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

[Duffy13]

a couple thoughts after reading around a bit....

I FEEL like the order or bigger transactions is going to go something like Rakell in the summer, move him before he gets a chance to drop off... Karlsson at the trade deadline, move him after his numbers and play rebound with a new staff, if they don't he's not going to look worse then he has so far, and he will be cheaper for the acquiring team.... Rust IF he is traded goes next summer, but I'm not sure he will be traded as Malkin will most likely retire and they will likely want to keep someone besides Sid and Letang around from the cup years.... again just a feeling on how I think it may go.

Also I wonder if the Team will be a more desirable place for FA and trade targets since Sullivan is gone. With so many former Pens out there that were mistreated by Sullivan on playing time and criticism after 10 years, I am wondering if a new staff, a new "persona" or whatever will be more of a draw if incoming players feel like they would actually get a chance?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Why do we need someone from the Cup years? And why is that person specifically Bryan Rust? God I hate that chode.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I hope whoever the new coach is at least has the stones to sit Rust after he floats in the O-zone for three shifts in a row.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

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.

I am kind of in the boat where if they want to keep some talent in the F group but roll out a gutted D and shit goalies to be bottom 5 for a year… not the worst plan. Wouldn’t be a bad environment for their F prospects, and all their D prospects need another year anyway. And youre gonna stink record wise.

I would ofc add Byram for the right price but more realistically I’d be curious about getting a Hague, Kleven, etc type that can stabilize a pairing for a young guy coming up and plays a valuable style for the postseason when we go back there (hopefully) in 3-5 years.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Hague-Letang
Byram-RH DFD
Graves/Shea-Timmins

This is the defense I'd be shooting for to start next year. Once Pickering is ready, demote Graves/Shea from the 3rd pair LD spot and put Pickering there.

Ceci is the obvious fit in terms of UFAs for that 2nd pair DFD spot, but I think he gets way more than I'd be comfortable giving him with how he's playing in Dallas. I really like Fabbro and he's a very young UFA, but he's not really the player archetype you'd be looking for in a partner for Byram.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

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

True enough... though I already have a few. a Deluxe Reverb (68 Custom), a Hot Rod Deluxe (White Lightning), an AC15 ("TV" reissue), a 77 Peavey Mace head/cab and my little Bugera v5 that I use to practice at home.

I just snagged a 2012 American Standard strat in a classic burst. I'm not a big strat guy but the price was right and it's a nice player.

 

[Empoleon8771]

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?

View attachment 1039242

View attachment 1039243

I still think Matheson is the most appropriate comparison for Byram, both in terms of on-ice results and play style.

 

[JackFr]

I still think Matheson is the most appropriate comparison for Byram, both in terms of on-ice results and play style.

I agree, the reason I bring in Johnson is because of the age/draft pedigree. Because it is definitely possible that Byram actually does not get better and remains an all-sizzle no-steak guy who looks flashy with the puck and then gets caved.

But again, we've got absolutely nothing going on on defence in terms of players with even top pair potential, so why not. Either we can sign some UFA bozo to play 23 minutes a night or we can roll the dice with Byram.

 

[The Old Master]

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.

there is money to be made in guitars, bird watching, not so much.

I hope whoever the new coach is at least has the stones to sit Rust after he floats in the O-zone for three shifts in a row.

i hope he's traded so we will never find out

 

[JackFr]

If Karlsson is happening it's happening this summer. There's so much smoke, teams will have cap space, and there are several plausible destinations. Moving a guy with that cap hit and a NMC becomes a lot trickier mid-season.

Rakell on the other hand I think is contingent on offers. Like at the deadline, Dubas will probably have to figure out whether he feels that the market will be better at the deadline than now and whether he can give Sid a winger to tide him over.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

lol if you are trying to make money doin' all this... you're probably doin' it wrong.

But yes the market on instruments right now is utterly insane. Not that I ever sell anything.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The whole Karlsson discussion hinges on how much the Penguins are willing to retain and who Karlsson would actually allow a trade for. Logically, I can't see why he'd make his NMC a big deal and force the Penguins to either keep him or only have 1 trade location. But not everything operates based on logic so we really don't know what Karlsson is going to do.

I think Carolina is the obvious fit, it makes a ton of sense between:

1. Burns has regressed and is likely walking as a UFA
2. They were interested in Karlsson in 2023 as well, while Karlsson was willing to waive to go to Carolina
3. They have an assload of cap space with Burns and Orlov's deals coming off the books and not really having anyone they need to extend.
4. The lower money that Karlsson is owed is likely a positive for Carolina's cheap owner
5. They have the perfect partner to play with Karlsson in Slavin.

But it begs the question of what they're willing to give up. They didn't pay much for Burns 3 years ago, I believe it was basically just Burns at $5.25 million for a depth forward, a C level prospect and a 3rd round pick. Burns was also not owed a lot of money ($3 million in 2022-2023, $5 million in both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025) and San Jose retained about a third of it.

Would you do Kotkaniemi, Chatfield and Dallas' 2026 1st for Karlsson at $7 million? I don't think they'd be able to get Chatfield plus Dallas' 2026 1st back for Karlsson, but I think taking back Kotkaniemi's big deal may help sway them a bit on Chatfield.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah he gone

 

[Deport Ogie]

lol if you are trying to make money doin' all this... you're probably doin' it wrong.

But yes the market on instruments right now is utterly insane. Not that I ever sell anything.

I've been vaguely considering selling my ole 5 piece Mapex and using that toward a more compact electronic kit. There's some old school sensibilities in me that would be highly offended and I've had this thing since I was 12 but man, reality and real estate comes calling at some point.

 

[Turin]

Yeah he gone

I’m 100% convinced that he made the decision last year that if the Leafs didn’t win he was gonna leave. Then he was asked to waive his NMC at the deadline and that sealed it no matter what

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I've been vaguely considering selling my ole 5 piece Mapex and using that toward a more compact electronic kit. There's some old school sensibilities in me that would be highly offended and I've had this thing since I was 12 but man, reality and real estate comes calling at some point.

Yeah as good as digital options and more modern style guitars have gotten these days I'm frankly pretty dumb for holding on to giant boat anchor tube amps and multiple 8-11 pound guitars designed in the 1950s that are slowly turning my shoulders into mush. But like... I'm not going to stop.

It's the same thing with my record collection. I love it... but at the same time it really is kinda stupid and impractical lol

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

There is something incredibly fitting about Shane Doan being a higher-up in the Maple Leafs front office.

I can't QUITE put my finger on it... but it just seems RIGHT... ya know?

 

[SEALBound]

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

Fair. I think we can all agree that getting McKenna is unlikely just from a pure "stats" standpoint. I do think it will be important to get a top 5 pick this year. There are some really good prospects coming up that we will need. McKenna would be stellar, especially if we can snag a center this draft. If you miss on McKenna (or don't get lucky enough), I would love to grab Roobroeck. I think he will be a top 3 pick so finishing "bad" enough for that should be the "goal".

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?

View attachment 1039242

It looks like he was okay in Colorado and then tanked a bit in Buffalo. I would assume at face value it's a "mediocre player on a good team" to a "mediocre player on a bad team".

Question I would have is, is there anything he's not getting in Buffalo or being asked to do that isn't in his wheelhouse that would change if he came here? Buffalo isn't a whole lot different than us. If that's how he performs in Buffalo, I think we can say that's what we should expect in Pittsburgh.

If Karlsson is happening it's happening this summer. There's so much smoke, teams will have cap space, and there are several plausible destinations. Moving a guy with that cap hit and a NMC becomes a lot trickier mid-season.

Rakell on the other hand I think is contingent on offers. Like at the deadline, Dubas will probably have to figure out whether he feels that the market will be better at the deadline than now and whether he can give Sid a winger to tide him over.

Karlsson will have to be an off-season move. Even $5mil in cap space is a lot to fit in at the TDL, even if some teams (smartly) stash a little cap space for later.

Rakell will have peak value around July 1st and at the 26 TDL so I don't think we need to be in a rush.

 

[Gurglesons]

I’m 100% convinced that he made the decision last year that if the Leafs didn’t win he was gonna leave. Then he was asked to waive his NMC at the deadline and that sealed it no matter what

Chirs Johnston reported that there have been multiple off ice incidents in Toronto with fans.

Makes complete sense.

 

[Turin]

Chirs Johnston reported that there have been multiple off ice incidents in Toronto with fans.

Makes complete sense.

His camp torched his image in the leagues biggest market pretty early in his career, not surprised. He’ll be the Leafs Jagr without any of the success.

 

[cookthebooks]

re: marner what were the off ice incidents?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The vitriol that Marner gets is honestly really odd to me.

I get that he's paid well and expectations are a bitch and all that but man... you'd think dude was single-handedly and very intentionally derailing that entire franchise the way people talk. Hell most years I'm every bit as impressed with Marner if not moreso than Matthews. Certainly more than that donut Tavares.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

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.

It still isn't clear to me what this team is attempting to do. I heard all the Dubas-speak and have kind of tuned it out bc most of it is press conference BS.

Are we trying to make the playoffs next year or not?
Are we trying to be bad enough to get a high draft pick?
Are we trying to play something between the 2 above?

 

[Empoleon8771]

Toronto fans are lunatics and babies, that's why they treat Marner like shit.

The fans 100% deserve the loser franchise they have.

 

[Gurglesons]

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

You're going to be incredibly disappointed with Byram if you think he's Kris Letang.

His numbers have been largely elevated by his partners too.

He basically had a great playoff run and has been relatively whatever outside of that 20 game span.