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

[deakka]

Yea, probably. Also WBS will get a huge boost with Blomqvist playing the majority of games.

Not really. Larsson is probably having as good of a season stat wise as Blomqvist will

 

[MeinerEiner]

So lame to send Blomqvist down.

"Sooo, youg guy. Youve been by FAR our best goaltender, so we gonna send you down to the AHL.
Thanks for trying tho!"

They had to send someone down to stay within the 23 players on the roster. Recalling Pono and Nieto gives them 13 forwards. There was no other choice then sending down Blomqvist.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Blomqvist would be better off playing regularly in WBS over splitting time with Jarry and Nedjelkovic in the NHL. I still feel like they'll be riding Nedjelkovic and try to get someone to trade assets for him, after that they'll call Blomqvist back up and have Jarry and Blomqvist as their goalies.

 

[Sideline]

Blomqvist would be better off playing regularly in WBS over splitting time with Jarry and Nedjelkovic in the NHL. I still feel like they'll be riding Nedjelkovic and try to get someone to trade assets for him, after that they'll call Blomqvist back up and have Jarry and Blomqvist as their goalies.

I agree.

And if Dubas is ready to pull the chute on this year, then I don't want Blomquist getting shelled every night behind a bad team.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I don't really mind Blom being sent down. He's gonna get f***ing shelled here night in and night out, and honestly, gimme the two worse goalies. I'm tryin' to get that top-5 pick y'know what I mean?

 

[Malkinstheman]

Yeah I'd much rather Blom win games and actually have fun with WBS. I can't imagine playing behind that Pens D and coming out unscathed mentally

 

[Khelandros]

Blomqvist is waiver exempt.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Blomqvist is waiver exempt.

This might have something to do with it

I bet the pens don't even look at it any other way

Just a happy coincidence that Blom gets to move off the NHL team again

 

[Khelandros]

This might have something to do with it

I bet the pens don't even look at it any other way

Just a happy coincidence that Blom gets to move off the NHL team again

Waiver exempt players will always be the first to get sent down. It's SOP for every NHL team.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I'm not defending Sullivan. I'm just saying complaining about him not revealing his gameplan to the media is silly. He should be judged on how the team performs on the ice, not what he says to the media. Using those standards, he should have been fired at least 4 years ago.

No one stated game plan. They asked him to discuss any adjustments. This isn't baseball or football where these are supremely hidden tactics. Teams know what the other is doing and the x factor is the roster that allows them to do it.

So none of this is a f***ing mystery a dipshit like Sullivan is keeping close to his vest. Hockey systems are not super difficult. What is, is when you're asked to explain adjustments when you see absolutely none on the on ice product.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Blomqvist is waiver exempt.

Yep.

Dubas can pull Blom in his office.

The Conversation would be like this.

Dubas ' You have performed amazingly this year and we want to bring you back up as soon as we can this year or make space for you next year. Your waiver exempt so we have to send you down even though you are our best goalie. Keep it up'

Blom
' this sucks but I get it'


The end

 

[pistolpete11]

No one stated game plan. They asked him to discuss any adjustments. This isn't baseball or football where these are supremely hidden tactics. Teams know what the other is doing and the x factor is the roster that allows them to do it.

So none of this is a f***ing mystery a dipshit like Sullivan is keeping close to his vest. Hockey systems are not super difficult. What is, is when you're asked to explain adjustments when you see absolutely none on the on ice product.

Adjustments to what?...the gameplan....?

If hockey gameplans are so basic and simple, then it shouldn't take the coach telling the media what they are. They (and the fans) should be able to figure it out themselves.

If he's not making adjustments (which I don't know to be true, pretty sure Jesse and maybe others have done some reporting on changes he's made), then THAT'S the problem. Not that he can't or won't answer the media's questions.

If he's making adjustments, then they are clearly the wrong adjustments and/or the team isn't capable of playing that way and/or the team has given up on him.



Again, I can't stand Sullivan. I just don't think this is a valid criticism.

Have a good day.

 

[Darren McCord]

Adjustments to what?...the gameplan....?

If hockey gameplans are so basic and simple, then it shouldn't take the coach telling the media what they are. They (and the fans) should be able to figure it out themselves.

If he's not making adjustments (which I don't know to be true, pretty sure Jesse and maybe others have done some reporting on changes he's made), then THAT'S the problem. Not that he can't or won't answer the media's questions.

If he's making adjustments, then they are clearly the wrong adjustments and/or the team isn't capable of playing that way and/or the team has given up on him.



Again, I can't stand Sullivan. I just don't think this is a valid criticism.

Have a good day.

I think everyone can see he hasn’t made adjustment. So when he says he has but you can’t tell them he is straight up lying.

So asking him to elaborate isn’t an issue. Him lying and being defensive is.

And a lot or people reported he hasn’t really made changes or if any very few.

I think his idea of adjustments is putting Malkin with Crosby or taking karlsson off the pp. that’s not what he’s being asked about and he’s dodging it

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Last night while watching the WBS game there was something about Pono's skating that caught my eye. Very much not a technical description, but you ever see those videos of a chicken being picked up and no matter how you move it its head remains stable? That's what he reminded me of.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Adjustments to what?...the gameplan....?

If hockey gameplans are so basic and simple, then it shouldn't take the coach telling the media what they are. They (and the fans) should be able to figure it out themselves.

If he's not making adjustments (which I don't know to be true, pretty sure Jesse and maybe others have done some reporting on changes he's made), then THAT'S the problem. Not that he can't or won't answer the media's questions.

If he's making adjustments, then they are clearly the wrong adjustments and/or the team isn't capable of playing that way and/or the team has given up on him.



Again, I can't stand Sullivan. I just don't think this is a valid criticism.

Have a good day.

Other coaches constantly get asked the question about adjustments and have no issue giving a general description of what they did to adjust to what the opposition is doing. Things like, "they were taking away our stretch pass, so we had to do this" or "they were sending two guys in on the forecheck, so we made sure we had this as support" type stuff.

Sullivan not explaining adjustments is a valid criticism since it's something that ALL coaches are asked about, especially after a bad period or stretch of play. Because it speaks to the man's lack of ability to explain why his team can't seem to alter its game when whatever the original game plan they had isn't working.

 

[BusinessGoose]

And as another nondefense of Sullivan...

.. These players are pros and should be able to like... Function better than they are. Like, even if they all went off-script, like... Come on guys

The gameplan is kind of like.. A corporate mission statement

The average employee can get the job done without framing their entire day around it

HOWEVER

The players are not getting anything done, so they either need to follow what the coach is saying or have consequences and/or the coach needs to find some way to get them to perform better with different use/strat/adjustments, and it *seems* like none is happening

 

[SEALBound]

I hate to say it but the difference between us being a good and bad team isn't Blomqvist vs Neds/Jarry.

Realistically, if we want to move Jarry we need him to play games. More so, we need him to play and do well for a stretch. I don't think we should be so concerned about a playoff spot because...I mean, we're not getting there barring a miracle. Send Blomy to develop in the AHL some more. Call up as needed.

Tank with Neds and Jarry. Trade Jarry whenever possible.

 

[Beauner]

Well, everyone and their mother is back to speculating where Crosby will be traded to

f***ing circus

 

[Hollowmoon]

Why send your best goalie to AHL?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Adjustments to what?...the gameplan....?

If hockey gameplans are so basic and simple, then it shouldn't take the coach telling the media what they are. They (and the fans) should be able to figure it out themselves.

If he's not making adjustments (which I don't know to be true, pretty sure Jesse and maybe others have done some reporting on changes he's made), then THAT'S the problem. Not that he can't or won't answer the media's questions.

If he's making adjustments, then they are clearly the wrong adjustments and/or the team isn't capable of playing that way and/or the team has given up on him.



Again, I can't stand Sullivan. I just don't think this is a valid criticism.

Have a good day.

What, the passive 1-2-2 he tries to use at times but can't even implement that for a full game? Oooh Jesse did a write up that one time last year in November.

The shitty play is a carry over from March of last season. How about we go with that. You can do some research and see it for yourself.

 

[Fogel]

Why send your best goalie to AHL?

They have to try to rehab Jarry enough to be usable or tradeable. No team is going to let a contract like his be in the AHL for a season, that would be almost 4.5M.

 

[Pens x]

Why send your best goalie to AHL?

Because Dubas continues to look like a moron for signing Jarry. You cant justify that deal when he is buried in the AHL.

I know, i inow. DUbAs hAd nO OtHer OptiOns! (Let him walk?)

Get on your broom and head back to Canada, Harry Potter.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Well, everyone and their mother is back to speculating where Crosby will be traded to

f***ing circus

It’s not going to happen. I don’t know why people have to project their own perspectives into these situations, but it’s obvious Crosby wants to retire a Penguin. And it’s weird to me, because it’s like there’s a complete shift in values where the majority of fans used to love when a player spent his entire career with a team, and now they want to pull everything apart including the core that got us here after a couple rough years.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I still think the real "blow up" of this team won't happen this season, but I honestly don't think the Penguins are that far off from it yet. With the retention slots for Petry and Smith going away after this season, along with the financial impact I talked about last night with Karlsson, I bet he gets traded next off-season with massive retention.

In terms of players who actually matter and might have some decent value, I'm expecting the trade sequence to look something like:

-2024-2025 season trades: Pettersson, O'Connor and Nedjelkovic
-2025 off-season trades: Karlsson and one of Rust or Rakell
-2025-2026 season trades: Bunting and Hayes

Personally, I'm a bit curious about whether Rakell could be moved this season as well. He's having a strong year and 3 years at $5 million is pretty comparable to what players like Rakell would be making in free agency anyway (see Teravainen last off-season, signed for 3 years at $5.4 million). They'd have to take money back, but a 1 or 2 year cap dump plus futures for Rakell seems like a no brainer.

 

[Jesse]

I think the staff made adjustments this season, but not to the 5 on 5 product.

The power-play is discernible different year over year.

The forecheck is the same. 1-2-2 with a swing up front and the expectation of constant pressure. Weak side D pinching is still something that happens even in low percentage situations. The defensive zone scheme is a puck-side overload but somehow twice as worse as last season.

So, the answer is yes and no to me. Did he change the power-play? Yes. Now, maybe that was Quinn. I have no idea.

But for my money, and from my vantage point, the rest of the soup has the same ingredients. Which isn't unusual. Look at a guy like Laviolette, or Tortorella, or even Guy Boucher back in the day. They have "their system." They are unlikely to change "their system." Either team deploys "their system" better, or they get fired. Because buying a coach in the NHL is essentially buying "their system" for better or worse.

NHL coaches do not run around from week to week or team to team and fundamentally make wholesale changes to their style of play on the fly. That is about the rarest thing you can see in the NHL. Sullivan made big changes during the Cup runs situationally, but that seems to have stopped.

I wrote a piece last year in December about how Sullivan had been deploying a deeper 1-2-2 without the swing and the heavy forecheck but that only stuck around a few times and we never saw it again, but it was so stark I highly doubt it was unintentional.