy there. He did play 3rd line RW at times too. Adding Marner at max would be hilarious for the Redwings, but it would give them better RW depth, but if they miss out on Marner, I think they could still be interested in an upgrade over Tarasenko because their depth scoring was garbage and swapping Kane and Rust up and down wouldn't be a bad thing. Of course, this is me rationalizing why the Wings should want Rust lol.

There's some talks about Detroit being a good fit for Marner too so I don't know how much that ends up being true, their left side is an absolute joke too in Detroit so as usual it will be hilarious to see how much worse the Yzerplan goes.

As for Raks, I love the player, I would hate to see him go, but I could still see the Kings being interested in him. He plays a game that fits insanely well with Kopitar and would even be the ideal winger for Byfield staying at C and having a RW that helps at both ends.

LA could really use that skill in their top 6 because they were running this with Hiller.

Kuzmenko, Kopitar, Kempe
Foegele, Danault, Moore
Fiala, Byfield, Laferriere

Moore had that one fluky season and definitely isn't a top 6 RW.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

The people who are obssesed with the idea of getting McKenna will hate it but looking at the Pens cap space + the new coach reality, there is definitely a path to being good enough to make people here mad.

Pens won't be bad enough to land McKenna, the firing of Sullivan already guarantees they'll be better than the last 3 seasons imo.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I feel very convinced if Marner doesn't go to Vegas, he goes to Detroit.

Who is magically going on LTIR for Vegas to make Marner fit?

"News out of Vegas is Mark Stone has another appendicitis issue and will be out for exactly 82 games."

Yzerman is also dumb enough to over pay for Gavrikov on a long term deal.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I really think the Sharks and Hawks are going throw an egregious amount of money at Marner. They wont be needing cap space for a while and need to take the next step in their rebuilds. If Marner is okay with not winning right away, he could get 14-15m x 7 from either.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I really think the Sharks and Hawks are going throw an egregious amount of money at Marner. They wont be needing cap space for a while and need to take the next step in their rebuilds. If Marner is okay with not winning right away, he could get 14-15m x 7 from either.

I would hope Marner signed in San Jose in that case, I think it'd be cool to see him and Celebrini on a line and it would move Will Smith (non slapper) to 2C where he should be to run his own line and Wenneberg down to 3c. Unless they project Lund to be a center instead of Smith.

Also, f*** the Hawks. I hope they continue to suck but win just enough to not draft in the top 3.

 

[Peat]

I really think the Sharks and Hawks are going throw an egregious amount of money at Marner. They wont be needing cap space for a while and need to take the next step in their rebuilds. If Marner is okay with not winning right away, he could get 14-15m x 7 from either.

Eh. There's the catch with throwing a lot of cash at Marner as a non win now team because if you're team, you're trying to build that winning culture... and do you want one of your team leaders to be a guy who looks like he doesn't really give a f*** about it?

 

[Pancakes]

Just having a player like him for 8 years if he doesn't pan out. It's another Graves contract IMO.

Would definitely make me nervous to give up a first for him.

I feel very convinced if Marner doesn't go to Vegas, he goes to Detroit.

I could see that. I guess it depends on if he wants the pressure of being "the guy" but really anywhere he goes is gonna be less pressure than Toronto so.

Surely Marner doesn't want to go to a rebuilding team though like us or Chicago or San Jose. I just don't see why he'd do that apart from liking Dubas/Sid.

 

[Pancakes]

I really think the Sharks and Hawks are going throw an egregious amount of money at Marner. They wont be needing cap space for a while and need to take the next step in their rebuilds. If Marner is okay with not winning right away, he could get 14-15m x 7 from either.

The thing is the Sharks and Hawks are so f-ing bad. Does Marner really want to go through that? He's not enough to make them competitive. They're extremely terrible. They aren't one player or one year away from being playoff teams.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

The people who are obssesed with the idea of getting McKenna will hate it but looking at the Pens cap space + the new coach reality, there is definitely a path to being good enough to make people here mad.

If Dubas does not kneecap roster I think it could be interesting year..

but ultimately while I see a path to say 95-100 points or so… without some wild moves the goalie and D situation limits us to purgatory. Even if whatever cast of characters we throw in those positions overachieves for some/all of reg season.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

The next forward the Pens throw a zillion dollars at should be a top 6 center IMO - and preferably, one they draft. I don't really see Marner as The Guy to build around in the impending post-Crosby era. I would rather see the team not make any big signings this year, have a bad season, and start building a contender through the draft than bring in a big gun with a double-digit AAV and a long-term deal to try and make one doomed playoff run.

People get distracted by a quick fix. No available player is going to make the Penguins contenders again. Like say they add Marner. Now compare the rest of the Leafs to the Penguins. They still will be worse than Toronto was this past year. The Pens have no good defensemen or goalies.

And then realize that signing someone is just going to make it harder to draft a superstar.

 

[Peat]

If Dubas does not kneecap roster I think it could be interesting year..

but ultimately while I see a path to say 95-100 points or so… without some wild moves the goalie and D situation limits us to purgatory. Even if whatever cast of characters we throw in those positions overachieves for some/all of reg season.

I really hope he does something to make the blueline look like less the first half of a mighty ducks movie.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I really hope he does something to make the blueline look like less the first half of a mighty ducks movie.

I’m not opposed to anything, including doing nothing. I think it’s ok if they don’t try to improve the D in the name of having one or two bad years.

It’s a shame we can’t offersheet Kleven. I like him.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I would like to see Dubas move out some of the fodder that Sullivan had a hard on for like Acciari, also I think moving Hayes would be a good move as well as it would open up more spots for youth to figure things out. There's more than enough lads from WBS that should be fighting for a spot and some of them should and will stick and are better to keep up over wankers that Sullivan kept playing.

I really hope he does something to make the blueline look like less the first half of a mighty ducks movie.

Firing Sullivan improves every facet of this team immediately, just not playing that dipshit farcical system makes everyone look better.

 

[Peat]

I’m not opposed to anything, including doing nothing. I think it’s ok if they don’t try to improve the D in the name of having one or two bad years.

It’s a shame we can’t offersheet Kleven. I like him.

Maybe nothing does happen. Right now the path just seems to be taking everything deal by deal, taking the good ones and ignoring the bad, rather than forcing things cos they've got to have this, they've got to have that. I guess I can accept that.

But that blueline really is lousy. I want it better for my own peace of mind and I want it better because if there's an urgent rebuild, that is the area they need to address most urgently so the sooner the work starts the better.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I would like to see Dubas move out some of the fodder that Sullivan had a hard on for like Acciari, also I think moving Hayes would be a good move as well as it would open up more spots for youth to figure things out. There's more than enough lads from WBS that should be fighting for a spot and some of them should and will stick and are better to keep up over wankers that Sullivan kept playing.

I think this is more likely to be the approach than a big splash in free agency.

If I had to guess, Dubas' wish list will be to do the following:
1. Trade Karlsson for the best possible return and the least amount of retention teams will accept to create a good deal.
2. Use assets to acquire someone like Bowen Byram. It may not actually be Byram, but someone in that mold - a talented, young defenseman who needs a fresh start, who still has a lot of promise, and who can be given a significant role.
3. Sign a reliable left side defenseman who isn't flashy but will accept a 1-2 year deal with the possibility of being flipped to a contender either this year or next. Instead of a Grzelyck type to provide offense, this would be an Ian Cole type who you can comfortably play as a No. 4
4. Use assets to acquire a young forward who can be added to the top six mix. Isaac Howard would be a possibility, but it may not actually be him.
5. Clear some of the extra bodies away - you won't be able to get rid of them all, but if you can get rid of say Heinen and Acciari, that helps create competition. I think Nedelkjovic could also be on the block, as he's easier to trade on an expiring contract than Jarry.

That's a very good summer. I think Dubas will look for a deal on Rakell, but he'll still have a very high price tag. I don't think they'll trade Rust yet.

It also leaves plenty of room to do something in free agency if something falls into the Penguins' lap.

 

[DesertPenguin]

What exactly do you think Byram is?

See above. 23 year old top 4 D trending towards being a top pairing 2 way guy. Kris Letang at 23 years old.

 

[SEALBound]

The people who are obssesed with the idea of getting McKenna will hate it but looking at the Pens cap space + the new coach reality, there is definitely a path to being good enough to make people here mad.

Pens won't be bad enough to land McKenna, the firing of Sullivan already guarantees they'll be better than the last 3 seasons imo.

This is no offense to you two but...I don't understand how either of you can make that statement when we literally just watched the NYI and Utah win the draft lotteries.

 

[Turin]

This is no offense to you two but...I don't understand how either of you can make that statement when we literally just watched the NYI and Utah win the draft lotteries.

Because when I say win enough to make people mad I mean not in the lottery at all.

 

[Turin]

See above. 23 year old top 4 D trending towards being a top pairing 2 way guy. Kris Letang at 23 years old.

Well.. he's bad enough defensively at the moment that Sabres fans even single him out amongst their group as being bad defensively. So no dice there, so far. I'm not saying Byram isn't worth a gamble but not for a big price. By this time in Letang's career he was already a top defenseman. Byram was a stalwart defenseman in the 2022 playoffs but since then he's been injured and trying to be an OFD and not doing a great job. I'll grant you that maybe he's figured out more than he's let on simply by virtue of being on the Sabres.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Well.. he's bad enough defensively at the moment that Sabres fans even single him out amongst their group as being bad defensively. So no dice there, so far. I'm not saying Byram isn't worth a gamble but not for a big price. By this time in Letang's career he was already a top defenseman. Byram was a stalwart defenseman in the 2022 playoffs but since then he's been injured and trying to be an OFD and not doing a great job. I'll grant you that maybe he's figured out more than he's let on simply by virtue of being on the Sabres.

He's playing the 2nd most minutes on Buffalo, 2nd only to Dahlin. He put up 38 pts last season, which Letang didn't do until his age 24 season, almost all at ES. He's not the second coming of Nik Lidstrom but he's by no means bad defensively. The Tanger comparison looks better and better honestly. Letang broke out with a 50 pt season at 24 once Gonchar left the team and opened up the #1 role. We could give Byram the same.

 

[JackFr]

Byram is very rough defensively. Was carried by Dahlin in that department, who is one of the most active defenders in the league without the puck. There is a reason Sabres fans want him gone. He's got tremendous raw skill but has not put it together aside from that playoff run. He has a lot of upside but plenty of downside - could be Morgan Rielly, could be Cam Fowler, could be Mike Matheson, could be Jack Johnson.

"Potential to be a top 2 two-way defenceman" and then comparing to Letang - a legit #1D for like 15 years - is a rude comp for #58.

He's a project, a hail Mary to hopefully buy low on a guy who will worst case eat minutes for us while we rebuild and best case give us a #1 or #2 defenceman.

 

[JackFr]

My position on Byram is mostly a shrug, but if you wanted to make a case against him here's how you do it.

Left-D top-4 pick 23-year-old playing top-pair minutes and scoring about a half a point per game?

 

[HandshakeLine]

I mean we're getting old enough to get into birdwatching, now. Maybe I'll do that.

I think I need to stop collecting guitars, at least. Just bought another one this past weekend.

You need to start getting into collecting amps, my friend. (Also whatcha get?)

 

[HandshakeLine]

Dayton, OH/Elkhart, IN ...it's pretty much the same damn midwestern town.

One has a Culver's the other has a Hunt Brothers.