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

[Honour Over Glory]

Lol do you see Harkins level of offensive talent mate?

Bunting-Glass-Beauvillier has promise. Will Sullivan give it more time? Probably not.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Glass and Pulijujarvi both have the smarts/talent to play up in the lineup. (And I really don’t care if someone tries to convonce me Glass is garbage. I see something else.)
If the coach wasn’t so regimented, there are some options to try. Unfortunately, he is who he is, so it would take more injuries to see other combos.

I agree. Glass is hanging in there offensively under difficult conditions. 71% D-zone starts. Acciari and Hayes his most common linemates.
There's 5 Forward regulars who've done worse at even-strength point generation, including Rust and Bunting. I'm glad to see him get a chance in a more offensive role tonight.

Outside of that he's been our stingiest Forward PK'er. Crushing it there. That alone warrants a lineup spot on a team that can't keep the puck out of the net.

We got 7 games in 12 nights here. 4 of them are weak opponents. Rust isn't gonna be back for a bit still. He's gotta seize this opportunity.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

If you have to retain to move Rust, just keep him. He's consistently productive and a character guy. You don't get much for ~5 mil these days, people.

Debrusk and Bertuzzi made more than Rust in UFA on long term deals. You can talk about age, but I'd bet Rust is a better player over the duration of his deal.

 

[Sideline]

If you have to retain to move Rust, just keep him. He's consistently productive and a character guy. You don't get much for ~5 mil these days, people.

Debrusk and Bertuzzi made more than Rust in UFA on long term deals. You can talk about age, but I'd bet Rust is a better player over the duration of his deal.

Completely agree. The Penguins aren't 3MM of cap space away from competing in 2026. They should be trading guys to gain assets not spending assets to trade guys.

 

[eXile3]

Rust still has value and I doubt very much you would have to retain on him. Guy scored 56 points in 62 games and is getting paid 5 mill a year. Some people are just being negative for the sake of being negative.

 

[Malkinstheman]

If Rust has a productive rest of the year I could see him being very valuable to teams like Buffalo or Detroit looking to take the next step

Problem is, with how Sullivan and Dubas have talked about him, it doesn't seem likely like he's going anywhere

 

[pistolpete11]

No way do you retain on Rust. Leave open the retention slots to maximize the returns on UFA's at the deadline. Take back a contract instead or just hold onto him and trade him when he's a UFA.

That goes for basically anybody that's a non-UFA, with the possible exception of Karlsson.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Yeah, if you can get out of this Rust contract with no penalty, do it. Even if you get nothing in return it would be worth it. You can just use the free cap space later to generate assets. We turned 3.6M into a 2nd by taking on Hayes. Imagine what you can do with Rust's remaining 20.5M.

 

[SEALBound]

Completely agree. The Penguins aren't 3MM of cap space away from competing in 2026. They should be trading guys to gain assets not spending assets to trade guys.

Agreed and with that, it's not like Rust is going to be a difference maker in this team being 32nd OV or not.

I mean, honestly, people want to trade Rust at the moment because he's been here forever and we are tired of him. It was the exact same thing with Kunitz and to a much larger extent, Dupuis.

Yeah, if you can get out of this Rust contract with no penalty, do it. Even if you get nothing in return it would be worth it. You can just use the free cap space later to generate assets. We turned 3.6M into a 2nd by taking on Hayes. Imagine what you can do with Rust's remaining 20.5M.

I don't agree with that. If the deal is Rust for a conditional 7th or future considerations, I don't do it The only way I'm on board with trading Rust and Rakell is if there is actual value coming back that makes sense. Say, a 3rd liner (who is a decently capable player) + a 3rd with no retention if there is a cap issue. Or a 3rd straight up if there's not.

He's not in the "dump by any means necessary" category.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If you're not getting assets for a guy, it's completely pointless for this team to be trading him.

If you can't get anything for Rust, keep him and let him help Crosby get as many points as Sid can get. Same thing with Rakell. You'll still have plenty of cap space to take on salary dumps with keeping Rust and Rakell.

 

[SEALBound]

If you're not getting assets for a guy, it's completely pointless for this team to be trading him.

If you can't get anything for Rust, keep him and let him help Crosby get as many points as Sid can get. Same thing with Rakell. You'll still have plenty of cap space to take on salary dumps with keeping Rust and Rakell.

Exactly. With Sid, Malkin, and Letang all on workable deals, we will have $25mil+ in cap space next year with 9 forwards, 4 dmen, and 2 goalies signed with a gluttony of young kids ready to take those remaining slots.

I expect us to take on at least one more Hayes-like deal. I also anticipate one of Hayes, Acciari, or Lizotte being traded next off-season.

We are trending to be a bottom-five team with them, so the argument "well, you trade them so we can tank" doesn't hold much water either.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Agreed and with that, it's not like Rust is going to be a difference maker in this team being 32nd OV or not.

I mean, honestly, people want to trade Rust at the moment because he's been here forever and we are tired of him. It was the exact same thing with Kunitz and to a much larger extent, Dupuis.

I don't agree with that. If the deal is Rust for a conditional 7th or future considerations, I don't do it The only way I'm on board with trading Rust and Rakell is if there is actual value coming back that makes sense. Say, a 3rd liner (who is a decently capable player) + a 3rd with no retention if there is a cap issue. Or a 3rd straight up if there's not.

He's not in the "dump by any means necessary" category.

Well obviously you hold out for the best offer. But if there's none forthcoming at the deadline or in the summer, I would definitely cap dump. You can do a lot with that money and Rust doesn't serve a purpose here anymore. Holding onto him diminishes his value at his age.
Every year you keep Rust is 5.1M you coulda used to get picks, without gaining anything by him staying. Urgency is called for. Plus he gets injured a lot and you risk him getting a really bad one at some point.

 

[Zbynek]

Rust might just be the most Sully protected player on the whole roster... he's going NOWHERE

 

[Gurglesons]

If you're not getting assets for a guy, it's completely pointless for this team to be trading him.

If you can't get anything for Rust, keep him and let him help Crosby get as many points as Sid can get. Same thing with Rakell. You'll still have plenty of cap space to take on salary dumps with keeping Rust and Rakell.

You probably hang onto Rust until the last year of his contract and hope someone bites on him at 50%.

 

[SEALBound]

Well obviously you hold out for the best offer. But if there's none forthcoming at the deadline or in the summer, I would definitely cap dump. You can do a lot with that money and Rust doesn't serve a purpose here anymore. Holding onto him diminishes his value at his age.
Every year you keep Rust is 5.1M you coulda used to get picks, without gaining anything by him staying. Urgency is called for. Plus he gets injured a lot and you risk him getting a really bad one at some point.

You CAN do a lot with $5mil, sort of. The problem is that I don't think you're getting a Rust level player in free agency for $5mil. That's the benefit of drafting and resigning - you get a small discount at times. I just cruised the 2025 UFA forwards list and I don't see anyone that makes me say "Oh! Dump Rust and sign that guy!"

And again, given where the team is at, I just don't see the point. No one you get for the $5mil is going to magically change things.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I could see us taking a contact back but not retaining. And if you can't make that deal happen, you don't do it. With where the team is at right now, you don't waste a retention slot of Rust, especially if his value is as low as you seem to think it is.

You save those slots for major retentions like Jarry/Karlsson or for TDL deals on expiring deals to get that 1st over the 2nd such as Pettersson.

If you have to retain to move Rust, just keep him. He's consistently productive and a character guy. You don't get much for ~5 mil these days, people.

Debrusk and Bertuzzi made more than Rust in UFA on long term deals. You can talk about age, but I'd bet Rust is a better player over the duration of his deal.

Agreed the only future multiple year retention currently we should do is Karlsson. A 5 to 7 million dollar Karlsson is worth it to another team.
If the proper deal comes into place.

Rust - we mostly get a UFA signing back and a draft pick.
Draft pick will be decided by how good/bad the contract AAV/Length is.

Are retention spots should be used for facilitating deals by getting draft capital and retaining 50% as the middle team or retaining our UFA to bes to other teams.

Now eventually we will run out (slow down) of contracts we want to trade / retain on.

This year currently players we could be trading at the deadline

This year We have 1 retention spot!
Matt Grzelcyk
DOC
Eller
Petts - most likely the contract we retain on for 50% this year.
Karlsson (might be an offseason deal)
Glass
Jesse Puljujarvi

Rust - maybe maybe (Detroit I believe was interested)

Next year 2-3 retention spots

Karlsson - if he's still here another year looking to retain and trade.
Accairi - bottom 6 guy someone will need him
Hayes - bottom 6 C
Bunting - definitely a contract I can see us retain 50%
Lizotte

Currently contracts wise this is what we are looking at.
I can definitely see a team giving us an overpaid defensemen that plays top 4 minutes in the next 2 years. That is not a top 4 D man (Graves lol)

Rust to a team weak on forward for an overpaid D man

Should any other names be added?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

You don't have to retain on Rust to move him. I suggested retaining on Rust to maximize the return. Rust at $5M is an attractive player for teams trying to compete. Rust at like $3.5M is a guy pretty much any team in the league would pony up for imo.

I don't think it really matters who the team retains on aside from EK tbh. You can hold your retention slots, but it might be better to use them when shipping out guys like Rust or Rakell to try and get a bit more value for guys that teams will actually want as opposed to trying to simply move guys like Jarry or Graves.

 

[SEALBound]

Agreed the only future multiple year retention currently we should do is Karlsson. A 5 to 7 million dollar Karlsson is worth it to another team.
If the proper deal comes into place.

Rust - we mostly get a UFA signing back and a draft pick.
Draft pick will be decided by how good/bad the contract AAV/Length is.

Are retention spots should be used for facilitating deals by getting draft capital and retaining 50% as the middle team or retaining our UFA to bes to other teams.

Now eventually we will run out (slow down) of contracts we want to trade / retain on.

This year currently players we could be trading at the deadline

This year We have 1 retention spot!
Matt Grzelcyk
DOC
Eller
Petts - most likely the contract we retain on for 50% this year.
Karlsson (might be an offseason deal)
Glass
Jesse Puljujarvi

Rust - maybe maybe (Detroit I believe was interested)

Next year 2-3 retention spots

Karlsson - if he's still here another year looking to retain and trade.
Accairi - bottom 6 guy someone will need him
Hayes - bottom 6 C
Bunting - definitely a contract I can see us retain 50%
Lizotte

Currently contracts wise this is what we are looking at.
I can definitely see a team giving us an overpaid defensemen that plays top 4 minutes in the next 2 years. That is not a top 4 D man (Graves lol)

Rust to a team weak on forward for an overpaid D man

Should any other names be added?

With this list:
Matt Grzelcyk
DOC
Eller
Petts - most likely the contract we retain on for 50% this year.
Karlsson (might be an offseason deal)
Glass
Jesse Puljujarvi

I, one, don't think Karlsson will be traded. And two, with the exception of Pettersson, no one on that list needs to be retained on to facilitate a trade in the VAST majority of reasonable trade circumstances. Petts might need it after a team like say, Edmonton or Vancouver, loads up in an all-in effort. Everyone else on the list has a very meager cap hit by that point in the season.

On the next list, I could see Karlsson and Bunting as a maybe? Hayes at $3mil, Lizotte at $2mil, Acciari at $2mil - those are all easy cap hits to trade for. Those are typically cap in, cap out moves or a straight trade for low pay like a 4th or 5th.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

With this list:
Matt Grzelcyk
DOC
Eller
Petts - most likely the contract we retain on for 50% this year.
Karlsson (might be an offseason deal)
Glass
Jesse Puljujarvi

I, one, don't think Karlsson will be traded. And two, with the exception of Pettersson, no one on that list needs to be retained on to facilitate a trade in the VAST majority of reasonable trade circumstances. Petts might need it after a team like say, Edmonton or Vancouver, loads up in an all-in effort. Everyone else on the list has a very meager cap hit by that point in the season.

On the next list, I could see Karlsson and Bunting as a maybe? Hayes at $3mil, Lizotte at $2mil, Acciari at $2mil - those are all easy cap hits to trade for. Those are typically cap in, cap out moves or a straight trade for low pay like a 4th or 5th.

I probably didn't do well enough to articulate my point. It was to talk about retentions and on top of that discuss players we can move for the next 2 seasons.

You think we are keeping Karlsson?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Why do we need a Rust-level player for the rebuild?

Oh man, what will we do? If only we had a lazy-ass terrible PP1 remora to leech 40ish points a year (which made absolutely no difference in our standings when we were borderline playoff bound) on a team that is hoping to maybe get a top 5 pick!

 

[SEALBound]

I probably didn't do well enough to articulate my point. It was to talk about retentions and on top of that discuss players we can move for the next 2 seasons.

You think we are keeping Karlsson?

No, I got what you were saying. For that first group, you save it for Pettersson. Past this year, it's a toss up because I don't think we know the direction just yet.

I think we keep Karlsson until his last year. He MIGHT go out at the TDL at 50%. Might have to work out a third party trade to retain additionally.

Why do we need a Rust-level player for the rebuild?

What difference does it make? Chicago, San Jose Anaheim, and Columbus all have one or more Rust level players. Doesn't seem to be helping or hurting them.

 

[HandshakeLine]

What difference does it make? Chicago, San Jose Anaheim, and Columbus all have one or more Rust level players. Doesn't seem to be helping or hurting them.

But why do we need to go out and get one if we get rid of one?

Is this some affirmative action program for dudes who can't spell "Brian" or something?

 

[KrisLetAngry]

No, I got what you were saying. For that first group, you save it for Pettersson. Past this year, it's a toss up because I don't think we know the direction just yet.

I think we keep Karlsson until his last year. He MIGHT go out at the TDL at 50%. Might have to work out a third party trade to retain additionally.

What difference does it make? Chicago, San Jose Anaheim, and Columbus all have one or more Rust level players. Doesn't seem to be helping or hurting them.

You think he's just stuck here or believes that we can be something?

 

[SEALBound]

But why do we need to go out and get one if we get rid of one?

Is this some affirmative action program for dudes who can't spell "Brian" or something?

I never said we needed to go out and get one?

Are you sure you're replying to the right post?

You think he's just stuck here or believes that we can be something?

I imagine both. I think when you get paid $11.5mil a year but play like a $5mil guy, you're gonna be stuck. That said, I think guys like Sid, Geno, Letang, and Karlsson all get to where they want to be by having that belief that they are always in-it and capable of winning.

 

[Khelandros]

Since everything has been pretty quite recently, here is a quick update.