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

[Empoleon8771]

The more I dig into Puustinen's numbers, the more I realize that his entire 2023-2024 "strong season" was held up by that hot run to start. In the second half of last year (47 games from January 1st onwards), here is how Puustinen's 5v5 production ranked:

-Goals: 4 (tied for 10th with Bunting, who played in fewer games)
-Points: 12 (12th)
-Goals/60: 0.56 (14th including Shea and Gruden, 12th excluding them)
-Points/60: 1.67 (9th)

He was simply not a productive player in the second half of last year, whether you want to look at it at a raw production perspective or a rate perspective. His only saving grace was that he was pretty good at getting primary assists, where he ranked 4th on the Penguins in primary assists. Everything else was completely lacking.

In the second half of last year, Puustinen was a playmaker that couldn't score goals and offered nothing defensively, physically or on special teams. With how he has absolutely cratered this year, I honestly don't think anyone should be surprised he was waived. He wasn't even good in the second half of last year for how little he offers beyond his offense.

 

[Lustaf]

So the Columbus fan base seems to think Jiriceks skating is awful and it hasnt made any improvement in the last two years.

How concerning is it really? Cause I'm not sure the Penguins have the best skating coaches.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

So the Columbus fan base seems to think Jiriceks skating is awful and it hasnt made any improvement in the last two years.

How concerning is it really? Cause I'm not sure the Penguins have the best skating coaches.

....which is funny because isn't that something this team used to be known for?

 

[Turin]

So the Columbus fan base seems to think Jiriceks skating is awful and it hasnt made any improvement in the last two years.

How concerning is it really? Cause I'm not sure the Penguins have the best skating coaches.

It's not good enough to make me want to give up McGroarty +.

He's big, so it's probably not as bad as it looks at times but he's not a burner out there and it's kind of hard to be that super creative risky defenseman if you can't skate.

 

[eXile3]

So the Columbus fan base seems to think Jiriceks skating is awful and it hasnt made any improvement in the last two years.

How concerning is it really? Cause I'm not sure the Penguins have the best skating coaches.

Skating has never been his strength and he’s about to turn 21 so I doubt it will improve much as this stage.

 

[Empoleon8771]

So the Columbus fan base seems to think Jiriceks skating is awful and it hasnt made any improvement in the last two years.

How concerning is it really? Cause I'm not sure the Penguins have the best skating coaches.

I'd do McGroarty for him because McGroarty has similar skating concerns, but I do think the skating concerns with Jiricek are definitely real and a factor here.

This may sound weird, but I wouldn't include Brunicke in a Jiricek trade because of those skating concerns. But I would include McGroarty because he also has those concerns.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'd do McGroarty for him because McGroarty has similar skating concerns, but I do think the skating concerns with Jiricek are definitely real and a factor here.

This may sound weird, but I wouldn't include Brunicke in a Jiricek trade because of those skating concerns. But I would include McGroarty because he also has those concerns.

I agree. Multiple facets of Brunicke's game really stood out to me. I honestly cannot say the same thing about Groats.

I know it seems like I'm super down on him but that isn't exactly true. I was never that excited to begin with TBH.

Don't much care about Yager either... full disclosure. So it's not like I'm sitting here stewing over that.

 

[Turin]

I'd do McGroarty for him because McGroarty has similar skating concerns, but I do think the skating concerns with Jiricek are definitely real and a factor here.

This may sound weird, but I wouldn't include Brunicke in a Jiricek trade because of those skating concerns. But I would include McGroarty because he also has those concerns.

But skating is less important for a winger who doesn’t play a very high risk game.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think Puustinen kinda sucks but I also think he should've been given a spot over any other number of loser bottom-6 guys this team just *has* to have around.

But if he's claimed, I don't think you're losing anything. It'll probably be like a Zohorna thing where he maybe bounces around before that's that for his NHL career. /shrug

As for Jiricek, his skating's a thing I've seen brought up as well. It's hard to sift through and find out what's just hyperbole and what's actual analysis though. If a guy's just an average skater people love to freak out and pretend he's completely immobile. Dude just scored off the rush in OT the other night. If his skating was awful, I doubt he's gonna be capable of something like that.

I dunno. Skill's definitely there I think, and people constantly talk about his on-ice IQ, but yeah... Skating's kind of a must in this league nowadays. I'm not trying to throw the kitchen sink at a dude who might end up being Melichar or Noah Welch. I'm obviously exaggerating and know Jiricek is a hell of a prospect, but a defenseman who has skating concerns is sketch as f*** to me.

 

[Lustaf]

I'd do McGroarty for him because McGroarty has similar skating concerns, but I do think the skating concerns with Jiricek are definitely real and a factor here.

This may sound weird, but I wouldn't include Brunicke in a Jiricek trade because of those skating concerns. But I would include McGroarty because he also has those concerns.

But a defenceman with skating issues is harder to mask in the lineup then a winger.

 

[Sideline]

It was a throw away comment as part of a larger conversation on TSN Overdrive, but Lebrun just confirmed Dubas has been trying to get something done for Jiricek.

 

[Empoleon8771]

But a defenceman with skating issues is harder to mask in the lineup then a winger.

Is it really in Sullivan's system? They've had plenty of mediocre skating defensemen work in Sullivan's system but not really as many mediocre skating wingers.

 

[SEALBound]

Assumption: Top 5 pick, take Misa.

Are we better off with:

McGroarty, Misa
Pickering, Brunicke

or

Misa
Pickering, Brunicke, Jiricek

I would assume the deal is around McGroarty and maybe a small plus. I can't imagine there will be a big package deal.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Apparently Columbus is looking for a similar caliber prospect to Jiricek or an earlier 1st rounder.

Folks seem to think the Wild are trying to make a push for him. No idea what they've got to offer the Jackets.

I still wonder if Larsson would be an attractive piece. I'd hesitate to part with McG, not because he's of the same caliber in a vacuum, but because I think this team's gotta try and accumulate prospects and draft capital as opposed to swap pieces around. Absolutely no way I'm spending a 1st in any of the next few drafts though.

 

[TimmyD]

Puustinen spent 40% of his ice time last year with Malkin. This idea that Puustinen never got a shot in the top-6 is just not true.

Again, the dude has no traits that suggests he's a NHLer. His best trait is his shot, but he has too slow of a release for it to be effective in the NHL. You're left with a guy who's 5'9" that isn't fast, doesn't offer any sort of defense/physicality and can't score goals at the NHL level. What is even left there? I guess he has decent playmaking, but as evidence with this year he can't be a driver with his playmaking.

I really struggle to see what differentiates Puustinen from Emil Bemstrom here, and I don't think anyone cared that Bemstrom was waived to start the year. The two are the same age, they were born 3 days apart from each other.

What differentiates them is that people legitimately believed Puustinen was/is a good player and they like him. So instead of just admitting he sucks and they were wrong they want to find someone else to blame.

 

[Turin]

Is it really in Sullivan's system? They've had plenty of mediocre skating defensemen work in Sullivan's system but not really as many mediocre skating wingers.

We haven’t had any mediocre skating OFDs

 

[Coastal Kev]

Just fell to my knees in the middle of Walmart

I wish terrible things for this franchise that tied their hitch to a Meathead from beantown.

 

[Empoleon8771]

We haven’t had any mediocre skating OFDs

Jiricek isn't just an OFD, though.

 

[Turin]

Jiricek isn't just an OFD, though.

He is right now.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Sportsnet's Chris Johnston is saying this is all coming from a disconnect between Jiricek and the Jackets. Where he thinks he should be given more of an opportunity and the team's still kinda waiting for him to show more before they commit to giving him a permanent spot in the NHL. The cliche "player wants a fresh start" situation. FWIW

 

[Empoleon8771]

He is right now.

Based on what? I've not read any comments from Jackets fans saying his defense is a problem.

The dude projects to be a 2-way monster with mediocre skating. The profile reminds me of Ryan Suter.

 

[SEALBound]

Sportsnet's Chris Johnston is saying this is all coming from a disconnect between Jiricek and the Jackets. Where he thinks he should be given more of an opportunity and the team's still kinda waiting for him to show more before they commit to giving him a permanent spot in the NHL. The cliche "player wants a fresh start" situation. FWIW

We can arrange that. But again, are we really that much better of with Jiricek vs McGroarty?

 

[Empoleon8771]

Also if you want to go by NHL Edge, Jiricek's top skating speed in the last 2 years has been pretty much league average. His top speed this year was 21.36 MPH (average is 21.25 MPH) and last year was 21.53 MPH (average was 21.67 MPH).

This isn't a Rob Scuderi type of skating issue, he's just a mediocre skater. But just like with McGroarty, a high hockey IQ and playing smart away from the puck can easily mask a mediocre skater.

Jiricek seems to be about an equivalent skater to Pettersson.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Reading the Jackets forum, you'd think the dude is the defenseman version of Poulin and not a guy almost universally regarded as a top-15/20 prospect league wide. Man, a lot of 'em can't wait to trade the guy and be done with it.

Not that our HFboards opinions matter. It's just funny.

 

[Turin]

Also if you want to go by NHL Edge, Jiricek's top skating speed in the last 2 years has been pretty much league average. His top speed this year was 21.36 MPH (average is 21.25 MPH) and last year was 21.53 MPH (average was 21.67 MPH).

This isn't a Rob Scuderi type of skating issue, he's just a mediocre skater. But just like with McGroarty, a high hockey IQ and playing smart away from the puck can easily mask a mediocre skater.

Jiricek seems to be about an equivalent skater to Pettersson.

Top speed is like 1/4th of what goes into skating.