I don’t own a crystal ball. Nor do I possess any particular insight or foresight on the future direction of our Penguins.
I really don’t know what POHO/GM Kyle Dubas plans to do this offseason and beyond. With the salary cap increasing to $95.5 million, a healthy jump of $7.5 million, and the combined cap hits of Jack Johnson and retainees Jeff Petry and Reilly Smith coming off the books, plus available cap space, Dubas could conceivably have in the neighborhood of $20 million to spend.
That’s a lot of cap coin.
Although the Pens’ plans going forward aren’t crystal clear, Dubas doesn’t appear to be opting for a full teardown. Were that the case, he likely would’ve parted with Rickard Rakell, Matt Grzelcyk and perhaps even Trusty Rusty, Bryan Rust, at the trade deadline.
Too, the struggles of teams that have gone that route, including the Blackhawks, Red Wings, Sabres and Sharks, make it a wholly unappealing option.
Based on interviews and his own actions, it appears Dubas will attempt some sort of rebuild or retool-on-the-fly. In essence, following in the Capitals’ footsteps.
A scant two seasons after missing the playoffs and by all appearances grooved in the same downward track as the Pens, our blood rivals are challenging for the Presidents’ Trophy. Of course, there was more than a bit of luck and good fortune involved, including the emergence of young guns Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas and pricey former stars Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie going on LTIR.
Recent Cup winners Vegas and Florida have embraced this approach as well, along with teams like the Kings and the Rangers. Tampa Bay appears to be doing the same.
In fact the Lightning may be providing Dubas with a blueprint to follow. Bolts GM Julien BriseBois prudently created cap space over the past couple of seasons, then opened his wallet to sign ex-Pen Jake Guentzel and add former Lightning standout Ryan McDonagh via trade. In the process, positioning the Bolts for another run at the Cup.
Dubas is said to be enamored of Maple Leafs UFA-to-be Mitch Marner. Could he be planning a similar high-profile add?
Given the advanced ages of our Core Four, would such a move be a colossal mistake?
I’m going to audibly shift gears.
The Pens are fast approaching a tipping point in their descent. Even though Sidney Crosby is still near the peak of his abilities, we have an opportunity to be epically bad. There could be a significant reward for being so.
The next Next One, left wing Gavin McKenna, becomes draft eligible in 2026. As a 16-year-old, his numbers in junior (34-63-97) eerily mirrored those of a 16-year-old Mario Lemieux (30-66-96). Although he didn’t quite keep pace in his age 17 season, McKenna still put up a staggering 129 points in only 56 games.
There’s no questioning the kid’s pedigree. In fact he reminds me very much of a smaller version of Mario with the way he skates and comports himself on the ice.
It would seem almost criminal not to tank in order to get a shot at drafting him.
Same goes for the Next One After, defenseman Landon DuPont (pictured). Regarded by many as the best defensive prospect since Bobby Orr (high praise indeed), DuPont piled up 17 goals and 60 points in the WHL…as a 15-year-old!
He’ll be draft eligible in 2027.
Of course, with the draft lottery, even if we hit rock-bottom there’s no guarantee we’d get either of ‘em, so there’s certainly a HUGE risk in going for it. Miss, and we could literally be bad forever.
Still, it’s awfully hard to turn your back on an opportunity to potentially draft the next Mario and Orr, arguably the two greatest hockey players of all-time.
Rick,
There is at least 1 blogger who is once again pushing for the Penguins to keep their team tied to the Jarry cart. Said blogger was one who campaigned for Dubas to sign the turnstile at all costs, leading to these depths of most loses in a season during Malkin’s era and 2nd most loses in the Crosby era. So, if Dubas is lending an ear to that insanity, then you have nothing to worry about, nothing will change with this team. They will have a shot at both McKenna and Dupont if management continues to feast upon that idiotic pablum.