I went to get a refill of coffee this AM at my local Dunkin’ Donuts, with my official Penguins Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Champions mug. The shift leader, looking down at my mug in disgust said “You should be ashamed of yourself. I have half a mind not to serve you!” Of course she was joking, addressing the depression that all Penguins’ fans feel this morning. But it does seem like a good place to start.
Let’s face it, everyone reading this is a Penguins’ fan and we are all angry that we are faced with a long, long summer. We may have different opinions about where it went wrong and how to fix it, but we are all feeling the pain.
I admit it, I have been a Negative Nellie all season and with all due respect to my heart did pick the Islanders to win this series in my bracket but even I, in all my pessimism would have “thunk” that Penguins would have stunk so bad as to have the broom put to them. This was embarrassing!
I once heard that players can win games but only teams win championships so I guess, even though I didn’t want to see this coming, I shouldn’t be surprised. This group of players wearing the Black-and-Gold never really became a team. All season long it has been a group of players pulling in different directions, trying to do it themselves, not trusting their teammates.
Apparently it started with Matt Murray not willing to trust in his understudies and trying to play while he was hurt. He dug himself and his colleagues a hole that took almost a whole season to climb out.
It ended with Kris Letang trying to skate through 3 Islanders, by himself, in OT, in game 1 of the series, having the puck stripped off of him and sent the other way for an odd man break, resulting in a goal. As if that guffaw wasn’t enough, he did it again to end the Penguins misery, rather than dumping the puck into the right corner, while his compatriots tried to nurse a one goal lead, the Penguins’ Defenseman tried to skate down the boards himself only to have the Islanders strip the puck off of his stick and go the other way again for another odd man break goal.
Letang wasn’t the only player who tried doing all himself only to have opponents exploit his impatience and/or ego; Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel contributed their share of giveaways from trying to do it all by themselves.
No, our favorite flightless fowl never became a team. They were never more than an amalgamation of stars, just like they were in the waning days of the Dan Bylsma era.
The Alan Parson’s Project asked the musical question, “Where do we go from here, now that all other children are growin’ up?” Our Penguins now have all summer to ask themselves a similar question “Where do we go from here, now that the rest of the league has caught up? Or was it that we let ourselves fall down?”
Although most fans that I have talked to agree that change has to come, the point of disagreement only appears to be what has to change. In an article by John Mackey in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Evgeni Malkin would seem to be lobbying for a limited number of changes.
“We need understand that every year we try to win, you can’t change the whole team. We need to change one or two maybe more”
I would have to agree with him, somewhat. You can’t change the whole roster or even most of the roster and reboot, not with a core group of players the calibre of Malkin and captain Sidney Crosby. This summer surely will be more interesting than the last couple. Stay tuned!!
In the meantime, even though the season ended on a disappointing note, thank you Penguins’ players. We may complain here and there but that is only because we want the best for you. It may be wrong but you spoiled us. We want you to win every game, every Cup.
Some wait for the swallows to return to Capistrano; I’ll be waiting for you to return, come September.
And thank you Phil and Rick and all of our readers here for all of the insight and even arguments (sounds like a Monty Python sketch – I’d like to have an argument please) we have had here.
Hi TOR!
Before writing my comment, I would like to say thanks to you, Rick and Phil for your very insightful and relevant articles. As a Penspoop rookie reader, your blog is a wonderful alternative to some mainstream media forums. I won’t name any but if you try to reflect on the team or some players, the next thing you know is that you are crumbling under a growing barrage of name-calling! I like your blog because it is very civilized and I have the freedom to express my point of view without being judged.
Yesterday evening, I had this strong feeling that the Pens have come full circle, that it was the end of a cycle. When the game was over and players were shaking hands, Mario Lemieux’s body language was an eye-opener in that sense. I didn’t see anger or frustration in him. It was a pensive mood. I think he has every right to be. Because this season was an emotional roller-coster.
Some evenings, I was watching the team and I could hear myself say: there’s no way this team will make the playoffs! Inconsistency was the motto. Success can be rewarding and satisfying but it can be a double-edged sword; players don’t feel the urgency to battle, thinking that they know how to win. I think some players on this team took things for granted.
Speaking of taking things for granted, Phil Bourque, the colour analyst for the Pens radio network, made a very significant statement yesterday. He mentioned that the team (it looked like the whole team) was a stubborn bunch and were not listening. Phil played for the Pens and he is in contact on a daily basis with the team. I thought it was a huge statement from him. It confirmed what I thought of some players.
This stubborn bunch needs structure, discipline, a common cause to fight for. I didn’t see that this year. The players didn’t buy Sully’s system, especially Malkin, Kessel and Letang. Sully’s message was not getting through. This team needs a significant retool.
Where do we go from here? In my opinion, there are very few options for GMJR mainly because of the salary cap. He will have to deal with some bad contracts and an almost empty prospects reserve. My major concern is: will the management and hockey staff have the capacity to be introspective, to make themselves accountable and above all, to make significant changes?
I really hope they will make it a no.1 priority for the team’s future and own good.
Thanks Jorenz!
Interesting comment about them coming full circle. I kind of had that feeling when it was all over then I remembered having the same feeling at the end of Bylsma’s term. I think that losing that bad will have a positive impact on the team. I’m looking at them to start thinking of themselves as the underdog and try harder.
Hi Coach,
Well written article my friend as always. I would like to add your name to Rick and Phil’s for a wonderful job you did this year in writing so many articles with passion and conviction. You all make a wonderful team. Being from afar gives me the space needed to insulate me from the personal connections that you have made with all the team members by seeing them in person or living in their neighborhood. I often envy you and your other two comrades because you get to see my beloved penguins in person .I’ve put that on my bucket list. Ha ha.
So in this regard I add my comment to the mix.I watched the Islanders, the Oilers and even the wonderful Canadians of the 70s and they all went through the same process we are experiencing in Pittsburgh today. I have not read other articles from your local media so I come from this strictly from my own point of view. I for one believe that it is indeed time to make drastic moves and that the quicker we make these moves the stronger we will be in the future. Quite frankly I do not see how without a major influx of talent and a changing of your coaching, the Penguins will ever be back to lift the Stanley Cup in the next three years. We are dreaming if we believe that Geno,Phil, Kris,Patrick talent levels will magically increase.Players in their mid-30s do not have the same skill sets as players in their late 20s. We need more talent on our team to win. The Islanders we’re not a powerhouse and there are many teams with much higher Talent levels than them.
We just got beat four games to nil.They were bigger, faster, stronger, and had more talent overall on a 4 line basis.Nobody supports Crosby, more than I. My nephew and he played minor hockey together and still remain close friends to this day. But reality showed that the number 4 Line shut them down.How did that happen? Because the Islanders played playoff hockey. Defense first.They shut down Sid and Jake….Geno and Phil as well. I don’t know about you but it’s been along time since I saw the opposition play with the Puck in our zone and we were chasing them!
The team needs a major rebuild and if you wait to try to trade some of your star players then you will get nothing for them later. Just like the Islanders and the Canadians earlier. Hockey is a business. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions. The teams that of been able to rebuild and come back within 2 to 3 years are few and far between . But it can be done.
I’m afraid we are just going to add a couple of pieces and the same result will happen next year. So Coach,I may be the minority but this team has so many problems that it cannot be fixed with a simple two or three personnel change.
I want to see Sydney lift the cup again before he retires. The only way that’s going to happen is if he gets help from the three lines that play hbehind him because he will not be able to do it himself as we found out last night. I see this as an opportunity for real change in the direction of our team and if they make the right trades they could end up with 2 or more top 5 picks and some good young talent.
Thanks again Coach
Have a great summer
Jim
Hey Jim,
Great to hear from you.
I honestly don’t think that the Penguins need to completely blow up the team just yet. I think that a lot of the problems we are seeing stem from a lack of team work and too many players trying to do it all themselves rather than work as a team and that they also lost faith in their coach.
I do think that a Major trade is in order, a trade that involves mainly draft picks in return and at least Letang and if necessary another big name player.
Of course it doesn’t really matter what you, me, or anyone here thinks, JR doesn’t come to us for advice.
As for your bucket list, I still would love to figure out a way to set up a home and home exchange.
You have a great summer too.
Thanks Jim!
You know your spot is still open!
Malkin need staple LW that will not move all season unless it barring injuries. He needs consistency there. Adam Johnson is start. I didn’t understand after he play the right way . Very noticeable and even gave Penguins two goals with assists that help them win in a shootout against Carolina. He’s a top line foward from scouting and I believe playing that way from WBS. I hope he resigns and get a opportunity. I was dumbfounded when Mike Sullivan chose to double shift Crosby with Wilson and never give him a chance him or Malkin..
Adam Johnson have what it take and two way hockey that really help Malkin with space and creating habit..
Malkin lost himself without Hagelin.. Zar , Rust and Hornqivst was a Nono
Blueger is in that category too. Penguins never had a rolling constantly bottom lines.
Blueger? I’m all for 4 C and even given him 3C at times .. I suspect him with either Nikita from Penn State or Jordy Bellerive to be 3C at some point..
Beside the overhaul on defense that should keep 8 and 4 safe..
Crosby needs RW as well. I would keep McCann as the consistent option, But I would go foward to get a RW there. It’s a very dark horse there..
I have to look at Angello and see if he has that factor to be on the first line..
I hate constantly line shuffling and priorities of not keep starts equip to have rolling load two lines against teams..
I noticed people are still apologists for Letang… Claim he had to do to much .. yawn .. yawn .. Rinse , Wash , Repeat.. ‘It’s Crosby’s fault’
…. Same thing for Sullivan .. He gotta go..
Letang has shown his true self year after year.. two playoffs that cost them.. He really almost cost them 2016 playoffs .. Selective memory from a setup game away goal due to Crosby’s y hard work give him excuses..
Penguins dont a need retool , they major significant tweaks that benefit them..
Hello, ToR,
No. Thank you . Great Articles and really nice back and forth engaging in solid online comments.
Great site and wonderful books.
To TOR and Rick with others
Moral of the Story:
No one should be surprised at all, they should be disappointed with some defeat that two great generational, HOF centers have been wasted for the two past season, no significant identity with solid reliable supporting cast,we heavily medicore hockey about the ups and downs that really that was never correct that showed something weird with this season…
Everything was wrong with season since day one playing the Caps..
Everything is onus Mike Sullivan and Mark Reechi.
People got to see the gimmick of him during b2B cups with questionable decisions and with two seasons without Tocchet you see the true Mike Sullivan that can get players beyond adversity among others things..
I hate it. I knew Penguins wasn’t gonna go far. I was hoping. I accept it with the bad defense, poor coaching, passengers and dependency on stars with no supporting cast
It was one line team with mediocre defense and no support cast where Malkin have completely lost himself that confirms my sources/ what I know with Duper speaking on the behave of him… With mediocre goalie that can not stand on his head to win a game or give this team confidence on the ice.
This is a blessing in disguise that can really showed Lemieux with others in the organization that they need do better around their stars and get them young hungry help that can get them the puck to do whatever they want on ice.
Its starts with firing Sullivan and Reechi . Plus major overhaul on defense that can play two way hockey defenseman that allows Malkin and Crosby have the puck out zone into offensive zone ..
The new players like Blueger, McCann, Adam Johnson that want to learn and be a contributing factor on ice with the confidence of a coach behind the bench. They help lay everything on the line on ice. They step up and not wait for Malkin and Crosby do every thing.
Pens needs defense that can skate with puck, great decisions with puck, leader with defense like someone like IanCole who block shots ..
Cale Makar and Micro Henikisen is a prime example..
Maybe, Tampa fire Cooper and Penguins take him.
I stated it before Martin would be the coach with new fowards coach with Gochar on the D ..
It sucks. Coach Q with Florida..
Penguins have a opportunity to get it right and move on from Letang and use the draft correctly..
I DO NOT THINK IT END OF ERA.. I do believe it WILL GET PEOPLE TO SEE TOPS STARS DESERVES BETTER THAn THIS..
Penguins needs to drop 58,17,73,30,3 ,12 contracts.. Do not resign Zach Ahton Resse..
Malkin, Kessel, Crosby still have a lot left in the tank.. I don’t see a RW that can do what Kessel can do.. IDk
Malkin and Crosby still have a lot left to offer one to two cups .. it up to the pens organization to do it right without overusing them.. this a teaching moment for them.. to take advantage..
Mike Sullivan overused Crosby , Kessel,Guentzel,and Malkin to much .. it completely exhausted them without a support cast..
Penguins D thst should be safe is 4 and 8 .. New D needs to come with Blueger, Adam Johnson, Angello getting their opportunity to play in the nhl. Those two players could’ve significantly help the speed game and scoring with forecheck..
I know we talk about it more.. I know it suck it.. Sometimes things needs to get little bad before good to see the good results ..
I still think a cup can happen again with new better players around them..
Malkin andCrosby can relax ,rest and rejuvenate again with their family with enjoy any new big moments on their lives..
Enjoy rest of unbelievable playoffs ..
Trading Letang, Jack Johnson, Määttä, Simon, Rust, maybe Murray, letting ZAR and Simon and revamping d badly..
Trading would be stupid there’s no other reliable RW that would be cheap and great like him. Others would request 10-12 million Penguins don’t have.. Defenseman and coaching needs be the top piority it fail the team heavily.. New goalie is needed..
Hey Dee,
We certainly will have a lot to talk about over the summer. I will be looking forward to hear what you are thinking as we approach UFA day and draft day. My hope is that the team sheds enough salary to go after some players.
Now that the season is over, there is no need to be looking at who is the best player on the roster at a given position. We can start thinking in terms of who can really be replaced. I know I was backing J Johnson after the trade dead line but that was only because the team was limited only to who was already part of the organization. The Left side of the D is the weakest right now.
I promised myself to think through who I would like to see come in and not just who I would get rid of before I start into my off season rants. However, as usual, I am in agreement with most of your list of who should become dearly departed. I don’t dislike any of them but for most of them, their time in Black and Gold should be over for both their sake and the teams sake.
Like you, I don’t believe it has to end. Neither Crosby nor Malkin can carry a line by themselves anymore but they are still center pieces to build around.
To compliment what you write about too many minutes for players – Crosby averaged 21.00 minutes per game this year, the 6th highest TOI/GP in his 14 year career. Maybe had Sullivan managed his minutes better during the regular season and gave him a legitimate top 6 RW that he consistently could skate with we wouldn’t be having this conversation just yet.
One other thing,
Yes I will enjoy watching the rest of the playoffs. Right now my brackets are looking really good. I called for both TB and PGH to have early summers. My only worry right now is that I didn’t think TOR would get enough Goaltending to carry them against BOS. I’ll be watching that series the closest.
Enjoy Dee
Once I look at all of the UFAs and really look down existing prospects and possible picks I will be looking forward to your counter thoughts.
The Other Rick / Dee
Short and sweet – Letang needs to go – you notice that during the stretch with him and Dumo out of the lineup the Pen’s played there best defense.
Not pointing the blame – I do think our forwards contribute to our poor defense.
Letang exposes us big time defensively. He laid a (4) game turd against
the Isles. We won a cup without and can do it again with the right personnel moves.
Need to add more grit, toughness / character at our forward position. Simon needs to go and ZAR, Maata played scared.
Just a thought – I know Malkin has been an unbelievable Penguin but it may be time to make a major trade. Sometimes a blockbuster isn’t all bad.
I look forward to your thoughts. One other thing – I’m surprised JR hasn’t went harder after a few College prospects given our draft situation.
Hey Mike,
To me all players are trade able given the right return. However, I don’t see anyone giving me what I would want for Crosby or Malkin.
As for Letang, I think he is a great person and wouldn’t think a great thing if Letang would choose Pittsburgh to be his home after he hangs up his skates. However, Like you I don’t value him near as much as a defenseman as the Penguins would seem to value him. I doubt any team would meet what the Penguins would ask for Letang. Me on the other hand, I think I could work out a deal as my demands would be far less, just to get out from under his contract.
Maybe I wouldn’t feel so willing to trade Letang if he didn’t make so many defensive mistakes. I could forgive Pettersson or Riikola for the giveaways Letang coughed up in games 1 and 4 a whole lot easier than I can a veteran of Letang’s experience.
I would have to agree with you over the forwards culpability as well, particularly in that fateful Islander series. There were times when the teams were playing 5 on 5 that it look to me like NY was on the PP with the ease in which their Fs and D tic-tac-toe passed the puck around our zone. We could have used a Bonino type forward.
I was going to take a couple days a way before really digging into the FA market, Prospects, Draft Eligible s, and potential trade targets but after reading yours and Dee’s comments as well as a couple of other articles, some of which I found insightful, others incite full, I have already started looking around.
The only 2 College Prospects that I have seen the Penguins’ sign were Chase Berger of Penn State and Jake Lucchini of Michigan Tech. Berger only got a chance to play 6 game, scoring 1 G and 1 A and was a +3. Lucchini played 15 games, scored 6 G and had 1 A; his +/- was -1.
A friend of me and Rick B is a Penn State grad and goes back and forth. I am not sure Rick B has had much chance to talk with him though. He has been keeping track of Nikita Pavlychev, the 6’7 Center. This morning he and I were talking and he said that Pavlychev was not named captain for next season so I am wondering if that means he is going to fore go his senior season and throw his hat into the ring for a bottom 6 center.
I will be looking forward to your responses when I play arm chair GM and give my thoughts.