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?"

[66-30-33]

I wish we’d traded for Smith 4 years ago instead of Zucker.

Not him, he has a cup he may not have got it if he were here 4 years ago.

 

[Turin]

It's really hard to come up with anything creative in capfriendly regarding adding a fwd who could bolster the depth. Sad reality is that JR and Hextall combined to saddle this team with 5.5 million in dead capspace with Johnson, Petry and Carter. That's playing on hard mode.

F it, Rakell, Joseph, 2nd for Nylander. Guentzel-Crosby-Nylander, Smith-Malkin-Rust.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I'm not giving up on Rak after 10 games. 2 assists yesterday. Some of his games were quite strong. He's clearly also not holding Geno and Smith back. Messing with L2 might do more harm than good atm.

Smith looking like he might be the answer on PP1 left wall atm, despite the left shot. He's being very careful with the puck and he's possibly the best shooter on the team. Rak has power but his accuracy isn't the best, and he's lacking some confidence with distribution atm.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't think there is any feasible way for this team to improve its depth this season, they have no money they can realistically move and are just going to have to wait until the off-season. The best way they'll be able to get better depth is in the off-season by not re-signing Guentzel to a retirement deal.

I made this point in the PGT, but I'd rather let Guentzel walk and use Rakell in a similar role as Guentzel (sniper for Crosby and right half wall on the top PP) and go try to find a physical LWer that is also a legitimate net front PP option for Crosby's LW.

My goal would be to have this top-6 for the rest of the Crosby and Malkin era:

Kunitz-Crosby-Rakell
Smith-Malkin-Rust

 

[Turin]

I'm not giving up on Rak after 10 games. 2 assists yesterday. Some of his games were quite strong. He's clearly also not holding Geno and Smith back. Messing with L2 might do more harm than good atm.

Smith looking like he might be the answer on PP1 left wall atm, despite the left shot. He's being very careful with the puck and he's possibly the best shooter on the team.

I'm not jonesing to get rid of him, but out of anybody with a contract and any value, he's the guy.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm not jonesing to get rid of him, but out of anybody with a contract and any value, he's the guy.

I don’t think Rakell has any value.

You’re looking at a swap.

I keep wondering if it’s Anderson.

 

[66-30-33]

I'd swap Rakell and Rust before trading him, but I like the guy.

 

[Turin]

I don’t think Rakell has any value.

You’re looking at a swap.

I keep wondering if it’s Anderson.

I agree it would likely be a swap, teams can't really move players otherwise in this economy.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Exactly…as I said in the GDT, once he’s indoctrinated fully in Sullivan hockey he’ll rarely score again lol

Stop being so negative or I am taking your Woody and Buzz dolls away

Maybe Smtih will turn into Neal 2.0 and get 40g and PPG with Geno.

 

[66-30-33]

Stop being so negative or I am taking your Woody and Buzz dolls away

Maybe Smtih will turn into Neal 2.0 and get 40g and PPG with Geno.

Hopefully Smith is a 40G 80P guy here.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

Give it time, this team'll turn him into a plug.

Zucker had 6g and 10pts in his first 11 games with the Pens. Smith's got 6g and 11pts in his first 10 games with the Pens.

Because we played him with Sid, they showed immediate chemistry. Then we never did it again because...reasons

 

[Fordy]

Because we played him with Sid, they showed immediate chemistry. Then we never did it again because...reasons

zucker was brought in specifically to replace jake. but there was never any question of supplanting him, even if he was so obviously a better for geno than zucker ever was. best fit is not the prime ideal on this team

 

[Gurglesons]

zucker was brought in specifically to replace jake. but there was never any question of supplanting him, even if he was so obviously a better for geno than zucker ever was. best fit is not the prime ideal on this team

Fit where coach thinks you fit. Not where you deserve to.

 

[Zbynek]

@LOGiK No idea who that guy could be, but sounds like he came to his senses before making any bets on Brock friggin McGinn

 

[KrisLetAngry]

So after this year let's say we want to shake it up. Would Tomas Hertl be a guy we just take his contract and nothing and not sign Guentzel?

Sharks would see it as a win. Adding a top 6 c for the future.

Or am I just completely out to lunch?

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

So after this year let's say we want to shake it up. Would Tomas Hertl be a guy we just take his contract and nothing and not sign Guentzel?

Sharks would see it as a win. Adding a top 6 c for the future.

Or am I just completely out to lunch?

What's your intent? You want the same kind of floaty player next to Sid or you want some jam?
I mean Hertl to me is Jake-lite and he'll probably be cheaper

 

[DesertPenguin]

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw someone intentionally order/buy a Sam Adams.

I like their Oktoberfest. but otherwise yeah, same.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I don’t think Rakell has any value.

You’re looking at a swap.

I keep wondering if it’s Anderson.

This is why you have foresight and trade before you get to the contract decision time. I would love to get back Duclair, not sure why the Sharks would make that trade unless you through a sweetner, maybe Boz.??/

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think we're beyond the "skakeup" stage of things for this team tbh. Sid's deal is up after next season, he'll be 38, and there's no guarantee he'll want to keep plodding around on a team that's been on a steep and steady decline for what will be seven consecutive seasons after next year. I know he's a creature of fanatical habit and all he's ever known is hockey, but he's also a fiery competitor and losing for nearly a decade straight by the time he's approaching 40 probably sucks all the fun out of the game.

-edit- I think the chances that this team could largely avoid the ugly post-Sid rebuild stage sailed when Matthews signed his deal with the Leafs. Even then, it was an extreme long shot to ever land him in UFA.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Trading a guy after he has had a mediocre 10 game start to the season is the kind of shortsighted decision Jim Rutherford would make. Look at how well the Hagelin trade ended up working for the Penguins.

 

[SEALBound]

I would not trade for Hertl and not resign Jake. I don't think that's a good trade for us. I don't think Hertl provides THAT much more.

I think what we need to hope for is that Jake is willing to a $7x7. He could command way more in FA most likely but taking a bit of a cut to stay with your buddy Sid and continue to be a PPG player might be enticing enough.

That said, I do still suggest we trade Jake at the TDL. Get a roster player, prospect, and a 2025 1st. Shouldn't be too hard to accomplish that either. Then look to resign Jake in FA.

Hopefully then in 4-5 years, with who we get with the 2024 1st (top 10), Yager, Pickering, and the prospect in the trade, that they can play a big transitionary role when Sid and Geno hang them up. I could see Sid signing a cheap 3yr extension to go out with Letang but I think Malkin is done in 3yrs (including this year). At that point, we will need a new 2C and likely 2 top 6 wings. Assume two of Jake, Rust, Smith, Rakell are still capable even they will be, what, 45 or 50yo by then?

Next year:
Jake-Sid-Rust
Smith-Malkin-Demidov
Rakell-Yager-Trade player or prospect
Nieto-Eller-Zohorna

Then in 3yrs
Jake-Sid-Rust
Prospect-Yager-Demidov
Tankov-Ilyin-Rakell

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I wonder if Carter would waive if it’s made known he’s going to be scratched the rest of this season/contract.

Especially if he wants to play after this year- could see him feeling the need to put tape out.

Probably wishful thinking though.

I would not trade for Hertl and not resign Jake. I don't think that's a good trade for us. I don't think Hertl provides THAT much more.

I think what we need to hope for is that Jake is willing to a $7x7. He could command way more in FA most likely but taking a bit of a cut to stay with your buddy Sid and continue to be a PPG player might be enticing enough.

That said, I do still suggest we trade Jake at the TDL. Get a roster player, prospect, and a 2025 1st. Shouldn't be too hard to accomplish that either. Then look to resign Jake in FA.

Hopefully then in 4-5 years, with who we get with the 2024 1st (top 10), Yager, Pickering, and the prospect in the trade, that they can play a big transitionary role when Sid and Geno hang them up. I could see Sid signing a cheap 3yr extension to go out with Letang but I think Malkin is done in 3yrs (including this year). At that point, we will need a new 2C and likely 2 top 6 wings. Assume two of Jake, Rust, Smith, Rakell are still capable even they will be, what, 45 or 50yo by then?

Next year:
Jake-Sid-Rust
Smith-Malkin-Demidov
Rakell-Yager-Trade player or prospect
Nieto-Eller-Zohorna

Then in 3yrs
Jake-Sid-Rust
Prospect-Yager-Demidov
Tankov-Ilyin-Rakell

Nah. I’m throwing a bag at Nylander or prying Pettersson out of Vancouver if they crash and burn.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Nah. I’m throwing a bag at Nylander or prying Pettersson out of Vancouver if they crash and burn.

I would kill to get Nylander here. He's a significantly better player than Jake

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I would kill to get Nylander here. He's a significantly better player than Jake

Same. Forget Guentzel, Nylander would be our best forward (because Sid/Malkin are old).

He is a true superstar. Every time I’ve watched Toronto he’s the guy that jumps off the screen for me- not saying he’s superior to Matthews or Marner but I’d be really curious what he’d look like as a go to guy here or on another team.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Petts and Nylander go a real long way toward retooling on the fly. You're probably gonna have to throw an obscene offer sheet to get Petts, and the both likely end up costing you north of $25 million AAV in total. But if this team's trying to avoid an ugly and lengthy rebuild, that's one of the better, sorta realistic paths to take.



Quick, send 'em Jarry.