Salary Cap: Pens '24-'25 Salary Thread: The Crosbicles Volume XIX

[The Old Master]

The McCann situation still bothers me because it perfectly encapsulates my problems with the team's management. They kept bleeding talent so nonchalantly as if we had anyone in our system to step in to those open spots when we didn't. In a vacuum each move they made might not have been the end of the world but when looked at as a whole this team let go of any talent they had outside of the core guys.

it's the deference in rebuilding on the fly or tearing everything down to rebuild.

 

[SomeDude]

but to be fair, we knew him a lot better than they did.

Nobody offered more than Toronto did and they also thought Kerfoot was the better player because they specifically left McCann unprotected to sacrifice him so Kerfoot wouldn’t be taken.

It was a blunder but nobody saw McCann doing what he is now or someone else would have offered us a 3rd or something to have him.

Probably more of an indictment of Sully (as if we needed another one) on how not only he couldn’t figure out how to use him, but also made him look bad enough other teams didn’t see the potential.

 

[BrookswasHere44]

He had the 7th most 5-on-5 points among D last year.

It'll be great to see that production somewhere else

 

[Gurglesons]

He had the 7th most 5-on-5 points among D last year.

Okay. There is the whole defense part though.

it's the deference in rebuilding on the fly or tearing everything down to rebuild.

The McCann situation still bothers me because it perfectly encapsulates my problems with the team's management. They kept bleeding talent so nonchalantly as if we had anyone in our system to step in to those open spots when we didn't. In a vacuum each move they made might not have been the end of the world but when looked at as a whole this team let go of any talent they had outside of the core guys.

We literally replaced McCann's production the very next year with Evan Rodrigues for a mil less. And he actually can score more than one goal in the playoffs!

Choosing Jeff Carter over Rodrigues will always be the flaw for Hextall when it comes to the McCann situation.

 

[Andy99]

So Kan Dingerski actually had a good podcast yesterday (sort of) in which he correctly states that Sullivan doesn’t have a defensive structure…what to do in the D zone is based on figuring out who to take in the Dzone…it’s kind of free flowing and requires high hockey IQ…and he says the players Dubas brought in don’t fit that, including EK, because they’ve had most success playing within structure that doesn’t require them to think…

On the other hand, are there really D men available for Dubas to get who have wheels, high hockey IQ and haven’t come out of a structured D system? Those are unicorns not available to Dubas in FA or trade…maybe the coach should change his D approach to fit the players? lol…something Kan failed to consider as another DK-initialed Sullivan apologist lol.

 

[pistolpete11]

Okay. There is the whole defense part though.

He was a +13, 3rd best on the team.

 

[MeinerEiner]

So Kan Dingerski actually had a good podcast yesterday (sort of) in which he correctly states that Sullivan doesn’t have a defensive structure…what to do in the D zone is based on figuring out who to take in the Dzone…it’s kind of free flowing and requires high hockey IQ…and he says the players Dubas brought in don’t fit that, including EK, because they’ve had most success playing within structure that doesn’t require them to think…

On the other hand, are there really D men available for Dubas to get who have wheels, high hockey IQ and haven’t come out of a structured D system? Those are unicorns not available to Dubas in FA or trade…maybe the coach should change his D approach to fit the players? lol…something Kan failed to consider as another DK-initialed Sullivan apologist lol.

I know it's Kingerski but I noticed he didn't have a good word to say about Sullivan and his system. It seems that slowly but surely the press has figured out that Sullivan is no longer the right coach for the Pens.

 

[Andy99]

I know it's Kingerski but I noticed he didn't have a good word to say about Sullivan and his system. It seems that slowly but surely the press has figured out that Sullivan is no longer the right coach for the Pens.

Idk…he and Dejan are pretty big defenders of “Sullivan is not the problem” and lay the problems at the feet of the players and Dubas almost entirely…like 80-20

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I'd do the 2nd and Dvorak or Armia all day. Cleans up the cap nicely going into 2025-2026

100%, and we can flip either of them at the TD

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

So lemme see if I'm gettin' this right... Mike Sullivan's defense essentially consists of "ya'll figure it out in the DZ I don't feel like coming up with a plan lol" and "doesn't have the right players from Dubas" despite them "being on the same page" and all that happy horseshit according to Dan and his colleagues themselves when Dubas was hired. But Sullivan is still blameless?

That's some contortionist logic shit right there. You're so close, Dan! I'm almost impressed by the level of cognitive dissonance.

 

[Andy99]

Hopefully this means Jarry is injured again lol…

https://x.com/i/web/status/1858896646597214313

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Which is why it doesn’t really make sense Dubas and his staff would be scouting the Habs so aggressively.

If Letang wanted to go to Montreal, the Pens would make it happen as a courtesy and take what ever the Habs offered. There is no need to scout those bum vets we’d have to take back because it’s not an impact move.

I still think most of this scouting is Hockey Canada related with Monty and Suzuki.

However like others have mentioned, if that's the case, why would he have brought all of the organization with him last week at the Habs vs Sabres game?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Hopefully this means Jarry is injured again lol…

https://x.com/i/web/status/1858896646597214313

Aren't they at home this game? Jarry isn't allowed to start at home, remember. It might hurt his feelings.

 

[The Old Master]

Okay. There is the whole defense part though.





We literally replaced McCann's production the very next year with Evan Rodrigues for a mil less. And he actually can score more than one goal in the playoffs!

Choosing Jeff Carter over Rodrigues will always be the flaw for Hextall when it comes to the McCann situation.

we replaced his points but we didn't replace McCann.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

So lemme see if I'm gettin' this right... Mike Sullivan's defense essentially consists of "ya'll figure it out in the DZ I don't feel like coming up with a plan lol" and "doesn't have the right players from Dubas" despite them "being on the same page" and all that happy horseshit according to Dan and his colleagues themselves when Dubas was hired. But Sullivan is still blameless?

That's some contortionist logic shit right there. You're so close, Dan! I'm almost impressed by the level of cognitive dissonance.

No, dummy. You just don't GET IT. This d-zone structure rocks if you have 6 Lidstroms. This team doesn't have 6 Lidstroms, and that's not Sullivan's fault, so, guess what pal? Sully's off the hook again. Checkmate.

 

[Gurglesons]

we replaced his points but we didn't replace McCann.

You're right. We improved on him and got a piece who was just a top nine forward on a team that won a cup versus a guy who scores 40 goals on a shit team.

The McCann butt chugging is so silly. I'm a fan of the player, but some of you act like he's a superstar in the league. He's a replacement level guy who scores a lot when it doesn't matter.

He's effectively James Neal without the ability to do anything in the playoffs versus only showing up every 5 games.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

No, dummy. You just don't GET IT. This d-zone structure rocks if you have 6 Lidstroms. This team doesn't have 6 Lidstroms, and that's not Sullivan's fault, so, guess what pal? Sully's off the hook again. Checkmate.

"Whadda ya mean you can't get me 6 of the fastest, smartest tactical genius defensemen for under 30 million dollars total?!? What kind of GM are you?!?"

"Um... I can get you the Norris winner from last year!"

"Alright buddy NOW we're talkin!"

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

"Whadda ya mean you can't get me 6 of the fastest, smartest tactical genius defensemen for under 30 million dollars total?!? What kind of GM are you?!?"

"Um... I can get you the Norris winner from last year!"

"Alright buddy NOW we're talkin!"

This EK trade+usage stuff annoys me so much more than the Iginla trade+usage did. And the Iginla stuff annoyed the shit outta me.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

So Kan Dingerski actually had a good podcast yesterday (sort of) in which he correctly states that Sullivan doesn’t have a defensive structure…what to do in the D zone is based on figuring out who to take in the Dzone…it’s kind of free flowing and requires high hockey IQ…and he says the players Dubas brought in don’t fit that, including EK, because they’ve had most success playing within structure that doesn’t require them to think…

On the other hand, are there really D men available for Dubas to get who have wheels, high hockey IQ and haven’t come out of a structured D system? Those are unicorns not available to Dubas in FA or trade…maybe the coach should change his D approach to fit the players? lol…something Kan failed to consider as another DK-initialed Sullivan apologist lol.

Of more concern is just odd-man rush limitation. That's the source for a large amount of these goals against.
While still bad when settled in the D-zone, they aren't nearly as bad.

We get no payoff for D-men pinching. Hurts more than helps.
Like, how many goals for has EK created by pinching? How many against did he get punished for by doing so?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

This EK trade+usage stuff annoys me so much more than the Iginla trade+usage did. And the Iginla stuff annoyed the shit outta me.

It figures that both players in question are/were rare non-Penguin favorites of mine I had always wanted to see here.

I guess the lesson is "careful what you wish for."

lol I'm just kidding no it's not. It's "NHL coaches are chuds."

 

[pistolpete11]

So lemme see if I'm gettin' this right... Mike Sullivan's defense essentially consists of "ya'll figure it out in the DZ I don't feel like coming up with a plan lol" and "doesn't have the right players from Dubas" despite them "being on the same page" and all that happy horseshit according to Dan and his colleagues themselves when Dubas was hired. But Sullivan is still blameless?

That's some contortionist logic shit right there. You're so close, Dan! I'm almost impressed by the level of cognitive dissonance.

It was all Matheson's fault....I mean.....Marino's......Petry's.....Petry's. Definitely Petry's....

Oh wait! Is that why they are going to trade Letang? It's been his fault the whole time?!?! Well...I guess there is only ONE way to find out. Trade Letang and see. Nothing else you can do.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Letang to MTL for some mishmash of Savard, Xhekaj, Anderson
Pettersson to VAN for Pettersson + 2025 4th rounder + 2026 2nd rounder
Jarry + DOC to ANA for Gibson + Fabbri + 2027 7th rounder

I don't know what I'm doing.

Neither does Kyle.

 

[SEALBound]

I know it's Kingerski but I noticed he didn't have a good word to say about Sullivan and his system. It seems that slowly but surely the press has figured out that Sullivan is no longer the right coach for the Pens.

Does anyone really?

Fact is, the number of times you can see 5 Penguins staring at the puck with other players wheeling into position around them is comical at this point for an NHL team and NHL players. I've often pointed out that no one ever seems to know what they are doing when the other team has the puck in the dzone.

You're right. We improved on him and got a piece who was just a top nine forward on a team that won a cup versus a guy who scores 40 goals on a shit team.

The McCann butt chugging is so silly. I'm a fan of the player, but some of you act like he's a superstar in the league. He's a replacement level guy who scores a lot when it doesn't matter.

He's effectively James Neal without the ability to do anything in the playoffs versus only showing up every 5 games.

Still better than what Jeff Carter gave us.

Face it, your boy f***ed up the expansion draft something fierce. Between his Marino and Matheson debacles and the expansion draft, he put this team in a really bad spot, hence why he was fired.

 

[Gurglesons]

Still better than what Jeff Carter gave us.

Face it, your boy f***ed up the expansion draft something fierce. Between his Marino and Matheson debacles and the expansion draft, he put this team in a really bad spot, hence why he was fired.

Not really. Carter was great for us and a huge reason we made the playoffs the year after the expansion draft. He scored a bunch of goals in both playoff runs he was here for. The issue was always the contract.

None of Marino, Matheson or the expansion draft put this team in a really bad spot.

Marino has already been traded. Matheson got out produced by Petry at 5v5 last season. McCann's team is the definition of mediocre and Tanev is trash.

The issues with Hextall started from the Carter extension on. He was rightfully fired, but the main issues were largely not going all in when he had a team that could probably have made waves, his lack of solutions for the goaltending position, and not firing Mike Sullivan.

Similar issues that we have with Dubas although his teams are largely way worse than what Hextall put together (not because of Hextall, because of Dubas)

Also, it's weird how you complain about people talking about Hextall all the time and bring him up every 5 pages.

 

[SEALBound]

Not really. Carter was great for us

Literally stopped reading right there. Thanks for typing all of that out though.