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?"

[Empoleon8771]

Again, why is the Penguins top-9 a problem at all? They're 7th in the NHL in 5v5 goals/60 despite getting no production from their 4th line.

Their issues are that Jarry/Nedjelkovic haven't been good so far and their powerplay stinks. The top-9 is producing fine at 5v5.

 

[66-30-33]

Again, why is the Penguins top-9 a problem at all? They're 7th in the NHL in 5v5 goals/60 despite getting no production from their 4th line.

Their issues are that Jarry/Nedjelkovic haven't been good so far and their powerplay stinks. The top-9 is producing fine at 5v5.

Ned had 1 bad period that's it. He was rock solid all preseason and the few regular season games he played until the 3rd period.

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

Last place in the East baybeeeee

 

[TKalltheTime]

I really wish they would fire Todd to start to send a message that this isn’t acceptable and no one on the coaching staff is safe… but they won’t.

 

[farscape1]

Last place in the East baybeeeee

Cant remember the last time the Pens were in last place.

Looking at next months schedule the Pens might win 2 out of the 13 games.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Again, why is the Penguins top-9 a problem at all? They're 7th in the NHL in 5v5 goals/60 despite getting no production from their 4th line.

Their issues are that Jarry/Nedjelkovic haven't been good so far and their powerplay stinks. The top-9 is producing fine at 5v5.

Gotta account for all the goals for/against during partial line changes too. For example Eller got an assist with Malkin on the ice. I'm not sure that they are tracking those combinations that barely see time together.
Nevertheless your point stands that the offense from the top 9 is pretty good, for sure.

Anything over 2.00 is a healthy rate for top-six. You'd like your superstar producers to be around 2.2-2.5 by season's end.
If you got bottom-sixer regulars at 1.8 or higher in April, that's excellent too.

GCR at 4.76 GA P/60 is a problem. Some of those GA had nothing to do with them though, of course.
The PP is probably problem #1 right now. It's at -5 GFAx, while at even-strength we're close to breaking even.
The 4th line hasn't scored, but only 1 goal against in 60 minutes TOI is terrific on the flipside. There's only so much blame we can attach to them.

 

[66-30-33]

I really wish they would fire Todd to start to send a message that this isn’t acceptable and no one on the coaching staff is safe… but they won’t.

They should fire and trade everyone that's not Sullivan and get confused.

 

[Andy99]

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Maybe slightly, but I also feel he's not doing as much as he can with his abilities.
They are giving him fairly free reign to do what he wants.

I'd like to see that desperation he showed in the back-half of that Detroit game more often.

 

[Lustaf]

Jake isn't signed because Dubas is waiting and praying Nylander gets to July 1 so he can back the trucks up and sign him.

If it doesn't workout he re-signs Jake.
Basically what he did with Jarry.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Jake isn't signed because Dubas is waiting and praying Nylander gets to July 1 so he can back the trucks up and sign him.

If it doesn't workout he re-signs Jake.
Basically what he did with Jarry.

I might be okay with that just because at minimum it shakes up the core.

 

[HandshakeLine]

This team man, I dunno.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

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

I'm sure Jake gets re-signed. I just think it's absolutely pants-on-head stupid.

I also think this team sorts its shit out and settles back into the same type of place in the standings as last season. Basically a borderline WC spot, which is the worst possible outcome imo.

 

[Power Surge]

This team man, I dunno.

There is one podcast out there that totally gets this team

 

[molon labe]

Triaging the problems of the Penguins:

1) By far and away #1 - Coaching staff. Has been, is, and will be - until it is remedied. System, stubbornness, usage. From start to finish there isn't a single redeeming quality of our coaching staff. The only thing HC Sully has going for him at this point is that he can sure bark at a ref.

2) Goaltending. Has been, is, will be. Not one single fan who actually watches this team plays night in and out thought Jarry was a possible answer. He continues to have never stolen a game for the club and probably never will. We simply can't sustain wins when we require 4 GPG to do it...on a good night. Certainly not without:

3) Bottom 6. Sure, metrics and plus minus. What else? 8 games and TWO goals from your bottom 6. Eller, and Zahorna. Nobody is shocked here. Pacing for, what? 20 goals from the entire bottom 6 combined on the year?

4) Rakell and to a lesser extent, Smith. They aren't playing like 10M against the cap. One probably needs to go. Either roll the dice on shipping out the better forechecker in Rakell (who has proven he can move up and down the lineup) or the better shot in Smith. Both are utterly opportunistic and rely way too heavily on Geno at this point in his career. Neither have the finishing touch that Geno deserves either. They've at least shown a pulse so I'm not pissed off at them or anything they just aren't skating like top 6 threats whatsoever.

My take anyway. Remains unchanged for the past several months. I'm excited to tune in, but genuinely don't expect more than 50% wins. Team is built to pray for 4 goals per game in victories but relies entirely on the top 6 to get it. That would be great, if it were possible. Jarry continues to play like a goalie on the fringe of an NHL career....so I guess yay for us we locked him in with trade protections. The power play I don't even want to talk about because it's absolute cringe (and has been, for YEARS now) to watch. It's bathroom break time when we get the man advantage.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

If they fixed the PP, this team could EASILY be in the playoffs. It is the 1 thing that is absolutely within their control.

Can't fix Jarry being a headcase.
Can't rewind time to make Sid, Geno, Letang and EK younger.
Can't force JC to retire.

This is one of the marginal areas where Sully is literally costing his team points.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Jake isn't signed because Dubas is waiting and praying Nylander gets to July 1 so he can back the trucks up and sign him.

If it doesn't workout he re-signs Jake.
Basically what he did with Jarry.

I might be okay with that just because at minimum it shakes up the core.

Ye a shake up would be good. I do think though if Nylander came here I see 10 million dollars being paid to him if not more compared to maybe 8.5 for Guentzel?

 

[Invalid cuz QoC]

The PP is an easy thing to coach. As the coach choose 3 players who are locked up spots on it. Put those 3 during practice in a room with some screens. Have those 3 choose the last 2 players themselves.

After a small ceremony for the chosen 2, they hunker down for 3-5 hours with no coaches to draw up the very rough game plan. Coaches are not allowed to make any changes or force input ever again for the pp.

There you have it, recipe for success. I know penguins management is reading this. DM me for payment info for this brilliant plan.

 

[BillyOcean]

There's absolutely zero reason the power play should be putrid with the talent there. If it's the coaching, dump the coaches. If it's the players, try different players.

 

[SEALBound]

Again, why is the Penguins top-9 a problem at all? They're 7th in the NHL in 5v5 goals/60 despite getting no production from their 4th line.

Their issues are that Jarry/Nedjelkovic haven't been good so far and their powerplay stinks. The top-9 is producing fine at 5v5.

The top 6 isn't a problem. The bottom 6 has, what - 2 or 3 goals? We aren't getting enough from the bottom 6. 4th line has nothing. Eller has been coming alive a bit but still, 3pts in 8 games while the wings have 1 or 2 points over 8 games...it's just not enough.

I might be okay with that just because at minimum it shakes up the core.

I both like and hate the idea. Shaking up the core isn't the worst idea. But Jake...woof...that's a tough one to swallow. If we are out of it at the TDL, I highly encourage Dubas to get value from Jake. Then look to resign him against on July 1st.

Triaging the problems of the Penguins:

1) By far and away #1 - Coaching staff. Has been, is, and will be - until it is remedied. System, stubbornness, usage. From start to finish there isn't a single redeeming quality of our coaching staff. The only thing HC Sully has going for him at this point is that he can sure bark at a ref.

2) Goaltending. Has been, is, will be. Not one single fan who actually watches this team plays night in and out thought Jarry was a possible answer. He continues to have never stolen a game for the club and probably never will. We simply can't sustain wins when we require 4 GPG to do it...on a good night. Certainly not without:

3) Bottom 6. Sure, metrics and plus minus. What else? 8 games and TWO goals from your bottom 6. Eller, and Zahorna. Nobody is shocked here. Pacing for, what? 20 goals from the entire bottom 6 combined on the year?

4) Rakell and to a lesser extent, Smith. They aren't playing like 10M against the cap. One probably needs to go. Either roll the dice on shipping out the better forechecker in Rakell (who has proven he can move up and down the lineup) or the better shot in Smith. Both are utterly opportunistic and rely way too heavily on Geno at this point in his career. Neither have the finishing touch that Geno deserves either. They've at least shown a pulse so I'm not pissed off at them or anything they just aren't skating like top 6 threats whatsoever.

My take anyway. Remains unchanged for the past several months. I'm excited to tune in, but genuinely don't expect more than 50% wins. Team is built to pray for 4 goals per game in victories but relies entirely on the top 6 to get it. That would be great, if it were possible. Jarry continues to play like a goalie on the fringe of an NHL career....so I guess yay for us we locked him in with trade protections. The power play I don't even want to talk about because it's absolute cringe (and has been, for YEARS now) to watch. It's bathroom break time when we get the man advantage.

Pretty good post. Can't say there's much I disagree with except #4. Smith has been lights out for us. I have yet to have a single issue with him sans some missed opportunities in game 1. But he's been everything we could have hoped for. Rakell at 1pt in 8 games this year is bonkers. But that said, he does a lot of things to help the line score that don't always make it to the scoresheet. While I wish he had a healthier stat sheet, he's not THAT big of an issue. I put the PP above Rakell+Smith.

 

[Andy99]

what about real goals, however? Lol

Yep, and trap like hell when you get a lead, like Ottawa did against the Pens…they played 1-2-2 against the Avs that was very successful and then they nuked it against Ottawa lol…do you want to win boys or not?

 

[pistolpete11]

Triaging the problems of the Penguins:

1) By far and away #1 - Coaching staff. Has been, is, and will be - until it is remedied. System, stubbornness, usage. From start to finish there isn't a single redeeming quality of our coaching staff. The only thing HC Sully has going for him at this point is that he can sure bark at a ref.

2) Goaltending. Has been, is, will be. Not one single fan who actually watches this team plays night in and out thought Jarry was a possible answer. He continues to have never stolen a game for the club and probably never will. We simply can't sustain wins when we require 4 GPG to do it...on a good night. Certainly not without:

3) Bottom 6. Sure, metrics and plus minus. What else? 8 games and TWO goals from your bottom 6. Eller, and Zahorna. Nobody is shocked here. Pacing for, what? 20 goals from the entire bottom 6 combined on the year?

4) Rakell and to a lesser extent, Smith. They aren't playing like 10M against the cap. One probably needs to go. Either roll the dice on shipping out the better forechecker in Rakell (who has proven he can move up and down the lineup) or the better shot in Smith. Both are utterly opportunistic and rely way too heavily on Geno at this point in his career. Neither have the finishing touch that Geno deserves either. They've at least shown a pulse so I'm not pissed off at them or anything they just aren't skating like top 6 threats whatsoever.

My take anyway. Remains unchanged for the past several months. I'm excited to tune in, but genuinely don't expect more than 50% wins. Team is built to pray for 4 goals per game in victories but relies entirely on the top 6 to get it. That would be great, if it were possible. Jarry continues to play like a goalie on the fringe of an NHL career....so I guess yay for us we locked him in with trade protections. The power play I don't even want to talk about because it's absolute cringe (and has been, for YEARS now) to watch. It's bathroom break time when we get the man advantage.

#2-4 all tie back, at least partially, to #1.

#2, Jarry is what he is. He's going to have stinkers like Saturday, but this team's team defense is atrocious and is more at fault most nights. It's not the number of opportunities, it's the quality of opportunities.

#3, Zohorna should have been playing from Game 1, but he's shown what 1 simple lineup change can do. Who's to say replacing Carter with Hino or...anyone really...wouldn't have a similar effect on the 4th line? But no, Carter's feelings are more important to Sullivan.

#4, I don't know what more you could possibly want out of Smith. Dude's on pace for 41 goals, all at even strength. Getting rid of him is an absurd suggestion. Rakell needs to get going, but Rakell doesn't work as well with Geno. We know this. But Sullivan has a fetish with GCRu and it trumps all else.

 

[BillyOcean]

what about real goals, however? Lol

Yep, and trap like hell when you get a lead, like Ottawa did against the Pens…they played 1-2-2 against the Avs that was very successful and then they nuked it against Ottawa lol…do you want to win boys or not?

Real goals? Are you crazy? Those are advanced stats! He has charts and stuff. That's more important than the box score.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I feel like this team already sits back and plays too passive once they get a lead. If anything, I'd like to see them keep pressuring and trying to extend leads as opposed to letting the opposition attack wave after wave once they are ahead.

Also "It's all a top-6 effort, the bottom-6 sucks." No shit. That's been the story for like half a decade.

 

[SomeDude]

Next person that types the phrase expected goals should have to skate across the blue line with their head down and Darius Kasparaitis on the ice.

Expected goals per game have the same value as expected leprechauns per unicorn fart.