Salary Cap: Pens '23-'24 Salary Cap Thread: "But if you don't get the President of the Pittsburgh Penguins on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you?"

[BusinessGoose]

Graves is becoming a serious issue

He has no business playing 20mins a night

I don't think he's even a top 5 issue on the team though

 

[vikingGoalie]

awesome we are stuck with Jarry for the foreseeable future. He was awesome against colorado, and then reverted to comically bad for the next game. I'm so done with this goalie and I've been saying for YEARS he's a major reason we are so inconsistent and look like ass.

Lest we all forget, even in 2016 when we were a juggernaut we had a good number of games where we had a korpisalo performance in the first period and then we found our legs and crushed the other team.

We need Jarry off this team, give me consistent above average goal tending instead of this roller coaster of elite and trash. At this point Jarry is what he is, I fully expect his usual December hot streak where we all will thump our chests as we crank out wins, followed by Jarry unable to stop a beach ball come march. It's almost like we've seen this movie before...

 

[BobCole]

awesome we are stuck with Jarry for the foreseeable future. He was awesome against colorado, and then reverted to comically bad for the next game. I'm so done with this goalie and I've been saying for YEARS he's a major reason we are so inconsistent and look like ass.

Lest we all forget, even in 2016 when we were a juggernaut we had a good number of games where we had a korpisalo performance in the first period and then we found our legs and crushed the other team.

We need Jarry off this team, give me consistent above average goal tending instead of this roller coaster of elite and trash. At this point Jarry is what he is, I fully expect his usual December hot streak where we all will thump our chests as we crank out wins, followed by Jarry unable to stop a beach ball come march. It's almost like we've seen this movie before...

How many goalies in the league are consistent night after night? 4? 5? I'm not defending Jarry, I'm just saying that the 2020s aren't a golden age of goalies and most fanbases are disgruntled with their goaltending situation, too.

 

[Pancakes]

Forget Jarry for a minute. How is it that Dubas has me pining for Kasperi Kapanen, Brock McGinn, and Danton Heinen?

What even is this abomination of a bottom six lol.

I'm not a Dubas hater. I liked his moves. It's just tragic how it has played out on the ice so far.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Forget Jarry for a minute. How is it that Dubas has me pining for Kasperi Kapanen, Brock McGinn, and Danton Heinen?

What even is this abomination of a bottom six lol.

I'm not a Dubas hater. I liked his moves. It's just tragic how it has played out on the ice so far.

The bottom-6 so far this year has been much better than it was last year though.

Without Crosby and Malkin on the ice, the Penguins have a 4-4 goal differential and a 52.14 xGF% this year. Last year, they had a 49-71 goal differential and a 49.88% xGF%.

The bottom-6 is doing what it's supposed to be doing, it's breaking even on the scoreboard while eating shit defensive minutes and chipping in a few goals here and there.

 

[Empoleon8771]

In terms of specific numbers, here is how Eller (3rd line) and Carter (4th line) have done so far on the year:

-Eller: 91:06 TOI, 4-3 goal differential, 54.62% xGF%
-Carter: 74:37 TOI, 0-1 goal differential, 50.79% xGF%

I picked those two just because both of those guys have only been on the 3rd line and 4th line on the year, so I think they make sense to show how those two lines have done. I think you can definitely criticize the 4th line for not having a single goal so far, but they're also not getting scored on whatsoever. I think the 3rd line has been good on the year and has been very good since Zohorna was called up.

Honestly, it's jarring how major of an impact swapping Harkins for Zohorna has had on that 3rd line. It's a difference that shouldn't be coming with the quality of players being swapped:

3rd line with Zohorna: 2-1 goal differential, 66.76% xGF%, 69.77% SF%
3rd line without Harkins: 0-1 goal differential, 34.92% xGF%, 34.78% SF%

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Forget Jarry for a minute. How is it that Dubas has me pining for Kasperi Kapanen, Brock McGinn, and Danton Heinen?

What even is this abomination of a bottom six lol.

I'm not a Dubas hater. I liked his moves. It's just tragic how it has played out on the ice so far.

Heinen gave us bottom-six production relative to playing time that you'd be happy with on a contender.
No idea why he's not signed, but GMs are wrong to pass on him at league minimum.

 

[Ulf5]

Heinen gave us bottom-six production relative to playing time that you'd be happy with on a contender.
No idea why he's not signed, but GMs are wrong to pass on him at league minimum.

SJ has 8 goals in 8 games. They sure could use a 10 goal scorer.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Forget Jarry for a minute. How is it that Dubas has me pining for Kasperi Kapanen, Brock McGinn, and Danton Heinen?

What even is this abomination of a bottom six lol.

I'm not a Dubas hater. I liked his moves. It's just tragic how it has played out on the ice so far.

I don't even think McGinn or Heinen are playing this season, and Kap's just as much of a ghost for the Blues as he was in like 75% of the games he played as a Penguin.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I don't even think McGinn or Heinen are playing this season, and Kap's just as much of a ghost for the Blues as he was in like 75% of the games he played as a Penguin.

Except for the one he played against the Penguins where he suddenly looked like prime Bure. Because of course he did.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Except for the one he played against the Penguins where he suddenly looked like prime Bure. Because of course he did.

That's money in the bank, baybeeeeee.

Though, he embarrassed Shea. Kap always looked good against AHLers in pre-seasons past.

 

[Ulf5]

Except for the one he played against the Penguins where he suddenly looked like prime Bure. Because of course he did.

Points in 2 of his 7 games lol. Regressed back to .43 points per game so far this season after hitting his 2nd highest total of .61 after getting to St. Louis last season.

 

[Malkinstheman]

The whole Kap saga perfectly highlighted everything thats been wrong with the team the last few years lol. First JR makes an awful value trade for a player. Then Sullivan has no f***ing clue what to do with him and was seemingly having problems with him. Then, Hextall is forced to waive Kap because of his bad roster/cap management. There goes the player and the 1st round pick for absolutely no gain.

 

[Fordy]

In terms of specific numbers, here is how Eller (3rd line) and Carter (4th line) have done so far on the year:

-Eller: 91:06 TOI, 4-3 goal differential, 54.62% xGF%
-Carter: 74:37 TOI, 0-1 goal differential, 50.79% xGF%

I picked those two just because both of those guys have only been on the 3rd line and 4th line on the year, so I think they make sense to show how those two lines have done. I think you can definitely criticize the 4th line for not having a single goal so far, but they're also not getting scored on whatsoever. I think the 3rd line has been good on the year and has been very good since Zohorna was called up.

Honestly, it's jarring how major of an impact swapping Harkins for Zohorna has had on that 3rd line. It's a difference that shouldn't be coming with the quality of players being swapped:

3rd line with Zohorna: 2-1 goal differential, 66.76% xGF%, 69.77% SF%
3rd line without Harkins: 0-1 goal differential, 34.92% xGF%, 34.78% SF%

but zohorna is a significantly better player than harkins, and has unique attributes he could never replicate

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The whole Kap saga perfectly highlighted everything thats been wrong with the team the last few years lol. First JR makes an awful value trade for a player. Then Sullivan has no f***ing clue what to do with him and was seemingly having problems with him. Then, Hextall is forced to waive Kap because of his bad roster/cap management. There goes the player and the 1st round pick for absolutely no gain.

Two. Two 1st round picks. The first to draft him, and the second to reacquire him.

 

[Pancakes]

I don't even think McGinn or Heinen are playing this season, and Kap's just as much of a ghost for the Blues as he was in like 75% of the games he played as a Penguin.

Oh yeah of course they all stink I'm just saying it's funny that our bottom six is producing even worse than that bottom six did

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'm still hoping this team craters, and Dubas can fleece some team desperately looking to take the next step toward competing by trading for Jake. Gimme one of them blue chip prospect and a 1st, even if it's like 25th. Anything outside of the top-5 in the draft and quantity is king, imo. With the way this team's teetering on wholesale collapse, like a 7th overall and 25th overall could be a silver lining to a season of drudgery.

Of course you're also sending SJ next season's 1st rounder if you keep this season's, and like others have said, this team's half a decade into a steady and relatively steep downward trajectory, so that pick's not likely to be any easier to give up.

 

[mephisto1812]

Graves is becoming a serious issue

I'm good giving it another 12 or so games before agreeing with this, however I will say that I'm hoping to see an improvement in certain respects soon.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I'm still hoping this team craters, and Dubas can fleece some team desperately looking to take the next step toward competing by trading for Jake. Gimme one of them blue chip prospects and a 1st, even if it's like 25th. Anything outside of the top-5 in the draft and quantity is king, imo. With the way this team's teetering on wholesale collapse, like a 7th overall and 25th overall could be a silver lining to a season of drudgery.

Of course you're also sending SJ next season's 1st rounder if you keep this season's, and like others have said, this team's half a decade into a steady and relatively steep downward trajectory, so that pick's not likely to be any easier to give up.

I think with the way this is heading, your preferred path of blowing it up is becoming the most likely option.

 

[mephisto1812]

In terms of specific numbers, here is how Eller (3rd line) and Carter (4th line) have done so far on the year:

-Eller: 91:06 TOI, 4-3 goal differential, 54.62% xGF%
-Carter: 74:37 TOI, 0-1 goal differential, 50.79% xGF%

I picked those two just because both of those guys have only been on the 3rd line and 4th line on the year, so I think they make sense to show how those two lines have done. I think you can definitely criticize the 4th line for not having a single goal so far, but they're also not getting scored on whatsoever. I think the 3rd line has been good on the year and has been very good since Zohorna was called up.

Honestly, it's jarring how major of an impact swapping Harkins for Zohorna has had on that 3rd line. It's a difference that shouldn't be coming with the quality of players being swapped:

3rd line with Zohorna: 2-1 goal differential, 66.76% xGF%, 69.77% SF%
3rd line without Harkins: 0-1 goal differential, 34.92% xGF%, 34.78% SF%

Now make a Carter swap happen . Well, perhaps it will at some point based on how his minutes are being reduced. But if we could wake up the fourth line, and get Ludvig back to run with Shea on the third pairing.... perhaps things would settle down in some respects.

In a dream land of mine, I would also swap Rust and Rakell, but I know that will never come to pass.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think with the way this is heading, your preferred path of blowing it up is becoming the most likely option.

You think so? I'm just kinda talking shit cuz it's more fun than dissecting this team. For better or worse, I fully expect Jake to get a retirement contract with the Pens and the team to try and push for a playoff spot regardless of how they look at the deadline. They seem intent on burying their head in the sand and making the final years of Sid's career and the following decade as awful as possible.

 

[ChaosAgent]

You think so? I'm just kinda talking shit cuz it's more fun than dissecting this team. For better or worse, I fully expect Jake to get a retirement contract with the Pens and the team to try and push for a playoff spot regardless of how they look at the deadline. They seem intent on burying their head in the sand and making the final years of Sid's career and the following decade as awful as possible.

If they are way out of it and attendance is cratering, they will waive the white flag. No point in further doubling down on this.

 

[Gurglesons]

You think so? I'm just kinda talking shit cuz it's more fun than dissecting this team. For better or worse, I fully expect Jake to get a retirement contract with the Pens and the team to try and push for a playoff spot regardless of how they look at the deadline. They seem intent on burying their head in the sand and making the final years of Sid's career and the following decade as awful as possible.

Even if they want the next few years to be competitive moving Jake for a physical top nine forward with a meh contract, a 1st and an NHL ready prospect is the route to go IMO.

Combine that with a top 10 1st and a new coach and I could see us having a bounce back year next year.

Am I also at the point where I think we likely finish bottom 5 with Sullivan being the coach for most of the season. Dude has been wretched for a calendar year at deployment.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I understand people being reluctant to move on from Jake. He's a top tier complementary player for a contending type team that already has some elite talent in place and wants to add that topper piece. But this team ain't that anymore and he isn't nearly good enough to be a tentpole style player after Sid/Geno retire. Jake Guentzel isn't gonna be the play driver on a top line and he isn't going to put butts in seats.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Even if they want the next few years to be competitive moving Jake for a physical top nine forward with a meh contract, a 1st and an NHL ready prospect is the route to go IMO.

Combine that with a top 10 1st and a new coach and I could see us having a bounce back year next year.

Am I also at the point where I think we likely finish bottom 5 with Sullivan being the coach for most of the season. Dude has been wretched for a calendar year at deployment.

Shit, the dude's been wretched at deployment since 2020. He not only dressed, but played, and played together on a pairing, two absolutely awful blueliners in JJ and Schultz--so much so, and in such important situations, that it torpedoed the team against the Habs as much as any Jarry v. Isles or Domingue v. Rangers stuff in recent years.

If they are way out of it and attendance is cratering, they will waive the white flag. No point in further doubling down on this.

You'd hope, anyway. Never underestimate this team's refusal to accept reality. They love the smell of their own shit wayyyyy too much.