The thought’s been buzzing around in the back of my mind for a while now and I figured I’d finally commit it to paper (or e-type).
As unthinkable (perhaps distasteful is a better word) as it would be, should the Penguins bite the bullet and complete the roster deconstruction (or destruction) unintentionally initiated by Ron Hextall?
Tragically for the fans and team alike, not to mention our former GM, most of Hextall’s moves wound up backfiring, including his deals last summer to upgrade our defense and the epicly disastrous Jared McCann-for-Filip Hållander swap. A trade that looks even worse now that the latter has returned to his native Sweden. Leaving our prospective lineup with more holes than a hunk of Swiss cheese.
Going forward, it’s going to require an extraordinary amount of work by our yet-to-be named hockey ops folks to plug the gaps so we can even make the playoffs, let alone legitimately compete for the Stanley Cup.
Nor is our venerated core, which exceeded all expectations last season, getting any younger. Even with a better supporting cast, the chances of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin being injury free and duplicating their exceptional production (a combined 60 goals and 176 points) are probably minimal.
Maybe it’s just me. But I feel like any attempt to prop this team up is just delaying the inevitable.
The talent pool available for the upcoming draft is a deep one. Is it time to leverage our assets and swap them for draft picks and/or prospects? And I’m not just talking about dealing a Jake Guentzel, Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust, but Sid, Geno and Kris Letang, too.
Tear it down to the floorboards and start all over.
That’s what the Blackhawks elected to do. After trying unsuccessfully to retool around their core of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith for several seasons, they gave up the ghost and went all-in for a tear down and rebuild.
The downside? It’s liable to take years before the ‘Hawks are good again.
The ramifications for our Pens would be just as enormous…and onerous. Sell off our big three and our fortunes, on-ice and otherwise, would plummet faster than stock prices during the infamous Black Thursday crash of 1929. Indeed, trading away the guts of our team could potentially alienate the fan base and surely result in a catastrophic collapse, the likes of which haven’t been seen since before Mario Lemieux arrived to save the franchise nearly 40 years ago.
It’s beyond painful to imagine Crosby, Malkin and Letang finishing their careers in any other colors but black and gold. Something that happened to their Windy City compatriots. On a financial note, FSG certainly didn’t fork over $900 million for a cellar-dwelling team.
Of course, there is another option. Retool on the fly. The Kings, another multi-Cup champion from the 2010s, have reconstructed a competitive young team around veteran cornerstones Anže Kopitar and Drew Doughty while enduring only three down seasons. A relatively quick turnaround.
However, lest you feel a faint flicker of hope, there’s a significant difference between us and our left-coast counterparts. LA had a passel of home-grown youngsters waiting to emerge, including Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Vilarde, Mikey Anderson and Sean Durzi.
Virtually bereft of young talent, the Pens have no such luxury. Even if by some miracle a black-and-gold rebuild can be executed in a few seasons, Sid’s contract will be up by the time we’re competitive again and Geno and Tanger will be on their last legs.
It’s like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle where none of the pieces fit. Talk about being caught between the proverbial rock and hard place.
I’ll finish by referencing another former Cup champion. After winning a Cup in ’08, the Red Wings tried for eight seasons to patch together a team around stalwarts Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, in the process delaying a much-needed rebuild. Although the Wings are finally on the upswing under GM and Motor City icon Steve Yzerman, they haven’t made the playoffs for seven long years. Haven’t even been close.
Unfortunately, I peer into my crystal ball see a similar bleak future stretching out before our Pens.
Penguins Sign Nylander
In the wake of Hållander’s defection, the Pens signed Alex Nylander to a one-year, one-way deal for $775,000.
Since arriving from Chicago on January 5, 2022, in a trade for Sam Lafferty, the 25-year-old forward’s been the creme of our farm system, tallying 39 goals and 80 points in 99 games for the Baby Pens.
During a nine-game trial with the Pens, he opened some eyes with his surprisingly strong all-around play while flashing the instincts and skills that made him the eighth overall pick in the 2016 Entry Draft.
Nylander didn’t look the least bit out of place skating on a line with Malkin and Jason Zucker. A role I personally hope he gets to reprise next season. At least until he proves he can’t handle it.
Singin’ the Blue(ger)s
No fewer than 22 former Pens have suited up for other clubs in the playoffs. Virtually a team’s worth.
One player who hasn’t? Teddy Blueger. He was a healthy scratch for each game during the Golden Knights’ first-round triumph over the Jets.
To say it’s been a rough year for Teddy is an understatement. Following a solid first few seasons, the wheels fell off the wagon for a hard-working player who was once projected to be the Pens’ third-line center for years to come. Leading to his trade to the Golden Knights for a third-round pick.
Let’s hope things turn around for Teddy.
Playoff Sam
History has shown that I don’t get things right too often. So when I do, I feel the need to toot my own horn.
On numerous occasions I pleaded for then-GM Jim Rutherford to acquire power forward Sam Bennett from Calgary. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, the former fourth overall pick had languished, then regressed with the Flames. Yet despite his regular-season woes, he sparkled in the playoffs, earning him the nickname “Playoff” Sam.
Finally, Panthers GM Bill Zito had the good sense to acquire Bennett in 2021 for a second-round pick. Since arriving in South Florida, his career’s been rejuvenated to the tune of 50 goals in 144 regular-season games.
For the record, Bennett has great speed and plays an aggressive, net-crashing, north-south game. He’ll drop the gloves, too. Precisely the type of player we desperately need but never seem to get.
Hey Guys
Been in hospital for a few days…..I did not realize who won until last night. But i am going to put my 2 cents worth in. Eight teams got eliminated. Most series went 6 or 7 games . That is what the nhl NEEDS. All the remaining 3 series going 6 or 7 games to get that almighty dollar that will help the Salary Cap to increase sooner. 1. Money !!! That is one of 3 key ingredients we need to get back in cup contention. The second part of point one is to inseminate bad contracts or trade players to get better talent.
2. When you look at the 8 teams eliminated in the first round there were at least 7 great teams we could NOT BEAT in a 7 game series. They were really good hockey teams. The Rangers,The Bruins,The Lighting, The Kings,The defending Cup champs Colorado,The Wild, and the Jets. Only the Islanders could we may defeat in 7 games but it would be a close call.
Now next year add in the fact that 3 or 4 teams will be moving up ,Ottawa,Buffalo,Detroit and either Nashville or Vancouver. Some say even lowly Arizona is quickly assembling some real talent.
All this to point out that next year may be even harder for us to make the play offs regardless what the paid Pittsburgh media says. FSG has inherited a mess.
3. So Rick i truly believe that we definitely need to accelerate the rebuild of our team and that means everyone is on the trade block accept Crosby and we should try to trade someone like a Jake G. and the young d man PO Joseph and a prospect for a top 5 pick. Then see what happens with our 14th pick and lets us hope we can move up 4 or 5 spots in the draft.
Then trade Jarry and other assets Rust and Zucker and an older D man for yet a third top 10 draft pick.
The time is now to act. This is a deep draft class and we need elite level talent moving forward. The streak is over. Done !!! There is nothing special about our Penguins now. We need to move on. Look at how many new young stars are leading their teams in the play offs. It is great to see.We need those types of players .
Cheers
Jim
Hey Jim,
Sorry to hear about the Hospital stay. Hope all is better.
The time to thinking about the future was 4 – 5 years ago, at the latest after the Isles swept us from the 1st round. Anyone with their eyes on the road in front of the team could see that. Unfortunately, the team is seems stuck in 2017, refusing to look away from the rear view mirror.
Our Pens are extremely ill prepared. Hextall left them in a serious bind. Crosby and Rust have NMCs, Carter, Letang, and Malkin have 35+NMCs, Petry has a m-NTC, NMC (15 team no trade), Guentzel (12 team) and Rickard Rakell (8 team) m-NTC. Serious gymnastics have to be played to try and trade any of those players.
Archibald, Bonino, Caggiulia Dumoulin, Heinen, Jarry, Kulikov, Tokarski, and Zucker are UFA so team who wants them has to trade anyone to get them. They no longer can be claimed as our assets.
Gruden, O’Connor, Poehling, and Puustenin are RFA and Lindberg is a 10.2(c), although we retain their rights so an NHL team would have to trade with us to get them, they can easily sign in Europe like Hallander did and get better TOI than Sullivan would give them.
This doesn’t leave the team with too many tradable assets and the UFA market is not bulging. If Hextall were a Manchurian candidate, he couldn’t have done a better job of sabotaging this team. On top of player screw ups, he gave Sullivan a 3-year extension, which may have been his worse screw up.
The chances that lady luck bounces are way and that lottery ball drops a top 5 pick our Penguins lap, the chances of the team manufacturing one are slim and none with slim hoping the freight out of town. Pure blind luck holds the highest probability of saving our team now.
Hey Coach
i appreciate the comments my friend. i realize what you said is true. My point was to start securing draft picks and draft wisely. Time is short.
FYI Coach I only say this to you because of my recent health situation. I first met Crosby when he was about 12 years old and he played against my nephew in the various Provincial Championships.They remain good friends even today.
When Mario owned the team I had no worries …Today that has ALL changed….Crosby wants to play for a Cup contender in his final season.
Cheers
Jim
Hey Jim,
Just saw your comments. So sorry to hear you were in the hospital. Hope you’re doing better, my friend.
God bless.
Rick
Hi Rick
Thanks for the prayers and words of encouragement.
Jim
As always it’s always great to read your comments. Hope your feeling better!!
Mike
Thanks Mike
That is very kind of you and I too look forward to what you say. You have many good ideas.
From what I read from you I think we are on the same page on most issues.
No matter what people say we must make major changes this year because I know
that some stars are not happy with the make up of the team and how the season ended.
One player in particular has options he can activate in his final season. That was negotiated
10 years ago .As long as Mario was around I never worried because they were very close
but now that has all changed,
FYI most people do not realize Crosby’s contract was front loaded and his final 2 years his salary
was less than 3 million dollars. MARIO did that so he could be traded easily if the unthinkable
ever came. Mario knew a thing or 2 about being mistreated by crooked owners and he wanted to
protect Crosby.
Times are a changing…
Cheers
Jim
Jim
Rick & The Other Rick
A complete reconstruct would be a huge task for the incoming GM but here
our my suggestions to start the wheels in motion.
1) Convince both Letang & Malkin that they’ll have another chance to chase
Lord Stanley but it won’t happen as a Penguin. The return will be minimal
but 12mil to spend on youth.
2) Trade Rust ( During or leading up to the draft).
3) Petry & Granulund have to go even at the expense of eating some salary. absorb
2mil of Granulund’s salary and 2.5mil to 3mil of Petry’s contract – Still save up to 6mil
4) If I’m correct we only have three picks in this years draft – 1st, 5th & 6th which IMO
means we need to trade back, possibly add a player and pick up a couple of mid
round picks. Example – swap 1st with a team, pick up their 1st, and a 4th – then try
to move Rust for a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Pen’s have to begin the process of adding
prospects.
5) Buyout Carter.
This would force the Pen’s to add (FA) young inexspensive players with speed/upside,
size & toughness while staying competitive.
I look forward to your feedback. GO PENS
Hey Mike,
My knee jerk reaction would be, I don’t have a problem with trading anyone for the right return, but not only don’t I think we could get proper return on a Malkin or Letang trade, particularly on Malkin he finished 13th in scoring among all Centers, there would seem to be little to no way the team could hope to replace them any time in the near future. However, if the thought is a complete blow-up and not a controlled burn, then my second push back becomes meaningless.
If a complete tear-down is to occur, I would still want equal return, but I would consider Picks and prospects future value in the equation.
However, I am still not sure how quickly I would want to trade either Malkin or Letang. Even during a rebuild, I would want fans in the stands, and I think the eventual farewell tour could be a great gate draw while I accumulate new talent. I read somewhere where MAF is wondering how much time he has left. As I wrote last off-season, I think there would be great value in trying to bring him back and retire a Penguin on that last round up with the 3 other amigos.
Petry, Granlund, and Carter are another story. In Petry’s case, he did show some value on the PK but he just doesn’t fit this system. If ownership is as intractable on our Coaching as our Coaches are in trying to push the square peg of their system into the round hole of this team, then shedding Petry is a must, even if the team retains salary. Petry simply can’t play the style of game to which the Coaches are married. And he is old.
Granlund is another story. Hextall should never have traded for him. He is completely redundant on this team. However, he is a decent hockey player, and the team should be able to trade him without retaining salary. However, if retaining some salary would allow me to get a higher draft pick or better prospect, I would jump at that. I would definitely retain salary for a 2nd round pick.
The biggest problem with Carter is that even a buyout doesn’t save us much on the Cap. We only save $1 million. On the plus side it would open up a roster spot.
AS I am going thru, preparing my usual off-season armchair Gming post, shedding Granlund, Petry, and Carter figure prominently in my thoughts right now, as is trying to find young speed, size and toughness
The Other Rick
A follow up to your thoughts:
I don’t think with new ownership you’ll see a complete tear down and I’m not
sure that’s necessary.
1) As long as Crosby remains a Penguin people will support the Pen’s. He would
be extemely valuable to the additions of younger players.
2) Yes Malking finished 13th in the league in scoring but scoring.s not everything
in a team sport. Also, the dropoff is coming and after putting up good offensive
numbers like Letang this is the time to trade them. Any return is a bonus – with
this core intact in limits the Pen’s ability to compete and will do so for the next
5 years. I said at the end of last sesaon if would be a horrible business decision
by Hextall to sign either player for more than 2 years because if he signed them
to long term deals it would set the organization back at least 5 years.
3) Just a short breakdown – With Petry’s 6mil you can grab some pretty good
Defenseman w/youth – Even if it’s only one – it would be an upgrade.
4) With Malkin, Letang and Granulund you save 17mil. With good strategic decisions
by a new GM he would have the cash to add speed, size & toughness. And I
believe we would have a better “TEAM”
5) Move Rust for either a young establsihed NHLer or a couple of draft picks. Thats
another 6mil to play with – now not counting Petry you have 23mil to spend. The
key here is who they hire as GM.
6) As bad as I know you want Sullivan gone and a full blown rebuild I don’t see either
of those happening.
7) If Sullivan remains as Head Coach the Pen’s need to hire a GM with enough backbone
to give Sullivan an ultimatum – Give the young players / prospects minutes and be willing
to play “players” that bring the team toughnesss and will stick up for their teammates when
necessary. If this happenes the Pen’s could return to the playoffs without Letang & Malkin.
Hey Mike,
Unlike Sullivan to his system or probably ownership to Sullivan, I am not married to any player. I can trade them all if I can make the team better. However, since I agree with your assessment that a complete teardown and rebuild will be attempted in the near future, I would judicious in any attempt to get Malkin or Letang to waive their NMC clauses for a trade. Letang may be easier to replace than Malkin but replacing either will be very, very difficult. Yes, the team could get a couple of young jerseys on the ice, but filling those jerseys with anything resembling their skills will be the real trick and as you said the team doesn’t appear to be willing to reboot.
That is about the only other point, other than Sullivan that we seem to be on opposite sides.
Also, what I failed to mention earlier, to go along with your comment about draft picks,, unless I win the lottery and get the 4th pick in the draft or something like that, I seriously would consider trading that 14th pick down the draft a couple of slots for a latter 1st pick and a 2nd rounder. If I am not getting a shot at an Adam Fanitilli or Leo Carlsson, I may want to try and undo the damage Hextall did at the trade dead line.
The other Rick
I’m totally on board with us trading down to pick up a couple more draft picks /
prospects. With our limited picks that is definitely the smart move.
I also want to mention MAF – He’s saying that if he can’t come back to Minny as
a backup he’ll retire. According to a MAF quote he’s not moving again.
Hey Rick,
Hate to be that voice (actually I guess I don’t – I seem to always be doing it) but you can’t break up the core or much of this team unless it wants to be broken up. Sid, Geno, Tanger, and even Rusty and the mill stone himself Carter all have NMCs. A team would have to be VERY creative to get them to move out. Guentzel, Rakell, and Petry have m-NTCs (12, 8, and 15 team NTCs respectively).
With Hallander jumping ship and running back to Europe (and he isn’t the 1st) it just shows how bad this team is for change. No kid wants to stay here and languish under this team’s rear view mirror looking Coach.
This team has been falling apart even as it was winning its 2nd Cup. That Cup was only won on a Herculean effort by their Goalies (Fleury and Murray). Key player loss (as you note 19 players that Sullivan didn’t want are in the playoffs this season and he isn’t) fostered by a locker room cancer where kids, grit, and large personalities were not welcome doomed this team. This team was constructed marginally and would have needed divine intervention to make a Cup run, but under a better Coach would have at least made one more appearance at the dance. Fortunes will not change until the team makes the right decision and moves on to a new Coaching staff. Unfortunately, management and still many fans (but a shrinking number of fans) keep crying for (fans) or trying (Ownership) every other variable but the right variable.
Hextall had to go if for no other reason than his biggest mistake, giving Sullivan a 3-year extension.
The harsh reality is Rick, no dissolution of this team will make any difference whatsoever until a new hand is at the helm. Changing out assets will only be throwing good money after bad. Unless, somehow, you can talk Edmonton into trading you McDavid, Draisaitl, Makar, Rantanen, Ullmark, and Gustavsson but retain the salary. Sullivan won’t win another Cup unless he can inherit another team with Generational talents, future hall of famers, and all stars all still in their prime. Sullivan couldn’t build a set of blocks. He could knock yours down, but he couldn’t build his own.