An Armchair GM’s Approach to Fixing Our Penguins

For the past few months I’ve written a lot about what’s wrong with our Penguins. With the team on the verge of hiring a new hockey ops staff, I thought it might be time to shift gears and look at how the Pens might be fixed.

Please note. I make no attempt to address salary cap issues or balance the books. It’s pretty much just me spitballin’ about possible options. Nor is this meant to be an all-inclusive list.

First, a look at the current state of the team. To borrow a phrase from former NFL coach Dennis Green, our Pens “are who we thought they were.” Aka…an aging former champion and bubble playoff team at best. Indeed, watching the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past month only affirms that as presently constructed, we’re too old, too slow and way, way (waaaaaay) too soft. We possess only a wisp of the fire, drive and spirit required to succeed in the postseason, and virtually no real physicality. Thanks in no small part to Mike Sullivan and his “just play” mantra.

On the flip side, it isn’t an accident that the Florida Panthers are headed to the Final. Veteran coach Paul Maurice spent the better part of the regular season getting his charges to give up their favored run-and-gun approach for a more playoff tested style, and it’s reaping huge dividends. For the record, the Lightning underwent a similar transformation under Jon Cooper en route to their back-to-back Cups.

Led by the likes of physical, pile-driving forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, the Panthers bring it every single game.

With the possible exception of Jason Zucker, the Pens are largely devoid of that type of fire and spirit. One of the things that must change if we’re return to contender status.

Before we take a look at what needs to be fixed, let’s first take a look at what ain’t broke. Namely, our top six forwards and bottom sixer Drew O’Connor, along with defensemen Kris Letang and Marcus Pettersson.

This isn’t to suggest changes shouldn’t be made. If we could swap Jake Guentzel for a net-front horse like the Rangers’ Chris Kreider or the Islanders’ Anders Lee, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Or better still, Lawson Crouse of Arizona. We desperately lack the power element these guys provide.

Then there’s the not-so-small matter of pending UFA Zucker. I LOVE what “Zucks” brought to the table last season. However, age and injury history, not to mention price, might mitigate against bringing him back on a long-term deal.

If we elect to go in another direction, fellow scrapper and UFA Tyler Bertuzzi might be a suitable replacement. Or Michael Bunting, late of the Leafs.

Now for what really needs fixing. The bottom six, frankly is a disaster. O’Connor is a sure thing in my book, but the rest of the bunch…

…Ryan Poehling is young and fast and occasionally makes a nice play, but he lacks the aggression I’m looking for in my bottom six. I want puck hunters and bangers.

Either through buyout or trade, Mikael Granlund has to go. Through no fault of his own, he isn’t what we need in any way, shape or form.

Ditto Jeff Carter. Here’s hoping he does what’s best for himself and the team and retires. If he doesn’t, park him in the press box or send him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. A veritable black hole on ice, we can ill-afford another season of trying to work around him.

We also have three pending UFAs among our current bottom-sixers, Josh Archibald, Nick Bonino and Danton Heinen. While I don’t dislike any of these guys, if I had my druthers I’d opt for a different mix.

In terms of promotable (and cheap) talent from the farm? Valtteri Puustinen, Sam Poulin, Jonathan Gruden and Nathan Légaré could possibly vie for roster spots.

Aside from Puustinen, who scored 44 goals for the Baby Pens and merits consideration for third-line duty, it isn’t a group that inspires a ton of confidence. It was a lost season for Poulin, professionally if not personally, and Légaré hasn’t done much (a paltry 15 goals over two seasons) to deserve a look. But Poulin does have size, can play either wing or center, and employs a pretty solid all-around game. Légaré brings aggression and fire, much needed elements, and does possess a bomb of a shot. Skating is apparently an issue for the former junior teammates.

As for Gruden, who netted a respectable 16 goals in 54 games with the Baby Pens, he projects to be a Teddy Blueger-type…with perhaps a little more scrap to his game.

Whether any of them are ready for full-time NHL duty is anyone’s guess.

In all likelihood the Pens will look to free agency or trades to plug their bottom-six holes. The most glaring…third-line center.

Among UFAs-to-be, Max Domi and Andreas Athanasiou could be inviting targets. Both possess considerable offensive skills and could step into an expanded role should Sidney Crosby and/or Evgeni Malkin be injured (heaven forbid). Noel Acciari, a straight-line thumper, could be a nice fourth-line center.

On the wing Ivan Barbashev, Miles Wood and Garnet Hathaway pop into my mind as possible candidates. This might be a pipe dream, but if I could pry Sammy Blais out of St. Louis I’d do it in a heartbeat. The ultra-aggressive winger is big and fast, hits like a freight-train and flashed some latent offensive skill (nine goals and 20 points in 31 games) after returning to the Blues.

Along those lines, if we could convince Bruins GM Don Sweeney to part with pending RFA hammer Trent Frederic (17 goals, seven fights), our toughness/enforcement issues would be resolved for years to come.

Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?

On to the defense. Uh boy.

If we let Brian Dumoulin walk, the left side shapes up as Pettersson, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Ty Smith. That simply won’t do. There’s precious little bulk or physicality there, not to mention a degree of shakiness in the latter duos’ d-zone play. Issues that could be remedied if the Pens were to sign the Devils’ Ryan Graves, a bigger, younger and more effective version of Dumoulin. If not Graves, then the Jets’ Brenden Dillon, who’ll hit and fight.

The right side is fairly set (albeit in cement) with veterans Letang, Jeff Petry and Jan Rutta. I seriously doubt if Petry’s going anywhere due to his age and contract, but perhaps Rutta can be parlayed into a more mobile all-arounder (I’ll leave you to fill in the blank).

In reserve, I’d prefer Mark Friedman to Chad Ruhwedel due to his versatility and aggressiveness. My sense is it’s the other way around for Sullivan.

Which leads us to perhaps the most pressing issue of all…goaltending.

I’m probably in the minority, but I’m fine with riding Casey DeSmith as backup for another season…with the proviso that we land a legit No. 1 goalie.

Given his injury history and somewhat checkered performance…especially last season…I just don’t know about Tristan Jarry.

Most folks, including our own Caleb Di’Natale, have cast their eyes upon Arizona’s Karel Vejmelka or Winnipeg stud Connor Hellebucyk. I’ve suggested Vejmelka’s backup, Connor Ingram and the Golden Knights’ Adin Hill, although it’s highly unlikely he’d be available given his emergence this postseason. Then there’s always Pittsburgh-native John Gibson.

I’ll punt this one into the (hopefully) capable hands of our new GM.