What’s Next for the Penguins
The organization is stunned at what played out in Toronto this week. While it was a case of drinking too much of their own kool-aid, several members of the organization believed coming out of the two week training camp, the Montreal series was going to be nothing more than a tune-up for an eventual deep run.
High-ranking members were giddy going into the tournament that the four-month layoff gave the Penguins core a significant advantage in this tournament.
Other than Sidney Crosby, no Penguin among their core met or played above expectations against the Habs.
Evgeni Malkin was a complete dog in the tournament. Malkin was certainly in the biggest disappointment category for the Penguins against Montreal and just a four game sample or not, his putrid play in Toronto takes away the bounce-back season he had. It really does. Everything is not about stats when measuring a stars’ play and with Malkin there was just no difference making ability against Montreal. Pittsburgh is 1-9 in their last 10 playoff games and Malkin now has 0 even strength goals over his last 16 playoff games. When the games tighten up in the playoffs, this was another summer where all the signs are there that Malkin no longer has that game changing ability as he’s closer to 35 than 30. It’s a different ball-game in how teams defend and prepare compared to the regular season. Three straight post-seasons have seen a decline for Malkin in the category of being able to impact games.
Kris Letang was meh in the tournament and the Penguins living in a world that Letang is a legitimate No. 1 pairing defenseman just needs to end for this group to properly move forward.
They didn’t go through with it, but was Penguin management onto something last spring/early summer when they believed all the signs were there that a major shakeup was needed to extend the Sidney Crosby era which saw the Penguins at least explore trade scenarios of Evgeni Malkin to the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! take some calls from the NTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
This year proved they were when you factor in the team we saw from February to now.
“With age, that’s a possibility,” Sidney Crosby said to the media after Friday’s loss. “It’s a really hard one to evaluate.”
Word from the Malkin camp all year has been, the thought of leaving Pittsburgh which Malkin briefly considered last May with his wife To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! and family was going to be tTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Will this change anything on that front?
The Penguins have a ton of time for self reflection and who knows if we’ll actually have hockey again in December.
Assuming the Penguins don’t win the Lottery, Jim Rutherford has some tough sledding moving forward.
Who should be the building blocks moving forward?
Factoring in age, cap hit & potential and or maintaining current level of play, Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Jason Zucker, Bryan Rust up front, John Marino and Brian Dumoulin on the backend. That’s it when you’re trying to revamp this roster. Everyone else, you owe it to your self to listen on if the goal is to re-emerge as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender during Sidney Crosby’s final years as a top 5-10 player.
Just like last summer, the entire defense needs revamped and in a big way. No. 1 d-man don’t grow on trees but Pittsburgh needs about three John Marino’s to fall into their lap.
The Penguins found out last summer, Kris Letang was more valuable to them than he was on the trade market in what he would bring back. Another year older, hard to see that changing especially with the financial times the league is on.
The forward group has a number of questions.
In normal times, there would be a coach or General Manager drawn to Patric Hornqvist even at his age, but these are not normal times. Three years left with a $5.3 million cap hit, that’s a really hard contract to move without taking a significant salary back.
The Good, Samuel Poulin and Nathan Legare could add an infusion of top-9 level talent/skill in the next year or two.
The bad, no cap space, Malkin is an aging superstar with total control….. there’s a major need for a legitimate two-way third line level enter and a player like Jared McCann who once looked like a core second-tier level supporting player (Bryan Rust type) for the next couple years, no longer looks like the case.
……………
And this is all before the major off-season storyline.
Whether the Penguins still have a franchise-level gTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Recchi, Gonchar and Martin are gone!
I will let you all know who the Pens will sign the night before FA begins, ala Tanev. That said, ideally id like them to sign Ty Barrie to upgrade over Schultz and QB the powerplay. Sign him long term and leave Letang exposed in the expansion draft if you can’t find a trade partner this offseason.
The real question is; who will be “treated?”
True forgot you want Trotman to play instead of Letang.
I wonder who will be “treated” this off season?
JR says changes are coming, he should start by firing himself.
Malkin should’ve been treated years ago since 09 his second best season was this year’s and most of the time come playoffs he disappears and next day jumps back to Russia to play for his country. How many times this con man will trick us only dumb DemocRats/liberals. Like to get fuckedd like this
Treated? Yeah, they should have “treated” him in 09… He in no way helped them win back to back cups since 09’… Good thing they did not “treat” him.
Get a new shtick and learn how to spell.
Get a life you fatt fuckk must be board at the donut shop eh?
BORED!!!
You are a stupid asss dumb mother fucken idiot! 16/17…he was a major part of the cup win
Team could’ve still done better because trading him you would’ve have few good players and less dumb player that takes stupid penalties
Yes, they would have done better, …. Without MAF chocking away games.
Booooooooooooo
I’d rather he had gone to Minnesota. Rangers will go up and the Pens can wave on the way down.
Yup… this would have been big to try and prevent a large low point but the cycle continues.
Those once a decade guys are coming up in another 4 years… we should be targeting that point lol
That’s not happening bro…..count on that…… Rangers will be better how many centers do they have? This kid is terrific but he might be a year away and maybe not….we will see
You are saying the Penguins are going to still be better then the Rangers in the next 2 yrs? Now who is not taking their meds? HL will be bought this off season, Staal has one yr left on his contract, that is almost $14 million in freed up cap space. They have their goalies of the future, a great crop of wingers, two solid and proven centers that are just getting better and two Stud defensemen in Fox and Trouba. They just need some additional bottom two centers which they can get via free agency or trade plus they… Read more »
I said these next two years….didnt say after that..Penguins organization is solid ww will be good..
6pm est…. Who will get the number 1 pick?
Robert Lehrer named as the starter vs the Hawks lol
I heard fleury is coming back to Pittsburgh to replace fraud murray
Nope….
I hear JR is stepping down as GM and will be playing goalie next season.
Telling yourself something does not make it true.
Ya let’s bring back the guy whose been replaced for the second time in 3 years…
As a mentor for Jarry… sure but at 7 million? Fuckoff
It fleury has that awesome ATT commercial
Not a surprise there extra motivation for lehner….
https://youtu.be/6ygAAjKLBak
Zero tools idol
Blow it up! The organization-friendly media continues to dismiss that the demise of the Franchise started with the brassard trade.
Media must be npl type stupid
I’ll one up this, when JR gave up Sundqvist and a 1st for a 4th line type that wasn’t required to win… that’s when they abandon what made them successful. If Sundqvist stayed the Brassard trade never happens.
I’d buy that except the team was playing it’s best stretch of hockey all season in the months before the brassard trade. I could be wrong but weren’t they like 13-1 before that trade?
Brassard was always a good player! Who knew he just wouldn’t fit because he fit everywhere else…bad luck not all moves work
Absolutely no one could honestly say that was predictable but it continued the motion of a lot of bad things for the franchise
Ya they were playing well, Sheahan looked like he was starting to figure it out as a 3C so yeah, they were probably better off seeing that play out.
Not sure how that would have translated come the playoffs though
A lot of could of should ofs…move on
The NHL is so screwed. Between people being scared of covid and the BLM tribute, they aren’t going to get anyone going down. I looked on a map and the new Seattle arena is close to the Seattle autonomous zone. I’m sure people are psyched to park in that city where they are trying to ban cops. You’ll park for the game and you’ll go back to your car and it will be on fire. Ain’t no way that organization is even going to get off the ground. 1000k per game coming the players way.
The fix isn’t that difficult; There are some players that need to go and blind loyalty to players like Sheary and Johnson by Sullivan has to stop. Players that need to go by letting them walk, trade them, or buy them out. -Justin Schultz $ 5.5 million let him walk, he has slumped since 2018, and hasn’t been good since the bad leg injury – Connor Sheary $3.5 million let him walk, can’t score, too soft, falls down when the wind blows.. At least he plays hard and with energy which is more than i can say for malkin.. –… Read more »
The Oilers have no defense and no goaltending. Shut down McDavid and LD and they are done. Montreal did what the Islanders did last year… played suffocating defense and pounced on turnovers and opportunities. Run and gun, playoff games are long gone. A hot goalie and sound defense is the best receipt. Kane and Toews also had help from their team…. No one on Pittsburgh showed up. Even Maatta was contributing. There is also age in years and age in miles and Crosby, Malkin, and Letang all have much more wear and tear on them then Kane and Toews do.… Read more »
Oh Agreed Montreal was better. The Penguins are a playoff team and with a couple good moves this of season the pens will be back. Look at Boston and Washington they have also not played well….
The mileage stuff is BS bro Kane, Toews and Keith all have won 3 cups and have just as many miles including international PLAY. Your argument there holds no weight. Letang has way more in the tank than Duncan Keith does. Keith has been awful the last two years and the Blackhawks didn’t even make the playoffs they were helped in..
Hawks can’t wait to get rid of gaydoggs favorite player mattaa
Crosby has taken way more of a beating since coming into the NHL then Kane or Toews had. That is a fact. There is such a thing as hard miles as apposed to easy ones. Just like there is hard living and clean living. Look at Gretzky, if he played in today’s NHL he would be crushed. He had easy miles on his career bc he was always protected. I am not comparing the two but I am showing you that how you play and how people play against you comes in factor when the length of your career comes… Read more »
i remember Toews was always leaned on and pounding. The Kings used to pummel him in those years the kings won two cups. As did the Nashville predators pounded Toews.. Both teams have had an amazing 10 plus year run resulting in 3 cups each…but the west has always been a bigger, more grinding, lean on you conference than the east ever was.. Those La kings teams, St, louis, Nashville, Anaheim all leaned on you every game with big bodies.. Crosby basically only took crap from Washington, Philadelphia and Columbus
Your serious Gretzky wouldn’t survive in todays NHL…what have you been smoking!! You must not watch hockey #99 could play in an era. Look at Patrick Kane he is so small and he never gets hit. There are so many small players today including defenseman like Matt Dumba, Torey Krug, Jared Spurgeon.
Time for your meds….
Today’s players are way more talented and better then #99. Wayne played in a era where most teams had barely one solid line. They goalies didn’t have goalie coaches. Practices were taking few shots on goal and that was it if Crosby played in 1979 he would’ve had 4000pts specially he is a 200ft player Wayne wasn’t
i agree Crosby could play an score a ton in the 80″s. BUT..Gretz could play in this era too especially with all the amazing graphite and modern sticks. Those give you such power. he may not score 200 points but he would be at or near the top in scoring. I always thought mario was a better player than Wayne but mario couldn’t stay healthy. he missed 5 complete seasons 3 he retired 1997-2000 one season he missed due to cancer and two other half seasons with a back back. you take a modest for mario 40 goals a season… Read more »
Mario couldve easily played this era
Even Wayne said Mario is the best player he has seen. Oilers were a all star team when Wayne arrived. Mario team was a mess when he arrived. If Mario played with oilers instead of gretzky. I’m sure he would’ve had 300pts season.
Mario would have been able to play in any era. That I do believe. He was the complete package. Size, skill, speed, smarts, hands… And yes, those Oiler teams were stacked in all departments.
agreed but Wayne could play in this era….
Mario is the best player of all time..size skill speed a winner. Every goalie feared him more than anyone else..
Nobody hit Wayne out of respect and fear of guys like Marty McSorley. It had nothing to due with avoiding big hits.
Take your meds… Your delusional if you don’t think the best ever player in the game could play now…. you don’t know much..do you..
Agree to disagree. But if he did play now, there would be many other players on his level. He would not be as dynamic as he was in the 80’s. Playing now and being the hockey’s greatest player ever would not go hand in hand.
Ps… Guys like McSorley played to police and protect guys like Wayne bc coaches did not want players taking liberties with him. Again, something he would have to deal with himself today bc there are no more enforcers.
Yes agree to disagree. I didnt say he would dominate like tbe 80’s but he would be a good player..he is smart..
you do’t think if Gretz was playing in this era he wouldn’t train too…wake up and smell the coffee. GUYS LIKE MSCORLEY AND SEMENKO COULDNT PLAY TOO SLOW
The lottery will factor, ultimately a major change will need to occur to get the most out of the remainder of Sids productive years. Letang? Malkin? Both? Malkin absolutely shut down for this series, he had a great season… now is a legit time to see if there is a buyer. Sell them on the regular season… if the age isn’t a significant worry. Letang? He’s still got the edge, still has the speed and reeled himself in during these playoffs but he is also still capable of the brain cramps. Still, for a team looking to add to the… Read more »
Zero…..agree with pretty much everything you just said. Read my long post at the top of the page. Crosby is still the best overall player in the game and I think he was a little nicked up more than what was said…He still played well. Look Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews (basically same ages) are moving on beating Mc david so age isn’t the deal the organization needs to make some good choices… just hope they don’t go after Taylor hall…. We need defensive help, a top 4 lefthanded dman, some defensive depth, a forward or two and some grit… Read more »
If Bjugstad was not hurt he would have been shipped to Minnesota… wishful thinking. The only way JJ leaves is via buyout. It will cost them $916,667 per season from 20-21 to 25-26. They better let Sheary walk, that trade already costed them a solid player. Marleau never should have been brought in and they got more out of Shultz then was expected. Let him walk too.
I think all their moves will hinge on the draft. Find out Monday.
Then buy the mother fucker out…. Next year the third pair should be Marcus Pettersson and Pierre Oliver Joseph. Jack johnson, Nick Bjugstad, Connor Sheary, Justin Schultz, Matt Murray all must go no matter what happens in the draft. Simon, Marleau, ZAReese also out the door.
Your core forwards and build around them
Crosby
Zucker
Rust
Guentzel
Tanev
Malkin (i guess we are stuck with him)
Defense Dumoulin Marino letang top three fill in after that with Pettersson on third pair.
Goal Jarry and a capable NHl back up
Sad day for zeroTool and npl as well
Spoilers and Panthers are out also
I wonder how Jonathan toews doing in the playoffs. Care to give us an update fatso
You mean because he got a by a franchise that has been a running joke in hockey since 1990? Lol
Now that he’s in the real playoff? 4 straight… the NHL threw his about to miss the post season team a bone
Bye bye Malkin he stayed longer then he should’ve haved
Before or after 2016?
We are stuck with him now and the rest of the league just saw him play heart less and awful..
We can’t give him away now…….
Maybe he could be Trumps advisor to Russia….oh yeah Trump is already Putin’s bitch scratch that.no translation needed….
Murray is going to get 8-10 per season. They’ll have to trade his rights. God bless Matt Murray for winning cups in 16 and 17 when he was monsterous, however, I’m ready for a complete roster overhaul. Time to start over. It was a great 15 year run. No shame in declining.
As I said in my post above if the stats are even then Murray is leaving…Murray can fetch us something, Jarry;s cheaper, and was an all start this year.. h helped us to two ciups but like Fluey before him time to go…
Blow it up! I question if they will even start in December anyway. We aren’t getting rid of Malkin or Letang. Nobody wants them. Got to cut ties with Johnson. Trade Murray for a defenseman. Take a look at the coaching staff as well. Recchi can’t run this powerplay and Sully should be on a short leash as well. I don’t think they will fire him. I say Ryan Wilson on Hockeybuzz said they should bring in Gallant or Boudreau. Gallant maybe not sure about Boudreau. Fun offseason. Pray we win the lottery.
It will be hard to move dead weight contracts with salary cap staying put and a lot of guys having modified not trade clauses.
Is this the same gallant Sam wanted years before and I was looked as know nothing. And as for sully he should be fired not short leash. Last year swept and this year they lost vs an ahl team.
Number of Cups won by Sully.. 2
Number of Cups won by Gallant… 0.
The Penguins made the right choice at the time. All coaches are hired to be fired. Sully’s time may be up along with a lot of other players.
The same Gallant that had his ass fired for the second time during Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh? Yup that’s him. If Sullivan has hit that expired point Gallant gives us what… 18 months?
Read my post above said most of what you are saying…. Boudreau I’M no….
I did. I agree with a lot of what you wrote. I just hope we can get rid of Murray in trade and lock down a Dman as part of the deal. Then use free agency to get some scoring.
100% agree Matt Murray has a strong resume and Detroit (tons of cap space), Carolina, Minnesota and Colorado and San Jose are all looking for number net minders maybe we get our d-man there. or sign a UFA d-man and use Murray to bring in a young forward..