Salary Cap: '25-'26 There's no cap thread so I made this low effort attempt

[molon labe]

Oh so a tax haven sunbelt team is getting another FA/trade target? Cue Bettman chiding us for saying these teams have an advantage. Let’s just pack sixteen teams in Florida and sixteen in Nevada and call it a day. Panama City Penguins lets go!

I love the favorable tax situation here and so too should anyone, really.

Objectively I think a way to curb what will increasingly gain popularity is to severely limit trade clauses and allow each team to have a single franchise tag which allows them to pay 1 player some under-the-cap situation (like what Toronto does with all their sponsorships for all the bellyaching they do about the taxes).

E.g.
- 3 trade clauses per team, period
- (and/or) trade clauses can only ever protect up to 75% of the league
+ One single player can earn up to 5M extra non-cap money. So a 97 could get paid 15, then an additional 5 but only count towards 15

Something in that realm which would permanently create situations where every team has something to offer these oft-times 25-30 year olds who are no longer JUST thinking about money but also where they want to cement themselves. Tampa would have none left but Utah might - and it would be something to give that player pause to think they could have trade protections and a life in Utah but a forever-volatile situation in Tampa.

Or somehow structure the league where everyone pays a small escrowed tax - though that would eventually hurt those same Canadian teams when the ownership / investor groups realize that each time they remove one of them from the equation the maths change substantially.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

And even more is seeing how terrible of a GM Yzerman really is and was nothing but lucky in Tampa. He should have already been fired but hey, no complaining here, they can keep him around for much longer

So I was a little bullish on them going forward last offseason and thought he had done a solid job besides Chiarot acq & the weird Walman move, which fine, maybe something happened. They kinda were similar to MTL to me, no high end superstar but some serious young studs in Seider and Raymond, even more solid young guys like Edvinnson and Kasper. Add Larkin, DeBrincat and some old salty vets plus Danielson, MBN, ASP, on the way. Not as sexy as maybe an Anaheim or San Jose but pretty decent mix.

Then this last year was rough. Collapse is on the players not him. I’m not going to absolutely blast him for not getting Quinn Hughes as what Guerin ended up offering was hard to beat.

But to miss out on that, not be able to wrangle Thomas or anyone else… then pay a big sticker price for Faulk?

Yes I felt like they needed to get aggressive and add a talent on top this roster, sure; but to miss out and panic felt very desperate and wasteful which is squarely on him.

I also think they are a good example of why scouting internally and trading prospects early can be important. If you go back to like 2021-22 there’s a lot of dudes that would’ve been considered valuable trade chips just floundering.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yzerman has been terrible for the Red Wings in large part due to how bad his drafting has been outside of the 1st round. The Red Wings have had an absurd amount of 2nd rounders in Yzerman's time that have accomplished literally nothing in the NHL:

• Tuomisto #35 overall in 2019, 25 year old AHLer
• Mastrosimone: #54 overall in 2019, 25 year old that split time between the AHL and ECHL last year
• Johansson: #60 overall in 2019, 25 year old bottom pair defenseman
• Wallinder: #32 overall in 2020, 23 year old AHLer
• Niederbach: #51 overall in 2020, just signed with another NHL team
• Canas: #55 overall in 2020, 25 year old AHLer
• Buium: #36 overall in 2021, 23 year old AHLer
• James: #40 overall in 2022, just finished his senior year and turned pro
• Buchelnikov: #52 overall in 2022, still hasn't come over from Russia
• Augustine: #41 overall in 2023, one of the best goalie prospects in hockey
• Gibson: #42 overall in 2023, depth AHLer that isn't in the Red Wings organization anymore (Yzerman fleeced Trotz in the trade selling Gibson though)
• Cleveland: #47 overall in 2023, has 5 points in 3 seasons in the NCAA

Plante and Augustine look good, but that's literally all they have. I don't know of another team that has had this many 2nd rounders get so little out of them. For a GM that was supposed to be good at drafting, Yzerman's drafting has been heinously bad.

The only non 1st rounders that have become NHL regulars that Yzerman drafted were Finnie (7th rounder in 2023), Soderblom (6th rounder in 2019) and Johansson (2nd rounder in 2019). And Soderblom is no longer in their organization.

 

[JackFr]

Yzerman has been terrible for the Red Wings in large part due to how bad his drafting has been outside of the 1st round. The Red Wings have had an absurd amount of 2nd rounders in Yzerman's time that have accomplished literally nothing in the NHL:

• Tuomisto #35 overall in 2019, 25 year old AHLer
• Mastrosimone: #54 overall in 2019, 25 year old that split time between the AHL and ECHL last year
• Johansson: #60 overall in 2019, 25 year old bottom pair defenseman
• Wallinder: #32 overall in 2020, 23 year old AHLer
• Niederbach: #51 overall in 2020, just signed with another NHL team
• Canas: #55 overall in 2020, 25 year old AHLer
• Buium: #36 overall in 2021, 23 year old AHLer
• James: #40 overall in 2022, just finished his senior year and turned pro
• Buchelnikov: #52 overall in 2022, still hasn't come over from Russia
• Augustine: #41 overall in 2023, one of the best goalie prospects in hockey
• Gibson: #42 overall in 2023, depth AHLer that isn't in the Red Wings organization anymore (Yzerman fleeced Trotz in the trade selling Gibson though)
• Cleveland: #47 overall in 2023, has 5 points in 3 seasons in the NCAA

Plante and Augustine look good, but that's literally all they have. I don't know of another team that has had this many 2nd rounders get so little out of them. For a GM that was supposed to be good at drafting, Yzerman's drafting has been heinously bad.

The only non 1st rounders that have become NHL regulars that Yzerman drafted were Finnie (7th rounder in 2023), Soderblom (6th rounder in 2019) and Johansson (2nd rounder in 2019). And Soderblom is no longer in their organization.

Yes, that is astonishing. I know we're very optimistic about our scouting and development staff but this list should give us some pause when we get too excited about all our 2nd round picks

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Looking over the Penguins' results... they have produced a decent-ish amount of players that have reached the NHL level from the second round. Just... none of them very good at all, really. Going all the way back to 06 the best player is Sprong or Blueger? Maybe Jarry lol

Second round picks often feel more like trade currency than picks you actually try to use haha

 

[EXTRAS]

Do you guys expected wotherspoon to be able to repeat last seasons stats?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Do you guys expected wotherspoon to be able to repeat last seasons stats?

I don't expect hardly anyone on this roster to repeat this past season TBH

 

[eXile3]

Do you guys expected wotherspoon to be able to repeat last seasons stats?

If he continues to play with EK and EK continues to be a beast, yes.

 

[JackFr]

Do you guys expected wotherspoon to be able to repeat last seasons stats?

No reason he can't, we signed him because he had hidden gem type underlying numbers.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Do you guys expected wotherspoon to be able to repeat last seasons stats?

I think he can and I sure hope he does, what an asset he would become at the deadline if he would be able to come anywhere close to last season's performance!

 

[TimD]

Even if they aren't, getting another goalie should probably be a bigger priority for Florida than adding Larkin when you have Barkov, Lundell, and Bennett down the middle.

Possible insurance in case Barkov isn’t the same after a major injury? Also I believe Larkin and Bennett can also play wing so that would make it work. I could see Florida letting Bob go and signing a guy like Skinner on the cheap.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Do you guys expected wotherspoon to be able to repeat last seasons stats?

Counting stats wise I don’t think I’d bet on him to hit 30 points

But I do think he has by far the best chance of any of the misfits acquired last summer to not regress and continue to play well

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

To be serious, I think enough of Muse and his staff to acknowledge that at least a handful of guys will continue to improve. I think Pablo Wabbajack could be one of them.

 

[TojoP]

Yzerman has just spent forever waiting for prospects to mature and never making any bold moves. Unfortunately for him he didn't find the type of gems he did in Tampa

 

[eXile3]

Yzerman has just spent forever waiting for prospects to mature and never making any bold moves. Unfortunately for him he didn't find the type of gems he did in Tampa

You mean he didn’t have BriseBois there to find gems for him.

 

[thevelvetfog]

When you have 8 forwards signed for next season and have 14MM in cap space, that is a hole.

They actually have 11 forwards signed with $12.75M in cap space. I think we're done here.

 

[Darren McCord]

Yes, that is astonishing. I know we're very optimistic about our scouting and development staff but this list should give us some pause when we get too excited about all our 2nd round picks

It's about assets in general. Those 2nd round picks can be traded as well. It's exciting to have assets, which the team has not had for years. But you still need a good GM to utilize them.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm so happy the Penguins have Dubas instead of Guerin as GM.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'm so happy the Penguins have Dubas instead of Guerin as GM.

I've had my ups and downs with Dubas but I much prefer this to that meathead.

Dude looks like a spray tanned Bar-S hot dog someone left out in the Sun for a week.

 

[SEALBound]

Yzerman has been terrible for the Red Wings in large part due to how bad his drafting has been outside of the 1st round. The Red Wings have had an absurd amount of 2nd rounders in Yzerman's time that have accomplished literally nothing in the NHL:

• Tuomisto #35 overall in 2019, 25 year old AHLer
• Mastrosimone: #54 overall in 2019, 25 year old that split time between the AHL and ECHL last year
• Johansson: #60 overall in 2019, 25 year old bottom pair defenseman
• Wallinder: #32 overall in 2020, 23 year old AHLer
• Niederbach: #51 overall in 2020, just signed with another NHL team
• Canas: #55 overall in 2020, 25 year old AHLer
• Buium: #36 overall in 2021, 23 year old AHLer
• James: #40 overall in 2022, just finished his senior year and turned pro
• Buchelnikov: #52 overall in 2022, still hasn't come over from Russia
• Augustine: #41 overall in 2023, one of the best goalie prospects in hockey
• Gibson: #42 overall in 2023, depth AHLer that isn't in the Red Wings organization anymore (Yzerman fleeced Trotz in the trade selling Gibson though)
• Cleveland: #47 overall in 2023, has 5 points in 3 seasons in the NCAA

Plante and Augustine look good, but that's literally all they have. I don't know of another team that has had this many 2nd rounders get so little out of them. For a GM that was supposed to be good at drafting, Yzerman's drafting has been heinously bad.

The only non 1st rounders that have become NHL regulars that Yzerman drafted were Finnie (7th rounder in 2023), Soderblom (6th rounder in 2019) and Johansson (2nd rounder in 2019). And Soderblom is no longer in their organization.

I mean, 2nd round picks are only a so-so chance of making the NHL. Our 2nds in the post lockout era are pretty meh as well.

The more curious thing to me with all of this is why some of them are not being given NHL chances. Baffles me that Tuomisto, Wallinder, and Buium have 0 NHL games combined. Same with Cossa. Instead, Yzerman goes out and gets guys like Chiarot, Faulk, and Hamonic. Or hell, even with us he sends out Soderblom for a 3rd and uses a 3rd on 38yo Perron who did jack shit for them to nobodies surprise, except Yzerman's.

I look at their "next" crop of Augustine, Plante, Bear, MBN, Danielson, and ASP do seem more promising so I tend to think "help is on the way" but I look at their history of stockpiling decent players in the AHL to waste away and I have doubts.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I'm so happy the Penguins have Dubas instead of Guerin as GM.

Ya and so are Leaf fans, he was terrible and it was all his fault along with Mitch Marner!!!! Leafs nation called it and they were so right!!!

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I would say Leaf fans getting exactly what they want is some real monkey paw curse stuff but nah they're just dolts.

 

[Khelandros]

They actually have 11 forwards signed with $12.75M in cap space. I think we're done here.

Wild sign pending UFA McCarron to six-year deal

Michael McCarron is staying with the Minnesota Wild. The veteran centre signed a six-year deal carrying an average annual value of $3.3 million on Tuesday, the team announced.

www.tsn.ca

Well there goes $3.3MM

 

[SEALBound]

McCarron earned that deal but that term is just yikes.

God, I was going to say "I would shop Gusty instead of Wallstadt" but Gustavsson has a f***ing NMC. $6.8mil for 5years and the NMC. JFC Bill.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Wild sign pending UFA McCarron to six-year deal

Michael McCarron is staying with the Minnesota Wild. The veteran centre signed a six-year deal carrying an average annual value of $3.3 million on Tuesday, the team announced.

www.tsn.ca

Well there goes $3.3MM

31 years old, bottom 6 player, closer to a 4th liner to be honest and is rewarded with a 6 year deal!!! Wow unbelievable. Call me crazy, but as a GM, this is why I have professional scouts working for me and if I can't find this type of player internally, I'm sure to have 5-6 targets come July 1st that shouldn't cost more than 1 miliion per year!!