I guess the guy on The Fan were wrong. They said tomorrow
- madmike71

Maybe the Caps changed their minds.

Dubas quote from his press conference "the goal isn't to bring the team into contention before the great players retire"....

Yeah I hear ya. As a GM I would have leaked it in order to entice other players to sign in Pittsburgh.
- Ben_66

I actually just saw that Friedman said last night don't expect Crosby to sign today because they aren't in a rush. Specifically said don't panic, they're just letting them focus on the start of free agency.

I'm kinda frustrated with this front office. I get the whole wanting to get younger and planning for the future without selling the farm. I feel like us in this forum have come up with great ideas like previously trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine. Players who would improve the team while getting younger. Yet all we are doing is bringing in older talent in hopes they play well for us.

Edit: add Chychrun to that list instead we are watching Washington do exactly what we should have done.

No Crosby extension yet. I was told not to panick. Does he get traded at the deadline or this season? Or signs soon.
- Ben_66

If we aren't trying to be competitive we should just get it over with and trade him. It's such a a waste to let him rot through this slow rebuild we are about to do.

To be honest, I said before the off-season that if I were Crosby I would wait until the dust settles from the summer and evaluate.

If we aren't going to try to win, I'd rather him try something legendary like going to Montreal to try to bring the cup back to Canada (as impossible as that may be).

Again, just think it's sad watching the best of the generation have to fade into sub mediocrity. Look at Ovie, at least they are going to try to make a run while trying to get him to the goal record.

According to capfriendly, we gave Lizotte 1.85M per year for 2 years. Just why? We had no need for another 4C.

If we are not trying to make the playoffs, I'd much rather see POJ and Poulin over Galz and Lizotte.

According to capfriendly, we gave Lizotte 1.85M per year for 2 years. Just why? We had no need for another 4C.

If we are not trying to make the playoffs, I'd much rather see POJ and Poulin over Galz and Lizotte.
- Tojo.

Call me the eternal optimist, but I can't help but smell something being cooked up behind the scenes. If you trade Eller, you have Lizotte and Hayes for 3rd and 4th center, so he's expendable now. Same with Grz and Graves. I dunno, just trying to make sense of it all, while also salvaging some semblance of pride haha.

Skinner for 3 mil. to Edmonton....sheesh. I get it, chance to win the Cup, but that makes me sad. Wasn't going to be the savior of the season but could have been a good LW for Sid.

According to capfriendly, we gave Lizotte 1.85M per year for 2 years. Just why? We had no need for another 4C.

If we are not trying to make the playoffs, I'd much rather see POJ and Poulin over Galz and Lizotte.
- Tojo.

I agree with this! You only make the Lizotte deal if we don't bring in Hayes. The POJ situation is just another botched Sullivan player. At this point why not say heck with it and sign all the younger players and non qualified Rfa. Then trade some of our players for picks and prospects at the deadline. Instead they talk about getting younger then sign a bunch of veterans to block the spots of the young guys.

As stated above why not just trade for some younger talent so they can help now and later? Just never understood it.

I agree with this! You only make the Lizotte deal if we don't bring in Hayes. The POJ situation is just another botched Sullivan player. At this point why not say heck with it and sign all the younger players and non qualified Rfa. Then trade some of our players for picks and prospects at the deadline. Instead they talk about getting younger then sign a bunch of veterans to block the spots of the young guys.

As stated above why not just trade for some younger talent so they can help now and later? Just never understood it.
- 123Kid

Confusing as all get out. Kind of talking out of both sides of his mouth. Who knows at this point. Just gotta buckle up for the ride right?

Dubas quote from his press conference "the goal isn't to bring the team into contention before the great players retire"....
- 123Kid

Who’s confident that Dubby has an actual plan or blueprint for this team - aside from throwing darts at career depth journeymen & seeing what meshes?

I'm kinda frustrated with this front office. I get the whole wanting to get younger and planning for the future without selling the farm. I feel like us in this forum have come up with great ideas like previously trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine. Players who would improve the team while getting younger. Yet all we are doing is bringing in older talent in hopes they play well for us.

Edit: add Chychrun to that list instead we are watching Washington do exactly what we should have done.
- 123Kid

Ya this is an understatement. From last offseason to this offseason…. Yikes is putting in nicely in my opinion.

Confusing as all get out. Kind of talking out of both sides of his mouth. Who knows at this point. Just gotta buckle up for the ride right?
- Rocco115Pitt

This has been a weird day for Dubas. I'm assuming Eller or Acciari is leaving. I hate the Grz signing. I don't see that at all.

This has been a weird day for Dubas. I'm assuming Eller or Acciari is leaving. I hate the Grz signing. I don't see that at all.
- madmike71

Weird, bizarre, disjointed, all of the above. I couldn't agree more. I think that Eller ends up being the odd man out. Who knows at this point...I'm not even sure KD does.

If we aren't trying to be competitive we should just get it over with and trade him. It's such a a waste to let him rot through this slow rebuild we are about to do.

To be honest, I said before the off-season that if I were Crosby I would wait until the dust settles from the summer and evaluate.

If we aren't going to try to win, I'd rather him try something legendary like going to Montreal to try to bring the cup back to Canada (as impossible as that may be).

Again, just think it's sad watching the best of the generation have to fade into sub mediocrity. Look at Ovie, at least they are going to try to make a run while trying to get him to the goal record.
- MacPatty

Far more important Crosby retires a pen. I love the fact Mario was a pen his whole career. That means almost as much as the cups. Since cups are so frickin hard to win I’ll take the legacy of lifetime pen in my fan portfolio over some assets that barley maybe win another cup.

Guys. We’re prioritizing picks and futures. We’re rebuilding our asset pool. Just because we don’t like it it doesn’t mean it’s confusing. It’s very clear what we are doing.

This is from Dubas's press conference....

• Dubas said they see Kevin Hayes as a center and that could allow them to shift Noel Acciari to wing, but that he could play wing too. Leaving it up to Mike Sullivan.

The plan is definitely him having no plan. I think he is hoping for a miracle like last year with Karlsson being available and him being able to trade nothing for him. Unless he is trying to sacrifice one year and get a top pick in order to be aggressive next offseason. Load up a bunch of picks and prospects and then try one more time next year. Or maybe the rumors of Dubas and Sullivan having some friction is true and this is Dubas saying ok. I'm not gonna give you anything in hope you lose your job at the end of this.

Guys. We’re prioritizing picks and futures. We’re rebuilding our asset pool. Just because we don’t like it it doesn’t mean it’s confusing. It’s very clear what we are doing.
- Victoro311

I understand what he's doing. The Hayes deal makes some sense. I think the Smith deal was pretty much a home run. Grz sucks....why?

Beau is just a cheap lottery ticket. Lizotte will make sense if Eller is moved (maybe for another pick).

Still gotta sell this team to Crosby.

I understand what he's doing. The Hayes deal makes some sense. I think the Smith deal was pretty much a home run. Grz sucks....why?

Beau is just a cheap lottery ticket. Lizotte will make sense if Eller is moved (maybe for another pick).

Still gotta sell this team to Crosby.
- madmike71

The vets on 1-year deals "make sense" because those are the guys you can always trade at the TDL for picks since contenders want insurance vets and don't mind sending out mid-round picks for it. Dubas is betting on them being able to get enough out of Grz that he can flip him at the TDL for a mid-round pick.

I'm kinda frustrated with this front office. I get the whole wanting to get younger and planning for the future without selling the farm. I feel like us in this forum have come up with great ideas like previously trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine. Players who would improve the team while getting younger. Yet all we are doing is bringing in older talent in hopes they play well for us.

Edit: add Chychrun to that list instead we are watching Washington do exactly what we should have done.
- 123Kid

if you think trading for PLD and Laine, two guys who have never fit in or been accepted anywhere they've played is a great idea, that's a dark place to be in.

EDM re-signed Perry, ensuring that they lose in the finals again next year.

Or maybe Perry's superpower only works once for each team? It's definitely a crazy streak he's on.

Or maybe the rumors of Dubas and Sullivan having some friction is true and this is Dubas saying ok. I'm not gonna give you anything in hope you lose your job at the end of this.
- 123Kid

Was also thinking similar; however, instead of giving sully nada, he’s giving him the exact player demographic he wants. Undersized vets. Got a roster that gives sully a hardon & no excuses. So when this team is out of the picture by xmas, sully can finally be fired.

#conspiracy

$4 million in retained salary and buyout this year. Drops to $1 million (JJ still) next season when Crosby's extension kicks in.

Man I don't see it. A lot of guys played over their heads down the stretch, but at some point I think they really miss Jake. And asking for a third straight season of a healthy Sid and Malkin.... I could see a complete train wreck.

Edit barring other moves of course
- Tojo.

I do expect them to get Sid a LW, but even barring that, it's essentially running it back with the same team. None of the moves they've made so far will move the needle either way. So as long as Sid stays healthy, I'd expect about the same results, which is hanging in the WC race most of the year, probably missing out again but still fun to route for them to try and make it. (Probably slightly worse 5-on-5 play but PP has to be at least a little better right?)

If Sid gets hurt, they're F'd, which just means a nice high draft pick. Welcome to the rebuild.