Salary Cap: Pens Salary Thread: Pens Ownership "Dubas... that Coca-Cola machine. I want you to shoot the lock off it. There may be some waiver players in there."

[SEALBound]

Not being sarcastic, but hasn't that already happened? I can't imagine any lower you can fall than what happened this year?

-Missed the playoffs barely last year
-Re-tooled and brought in a big name in Karlsson to make one last push
-End up being WORSE than the prior year instead.

Isn't that basically bottoming out?

I would say "yes" from our POV but I don't think the org sees it that way. I imagine the general belief is "as long as Sid and Geno are here, we are competitors". So "bottom" is likely pretty far away for them but again I can't imagine Sully is sitting back thinking this all still looks really good on him. I don't think there are many people saying "Oh, Sullivan is doing great...it's merely the players." That's a nice sound bite for Twitter but I think the real hockey world knows better. So do you leave now and "sell high" on yourself before it gets worse? That's all I was talking about.

I was rewatching Games 6 and 7 of the 2009 Cup…so young and exciting and energetic, and miles away from the schlock being put on the ice today…just sad to watch the Pens in their current state under this coaching staff…

We could really use a good Max Talbot right now.

It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day, It's April Fools Day...

...breath...breath...

 

[chethejet]

FSG just loves sullivan as a fellow Boston beanie so not only for financial reasons but just stupid extension handcuffs Dubas. It really doesn't matter as they transition to a younger roster and Sullivan will be gone when Dubas hires his guy to coach his roster. This year jake, next year Rust, Karlsson, and see what Sid does here. If Sid is not interested in the rebuild, then yep I get a package of assets from the team he wants to go to. Pens will have cap space up the kazoo and picks and prospect from these deals to build the base of talent for the next number of years.

 

[HandshakeLine]

lol Sid ain’t getting traded, pt. 2356

 

[Grouch]

Obv the $1.5m savings goes to Harkins extension - 4 yrs @ $2.3m......

stats should look like this @ end of 4 years

280 gms played
2 goals
8 assists
13 concussions

9 deceptively good shots

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Harkins....
Has it ever happened where a players has 0 goals over a season (say having played over 40 games), where their only goal(s) was on a shootout?

I guess I'm in weird though mode :\.

You made my heart skip a beat with that one for a moment....damn you .

 

[molon labe]

FSG just loves sullivan as a fellow Boston beanie so not only for financial reasons but just stupid extension handcuffs Dubas. It really doesn't matter as they transition to a younger roster and Sullivan will be gone when Dubas hires his guy to coach his roster. This year jake, next year Rust, Karlsson, and see what Sid does here. If Sid is not interested in the rebuild, then yep I get a package of assets from the team he wants to go to. Pens will have cap space up the kazoo and picks and prospect from these deals to build the base of talent for the next number of years.

Pittsburgh sits in the top-10 with regard to millions generated from season ticket holders.

But there's also viewership.

I can't imagine the financial impact of keeping this dufus and his idiotic roster construction around any longer.

But literally nothing this ownership/front office/management has done for the past several years has made any lick of sense so who knows. Maybe they're leveraging a loss on Pittsburgh for tax implications. I'm out of ideas.

 

[eXile3]

Pittsburgh sits in the top-10 with regard to millions generated from season ticket holders.

But there's also viewership.

I can't imagine the financial impact of keeping this dufus and his idiotic roster construction around any longer.

But literally nothing this ownership/front office/management has done for the past several years has made any lick of sense so who knows. Maybe they're leveraging a loss on Pittsburgh for tax implications. I'm out of ideas.

People keep going to games and paying an absolute ridiculous price for cable. There won’t be change until people stop consuming the product unfortunately.

 

[SEALBound]

Pittsburgh sits in the top-10 with regard to millions generated from season ticket holders.

But there's also viewership.

I can't imagine the financial impact of keeping this dufus and his idiotic roster construction around any longer.

But literally nothing this ownership/front office/management has done for the past several years has made any lick of sense so who knows. Maybe they're leveraging a loss on Pittsburgh for tax implications. I'm out of ideas.

Indeed. Fans will still go to games and watch. We have to keep in mind, the majority of fans willing to take their time to post on these boards are, normally, a lot more conscientious of hockey and more knowledgeable than the average fan. I would bet there's a good deal of fans and STH's that have no idea that Sullivan is a primary source of the issues they see. Remember the "We Want Fleury" lady?

Look at Tomlin and Steelers' fans. They ain't gonna stop going in protest of him. Same with Sullivan and Pens.

 

[chethejet]

Not sure the impact of the financial end of AT&T sports ending. But I have to assume they are doing well with the regional sports channel with the Pirates. The extra events also are a nice kicker for the Pens. Pens with FSG have deep pockets here as needed. But, I do think Dubas will move older contract/players this off season and next to get more assets to stick the system. Look at 25/26 and teams have a ton of cap space to work with. Pens moving Rust and Karlsson alone for picks and prospects even if Sid signs for 10 million per for 2 years have 57 million of cap space.

 

[Nakawick]

We don't need a young cost effective player. With the right moves, we can fit an 11m forward, or more likely an 8-9m forward and a 3m D. Other than Jake or maybe Monahan I don't know who that would be on the FA market. I'd be looking to go big game hunting for a trade with a team in a cap crunch. Think Phil Kessel 2.0

We don't need a young cost effective player. With the right moves, we can fit an 11m forward, or more likely an 8-9m forward and a 3m D. Other than Jake or maybe Monahan I don't know who that would be on the FA market. I'd be looking to go big game hunting for a trade with a team in a cap crunch. Think Phil Kessel 2.0.

But a cost controlled young player allows you to still bring in a player with a higher salary.

 

[TNT87]

This whole season has been one big April Fool's joke.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

This whole season has been one big April Fool's joke.

View attachment 844535

I'm actually Josh Yohe. Sorry for not being honest with you guys earlier.

 

[eXile3]

But a cost controlled young player allows you to still bring in a player with a higher salary.

Teams have no reason to trade cost controlled young players though.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Harkins is pacing to go goalless for the year. The mad lad might actually do it.

 

[SEALBound]

I'm actually Josh Yohe. Sorry for not being honest with you guys earlier.

Now that we know - several of your opinions are wrong.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Indeed. Fans will still go to games and watch. We have to keep in mind, the majority of fans willing to take their time to post on these boards are, normally, a lot more conscientious of hockey and more knowledgeable than the average fan. I would bet there's a good deal of fans and STH's that have no idea that Sullivan is a primary source of the issues they see. Remember the "We Want Fleury" lady?

Look at Tomlin and Steelers' fans. They ain't gonna stop going in protest of him. Same with Sullivan and Pens.

Casual fans don't take a 7-year stretch of one series victory as hard as we do. They more see each year as individual entities, and don't think about the past.
They're just aware he got 2 Cups, and therefore cannot be a core problem right now, because he's "one of the best coaches in the league" who went back2back.

They aren't aware of how he's declined and changed.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I'm actually Josh Yohe. Sorry for not being honest with you guys earlier.

I thought I was Yohe?

 

[SEALBound]

Casual fans don't take a 7-year stretch of one series victory as hard as we do. They more see each year as individual entities, and don't think about the past.
They're just aware he got 2 Cups, and therefore cannot be a core problem right now, because he's "one of the best coaches in the league" who went back2back.

They aren't aware of how he's declined and changed.

100%.

Just like people had trouble reconciling that once you get an elite goalie like Murray in place, you can win back-to-back Cups. Nope...they wanted Fleury!

 

[Nakawick]

Teams have no reason to trade cost controlled young players though.

You ought to review history, it can and does happen.

 

[Bishop7979]

At this point, I am sick of seeing articles about how slim of a playoff chance they have.

Pack it in, let the kids play and see what you have when you give (win or lose) gruden, Poulin, puusy, O'Connor, poolparty and, when he's healthy, ponomarev consistent ice time and if they have a pick anywhere between 8 and 12 I want them to keep it and draft iginla's kid, then trade up to be early enough in round 2 to grab Dean Letourneau.

Letourneau could be the steal of the draft. I know there's concern that he's successful just because he towers over kids his age, but, he apparently has Tage Thompson level skating to go with being 6ft 7 while still showing great hands and a great shot.

 

[BillyOcean]

Has there been a younger player that has shown any sort of promise this season? Puustinen and DOC, I suppose? Are these playoff level players though? This shits grim.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Can we stop with the "Nylander had every shot to succeed here" narrative??????????

None of you know how he was coached, but I can guess. Sully demands all of his young players come here with D first, mistake you're gone mentality. All I know is that he immediately looked more aggressive at CBJ.

don't make me angry

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I thought I was Yohe?

You're actually my alt account when I want to mess with @Gurglesons

 

[AuroraBorealis]

100%.

Just like people had trouble reconciling that once you get an elite goalie like Murray in place, you can win back-to-back Cups. Nope...they wanted Fleury!

The Murray decision made 100% sense at the time, but in hindsight keeping Flower may have done more for us post-Cups.
The team lost some soul after that and Flower would have very likely outperformed Murray in 2017-18 and 2019-20.

I'm not usually one for intangibles but this team's attitude has suffered with the losses of Flower, Hornqvist and Kunitz. Something is missing in that room.

 

[canadianguy77]

The Murray decision made 100% sense at the time, but in hindsight keeping Flower may have done more for us post-Cups.
The team lost some soul after that and Flower would have very likely outperformed Murray in 2017-18 and 2019-20.

I'm not usually one for intangibles but this team's attitude has suffered with the losses of Flower, Hornqvist and Kunitz. Something is missing in that room.

They were already mentally fragile when we they had those guys. I think MAF needed to leave for the benefit of everyone involved.

Imo, after those cup teams (especially after the capitals loss) they had a decision to make; get younger and go through that process or keep chasing cups. They chose the latter and some awful roster decisions were made doing it. That was always the risk.

If they had stopped throwing away picks chasing cups, even for a little bit, we might have guys like Cole Caufield or a Nick Suzuki or maybe even a guy like Quinn Hughes. With players like that, you get some renewed energy and top level skill, and maybe another serious run at it if everything goes right. No one was objective enough to see that the team wasn’t close during those years though. A lot of hubris came with those cups.