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?"

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Also this will be the first sub .500 October since the Edzo years.

Woof.

 

[cygnus47]

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.

I think that’s fair, but 8 games in he has been a direct cause of a lot of goals…

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

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.

I know the meme is that I'm some dude speaking in tongues about the end being nigh, and wanting to usher in the end days (rebuild), but I have no idea how the f*** anybody can be attached to Jake f***ing Guentzel, man.

Like, Jake circa 2017 and 2018? Sure, absolutely. Dude kicked ass. But the guy currently wearing 59 ain't that guy anymore, imo. Maybe it was the injury, maybe it's coaching, maybe it's a combination, but Jake's existence on the ice anymore depends entirely on whether or not Sid's out for a leisurely skate or if he's firing on all cylinders. And he sure as shit isn't bringing anything away from the puck to make his line better overall with forechecking, play along the boards/corners, or defensive game.

The team's already rough to watch. I don't think removing Jake does much of anything to change that, and I'd rather they try and swing a deal for a boon of futures than to lock into an asinine deal that ensures he's either wholly immovable down the line, or the team ends up with something like Galchekyuk and a 3rd for him.

 

[Gurglesons]

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.

Well, yeah. But I'm trying to give the Sullivan fan club who thinks these things just happen an excuse.

I know the meme is that I'm some dude speaking in tongues about the end being nigh, and wanting to usher in the end days (rebuild), but I have no idea how the f*** anybody can be attached to Jake f***ing Guentzel, man.

Like, Jake circa 2017 and 2018? Sure, absolutely. Dude kicked ass. But the guy currently wearing 59 ain't that guy anymore, imo. Maybe it was the injury, maybe it's coaching, maybe it's a combination, but Jake's existence on the ice anymore depends entirely on whether or not Sid's out for a leisurely skate or if he's firing on all cylinders. And he sure as shit isn't bringing anything away from the puck to make his line better overall with forechecking, play along the boards/corners, or defensive game.

The team's already rough to watch. I don't think removing Jake does much of anything to change that, and I'd rather they try and swing a deal for a boon of futures than to lock into an asinine deal that ensures he's either wholly immovable down the line, or the team ends up with something like Galchekyuk and a 3rd for him.

I think the issue with Jake is realistically deployment. If Sullivan was smart he'd just run Jake - Malkin - Rakell as his offensive line and Smith - Crosby - Rust as our two way 2nd line.

If he is traded he likely is used in a 2nd line capacity and is putting up 10+ goals in the playoffs for a contender.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Well, yeah. But I'm trying to give the Sullivan fan club who thinks these things just happen an excuse.

Nevermind his incessant need to sacrifice points to the GCRust altar even if they're stale for a dozen games at a time.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Nevermind his incessant need to sacrifice points to the GCRust altar even if they're stale for a dozen games at a time.

It's scientifically proven though that Jake and Rust ONLY work with Crosby, see?

So they have no choice!

 

[Josey Wales]

It's scientifically proven though that Jake and Rust ONLY work with Crosby, see?

So they have no choice!

might have someone is the asskissing Media Ask Sid that ? Because it is He who wants & demands those 2

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

It's scientifically proven though that Jake and Rust ONLY work with Crosby, see?

So they have no choice!

No, no. You see, these guys have produced in the past and it's just a matter of time until they produce again. We must wait and see. Doesn't matter if it takes two games or ten.

I mean, do you see these shot totals? Somebody get me some xGF numbers and heatmaps.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

No, no. You see, these guys have produced in the past and it's just a matter of time until they produce again. We must wait and see. Doesn't matter if it takes two games or ten.

I mean, do you see these shot totals? Somebody get me some xGF numbers and heatmaps.

Look look... MAYBE if we just find a way to get them out there for MORE empty nets?!?

 

[Gurglesons]

might have someone is the asskissing Media Ask Sid that ? Because it is He who wants & demands those 2

weird how other teams are able to bench their stars and hold them accountable and we can not.

Figure the top 5 coach in the league would understand he is in charge. But then again, Hextall, goaltending, “not his type of players”, Todd Reirden, etc.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Look look... MAYBE if we just find a way to get them out there for MORE empty nets?!?

Yeah. By continuing to play them together, because they've produced in the past, and you gotta be leading in order for the other team to pull their goalie. Christ, it's amateur hour in here. Somebody get me a contract extension already.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Outscored 23-10 in our losses.
Outscoring the opposition 13-2 in our wins.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Outscored 23-10 in our losses.
Outscoring the opposition 13-2 in our wins.

Feast or famine = mediocre

 

[The Old Master]

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.

this is the same team that still thinks sully is a good coach. and how long has that been?

 

[The Old Master]

I know the meme is that I'm some dude speaking in tongues about the end being nigh, and wanting to usher in the end days (rebuild), but I have no idea how the f*** anybody can be attached to Jake f***ing Guentzel, man.

Like, Jake circa 2017 and 2018? Sure, absolutely. Dude kicked ass. But the guy currently wearing 59 ain't that guy anymore, imo. Maybe it was the injury, maybe it's coaching, maybe it's a combination, but Jake's existence on the ice anymore depends entirely on whether or not Sid's out for a leisurely skate or if he's firing on all cylinders. And he sure as shit isn't bringing anything away from the puck to make his line better overall with forechecking, play along the boards/corners, or defensive game.

The team's already rough to watch. I don't think removing Jake does much of anything to change that, and I'd rather they try and swing a deal for a boon of futures than to lock into an asinine deal that ensures he's either wholly immovable down the line, or the team ends up with something like Galchekyuk and a 3rd for him.

i want to see jake with geno first. just so i know, then i might dump him.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I just no longer have any trepidation about trades or changes, and to be brutally honest, cannot understand how anyone can at this point. The team hasn't won a playoff round since 2018. They're steadily getting worse, and missed the playoffs entirely last year. There's nothing left to this era, and hasn't been for years. It's been a farce and now they can't even keep the curtain up anymore.

"Can't fire Sullivan because the team might end up with a shitty coach." Now, this may be unexpected, but uhhh... The coach has been a problem for years.

"Can't go for some random goalie because Jarry made the All-Star team (colossal achievement btw) and who knows what you'd get if you went cheap in goal?" An inconsistent, volatile mess with injury problems? Oh wait, that's the dude the team re-signed for half a decade. Shit.

"Can't trade Jake because he's the closest thing to a core player outside of Sid, Geno, Letang and Karlsson." f*** Jake. He's a leech. Gimme a blue chip prospect and a 1st rounder and I'm running away laughing. I don't care if he succeeds elsewhere. Let him. This team's been dead in the water for years and the only reason to keep Jake is emotional attachment.

"As long as the team's got Sid and Geno, they have a chance to win the Cup." Sid and Geno are just about the only redeemable things about this organization anymore, but they're not able to power *this* roster, with *this* goalie, to a Cup anymore. No rational thinking person genuinely believes this team is a contender anymore.

"Any playoff hockey is better than no playoff hockey." Hard disagree when it's Sullivan steering the ship and (potentially, if injuries don't arise) Jarry in net.

I hope they lose their way to a top-10 pick, fire the entire coaching staff, continue to replace the scouting departments (pro and amateur), and Geno changes his number to 11 in the summer so he can retire early alongside Sid after next year, because watching those two on what this team's been reduced to is shitty.

 

[Pancakes]

I honestly don't think Jake will be moved, even though you could make an argument that he should be.

He likes it here and wants to re-sign, and the path of least resistance is re-signing him.

I think the only way he's moved is if this team looks like lottery material before the end of this season. And uh...so far so good on that front? Lol

 

[vikingGoalie]

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.

I'm just saying so far this season.
Jarry is either getting a shutout or he's crapping the bed. That's a big variance much more so then his peers.

 

[66-30-33]

If we really wanna suck for a few years we should trade for Campbell.

 

[SomeDude]

If we really wanna suck for a few years we should trade for Campbell.

Why would we go out and get a Campbell when we’ve got a Campbell at home?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Maybe the coaching staff thinks the NHL offers a rewards program for expected goals, where the team can cash in their xGF's at the end of the year for standings points? Their actions lend credence to this theory.

 

[Headshot77]

Jarry for Campbell + 1st works for me.

 

[66-30-33]

Why would we go out and get a Campbell when we’ve got a Campbell at home?

Why not have both? We give them Karlsson and Carter they give us Nurse and Campbell. They can have Ned too.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Well, yeah. But I'm trying to give the Sullivan fan club who thinks these things just happen an excuse.



I think the issue with Jake is realistically deployment. If Sullivan was smart he'd just run Jake - Malkin - Rakell as his offensive line and Smith - Crosby - Rust as our two way 2nd line.

If he is traded he likely is used in a 2nd line capacity and is putting up 10+ goals in the playoffs for a contender.

I really wish we did try Smith and Crosby but Malkin and Smith are working right now.

I definitely said last year that Guentzel with Malkin makes sense and giving them as much offensive time as possible.

 

[Darren McCord]

I really wish we did try Smith and Crosby but Malkin and Smith are working right now.

I definitely said last year that Guentzel with Malkin makes sense and giving them as much offensive time as possible.

Even just start by swapping rust and rakell.

Rust and Jake have become to floaty. The shouldn’t be on the same line.

Based on creating a more unique line I would put Z with them. Have him park in front of the net.