Penguins Offseason Rewind: Can I Get a Mulligan?

I was engrossed in conversation with Other Rick at Wright’s Gym yesterday and the topic quickly veered toward our Penguins as it so often does. I began to expound on what I believe is the intent behind Kyle Dubas’ less-than-inspired moves of late when my colleague cut me off mid-sentence.

“Dubas could’ve improved the team,” Other Rick insisted. “We could’ve gotten (Nikita) Zadorov.”

His assertions stopped me in my tracks.

Could we have signed a marquee free agent or two…players who might have improved our chances…instead of going the Filene’s Basement route?

Let’s rewind to the start of free agency, or more accurately two days prior. According to PuckPedia, we had roughly $15.2 million in available cap space. Add Valtteri Puustinen and Jack St. Ivany to the mix, and we’re down to roughly $13.6 million. Still enough coin to make some noise.

Then came the Kevin Hayes trade (fiasco), one I believe will live in black-and-gold-infamy among the worst of all-time, and everything shifted. Hope for better things ahead flew out the window faster than a swallow lighting out for Capistrano. Never mind the second-round pick we acquired.

It was as if Dubas played Buffy the Penguin Slayer drove a stake through our collective hearts and hopes while lopping over $3.5 million off our available cap space.

But what if this was a friendly round of golf instead of cutthroat NHL free agency? What if we wipe the slate clean and take the drive-into-the-woods Hayes deal off the board? Who might we have signed?

The following five players represent my personal wish list. Obviously, we couldn’t have landed them all. I would’ve tried for three, which would’ve fit into our pre-Hayes trade budget.

Of course, there’s the not-so-little matter of whether any would’ve chosen to sign with us. Despite an article to the contrary published not too long ago on another site, I don’t believe we’re a favored destination for free agents any longer. Most prefer to go to a contending team or one that’s on the rise, not a fading former champion.

Anyway, with a wink at practicality and realism, in a perfect world here are my picks along with their particulars.

TOP-SIX FORWARD

Jake DeBrusk (LW, 6’0” 197, 27, signed with Vancouver, $5.5 million AAV, 7 Yr.) OR

Tyler Bertuzzi (LW, 6’1” 186, 29, signed with Chicago, $5.5 million AAV, 4 Yr.)

DeBrusk’s term is obviously exorbitant (thanks JR), but I would’ve matched Bertuzzi’s deal in a heartbeat. In the process, providing Sidney Crosby with a chippy, grinding portside bookend with a scoring touch. One cut from the Michael Bunting–Bryan Rust cloth.

PHYSICAL DEFENSEMAN

Nikita Zadorov (LD, 6’6” 248, 29, signed with Boston, $5 million AAV, 6 Yr.) OR

Brenden Dillon (LD, 6’4” 220, 33, signed with New Jersey, $4 million AAV, 3 Yr.)

Okay, the forward-mashing, soul-stealing Zadorov would likely have been out of our range (sorry Other Rick), although the Bruins obviously didn’t think so. But I would’ve been more than happy to ink Dillon, one tough hombre, to the same deal he got from the Devils.

Who would you rather have patrolling our left side? The snarling, glove-dropping Dillon, or our Smurfish signees Matt Grzelcyk and Sebastian Aho?

Can you say wimpy, wimpy, wimpy?

DEPTH FORWARD

Stefan Noesen (RW, 6’1” 205, 31, signed with New Jersey, $2.75 million AAV, 3 Yr.)

I would’ve pursued Noesen hard as my grit, depth-forward add. One perfectly capable of middle-six duty.

Okay, time to total up the bill on my free-agent shopping spree and head to the check-out register. I would’ve landed Bertuzzi, Dillon and Noesen at a cool sum of roughly $12 million per annum. Which would’ve fit our budget while providing a top-six winger, a capable depth forward and a desperately needed physical defenseman.

In addition to their unique skill sets? Each of these guys would’ve provided the sand, size and compete level we’re so sorely lacking (and absolutely didn’t get with our own signings). Not to mention the energizing effect they would likely have had on our Core Four and fan base.

To sum up, I’ll include the JFresh WAR charts for my would-be additions. In stark contrast to the red-dominated charts of our actual signings, you’ll note a healthy preponderance of blue.