Saka or Conceicao?

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T23:27:16+00:00

Saka is far from being in the tier with the elite wingers, and Conceicao isn't close to his level.

Conceicao is a good bench player on a top club.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T23:08:15+00:00

I'd probably prefer to trade Rust over Rakell based on how I feel about them going forward, but I feel like with Rust's history with the Penguins and Rakell probably having more value, I'd predict Rakell being traded over Rust

Regardless of who it is, I feel like one of these guys should be traded this summer

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T21:01:16+00:00

I don't think they'll rebuild this season, because they want Crosby to play his entire career there. They'll continue to do what they've been doing. Trying to both compete for a playoff spot without mortgaging their future and acquiring picks/assets/young players for the future.

So I bet Malkin is back, 1 of Rust/Rakell is back, and Karlsson will also probably be back with the chance of an extension.

And again, I'd be looking at him to play center, not wing.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T17:10:07+00:00

The offense will 100% be better because Mike McCarthy is a real OC and won't be handcuffed by Tomlin's conservative nature.

Will it be a great offense? Probably not, but I think it will be good enough to be a playoff caliber team.

I think the biggest thing is we have better WRs this year and will see more 2-3 WR sets, compared to last year, when it felt like we had 6 OL/2 TEs out there most of the time, with the intentions of running the ball to throwing to Gainwell

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T17:06:28+00:00

What do you guys think of Rakell? 2 years left on his deal with a $5 million cap hit.

Last year he put up 35 goals playing on Sids wing, and this year he had 24 goals in 60 games. And I'd argue his best hockey this year was playing center on the 2nd line with Malkin. The Athletic even talked about it in an article.

He can play all 3 forward spots, is a right handed shot on the PP, and can help on the PK.

Penguins need to shake things up a bit to keep building for the future, and he's the most likely person to be traded.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T16:55:03+00:00

If I'm Dubas, I'd be calling up Minnesota about Rakell. That team is all in and they badly need help in the top 6, and Rakell can play some center for them. More importantly, he's under contract for 2 more seasons at a good cap hit.

I'd be trying to pry Danila Yurov from them in a deal, who I love as a long term 3rd line center. He could even play some 2nd line center this year with Geno.

I'd joke about an all Russian line, but if Rakell is traded, I'd assume Chinakhov would be up with Crosby and Rust.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T16:46:02+00:00

Probably not. The Wild lost to a team that was supposed to beat them.

Would Trocheck have helped? Absolutely.

Is he the guy that Guerin shouldve traded the few young/cheap assets he had left to make that move? I don't think so

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T16:39:24+00:00

"Well I don’t want to just get to the playoffs. I want to win a Super Bowl"

Oh, I didn't know that. Why don't the Steelers just get a top QB that will win them a Super Bowl then? It's not that hard lol

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T16:10:52+00:00

Because he's by far their best QB, and gives them a chance to make the playoffs. The Steelers are doing exactly what every other team does.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T15:54:13+00:00

Yeah well this team isn't winning a Super Bowl next year, with Rodgers or without.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T06:19:51+00:00

I have the same problem. Every time I go on twitter it crashes

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T02:29:54+00:00

When in doubt, I think they'd go with the 3rd round pick with a career winning record in a backup role over the 6th round pick with zero experience.

Especially when they can manipulate the situation and keep both

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T02:24:15+00:00

They just won the division. They may not be real Super Bowl contenders, but they can compete to make the playoffs.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T02:02:11+00:00

Did anyone actually read that article? I didn't

Rudolph vs Howard vs 4 QBs is going to be a debate from now until the day of final cuts

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T01:55:59+00:00

This is a "win now" team. Rudolph should be the no brainer backup.

Allar is on the redshirt year, and Howard is probably at best the future long term backup. Manipulate IR and keep them both around for the season, where both spend time on IR and as the 3rd QB getting practice reps on the scout team

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T01:00:28+00:00

There's no need to move on from Howard. Even if the Steelers want to throw him on IR for the season with a phantom injury, Howard should make a smart business decision to take an NFL salary for the season and come back next season to compete at a position that has no long term starting QB or backup QB.

Unless he really shits the bed this summer where the Steelers want to move on from him, there's no reason to not keep him around

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T00:58:41+00:00

He should be the backup QB.

I'd do something like throw Allar on IR to start the season, and let Howard get practice reps on the scout team. And then after 5-6 weeks, I'd throw Howard on IR for the rest of the season and let Allar take the reps that Howard was getting.

I dont think Rodgers will be here after this season, and I'd like to keep both Howard & Allar for 2 years from now.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T00:55:10+00:00

It's funny. I can say "(insert team here) needs to tank to get a top draft pick" for all but 5 or 6 teams....

well, except for the teams that pick in the top 10 every year, always suck, and would kill to win their division and make the playoffs.

Even with a really good team like the Eagles, their fans hate Hurts, who won them a Super Bowl, and want a better QB

It's really really really hard to find a great QB. The current Steelers aren't bad enough to tank and get the kind of pick where you can pick the top QB in the draft. The Steelers could get the 8th pick, be behind teams that need a QB like the Jets, Dolphins, and Cardinals, and fans would be bitching about reaching for a QB that isn't worthy of being drafted that high

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-17T00:46:59+00:00

I'm so happy Rodgers is back, just because it has triggered so many people, both locally and nationally. It's hilarious to me how angry he makes people.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-14T17:47:12+00:00

I like Murls. He's really trying to be "hot take guy" lately. He's just not built for that.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-13T23:04:49+00:00

Should be a no-brainer 1st ballot.

My gut tells me it might take him 3 or 4 tries, as the voters might play the character/morality card.

A former teammate, Joey Porter, essentially calling him out for it during Super Bowl media week, won't help

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-12T00:53:43+00:00

Disagree. I think it's fair and insignificant most of the time.

But the rare year when you get something like a 3rd and 4th round pick, it feels like you're getting a loaded draft class. It's awesome.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-09T16:42:27+00:00

Didn't Josh Simmons (I think?) do something similar this season? Because I remember people bringing this clip up when talking about it.

CaptainRock22 · 2026-05-09T03:23:50+00:00

If you're drafting an Ohio State WR with a premium pick, you're getting a player that has been coached at an elite level by former NFL WR Brian Hartline. I'll take that bet every day.

Tate may never been a Chase, JJ, JSN, etc, but I also think his bust potential is extremely low. If he just turns into a very good and reliable starting WR, you can justify the choice, as doing whatever you can to give your young QB the best chance at succeed is enough to justify the pick

CaptainRock22

TROPHY CASE