Salary Cap: Pens 2024 Summer Thread: "Thus, knocking us out of these superior numbers when we emerge! Mr. President, we must not allow a non-playoff bound gap!"

[Empoleon8771]

That's fair. Ottawa fans like Joseph last year because he broke out a bit more as the season moved on. He was considered a cap dump to start the year but then became a valuable player for them. But you're right, that style is well suited for the top 6. My only thought is that Bergs put up 28pts in 67gp last year and 6 in 12 this year so a 40pt which outpaces Joseph's career average.

I worry that if you add Joseph, are we adding roster players without adding legit offensive production? Joseph seems like a slightly older DOC. So if Bergs is Puustinen, which might be fair, which one does the team need more of at the moment?

I mean, Joseph had 35 points last year. You're realistically not getting much better than that for $2.9 million.

The bottom-6 I want them to stick with next year involves them keeping Smith and running with (at least by the mid-point next year):

O'Connor-Ponomarev-Smith
Joseph-Eller-Puustinen

That should yield good bottom-6 production from that group of players. There wouldn't be any top producers in that group (outside of maybe Smith if he has a good year), but it's 5 guys that should be good for 30 points next year and a good prospect in Ponomarev.

 

[Ulf5]

Sidney Crosby addresses future with Penguins, plans to discuss contract extension

Crosby is currently only signed through the 2024-25 season

www.cbssports.com

"Obviously, I'm going to talk to [general manager Kyle Dubas] and have a conversation with him," Crosby said. "We'll see. I think it's just something that I'll have conversations with him about."

"It's disappointing, especially with the way we finished the year. We were playing good hockey," Crosby said. "You look, when you miss by a margin that we've had the last couple years, there's so many games that you look at plays and things you want to redo. It's a fine line. Unfortunately, we've been on the wrong side of that the last couple years."

I'm not saying Sid is saying he won't sign, but I think people are taking Rossi's words and twisting them.



I think if the sign Pesce that's a really bad move tbh.

I don't read anything rossi or yohe related.
I've read that same article on 2 or 3 sites and I think Crosby is mostly talking about how much longer he's going to play, not whether it's going to be with the Pens or not. We'll know shortly.
There's a few more quotes in Wes Crosby's version. That just seems it's Sid's frustration coming through.
However, no one could/should blame him if he decided to leave for a more competitive environment.

 

[Maninthebox87]

Five free agents Penguins should consider signing

A look at a group of 20-somethings on the market who would make the Penguins better and younger.

www.nytimes.com

Debrusk
Domi
Joshua
Bertuzzi

Debrusk and Bertuzzi I’d be interested in if we could get out of Rakell and Smiths contracts just for a different look…

Joshua I’d like to see but I think he’s gonna get a stupid crazy contract this offseason that 2 years from now a team will be trying to buyout

Domi Ive personally always had a soft spot for and wanted on the Pens for a long time and for non hockey related reasons… like Domi I’m also a type 1 diabetic.

Guentzel I think if it was gonna happen he would have never left or be flirting with free agency.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Well we know he's definitely going to play through 2026 for the Olympics. Anyone's guess as to what happens after that.

 

[Andy99]

I actually like DeBrusk’s fit if the price isn’t asinine. Brings size, speed, energy and ability through the NZ. Problem is the scoring is inconsistent and the scoring talent isn’t much better than a Rakell, Smith, Bunting. More of the same in that category.

But I do think the Pens could benefit from an athlete like him up front. Type of player that could take a little pressure off of your Cs.

The price will be asinine….these are NHL GMs with a large cap increase at their disposal lol…

 

[Tom Hanks]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805309176014352821

 

[Turin]

Debrusk is a fine 3rd liner who can move up sometimes.

Domi, not a fan.

Bertuzzi, fan for the right price.

Joshua, gonna get overpaid and is just a bottom six player

 

[Maninthebox87]

I never thought John Marino was bad here by any means and that’s looking like a turd of a trade now with Smith not even here any longer and only able to secure a 1 year 2 way contract next season with Carolina.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Usually I would say anything Yohe reports is garbage but that list is so underwhelming and utterly devoid of any excitement that it's probably an accurate representation of what the team is targeting.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Debrusk is a fine 3rd liner who can move up sometimes.

Domi, not a fan.

Bertuzzi, fan for the right price.

Joshua, gonna get overpaid and is just a bottom six player

Debrusk is a top 6 player. Lower end but he isn't a 3rd liner.

Domi will be with the Leafs for sure.

Bertuzzi I think it's more about term
I think the price of 5 to 6 is locked in unless a team spends more.

I agree on avoiding Joshua. We don't have the cap.

 

[Darren McCord]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805309176014352821

Marino for Pesce's rights would be a good move for carolina.

 

[Maninthebox87]

the only thing regarding Dakota Joshua to me though that makes me take a second thought is whenever the Penguins signed Brandon Tanev to that long deal I thought to myself oh great we’ll get a year or two out of him and he’ll be damaged goods… I can say personally I would have liked to have Brandon Tanev on our team since he got taken in the expansion draft. Not saying he’s the same player or anything but just makes me want to give it a second glance.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I liked Tanev because I could see what kind of player he COULD be for the Penguins. But he was kinda mid here then bounced back once he moved on to Seattle in the ED. Shocker. Wonder why.

 

[Maninthebox87]

Usually I would say anything Yohe reports is garbage but that list is so underwhelming and utterly devoid of any excitement that it's probably an accurate representation of what the team is targeting.

The only thing I ever remember him ever breaking was when the Penguins acquired Riley Sheahan. Pittsburgh has some really bad insiders and writers these days. I usually just wait and see what the Canadian media has to say about the Pens.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The only thing I ever remember him ever breaking was when the Penguins acquired Riley Sheahan. Pittsburgh has some really bad insiders and writers these days. I usually just wait and see what the Canadian media has to say about the Pens.

Wouldn't it be kinda awesome if you got paid just to make up a bunch of fan fiction and never do any real work or be expected to produce any tangible results for years at a time?

 

[Empoleon8771]

I liked Tanev because I could see what kind of player he COULD be for the Penguins. But he was kinda mid here then bounced back once he moved on to Seattle in the ED. Shocker. Wonder why.

Tanev was basically the same player in his first 2 years with Seattle as he was in his 2 years for the Penguins. Not really sure where this idea that he "bounced back" is coming from.

Tanev was good for the Penguins. 6 year contract at $3.5 million a year good? Not really, but he was good for the team.

The only thing I ever remember him ever breaking was when the Penguins acquired Riley Sheahan. Pittsburgh has some really bad insiders and writers these days. I usually just wait and see what the Canadian media has to say about the Pens.

I actually don't think that was Yohe who broke that, I think it was Mackey with the PG when he was the Penguins beat guy for them.

 

[Maninthebox87]

Wouldn't it be kinda awesome if you got paid just to make up a bunch of fan fiction and never do any real work or be expected to produce any tangible results for years at a time?

If I remember correctly Rutherford had an interview on 93.7 the fan where he literally said that the local media could talk to him 24/7 to get correct facts for their stories. With that kind of availability and willingness to talk and that being the only breaking story says a lot.

I actually don't think that was Yohe who broke that, I think it was Mackey with the PG when he was the Penguins beat guy for them.

I could be mistaken but I thought for sure it was Yohe… Mackey makes more sense he seems to make sure he gets a few sources before he reports anything.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Tanev was basically the same player in his first 2 years with Seattle as he was in his 2 years for the Penguins. Not really sure where this idea that he "bounced back" is coming from.

Sure seemed to me that he was the target of a lot of complaints, here. He was OK but didn't seem to stand out much. He looked a lot more engaged in Seattle from the times I remember watching him there. Kind of another example of a player that just didn't completely fit here for one reason or another. Hardly important now, I suppose.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Sure seemed to me that he was the target of a lot of complaints, here. He was OK but didn't seem to stand out much. He looked a lot more engaged in Seattle from the times I remember watching him there. Kind of another example of a player that just didn't completely fit here for one reason or another. Hardly important now, I suppose.

I think it was mostly based on the fact that JR gave him an eye-gauging contract more than anything

 

[Gurglesons]

Sure seemed to me that he was the target of a lot of complaints, here. He was OK but didn't seem to stand out much. He looked a lot more engaged in Seattle from the times I remember watching him there. Kind of another example of a player that just didn't completely fit here for one reason or another. Hardly important now, I suppose.

Woah dude. Don't be freaking out. Empo is worried about my cholesterol. No need to go on a hissy fit about Tanev.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think it was mostly based on the fact that JR gave him an eye-gauging contract more than anything

One would think we'd have been used to it at that point lol

 

[Empoleon8771]

I could be mistaken but I thought for sure it was Yohe… Mackey makes more sense he seems to make sure he gets a few sources before he reports anything.

Yeah I have absolutely no clue why I remember this, but I specifically remember Mackey mentioning a few weeks before the Sheahan deal that Sheahan and Domi were the 2 main guys that the Penguins were going after for the 3C role.

 

[Maninthebox87]

Yeah I only brought up Tanev as an example because when that contract was first signed I thought to myself ooomph that’s not gonna age well yet here he is coming up on his last year playing alright to that contract where I wouldn’t hate if we still had him.

Yeah I have absolutely no clue why I remember this, but I specifically remember Mackey mentioning a few weeks before the Sheahan deal that Sheahan and Domi were the 2 main guys that the Penguins were going after for the 3C role.

Domi back in 2017 would have been great I remember seeing rumors that we offered Bryan Rust and Arizona balked and wanted Jake Guentzel.

 

[SEALBound]

I mean, Joseph had 35 points last year. You're realistically not getting much better than that for $2.9 million.

The bottom-6 I want them to stick with next year involves them keeping Smith and running with (at least by the mid-point next year):

O'Connor-Ponomarev-Smith
Joseph-Eller-Puustinen

That should yield good bottom-6 production from that group of players. There wouldn't be any top producers in that group (outside of maybe Smith if he has a good year), but it's 5 guys that should be good for 30 points next year and a good prospect in Ponomarev.

I'm with you here. Not sure Sullivan is though. I think they like Eller and Acciari at 3C and 4C, much to my chagrin. I think DOC-Eller-Joseph is a decent 3rd line though. And you're right, 35pts for $3mil is good but that was also with quite a bit of 2LW time. I expect the 20pt Joseph if he goes with Eller and DOC/Puustinen/etc. That's why I'm wonder if a more offensive potential player is the better route. Again, would we rather add another DOC or Puustinen. I can see it both ways honestly.

 

[Ulf5]

Debrusk is a top 6 player. Lower end but he isn't a 3rd liner.

He's on par with Rakell. Slightly higher career goal per game average (which he maintains in the playoffs), slightly lower assists per game average. Regardless, do we need another inconsistent, streaky winger?