Penguins/NHL
Has the pressure ratcheted up on Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas or what? The Penguins collapse in play against Vegas Saturday night that followed to the Arizona game Monday night has the Penguins suddenly playing at an 89 point-pace. Dubas has said for weeks that the All-Star break will be his barometer. Pittsburgh has lost four of five games and six of their last nine games with two more games to go before the break. The Penguins internally have felt this is the third best team in a mediocre division of bunched up teams, but management is playing with fire that this group is suddenly just going to figure out. This is a wildly inconsistent group that’s getting greatness from Sidney Crosby on a nightly basis and above expectations’ goaltending and are still 12th in the Eastern Conference in points percentage with 38 games to go. And how much weight can management put into any games in hand right now when the schedule markers have awarded one of the NHL’s oldest teams with 16 games (March 2 – March 30) in a 29-day span in March as the team finishes the season overall with their final 25 games of the season happening over just a 47 day span. Not ideal for this club…..
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What’s Next | Trade Talk picking Up
Rival executives have believed Dubas has the authority and power to blow this thing up, but does he really have the means to act on it? That’s up for debate as some believe at this point it would be a tough sale to his bosses. Season ticket renewals happen next month and there’s already word ownership To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
At the end of the day the Penguins are truly a good four weeks from having serious discussions about blowing this thing up. So, what’s the best route of action right now as in the next 7-10 day span? Dubas just can’t sit on his hands anymore. What made Dubas so attractive in the short-term was his Jim Rutherford type ability to make creative trades when he manned the chair in Toronto.
To be blunt Dubas has to fix his two primary misses in constructing this roster and before the Penguins return from the All-Star break:
Dubas’ two big misses is the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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Frustration Building between Penguins, Karlsson?
Management To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! There’s also whispers Karlsson has been frustrated of systematic ideas he has brought to the table to coaches that have not been entertained or enacted by the staff.
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Agreed Guentzel Smith to be moved and bring back some younger talent.
did geno go back to russia yet? awe, too bad he didn’t
Hope Dubas see them for what they are, over the past season & half – they are an under 500 team. Overtime losses are losses. Its not going to change, so hopefully he gets out in front of this downhill train and starts moving some players in Hockey trades, in order to change the make-up of the team. I would be behind Smith and Guentzel being part of the transition via trade, the assets & players received would give them a start on the retool, and also might provide the shot this frankenstein team needs, to get them to show… Read more »
OG81..As it sits the Penguins at the All Star Break are only five points behind the third place Flyers in the Metropolitan division with some games in hand. I think we must trade Guentzel (as awesome as he is) he will command $ 10 million next year. We have enough high paid players all be it the cap goes up $ 4 million next year. We can get a young roster player, a pick and a prospect for him. Reilly Smith a strong player just hasn’t seemed to fit for whatever reason. Any cup contender will want either one of… Read more »