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?"

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I feel like people act like Laine’s been bad when he’s got like 40 goals and 100 points in the two previous seasons combined when he played like 105 games.

He's historically produced at like a ~66pt rate throughout his career, is lazy defensively, is expensive (to acquire, as well as cap-wise), has struggled with injury recently, and has a reputation for simply not giving a shit.

He's got pretty insane potential, but I don't think this is the team/coach to help him realize it, and I doubt CBJ would even think about trading him to the Pens of all teams, given what they've got to trade and the cap situation.

 

[Zbynek]

Rakell doesn't get you Laine.

 

[Maninthebox87]

If it was one for one and they made the cap hits a wash somehow then sure I’d take Laine… that saying I didn’t notice him at all the last game the Penguins played against him. Not to mention for a guy with his size I don’t remember him ever being known for his physicality.

 

[Josey Wales]

Lars Eller at $2.45 million is winning faceoffs at 55%, taking 80% defensive zone starts -- the highest defensive start rate of his career (last year 60%, never higher than 67%) -- and approaching a 50% Corsi/FF. Still scoring at his typical 35 point rate. Team PK has been a strength. Respect to this dude.

BUT The Keyboard GM's were livid with Dubas signing him

Rakell doesn't get you Laine.

Want nothing to do with Laine & his contract

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Laine strikes me as the type who plays hockey because he's naturally good at it and can become filthy rich doing it, rather than someone who actually cares about working on his game to be the best he can possibly be at it.

If he actually had a work ethic/desire to be the best, he'd probably be a Pastrnak-type.

Laine has always given me James Neal vibes

 

[pistolpete11]

I feel like a lot of the things people are saying about Laine, people said about Kessel before he came to the Pens.

He's lazy. He's bad defensively. He needs the puck on his stick. He likes hotdogs. Yadda yadda yadda.

I'm not saying they are wrong. I don't really know enough about him to advocate for him strongly either, but he does check some of the boxes of what the Pens need, i.e. he scores goals, he's big, and he's right handed. Much like Kessel, if he's the top 1 or 2 guys on your team, no thanks. But here, he'd be like the 5th or 6th top guy. They'd have to figure out the money, but the 3 years left is perfect. Too bad Big Jeff probably doesn't have fond memories of his 39 games in Columbus. Raks+Carter almost makes the cap hit a wash.

If they can figure out a way to do it, at this point in the Crosby-Malkin era, I'm more inclined to say "f*** it. Go for it. Swing big."

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I mean, even with all of Laine's issues, I'd gladly give 'em Rakell and Carter just to see if he could sort his head out here.

But Columbus isn't gonna give him away.

 

[Andy99]

And yet…we’re not even in a playoff spot in the East lol…so it’s meaningless…

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I mean, even with all of Laine's issues, I'd gladly give 'em Rakell and Carter just to see if he could sort his head out here.

But Columbus isn't gonna give him away.

No chance but ya I'd gamble on Laine. Still 25 years old, I fell like he has been around forever lol

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Would be down with Laine for the PP. You know he’s one of those guys that doesn’t give a f*** he’s on the ice with Sid Malkin and Karlsson. It could be Gretzky on the opposite half wall and Laine still thinks he should be the one shooting it every time.

Unfortunately it sounds like a Galch, Kapanen type of disaster at ES.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Would be down with Laine for the PP. You know he’s one of those guys that doesn’t give a f*** he’s on the ice with Sid Malkin and Karlsson. It could be Gretzky on the opposite half wall and Laine still thinks he should be the one shooting it every time.

Unfortunately it sounds like a Galch, Kapanen type of disaster at ES.

Not really close for me in terms of production over the years, Laine has been a lot more consistent

 

[Zbynek]

And yet…we’re not even in a playoff spot in the East lol…so it’s meaningless…

To be fair the East is a shitshow right now. Outside of the Bruins and the Rags most every team has had rough patches already not even a quarter into the season. The standings will look a lot different in January.

 

[Zbynek]

Want nothing to do with Laine & his contract

Yea, he'd be a terrible fit here anyway. As much as I like the guy. Just saying he'll fetch a lot more than Rakell, if and when he gets traded.

 

[Andy99]

To be fair the East is a shitshow right now. Outside of the Bruins and the Rags most every team has had rough patches already not even a quarter into the season. The standings will look a lot different in January.

True and we’ll see, but we’re going to have beat the majority of Metro teams besides CLB from now until then if we want to move up and so far it ain’t looking good…let’s see what they do against the Rags Wednesday

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think the Neal comparison is pretty apt. Lazy away from the puck, sucks defensively, but has an insane shot. Can pretty much throw his size out the window though, cuz if he was 5'11" and 190lbs, it really wouldn't change how he makes his money on the ice. People often bitch about bigger guys not fully utilizing their size, well Laine's huge and definitely does not play that way.

Again, it's just a matter of getting his head on straight and making sure he's in the positions where he can utilize his shot. Cuz that's basically all he's got, even if it *is* elite.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

With the cap I can not see us getting Laine

8.7 million I do not see retention for 3 years on that to get to 5 million similar to Rakell. I would make the move because Laine would just shoot with no cares.

Crosby with the current goals he is at 58 goal pace has him nicely set up with a chance to break 40 goals.

Essentially to break even he needs to score at a .43 goals per game pace.

He is looking like he Is on a mission when playing these games.

 

[LOGiK]

True and we’ll see, but we’re going to have beat the majority of Metro teams besides CLB from now until then if we want to move up and so far it ain’t looking good…let’s see what they do against the Rags Wednesday

I have a pretty good idea what is going to happen

 

[SEALBound]

I like the idea or the meme of Laine - 2OV super goal scorer sniper guy. The reality is much harder to digest. I don't know who he should even play with. I like GCR and I'm not sure putting Geno with Laine is the best overall thing for our game. What we need is for Rakell to return to normal. He's not playing bad...dude is just snake-bitten as bad as we've ever seen. Him returning to his game from last year, would be a god send.

This is where having the bottom 6 that we do is tough. I'd love to be able to stick a 2016 Sheary/Wilson/Rust with Geno and shift Rakell to the 3rd line just to give him some new guys to play with but we don't really have anyone capable of filling a top 6 role outside of the top 6 guys.

And yet…we’re not even in a playoff spot in the East lol…so it’s meaningless…

Really goes to show just how bad things can get if you don't get the goaltending you need.

 

[Darren McCord]

This is where having the bottom 6 that we do is tough. I'd love to be able to stick a 2016 Sheary/Wilson/Rust with Geno and shift Rakell to the 3rd line just to give him some new guys to play with but we don't really have anyone capable of filling a top 6 role outside of the top 6 guys.

If they were in a better cap spot, I would like to see the bottom 6 of.

DOC - Eller - Zoho
Nieto - Gruden - Accari

I think Gruden could do fine as 4th line center. That would allow you to move Accari around easier. Accari is the perfect guy to move up and down on the wing for some shifts. They actually did last game

 

[Victor Z]

And yet…we’re not even in a playoff spot in the East lol…so it’s meaningless…

Now that guy should do a chart regarding goals *allowed* and the fancy stats for that component of the equation. Good offense + lousy defense = somewhere around .500 hockey.

What's really amazing is that this team has pitched so many shutouts (or any at all) with the typical defensive play of the forwards & D. Just how many defensively responsible players even play here? On the blue line, there's Petts. That's all. Among the forwards, there's Sid and.... uh..... um.... well, there may be some but nobody exactly stands out. Eller? Smith?

But there are games where we either get really lucky, or some big saves (even by Jarry!) and the "structure" seems to work. Other games, though -- woof.

 

[SEALBound]

If they were in a better cap spot, I would like to see the bottom 6 of.

DOC - Eller - Zoho
Nieto - Gruden - Accari

I think Gruden could do fine as 4th line center. That would allow you to move Accari around easier. Accari is the perfect guy to move up and down on the wing for some shifts. They actually did last game

Yeah, I don't think Gruden matters that much in all honesty. I think Carter or DOC could do the same thing if you wanted to move Accari up or down.

Smith-Geno-Accari
Rakell-Eller-Zoho
Nieto-DOC-Hinostanza

I just don't think Accari is a top 6 wing. I don't think anyone in the bottom 6 is a capable top 6 wing for that matter. I wish we could make something happen around Rakell+POJ. Like to Vancouver for Garland/Beauvillier + Hoglander. You get more punch on the 3rd line and a fill in top 6 wing.

 

[Deport Ogie]

It's honestly why it was so important and hopeful for DOC to take a step forward this year, rather than...whatever it is he's doing. It would have added so much potential flexibility.

 

[BillyOcean]

It's honestly why it was so important and hopeful for DOC to take a step forward this year, rather than...whatever it is he's doing. It would have added so much potential flexibility.

12 goals would be nice. I think he's on pace for about 4, with second power play time. At one point spergy energy has to lead to production.

Now that guy should do a chart regarding goals *allowed* and the fancy stats for that component of the equation. Good offense + lousy defense = somewhere around .500 hockey.

What's really amazing is that this team has pitched so many shutouts (or any at all) with the typical defensive play of the forwards & D. Just how many defensively responsible players even play here? On the blue line, there's Petts. That's all. Among the forwards, there's Sid and.... uh..... um.... well, there may be some but nobody exactly stands out. Eller? Smith?

But there are games where we either get really lucky, or some big saves (even by Jarry!) and the "structure" seems to work. Other games, though -- woof.

Ruhwedel tries to play defense, but he's usually thrown around like a toddler. His offense is also so terrible that its basically anti-Defense.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm not happy with O'Connor's production this year, but as long as L3 keeps being effective I'm not really rushing to make any changes.

I think you can very clearly see the impact he's having on the forecheck with his speed, but he's just not producing whatsoever. It's why I think he's more suited as a 4th liner for this team, he fits exactly what this team is going for on its 4th line.

My hope is that their bottom-6 ends up something like this by next year:

Zohorna-Eller-Trade
O'Connor-Poulin-Acciari

And actually somewhat on that Zohorna topic, Zohorna is a UFA after the year. If he can put up like 15 goals and 35 points on the 3rd line this year, I wonder what his extension would look like.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

It's honestly why it was so important and hopeful for DOC to take a step forward this year, rather than...whatever it is he's doing. It would have added so much potential flexibility.

Z is doing what DOC was *Supposed* to be this season