Salary Cap: Pens '23-'24 Salary Cap Thread: "Mandrake, do you recall what Clemenceau once said about hockey"

[Maninthebox87]

In all seriousness though is Phillips the smallest/lightest NHLer ever?

 

[McGroarty2]

Supposedly after every practice he treats himself to a couple hot dogs. Don’t get a body like that with just diet and exercise.

Kessel approves.

 

[Deport Ogie]

In all seriousness though is Phillips the smallest/lightest NHLer ever?

Nathan Gerbe was 5'4 and that may have been exaggerated.

 

[Maninthebox87]

Nathan Gerbe was 5'4 and that may have been exaggerated.

I remember for the longest time it was Brian Gionta but is he really only around 160 pounds… I’m assuming that’s with them letting him wear all the equipment after practice soaking wet

 

[Zirakzigil]

Harkins can at least play passible bottom 6 minutes. Phillips is a PP specialist, that’s it. And he’s failed to put up points to even carve out a Sprong type career. I wanted to see him succeed in Calgary. He signed with the Caps and played there with his previous AHL coach coaching him. It’s showing the caps with their terrible offense decided to waive the guy.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

In all seriousness though is Phillips the smallest/lightest NHLer ever?

Has to at least be up there with a guy like Darren Pang.

 

[Andy99]

Pens claim Matthew Phillips off waivers from the Caps. Small winger who lit up AHL but hasn't scored much in NHL.

Hey, we’re desperate for any scoring at this point…lol

 

[OnMyOwn]

Eh, whatever. Dubas likes to use waivers and it’s not like the pens are lighting the world on fire this season. At least he’s relatively young.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

30+ goals in back-to-back seasons in the AHL and a point per game pace is certainly nothing to sneeze at and definitely says he deserves an NHL look.

I'm just curious how the Pens will try to use him. Give him a top six look? Try him on the third line? Or will he never make it out of the press box?

With Guentzel on LTIR, they had the roster spot and the cap space to just add him without sending anyone down. I'm sure he'll get a few practices before playing.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I'd just like to point out that Puustinen has outproduced Phillips in fewer games.

But I'm sure Sullivan will make the right personnel decisions.

 

[Gurglesons]

30+ goals in back-to-back seasons in the AHL and a point per game pace is certainly nothing to sneeze at and definitely says he deserves an NHL look.

I'm just curious how the Pens will try to use him. Give him a top six look? Try him on the third line? Or will he never make it out of the press box?

With Guentzel on LTIR, they had the roster spot and the cap space to just add him without sending anyone down. I'm sure he'll get a few practices before playing.

5 minutes a night regardless of what he does because he is young.

 

[HandshakeLine]

A guy who is 5'7" 140 pounds was put on this earth to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Only if he doesn't do any of that East-West creative shit.

I'd just like to point out that Puustinen has outproduced Phillips in fewer games.

But I'm sure Sullivan will make the right personnel decisions.

Love to see this team continually claim, sign, and trade for players the coach does not want to use, despite having the most influence on the roster of any individual.

 

[Jacob]

Harkins can at least play passible bottom 6 minutes. Phillips is a PP specialist, that’s it. And he’s failed to put up points to even carve out a Sprong type career. I wanted to see him succeed in Calgary. He signed with the Caps and played there with his previous AHL coach coaching him. It’s showing the caps with their terrible offense decided to waive the guy.

Yeah I'm guessing there's going to be a disconnect in that Sullivan isn't going to utilize him properly, or at all. Most coaches, but especially Sullivan, hate those kind of specialist players that you have to work around. He just wants guys he can throw out over the boards in all situations.

I'd probably be the same way. PP specialists don't exist anymore.

 

[Gurglesons]

Harkins can at least play passible bottom 6 minutes. Phillips is a PP specialist, that’s it. And he’s failed to put up points to even carve out a Sprong type career. I wanted to see him succeed in Calgary. He signed with the Caps and played there with his previous AHL coach coaching him. It’s showing the caps with their terrible offense decided to waive the guy.

What does this even mean?

Harkins has been terrible and doesn't PK. He doesn't score. He's negative in terms of GF and GA when he is on the ice. And has a comparable GF per 60 to Deslauriers.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Yeah I'm guessing there's going to be a disconnect in that Sullivan isn't going to utilize him properly, or at all. Most coaches, but especially Sullivan, hate those kind of specialist players that you have to work around. He just wants guys he can throw out over the boards in all situations.

I'd probably be the same way. PP specialists don't exist anymore.

It sounds like his size has been a deterrent, too. He apparently gets knocked off pucks and pushed out of the play pretty easily.

Small guys can succeed, but they need to be stronger than they look and exceptionally shifty.

I don't see him succeeding in a bottom six role, much like Puustinen.

But maybe one of Puustinen or Phillips gets a few games in the top six with Guentzel out and goes on a heater.

 

[HandshakeLine]

What does this even mean?

Harkins has been terrible and doesn't PK. He doesn't score. He's negative in terms of GF and GA when he is on the ice. And has a comparable GF per 60 to Deslauriers.

At least Deslauriers can punch people hard.

 

[SEALBound]

this year has to be the beginning of the change. Jake for the right package makes sense. Jake is an asset now not next year. Next year signing him to a long term contract loses the leverage that may exist now. Even the caveat that the Pens may be in some mathematical hunt for a playoff, it is unlikely they actually make it.

I agree. I think they can build for the future AND retool this off-season. Dubas just has to have the guts to do it. And honestly, the plan could easily involve Jake just as easily as it not.

If I'm Dubas, I try to suck every last asset I can from this year and retool in the offseason. For example (and sorry for this but I love these):

Jake @50% to Avs for 1st 2024, 1st 2025 conditional, 2025 3rd
Smith+Nedelkovich to Edmonton for Foegele+2025 1st
Acciari+Ty Smith to NYR for Goodrow+2024 2nd

So that's: Jake, Smith, Acciari, Neds, Ty Smith out for Goodrow, Foegele (who is a UFA), 3 1sts, 2nd, 3rd. With that, you have $21.5mil to play with. You have draft capital to decrease the burden of the EK pick, you've replaced the lost 2nd, and you even have some left over to use in trade bait.

XXX-Sid-Rust
XXX-Malkin-Rakell
DOC-Eller-XXX
Nieto-Goodrow-XXX

Petts-Letang
Grave-EK
Ludvig-POJ

TJ-Blomqvist

There's enough money to really do some damage.

Tarasenko for a $5mil x 3yr
Bertuzzi for a $5mil x 3yr
Debrusk for a $4mil x 4yr

Bertuzzi-Sid-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Tarasenko
DOC-Eller-Debrusk
Nieto-Goodrow-Poulin

You could even opt for a new 3C and make the 4th line Nieto-Eller-Goodrow. In this lineup though, you have 3 scoring lines and a defensive line. THIS is the way.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Anyone think it’s a coincidence that ever since Sullsma started to “work with Malkin” on his game about a week ago, Geno’s production fell off a cliff?

Sullsma can’t be gone fast enough, I dread having him anywhere near the next wave of prospects.

 

[pistolpete11]

30+ goals in back-to-back seasons in the AHL and a point per game pace is certainly nothing to sneeze at and definitely says he deserves an NHL look.

I'm just curious how the Pens will try to use him. Give him a top six look? Try him on the third line? Or will he never make it out of the press box?

With Guentzel on LTIR, they had the roster spot and the cap space to just add him without sending anyone down. I'm sure he'll get a few practices before playing.

He has to show he can be a defensive bottom 6 plug before he even thinks about getting top 6 time.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Anyone think it’s a coincidence that ever since Sullsma started to “work with Malkin” on his game about a week ago, Geno’s production fell off a cliff?

Sullsma can’t be gone fast enough, I dread having him anywhere near the next wave of prospects.

Well Malkin is also just fading as a player. And likely banged up, too.

That said you'd think the team would want to help him a little more since he's willing to stay in the lineup to try to help THEM. But whatever. I don't feel like a lecture from the usual suspects, today.

 

[pistolpete11]

Anyone think it’s a coincidence that ever since Sullsma started to “work with Malkin” on his game about a week ago, Geno’s production fell off a cliff?

Sullsma can’t be gone fast enough, I dread having him anywhere near the next wave of prospects.

He successfully conquered turning the bottom 6 into all defensive plugs. Now it's time to work on L2.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Well Malkin is also just fading as a player. And likely banged up, too.

Both good points, but he is coming off a rest with the all-star break, which is suspicious timing when you consider Sullsma’s tinkering with Geno’s game and his current 5 game slump.

Something tells me if this team had another coach for the past couple of weeks, we would see a bump in scoring from all four lines.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Both good points, but he is coming off a rest with the all-star break, which is suspicious timing when you consider Sullsma’s tinkering with Geno’s game and his current 5 game slump.

Something tells me if this team had another coach for the past couple of weeks, we would see a bump in scoring from all four lines.

I really couldn't say. Most NHL coaches are clods.

But you'd think by now that the team would understand how Malkin works and how confidence is a huge part of his game. It's nice that the team gives every opportunity to guys like Rust and Rakell to "get them going" and everything. Wish they would try a little harder with Malkin.

 

[Zirakzigil]

30+ goals in back-to-back seasons in the AHL and a point per game pace is certainly nothing to sneeze at and definitely says he deserves an NHL look.

I'm just curious how the Pens will try to use him. Give him a top six look? Try him on the third line? Or will he never make it out of the press box?

With Guentzel on LTIR, they had the roster spot and the cap space to just add him without sending anyone down. I'm sure he'll get a few practices before playing.

He couldnt convince Sutter to give him a look the last 2 years with the Flames. In the off season his AHL coach (Mitch Love) became a Caps assistant coach, and the caps just waived him. Caps werent oozing offensive threats either. I wanted to see him succeed, local kid drafted by his home team. But he just doesnt have the mentality to make up for his extremely small size.

 

[Josey Wales]

He couldnt convince Sutter to give him a look the last 2 years with the Flames. In the off season his AHL coach (Mitch Love) became a Caps assistant coach, and the caps just waived him. Caps werent oozing offensive threats either. I wanted to see him succeed, local kid drafted by his home team. But he just doesnt have the mentality to make up for his extremely small size.

Sounds Like Chris Connor Part DUH