Salary Cap: Penguins Salary Cap Thread: We suck again summer edition

[gdsmack267]

Puustinen isn’t playing here and you know it.

Not if Sullivan's coach. Every year he turns more into the old man yelling at kids in his neighborhood

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Puustinen isn’t playing here and you know it.

I think if we bring in a good GM that is high on him, that changes the conversations the GM and coach have.

We're likely to have much more man-games lost next year up front. With Hallander gone and Nylander likely becoming a regular imo (Sully liked his 2-way game a lot), who's next in line for call-ups?

I'm not even ruling out Puustinen in from the jump. We need budget AAVs. Needs to crush training camp though. If he sucks then things are more grim.

 

[SEALBound]

Not if Sullivan's coach. Every year he turns more into the old man yelling at kids in his neighborhood

We will get Josh Archibald and we will like it!

 

[Jacob]

I'm not sure how it's anyone but Hallander's fault that he simply doesn't want to try and make the NHL anymore. Like that's on him. 2 years in the AHL with, like, moderate success isn't going to land you a permanent roster spot on any team. And if he didn't like his chances making the Penguins the other 31 teams would have dibs on him if he doesn't make the team. He's just done, he doesn't wanna do it. That's fine. Not Hextall's fault by any means. He can't read minds.

 

[ColePens]

I don't like the concept of chasing 3C. Realistically I want to see a total change up.

I wouldn't mind seeing Geno w/ Sid and maybe Rakell.
Jake with someone else and something new 2C.
a 3C heavier checking line
4th line of energy.

We have to change things up. We can't have a conversation in 2023 about who can be the new Jordan Staal.

 

[Pancakes]

I don't like the concept of chasing 3C. Realistically I want to see a total change up.

I wouldn't mind seeing Geno w/ Sid and maybe Rakell.
Jake with someone else and something new 2C.
a 3C heavier checking line
4th line of energy.

We have to change things up. We can't have a conversation in 2023 about who can be the new Jordan Staal.

I don't think much has to be done with the top six. Even if Zucker walks it's still pretty loaded.

It's the bottom six that needs attention. That, and top 4 LD.

My dream off season would be signing Orlov and then trading our first plus whatever for Debrincat or Saaros. I throw Debrincat in there as an idea simply because even though our top six is fine, I think he'd make it overwhelmingly good, and that could be great.

But I'm calling it a dream for a reason lol. Prolly aint happening.

 

[Power Surge]

I don't like the concept of chasing 3C. Realistically I want to see a total change up.

I wouldn't mind seeing Geno w/ Sid and maybe Rakell.
Jake with someone else and something new 2C.
a 3C heavier checking line
4th line of energy.

We have to change things up. We can't have a conversation in 2023 about who can be the new Jordan Staal.

I brought up a similar way of thinking last off-season only for it to get shot down.

 

[molon labe]

I don't like the concept of chasing 3C. Realistically I want to see a total change up.

I wouldn't mind seeing Geno w/ Sid and maybe Rakell.
Jake with someone else and something new 2C.
a 3C heavier checking line
4th line of energy.

We have to change things up. We can't have a conversation in 2023 about who can be the new Jordan Staal.

Hellebuyck and Miller and either 4 one million dollar guys at the bottom or you trade Granlund / buy him out and upgrade one of the slots.

But I've been totally on board with Sid/Geno together for a few seasons now. Geno flat out cannot knife through guys at any regularity anymore and Sid could really use a playmaker on his line. They're both 40 goal guys again together no doubt. Then either someone like Miller - if not Miller - as your 2C or your wing to compliment Geno for a season. anything - Sid - Geno sounds pretty amazing and has for a while.

The continued press of having them carry lines at 36! and 37! next year is a little silly. Not doubting them, but give them someone else to come up big.

My point on the 3C earlier was for usage of younger or cheaper guys. Carter isn't it. He just doesn't produce a thing for other skaters. Neither do our horse-blinder callups / Rust. And yeah - the entire system needs changing. Stop trying to chase 2016. You can counter it a lot easier than trying to replicate it.

I don't think much has to be done with the top six. Even if Zucker walks it's still pretty loaded.

It's the bottom six that needs attention. That, and top 4 LD.

My dream off season would be signing Orlov and then trading our first plus whatever for Debrincat or Saaros. I throw Debrincat in there as an idea simply because even though our top six is fine, I think he'd make it overwhelmingly good, and that could be great.

But I'm calling it a dream for a reason lol. Prolly aint happening.

If you don't like our guys getting pushed around the umbrella in tight games or the playoffs - boy do I have a surprise for you for the smaller and worse Jake Guentzel - DeBrincat.

Dude was lightning in a bottle in Chicago with Kane. He's exactly what this team does NOT need right now imo.

 

[Turin]

If you don't like our guys getting pushed around the umbrella in tight games or the playoffs - boy do I have a surprise for you for the smaller and worse Jake Guentzel - DeBrincat.

Dude was lightning in a bottle in Chicago with Kane. He's exactly what this team does NOT need right now imo.

A right hand shot sniper who can finish and play on the PP instead of Rust is EXACTLY the kind of piece the Pens should be looking at, actually - if the price is reasonable. It would take more moves though to get the exact right fit.


Anyways, with a Jets firesale the Pens should look into Hellebuyck, Ehlers, Scheifele.

 

[eXile3]

Yeah I give zero craps about losing Hallander. 4th liner completely replaceable by AHL fodder.

 

[Pancakes]

If you don't like our guys getting pushed around the umbrella in tight games or the playoffs - boy do I have a surprise for you for the smaller and worse Jake Guentzel - DeBrincat.

Dude was lightning in a bottle in Chicago with Kane. He's exactly what this team does NOT need right now imo.

Guentzel has been largely great in the playoffs. Concerns about size there are overblown imo. What Debrincat brings and what we have struggled mightily with in the past two seasons is finishing.

Also, my overall plan if we added him would still involve beefing up our bottom six with guys who can forecheck.

But regardless my first call as GM of the Penguins would be to Nashville. I'd ask if Saaros is off limits, and if he's not, what's the cost there. Debrincat is more of a plan B.

 

[Jacob]

‘Nother cheap 3rd line option is Connor Brown. Missed the entire year with an ACL tear. Probably comes in under $3.5m and maybe only 1 year.

 

[canadianguy77]

Yeah I give zero craps about losing Hallander. 4th liner completely replaceable by AHL fodder.

It's terrible asset management. We basically gave away a 40 goal scorer on the right side of 30 for nothing.

 

[Jacob]

It's terrible asset management. We basically gave away a 40 goal scorer on the right side of 30 for nothing.

How is Hallander choosing to leave the front office’s fault? He doesn’t want to play in the NHL.

 

[canadianguy77]

How is Hallander choosing to leave the front office’s fault? He doesn’t want to play in the NHL.

A lot of people think that Hextall just has bad luck. I think he makes poor decisions and has bad luck.

 

[edog37]

So make it a new core. This core + Kessel was a new core.

This core + Saaros? This core + Debrincat? You never know. We're not a three man team any more. That's our new reality. Hell, that was our reality even when we won the b2b cups. It took Murry and Fleury. It took Guentzel. It took Phil. It wasn't just the big three.

That core was still in its prime, not in its mid 30s. It’s not plug & play

 

[edog37]

It should easily still be a playoff team. I’m pretty sure FSG cares about those extra games of revenue seeing as they just paid a billion dollar evaluation for a depreciating asset.

Why should it “easily be a playoff team” given the division we are in? The other teams didn’t just stand pat the past few years. They drafted their current rosters & hired competent management. You didn’t think they would stay stupid forever?

 

[edog37]

@edog37

The old core aren't leaving for a few more years. Go pick up fishing instead. You'll just get mad at this winding down process.

I’m not mad at the inevitable, I’m just wanting the team to begin rebuilding.

 

[Pancakes]

That core was still in its prime, not in its mid 30s. It’s not plug & play

Detroit won with 38 year old Lidstrom or w/e. Granted, they did have prime Datsyuk and Zetterberg at the time.

I don't think it's impossible for us to win again with this core, but it's going to require three things:

1) The core maintains a decently high level of play for the next few years

2) Sullivan gets his head out of his ass or gets replaced

3) the new GM hits some homeruns with depth/goaltending moves


A lot has to go right.

That said, not much has to go right to make the playoffs. I think the bar to just get in is a lot lower and doesn't require a genius GM to achieve.

 

[edog37]

2018-2023 also happened

So be glad the Cup years happened. Do you know how many other fan bases have had this level of success? These are golden years compared to the pre-Lemieux era.

 

[canadianguy77]

That core was still in its prime, not in its mid 30s. It’s not plug & play

I don't think the core is the problem. At least not production-wise. Well, Letang maybe is part of the problem.

But you look at the Bruins and Marchand and Bergeron are roughly the same age as Sid and Geno. Their cap this season with Pasta is about the same as Sid and Geno's cap hit not even including Letang. That's definitely a problem. But I don't know how anyone can remedy that though. It's not like our core is vastly overpaid or anything like that. We just need them to rip up their contracts and sign for like 2 million fewer dollars each. If a couple of other players joined in and did the same thing, that would be great too.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Reading into it, it seems like he wanted a better family situation. Good for him. I guess he can still come back to the NHL in 5 years if he's a good player at that point.

I didn't see that he has any out clause in his contract so I guess that would be the earliest.

Which site are you reading this on? I only did a quick Google hours ago.

I brought up a similar way of thinking last off-season only for it to get shot down.

Yeah but Cole said it this time round.

 

[molon labe]

I'm not sure how it's anyone but Hallander's fault that he simply doesn't want to try and make the NHL anymore. Like that's on him. 2 years in the AHL with, like, moderate success isn't going to land you a permanent roster spot on any team. And if he didn't like his chances making the Penguins the other 31 teams would have dibs on him if he doesn't make the team. He's just done, he doesn't wanna do it. That's fine. Not Hextall's fault by any means. He can't read minds.

Sounds like he wants to be with family. Is married with a 1 year old. He returned to his former club - in Sweden. Reading quotes from his younger days about NHL hunger is misleading when you also read about his young family.

By all accounts seems like a smart dude. 23 years old and doesn't want to put in the grind at this point to crack a bottom 6 role (MAYBE) - instead can live in a place like Sweden, play pro, and provide for his family. Idk sounds pretty smart to me. If he was 18 or 19 things might be different.

 

[Pancakes]

Which site are you reading this on? I only did a quick Google years ago.

About Hallander? Taylor mentioned something about it in her article on Dk's site.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Should Hallander have played more in the NHL this year? Yeah, but him quitting on making the NHL to go back to Finland isn’t the Penguins fault.

If it’s a family decision, I respect it entirely but will still say I think it’s a bizarre decision. If he rage quit because he wasn’t getting NHL minutes at age 21-22 while he also wasn’t doing anything special in the AHL, he’s just a baby.