The Pittsburgh Penguins proceed to wrestle this season. They give the impression of being nice one night time, and the subsequent, not a lot. And for stretches, they don’t look nice. That poor play carries from recreation to recreation beneath head coach Mike Sullivan.
The problem is that three pillars are nonetheless on the workforce. President of Hockey Operations and Normal Supervisor Kyle Dubas is strolling a skinny line that he can’t stability anymore.
Pittsburgh Penguins Issues Don’t All Fall on Kyle Dubas
It’s robust to retool on the fly whereas attempting to be aggressive. Simply have a look at the Calgary Flames. The Flames knew they wanted to rebuild final 12 months by promoting off their unrestricted free brokers, giving them a pleasant younger corps with a mixture of veterans.
Nevertheless, as Flames Normal Supervisor Craig Conroy advised NHLRumors.com, it’s by no means simple to inform gamers to lose after which inform them to go play to win.
“I all the time say it’s arduous to inform a participant or really feel prefer it’s okay to lose a recreation, after which in some unspecified time in the future, flip and inform him he has to win each recreation,” mentioned Craig Conroy.
As you possibly can see in Calgary, the Flames are rebuilding however are usually not retooling on the fly as they construct a aggressive franchise when their new constructing opens.
Pittsburgh’s drawback is that the edict from possession has been to attempt to win one other championship with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the items to try this.
Jake Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on the NHL Commerce Deadline final season. The return for Guentzel was okay. However Guentzel was a participant you would rebuild round and attempt to retool on the fly whereas being aggressive. This drawback goes again a few years.
NHL Rumors: The Pittsburgh Penguins Are Not an Simple Repair
In actual fact, this retool on the fly or rebuild wanted to begin in the summertime of 2022. Then, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke and Normal Supervisor Ron Hextall had the imaginative and prescient to inform Fenway Sports activities Group {that a} rebuild was crucial.
They needed to let Evgeni Malkin stroll in free company however have been advised to signal him to a brand new deal so the trio of Malkin, Crosby, and Letang might be collectively and win. Sadly, the cabinet is naked, and the draft picks are absent.
Bringing in Erik Karlsson has not labored. Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, and Matt Grezlcyk haven’t moved the needle. Anthony Beauvillier has been a vibrant spot, however there are not any younger gamers coming. Rutger McGroarty is within the system, however the jury remains to be out on his manufacturing within the NHL.
NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins, and Max Time period Contracts
Once more, it’s a robust act to stability. Mike Sullivan is the coach, however the defensive points this workforce constantly reveals are a difficulty. Another coach might be gone, however Sullivan is within the first 12 months of a multi-year extension. To not point out, Dubas is within the second 12 months of a seven-year contract with the Penguins.
We all know Pittsburgh doesn’t need to tear it down. They place confidence in the coach, and possession nonetheless likes him, however the outcomes are usually not there.
The Pittsburgh Penguins try to do what their rival, the Washington Capitals, are doing. Washington made good hockey trades to raised their workforce and are retooling on the fly. Pittsburgh didn’t. Now the Penguins are paying the worth for successful the Stanley Cups and attempting to be aggressive.
Did the Pittsburgh Penguins Do Sufficient This Offseason?
The Lars Eller commerce was the beginning of one thing. However nothing will change until the Pittsburgh Penguins decide to transferring certainly one of their large weapons. It might take a Malkin commerce to get the required items to retool on the fly. Karlsson may transfer the needle, however the Penguins should make a hockey commerce. Not one for simply picks and prospects.
A workforce like Pittsburgh can’t be half severe about rebuilding. You both do it otherwise you don’t.
