There’s an old song by former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello that goes “…promise me the moon and every little star that shines above…promise me the world and every dream I’m dreaming of…”
So what does that have to do with our Penguins?
I’ll tell ya.
I’m as thrilled as the next black-and-gold fan that beloved franchise icon Sidney Crosby has signed a two-year extension, and at an incredibly reasonable rate to boot. Apocryphal or not, I read an account that suggested Kyle Dubas initially offered $10 million and Sid replied that his standard $8.7 million would do.
That unselfish act alone speaks volumes of Sid’s makeup and character and sets him apart as truly special. No other modern athlete would make such a sacrifice.
As part of the negotiating process, Dubas gave Sid assurances that he intended to keep the team competitive.
Huh? (The sound of a needle being dragged across vinyl.)
By signing the likes of Anthony Beauvillier and Matt Grzelcyk and trading for Kevin Hayes and Cody Glass?
Forgive me if I seem a bit incredulous. As likely comprised, I see our Pens as a bubble team at best and not one that’s going to be seriously competing for anything of consequence. As recently as July, Dubas appeared to be setting in motion the early stages of a thinly veiled teardown.
Is it possible he’s elected to switch horses midstream to a more palatable (and difficult to execute) rebuild on the fly?
Based on his assurances to Sid, it would appear so.
Indeed, the Rutger McGroarty trade (which I loved) and the sudden emergence of Tristan Broz, Ville Koivunen and netminding wonder Sergei Murashov and as bona fide prospects has improved the landscape somewhat.
Still, it would seem folly to delay the inevitable just to maintain the pretense of being competitive. Kind of like the Pirates shooting for .500 every year and invariably coming up short. To say nothing of kissing goodbye an opportunity to draft Mario-esque next one Gavin McKenna a couple years down the road.
The Bible has this to say about serving two masters, as Dubas now seems intent on doing. “Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
There’s also the old adage, “Promises are made to be broken.”
When all is said and done, let’s hope that won’t be the case with Sid.
KIDS PREVAIL
The Pens’ younglings whupped the Sabres’ kiddies, 8-5, in a barnburner in Buffalo on Monday. In the process wrapping up the NHL Prospects Challenge with a sparkling 3-0 record.
Forward Avery Hayes, who enjoyed quite a tournament while skating on the top line, notched a hat trick while the piping-hot Broz tailed a goal and three helpers. McGroarty potted a goal as well.
If our Pens are to remain competitive as Dubas now asserts, it’s an absolute necessity that he find a way to at least partially clear the logjam of veterans that are currently damming up the creek (“crick” in Pittsburghese). While you certainly don’t want to rush (and risk ruining) your prospects, you don’t want them manacled in the minors, either.
Likely why our POHO/GM kept the term short for most of his new acquisitions.
HAPPY CAMPERS
The Pens have invited a whopping 69 players to training camp, which opens today. Here’s the list:
Forwards (38)
NHL Contracts: Noel Acciari, Corey Andonovski, Raivis Ansons, Anthony Beauvillier, Emil Bemstrom, Tristan Broz, Michael Bunting, Sidney Crosby, Lars Eller, Cody Glass, Jonathan Gruden, Kevin Hayes, Tanner Howe, Boko Imama, Marc Johnstone, Joona Koppanen, Ville Koivunen, Blake Lizotte, Bennett MacArthur, Evgeni Malkin, Rutger McGroarty, Drew O’Connor, Vasily Ponomarev, Sam Poulin, Jesse Puljujarvi, Valtteri Puustinen, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust
AHL Contracts: Atley Calvert, Avery Hayes, Sam Houde, Jimmy Huntington, Logan Pietila
Unsigned draft pick: Cooper Foster
UFA Invites: Jack Beck, Justin Cloutier, Mathieu De St. Phalle, Gabe Klassen
Defense (25)
NHL Contracts: Sebastian Aho, Isaac Belliveau, Harrison Brunicke, Ryan Graves, Matt Grzelcyk, Mac Hollowell, Erik Karlsson, Filip Kral, Kris Letang, John Ludvig, Marcus Pettersson, Owen Pickering, Emil Pieniniemi, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany
AHL Contracts: Scooter Brickley, Nathan Clurman, Justin Lee, Mats Lindgren, Dan Renouf, Philip Waugh
Unsigned draft pick: Finn Harding
UFA Invites: Caeden Carlisle, Donovan McCoy
Professional Tryout: Nikolai Knyzhov
Goalies (6)
NHL Contracts: Joel Blomqvist, Tristan Jarry, Filip Larsson, Sergei Murashov, Alex Nedeljkovic
UFA Invite: Charlie Schnekel
In addition, injured players Beau Jelsma, Jagger Joshua, Matt Nieto, and Taylor Gauthier are attending training camp but aren’t medically cleared to participate.
Hey Rick,
I really wish I had the time to write up a preview of the coming season. The sad thing is, even though I can see tons of promise for this team, through the kids I watched in the Prospects Challenge, the same millstone looks to weigh this team down again behind the bench. With the number of teams that appear to have gotten better in the Metro balanced by the number of teams that took a fall, there is as good of chance for a team shored up with a liberal sprinkling of some of the kids you mentioned above (particularly in goal), the shear enthusiasm and reckless abandon of play could steal this team not only back to the playoffs but through the first round. However, that would require several things.
1) Sullivan simplifying his game plan again, like it was when the team won the Cup in 15-16. The fastest way to pick up game speed is for the players to stop thinking about where they have to be. Furthermore, go back to having the Defense play defense and the Forwards play offense and stop trying to drive the scoring through the defense.
2) Sullivan to see a Doctor about his allergy to both grit and youth. McGroarty with Sid, Koivunen with Malkin, Broz Centering the third line between Bunting and Rakell and Avery Hayes or Ponomarev with Eller and either Glass or Puljujarvi on the 4th line. Sit Grzelcyk and Aho and give Belliveau or Nikolai Knyzhov a chance as the LHD of the 3rd pairing and let St. Ivany have an opportunity to keep the position he earned last season. And as I wrote above, go with Goalie by committee; Ned, Blomqvist, and Murashov.
3) Sid, Geno, Kris, and Karl at least approach 82 GP.