Salary Cap: Dr Dubas Cap Thread: He wants the Nurse

[SomeDude]

Is SNP even still the Pens network? Isn’t that owned by FSG?

Was hoping for a more competent replacement.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Is SNP even still the Pens network? Isn’t that owned by FSG?

Was hoping for a more competent replacement.

Yes. The announcement of the sale specifically referenced FSG maintaining a minority share in order to help run SNP.

"FSG, which acquired a controlling interest in the Penguins in 2021, will remain a minority shareholder for a period of time and continue supporting key business areas, including sponsorship sales and regional sports network management, as part of a phased transition."

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Two.

Hoodat

 

[Peat]

Korczak for Rackell is probably a fair trade.

Yeah. That would be an interesting conversation. It's the sort of thing Dubas has talked about.

That said... lets say Korczak is equal to where Spence was when he was traded to Ottawa last season, which is actually a tad generous as Spence played more minutes the night before, had more NHL games, was younger, put up more points... but Korczak is bigger, and bottom pairing RD in the first half of their 20s is bottom pairing RD in the first half of their 20s.

He was a 3rd and a 6th.

Lets say Rakell is worth the same he was when we traded for him. He's older and a little bit more expensive, but his point scoring since being here craps all over his scoring in Anaheim in the three years before we got him so maybe I'm being a little bearish, and a top 6 wing for two playoffs is a top 6 wing for two playoffs.

He was a 2nd and a 3rd round prospect who'd been tracking well. ZAR and Simon pretty much nothing either way in that trade.

The numbers don't add up.

Rakell + 6th for Korczak + 2nd? I dunno if Vegas fans would like that (in fact given that some of them expect Korczak to step up to the top 4 in Andersson's place and they've got a fairly set roster and need to shed cap, I'd expect them to hate it), but it sounds fair based on historic values and I feel like you could get something like that from someone and should aim to.

 

[thevelvetfog]

Then he played so poorly in the finals that he got healthy scratched. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they were getting a bit of cold feet regarding his extension.

Kolczak's first game in the finals was the last game where he played just under 14 minutes. He is a 25 year old who had good underlying numbers all season and there will be a different coach next year, so I wouldn't read too much into what Torts did. If nothing else, they'll use him as 3RD. I'd say the chances of Vegas moving him are less than 5%, and that's being generous.

 

[Peat]

Kolczak's first game in the finals was the last game where he played just under 14 minutes. He is a 25 year old who had good underlying numbers all season and there will be a different coach next year, so I wouldn't read too much into what Torts did. If nothing else, they'll use him as 3RD. I'd say the chances of Vegas moving him are less than 5%, and that's being generous.

13.4m cap space for next year with 14/23 players signed and Dorofyev as an expensive RFA to be signed. There's gonna be plenty of exits. Would be easy for them to decide that 3.25m is a luxury too far on the bottom line.

 

[thevelvetfog]

I'd much rather go for McTavish than most of the ideas I see. At least that would be trying to get a young center.

A center who is horrid at defense and under 50% from the dot? No thanks.

 

[SEALBound]

She was not cut out for the job, especially when she anchored intermissions and pre/post game shows. She spoke way too fast.

Even good broadcasters get fired. Maybe she'll learn and land on her feet.

She was okay. I didn't mind her. I feel kind bad for her but only because I see some of the garbage ex-players they bring to do analysis during the intermission that just flat out f***ing awful.

She's not Leah Hextall bad.

 

[thevelvetfog]

13.4m cap space for next year with 14/23 players signed and Dorofyev as an expensive RFA to be signed. There's gonna be plenty of exits. Would be easy for them to decide that 3.25m is a luxury too far on the bottom line.

I don't think they move out a 25 year old righty D that has been playing well and to whom they just gave a new 4 year contract at a good rate for a potential $2M in cap savings by replacing him with some rando for the 3rd pairing on a Cup team.

There are much better ways to cut salary to get under the cap. Pietrangelo probably LTIRetires, so they likely won't need to worry about his $9M contract. Then you just move out either Hertl or Karlsson and that's $6-7M right there. Both are are a downward age trajectory and have injury issues. 36 year old Nic Dowd is another guy who makes $3M and he isn't that good anymore. You could replace him with a $1M rando defensive 4C and the difference would be negligible, so that would be the same $2M difference by getting rid of Kolczak..

 

[eXile3]

Hoodat

Staal and Svechnikov.

 

[SEALBound]

Rakell + 6th for Korczak + 2nd? I dunno if Vegas fans would like that (in fact given that some of them expect Korczak to step up to the top 4 in Andersson's place and they've got a fairly set roster and need to shed cap, I'd expect them to hate it), but it sounds fair based on historic values and I feel like you could get something like that from someone and should aim to.

That's probably fair value but the idea behind Vegas trading Korczak is to gain cap space to resign Dorofeyev and fill out their roster.

I'm honestly not sure if Korczak alone is enough though. They might have to move Karlsson as well.

 

[thevelvetfog]

Should just keep him. The return is gonna suck anyways. Let him mentor whatever young dmen we acquire between now until he retires/wants out.

I think EK would teach a young dman bad habits and/or cause him to become shellshocked having to cover for EK so much. Trade him for anything, even with retention, by the TDL, or Dubas is failing the mission.

 

[thevelvetfog]

I feel like most of us are on board with trading Rakell. Opinions vary wildly about what is an acceptable return.

Another difference of opinion is some people will trade guys for whatever they can get, while others will only do it if they can get a worthwhile return.

I feel like a lot of the proposals here are reverse Jim Rutherford where we overpay for mediocre younger assets just to say we're getting younger. Rakell at half retained to get a mid 20s D that may or may not be a top 4? Sure. Add in Meier. Why?

Are you talking about Kolczak? And who is Meier? Timo?

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm a bit conflicted with what to do with their defense, because there are more guys available who I like on RD than LD but they really need a LD more than a RD. As an example, I'd be very happy to trade one of the Penguins 2nds for Spence to push Letang to a 3rd pair role, but who's playing LD with Spence and Letang? You don't have an ideal guy for either of them and you spent a 2nd on trading for Spence already. Are you better off making that swap for Zellweger instead? He doesn't fit with Letang either but he's a LD at least.

The one thing I'd say about acquiring a better RD to push Letang to the 3rd pair is that I'd be pretty comfortable going into next year with Pickering-Letang as the 3rd pair, or at least letting Solovyov and Pickering battle it out for the LD spot with Letang on the 3rd pair. You need a legit 2nd pair to do that, but I'd be totally fine with that if they could acquire that 2nd pair. Spence could be one of those guys but you need a legit top-4 LD to pair with him, and it's certainly not Girard.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I'm a bit conflicted with what to do with their defense, because there are more guys available who I like on RD than LD but they really need a LD more than a RD. As an example, I'd be very happy to trade one of the Penguins 2nds for Spence to push Letang to a 3rd pair role, but who's playing LD with Spence and Letang? You don't have an ideal guy for either of them and you spent a 2nd on trading for Spence already. Are you better off making that swap for Zellweger instead? He doesn't fit with Letang either but he's a LD at least.

The one thing I'd say about acquiring a better RD to push Letang to the 3rd pair is that I'd be pretty comfortable going into next year with Pickering-Letang as the 3rd pair, or at least letting Solovyov and Pickering battle it out for the LD spot with Letang on the 3rd pair. You need a legit 2nd pair to do that, but I'd be totally fine with that if they could acquire that 2nd pair. Spence could be one of those guys but you need a legit top-4 LD to pair with him, and it's certainly not Girard.

Ian Cole, Jeremy Lauzon aren't TERRIBLE options.


I still like Kolyachonok though.

 

[Koivunsons]

Ian Cole, Jeremy Lauzon aren't TERRIBLE options.


I still like Kolyachonok though.

Jeremy Lauzon is a terrible option given the contract he's gonna get.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah EP is gonna be a cap dump

Ian Cole, Jeremy Lauzon aren't TERRIBLE options.


I still like Kolyachonok though.

I think Lauzon would be more of a 3LD target rather than a 2LD signing. I'd be happy with signing him, I like him from the bit of research I've done, but he's more of a good option for the 3rd pair than anything else.

I really think they have to dip into the trade market to get that 2LD. I've mentioned Siegenthaler a couple of times but he's going to likely cost Rakell to acquire.

 

[Koivunsons]

I'm a bit conflicted with what to do with their defense, because there are more guys available who I like on RD than LD but they really need a LD more than a RD. As an example, I'd be very happy to trade one of the Penguins 2nds for Spence to push Letang to a 3rd pair role, but who's playing LD with Spence and Letang? You don't have an ideal guy for either of them and you spent a 2nd on trading for Spence already. Are you better off making that swap for Zellweger instead? He doesn't fit with Letang either but he's a LD at least.

The one thing I'd say about acquiring a better RD to push Letang to the 3rd pair is that I'd be pretty comfortable going into next year with Pickering-Letang as the 3rd pair, or at least letting Solovyov and Pickering battle it out for the LD spot with Letang on the 3rd pair. You need a legit 2nd pair to do that, but I'd be totally fine with that if they could acquire that 2nd pair. Spence could be one of those guys but you need a legit top-4 LD to pair with him, and it's certainly not Girard.

We still got 9 options on the Pixiesfanyo D list:

D:
Michael Kesselring
Ethan Del Maestro
Kevin Korchinski
Maveric Lamoureux
Jayden Struble
Lian Bischel
Kaedan Korczak
Owen Zellweger
Mason Lohrei
Ryker Evans

The forward list is still cooking.

F:
Connor Geekie
Connor Zary
Nils Hoglander
Zachary L'Heureux
Bradly Nadeau
Emil Hemming
Braeden Bowman
Mackie Samoskevich
Ryan Winterton
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård

 

[Empoleon8771]

We still got 9 options on the Pixiesfanyo D list:

D:
Michael Kesselring
Ethan Del Maestro
Kevin Korchinski
Maveric Lamoureux
Jayden Struble
Lian Bischel
Kaedan Korczak
Owen Zellweger
Mason Lohrei
Ryker Evans

The forward list is still cooking.

F:
Connor Geekie
Connor Zary
Nils Hoglander
Zachary L'Heureux
Bradly Nadeau
Emil Hemming
Braeden Bowman
Mackie Samoskevich
Ryan Winterton
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård

I was more talking about specifically LD to play with Letang (or Spence in this case). Bischel and Struble both fit that but that's about it from your list. Maybe Evans too but I've heard mixed things from Seattle fans.

Not to say I'd say no to necessarily any of those guys (I don't think Lohrei is a good fit whatsoever though), but I'm more talking specifically about LD DFD you'd be comfortable playing in a 2nd pair role next year. I think Bischel and Struble are the only guys where you could see that.

 

[Koivunsons]

I was more talking about specifically LD to play with Letang (or Spence in this case). Bischel and Struble both fit that but that's about it from your list. Maybe Evans too but I've heard mixed things from Seattle fans.

Not to say I'd say no to necessarily any of those guys (I don't think Lohrei is a good fit whatsoever though), but I'm more talking specifically about LD DFD you'd be comfortable playing in a 2nd pair role next year. I think Bischel and Struble are the only guys where you could see that.

I don't really care about bringing in pieces that are fits for next year. The D is likely getting blown to smithereens at some point over the next year or two.

It's the same concept as a center with term. We need these pieces long term to insulate the youth.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't really care about bringing in pieces that are fits for next year. The D is likely getting blown to smithereens at some point over the next year or two.

It's the same concept as a center with term. We need these pieces long term to insulate the youth.

Fair but I think you know you'll need to get a good DFD to pair with Brunicke, so I wouldn't mind prioritizing getting a guy like that to hopefully lock in your 2nd pair long-term. Being able to pull off a guy like Guhle to set up your 2nd pair to be Guhle-Brunicke for the next decade would be really nice to accomplish.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I would love Bischel but why would he be available?

ZL'H and/or MBN, yes please.

 

[Peat]

I don't think they move out a 25 year old righty D that has been playing well and to whom they just gave a new 4 year contract at a good rate for a potential $2M in cap savings by replacing him with some rando for the 3rd pairing on a Cup team.

There are much better ways to cut salary to get under the cap. Pietrangelo probably LTIRetires, so they likely won't need to worry about his $9M contract. Then you just move out either Hertl or Karlsson and that's $6-7M right there. Both are are a downward age trajectory and have injury issues. 36 year old Nic Dowd is another guy who makes $3M and he isn't that good anymore. You could replace him with a $1M rando defensive 4C and the difference would be negligible, so that would be the same $2M difference by getting rid of Kolczak..

I already removed Pietrangelo from that. It's gonna be tough sledding. I'd imagine they'd like to try and find a RD to replace him too - either bring back Andersson, or someone else - so the total could keep getting smaller.

It doesn't look that far fetched to me. Don't know how much the front office agreed with him getting HSed and only playing 14 minutes in the final game of the playoffs but if they did, that's not great value for the money. He's got potential trade value.

In fact, now I think about it, I think the best asset on the Pens for getting him if we really want him might be McGroarty. NHL ready guy to give them depth cheap and has a decent possible ceiling. Don't know how people feel about that idea.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

She was okay. I didn't mind her. I feel kind bad for her but only because I see some of the garbage ex-players they bring to do analysis during the intermission that just flat out f***ing awful.

She's not Leah Hextall bad.

Compared to others that have done Penguins games, she was pretty poor. Potash is weird, but from a technical standpoint and delivery, he's solid. Rob King was always good. Trenni Kusnierik, going back some years, was good. And Hannah Mears, who does Pirates games, is definitely better than Hailey.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I don't really care about bringing in pieces that are fits for next year. The D is likely getting blown to smithereens at some point over the next year or two.

It's the same concept as a center with term. We need these pieces long term to insulate the youth.

I was more talking about specifically LD to play with Letang (or Spence in this case). Bischel and Struble both fit that but that's about it from your list. Maybe Evans too but I've heard mixed things from Seattle fans.

Not to say I'd say no to necessarily any of those guys (I don't think Lohrei is a good fit whatsoever though), but I'm more talking specifically about LD DFD you'd be comfortable playing in a 2nd pair role next year. I think Bischel and Struble are the only guys where you could see that.

FYI, gents, this is why I was proposing playing Letang on his off side. It's not a great option, but if you're struggling to find a good fit at LD, I'd rather make the 38 year old uncomfortable for a season or so than move someone else, not acquire a good fit, or stunt Brunicke's growth.