Penguins Likely Need a Retool/Rebuild After Missing the Playoffs

The team has been trading picks and prospects for years, a practice that could make the next few years tough ones if they continue to miss the post-season.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @thehockeyguy
Join us on our discord to chat hockey, talk with others during the game, share pet pictures, and more.
/ discord
Order jerseys from Ben H Sports while saving 10% off the listed eBay prices by sending him an email regarding jerseys you spot in his listings. [e-mail] Just tell him Shannon sent you.
Support The Hockey Guy via Patreon / thehockeyguy
/ youtubehockeyguy
Instagram: thgshannon and thg_cats
Spoutible: spoutible.com/TheHockeyGuy
[e-mail]
Contact me via snail mail at:
The Hockey Guy
PO Box 15038 Seven Oaks PO
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 8P1
In the USA:
Shannon Skanes
1125 Fir Avenue
Suite 119
Blaine, WA 98230

[@philibol]

Retool? Rebuild? Those words don't exist in the GM's dictionnary until Crosby and Malkin retire

[@JarradBruessel32]

You mean fenway sports group?

[@chrissie6105]

Sure they could do a retool. Just not a rebuild

[@bsbmakesmesmile84]

I'm a B-hawks fans who is now experiencing another rebuild and yeah, it is time for the Pens to rebuild. The problem with retooling is you are still need youth and depth and GM's don't give up high -end prospects

[@yhprum413]

hey buddy you do know thee GM is Kyle Du(m)bas(s) right???

[@yoholmes273]

The term you are looking for is "reload". Keep firing as$holes !

[@williamsteffey3434]

As a Red Wings fan…looks eerily familiar to the 2014 onward Wings. They need to rebuild, but won’t do it while they’re still close to the Playoff line.

[@propaks8241]

Rebuild is right around the corner but I doubt they start it until Crosby retires.

[@Paul-ud7pt]

They should start BEFORE Crosby retires. Even if is not THIS coming season.

[@propaks8241]

@@Paul-ud7pt I agree

[@codymachado]

I can see Crosby with McKenna for a year then retiring. Imagine that, being mentored by Sid and Geno similar to how lemieux welcomed crosby into the league, thats a dream scenario, like how Chicago got there franchise replacement in bedard

[@propaks8241]

@@codymachado id love it

[@AstralScourge]

Pittsburgh is sunk for a bit, but they have enjoyed a lot of success for many years

[@thomasw3285]

I have no illusions that we are done as a contender. Could we pop back in the playoffs? Sure, but no cups. This is legacy time. Next year we should see Geno's 500th and Sid's 600+, and fast closing in on Marios career total

[@johnnythunder196]

@@thomasw3285 Geno's 1300 point & 500th goal could happen first week of season (498/1296) & Sid needing only 8 for 600 (+ closing in on 1700 points by years end with Mario at 1723). Should be an amazing season.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

The Pens got a lot better when they aquired Bunting. He was the piece they were missing. Karlsson also looked a lot better the last few weeks. If they can add some bottom 6 scoring and if Crosby can pull another season like the last one, then they will be competitive. They will need to rebuild soon, but until father time catches up woth Crosby, he deserves to have another go at it.

[@jacknumberone600]

no, he's the same as in car. and tor. , ditch him pronto

[@johnnythunder196]

@@jacknumberone600 You've watched nothing (Pens games this season) & you know nothing. Second line was a force when Bunting joined Malkin and they were still carrying Raks (who was brutal this season). If they add a Marner or similarly strong to elite player to that line...it will be lethal. Bunting is everything the Pens needed (grit, passion, skill) & perfect in the bumper spot on the PP. Bunting's vision (excellent passer) and decision making is excellent too. Best player we added all year.

[@jacknumberone600]

@@johnnythunder196 Pitt fans well known as the dumbest going

[@TheZarbear]

@@jacknumberone600 19 points in 21 games with PIT vs 36 in 60 with CAR. stats don't lie bozo

[@jacknumberone600]

@@TheZarbear minus Twenty from goin to th net and standing there, so passionately !

[@lucasrodriguez507]

As a fan from the 15-16 and 16-17 years, I am grateful for the years of success we have had since then. But I do agree it is time for a rebuild. If 8 of the skaters who played for the team last year were over the age of 32, that doesn't seem to be a workable situation when the most of the contending teams are several years younger. I don't think a lot of this can be put on Dubas tho, he came in when this team had only missed one year of playoffs. The idea to get this team with three legends still playing back into the playoffs is not an overly demanding ask. I want to give Dubas a shot at managing this team into a good, healthy rebuild similar to what Montreal is doing now. They will need to heavily invest in their pro and amateur scouting during this and the following offseasons but I think we can be at least competitive in two or three years if we rebuild properly.

[@beneasler8868]

I saw it as a sign last year that someone didn't know what they were talking about when they said the Pittsburgh had bad defense. Our defense was fine, if not actually good. The problem was definitely more so the dry offense outside of Crosby's line

[@jeffreym.8957]

Well... Letang is weak. Karlsson played well (except for the terrible PP for some reason). Don't understand why guys like Rakell and Reilly Smith were so bad. Crosby and Guentzel were great. Why they got rid of Jake I have no idea. If you were trading Crosby, Letang, Karlsson and Malkin then sure - get rid of Jake, too. But how does getting Bunting and a meh pick help you make the playoffs?

[@zeusthedrumlord547]

@@jeffreym.8957they were arguably a better team with bunting and no Jake once bunting settled in because even though Jake is far and away the better player bunting was the type of player they were missing…. Shoulda just snagged him as a FA.

[@newschooler720]

These guys are basically in the same spot as the hawks of 5 years ago now

[@eddietheguy12]

Karlsson just didn't work in Pittsburgh. I would prefer he be shipped off elsewhere. Wouldn't mind seeing Smith and Rakell go too.

[@db-pl5yu]

Especially Smith and Rakell. I think karlsson found his groove as the year went along, especially those last 15-16 games. But Smith probably had 6 good games at the beginning of the year and 3 good games at the end of year. I'd really like him to be gone asap

[@eddietheguy12]

@@db-pl5yu Graves was also a disappointment. Wouldn't mind trading him for a pick or something.

[@db-pl5yu]

@@eddietheguy12 yeah graves was rough, that karlsson graves pairing felt like we had 2 Rob scheduri's out there. If he wasn't a 5 mil player then I wouldn't hate him too much, but he's expensive, I would love if we got a 6th round pick for him.

[@johnnythunder196]

@@eddietheguy12 understatement (Graves)...probably the worst signing in franchise history. A catastrophic signing that keep the Pens out of the playoffs. Guy cost them every night he was on the ice.

[@seanragsdale5636]

With how FSG is running the Red Sox rn, I would not be optimistic Pens fsns

[@neeltheother2342]

their primary assets are the sox and liverpool, so i guess the pens are just a tax right-off on them once they start sucking?

[@MCAWESOME19]

Jarry also got a goalie goal this year. 😁

[@guybunchofnumbers123]

9:06 Blomqvist is Finland-Swede, (native finn who speaks swedish). Only a few months younger than me, and while i dont know him, he grew up a 25 min car distance from where i did :D

[@theaverageDon]

Nice to hear that it sounds like Shannon read my comment regarding this Draft class being "bad" I was mostly being overdramatic but I applaud your response 👏

[@P45K141N3N]

Joel Blomqvist is Finnish!

[@JarradBruessel32]

You are wrong about how detroit stopped trying. Ken holland still kept trying. The wings roster just wasn't good enough to make it. Holland refused a rebuild which is why yzerman was brought back home and holland got moved to upper management before quitting

[@cdfmmcc]

And signed heavy long term contracts well after time was up

[@MK-ji9ke]

The biggest problem with Pittsburgh was their powerplay. Even a few more goals and they would have been in the playoffs from OL points. The kind of player they needed was a Nichushkin/Horvat/Hyman type player who screens the goalie and gets the cleanup/tip in goals. Bunting is that kind of gritty player and he fit right in with the team. But he isn’t a replacement for Guentzel. This summer, Dubas needs to re-sign Sid, keep Bunting and Nedeljkovic, try and get Guentzel back. Maybe get Domi or Bertuzzi for that chippy, hard nosed player which Pittsburgh lacked pre-Bunting. Smith hasn’t played as well as he should. Rakell had injury issues and his scoring was up towards the end of the season. I would give Yaegar a chance this season. Third line with Eller or Malkin and some top powerplay time. Other problems - toughness, losing focus in the third period, stamina. I definitely think that this is a team which doesn’t know what it is doing. If they’re selling at the deadline, why only give up Guentzel? Ned was having a good season. Surely Edmonton or Colorado would have been interested. And if selling, why not tank the team this year, get the too 10 draft pick and then win next year. Pittsburgh’s finishing situation is the worst possible. They missed the playoffs but lost their draft pick (probably).

[@johnnythunder196]

Yager may need another year of seasoning but he's a stud. Malkin and Bunting are perfect together...we need a young scorer for that line. Even Marner would be very interesting. But they need someone they can count on for points who can take pressure off of Geno. We do need another gritty player as well. The team improved so drastically after adding Bunts. But still a soft team. If Yaegar does make it play him on line 4 with Eller and another kid. Line 4 is brutal and need a serious upgrade. Bertuzzi would be a good add....good thinking. Feel we also need to keep Ned. No way Jarry takes this team anywhere.

[@MaverickRE]

The Pens and the Caps are sort of the in the same situation. They have an aging or already aged core that's being over paid. However, where the difference is... The Pens I actually think have a better team, but they aren't really fighting for anything right now, so they should be doing a full rebuild The Caps are more stuck in my opinion because the whole team is basically built around getting Ovi multiple all time records but mostly the goal scoring record. So they can't really do anything until he either gets that or retires.

[@samuelfrick3475]

The future of the Pittsburgh Penguins (team performance wise) is bleak

[@HankingMySchrader]

As long as Crosbys on the team they won’t try and rebuild. Not winning a playoff round since 2018 and then missing playoffs last year should’ve been tue first sign of a rebuild but then trying late in the season to clinch a wc2 spot really baffled me

[@killhouse6130]

Why does everyone forget the penguins don’t have their 1st

[@KevinWindsor1971]

Yes and no. The Penguins can regain their pick from San Jose if they move up in the draft lottery. The pick is top 10 protected, They have a 1.5% chance at moving up to 4th in the first draw. If they win the second draw, they land at 5th overall. Otherwise, San Jose keeps the pick

[@KevinWindsor1971]

Also: If Carolina reaches the Cup finals, Pittsburgh gets the first round pick of the Canes from the Guentzel trade.

[@erictremblay3044]

Dubas doesn't know how to build a Cup contender. He only look for star players. Look what he did to get Karlson. Karlson wasn't what this team needed...

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

So something people need to consider is Dubas was actually willing to change in Toronto which he publicly said and they fired him for it.

[@JustBrowsing777]

If their PP would've worked as well as you can argue there is potential for it to do, they'd at least have been in the playoffs.

[@R3DF0X71]

They fired Todd Reirden so that's a start

[@harper-leightonscott4566]

Only to get brushed aside by the rangers

[@__d.b__]

But it didn't. If my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle. Sullivan and co should've been fired a long time ago

[@johnnythunder196]

@@__d.b__ true but just firing Todd R vastly improves our PP.

[@rangers11ization]

Last years draft was much deeper.The Rangers got Gabe Perreault with the 23rd pick in the first round

[@christopheralbanese6689]

Let’s go. I’ve been waiting for this video

[@philipcoggins9512]

Just a reminder, the last two times the Pens fired their coach during the season, they won the Cup...

[@akwz2448]

Love that logo

[@dnuck318]

As a pens fan they definitely need to retool. Love Crosby but probably won't win another title with him.

[@grep4]

So many questions and so few answers! I agree that they are in the same position as Toronto and need to make significant changes!!!!! Doubt they will as long as Sid and Geno are playing though. :(

[@athenaclark2567]

I think it’s time for Pittsburgh to start their rebuild. As mentioned, who knows if Malkin and Letang can get back to the levels of production they once had. And since Crosby played great this year, they can trade him to a contender while his demand is still high and get a haul of picks for the rebuild ahead.

[@patch8376]

But bringing Karlsson to San Jose worked out so well for them when they were starting to fall off. Why wouldn't Pittsburgh want to do the same?

[@closethockeyfan5284]

😂love it

[@jahmanoog461]

My team is now very average.

[@ChrisBrown-jp1hi]

San Jose, part two. I’m a fan but their short-term future looks rough.

[@Tomatohater64]

Retooling and rebuilding are two totally different things. I think they're done retooling, and I truly hope so. The big question is when. WHEN does this long overdue rebuild start in earnest? Probably should have started 2-3 years ago. If they're not going to rebuild, I feel that 4-5 acquisitions between the ages of 37-41 are appropriate. 🤔🤔🤨🤨😳😳

[@mariovaccarella6854]

Great Video, as usual, Shannon - Are either of those terms in The Vocabulary of Pittsburgh (Penguins)? I think, from what we saw with Jake Guentzal Trade to Carolina, we're likely going to see Kyle Dubas star in The Toronto Connection (I'm guessing that Dan Aykroyd - A Canadian - would be in it in A Gene Hackman Leading Role - LOL). On A Serious Note, I'm thinking that he's going to go after many of The Players The Toronto Maple Leafs had/have during his time as Their GM. Let me know what you think

[@Netcentric-fk6ek]

Pittsburgh could have dumped Malkin and Crosby and been in the same place.

[@chrisalfano589]

Oh boy…. He gave Mike Sullivan the “I think he’s ok”…. Been nice Mike… sorry

[@johnnythunder196]

Shannon....Geno Malkin played with stiffs most of the season (Reilly Smith & Rakell both were dreadful). There were times Sullivan had AHL level talent like Colin White on the Malkin line. They didn't utilize him correctly on the PP (Letang is perfect at setting Geno up with one timer bombs but EK can't put a puck on tape for a one timer to save his life) as they insisted on Karlsson passing to Geno & it never worked. Then they got away from even trying to set up Geno for one timer bombs on the PP and eventually demoted him to the 2nd PP unit (a terrible mistake by a terrible PP coach who has been fired). Geno was better 5:5 than the previous 80+ point year & that's with inferior linemates (until Bunting came aboard). One Bunts was added to the Malkin like Geno was flying around every night (last month of season). This also coincides with Malkin's parents visiting the US for the first time in 6 years. Malkin's play was considerably elevated after his parents arrived and Pens were the best team in hockey the last 3 weeks of the season. Pens PP numbers were abysmal and Malkin's and Sid's numbers suffered because of it. Sid had 94 points. I watched every minute of every game. Sid looked more like a 110-120 player. The anemic PP (terrible coaching) curtailed the numbers of many of our players. Malkin has indeed lost a step but still retains a howitzer of a shot, great vision, elite skill/playmaking and the heart of champion who can still get 80+ points. 67 points is not a true indication of his level. This was a down year points wise for every Penguin not named Sid.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I think Malkin's 80 point days are done. He turns 38 in July.

[@johnnythunder196]

@@TheHockeyGuy I think Pens add a better player to compliment Bunts/Geno & Malkin has a bounce back season. Most dont realize how bad Smith and Rakell were this year. Looking at the deeper numbers once Bunting and Malkin teamed up tells the story. Smith crushed the production of every line he played on. Graves and Smith were brutal mistake signings. Smith never wanted to be in Pitt & Graves wasn't evaluated properly. Back to Geno...His PP production went from 41 points in 2022-23 to 18 in 2023-24....this was due to Todd Rierden's almost historically bad PP (for a large chunk of the season Pens were on pace to have their most inept PP in team history despite 4 HOFers on the squad!). Even Sid's PP numbers suffered, and Sid was magical on a nightly basis. If Bunting was on the Malkin line from game one (and playing bumper on PP1) Malkin would've still hit 80+ points this past season. I think Malkin again flirts with 80 points next season. Didn't even look like he lost anything once they found him a competent linemate and returned him to PP 1 late in the year.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Again, at age 38, it's highly unlikely Malkin increases his production next season. It's almost unheard of at that age. The Pens need to rebuild or at least retool.

[@johnnythunder196]

@@TheHockeyGuy Pens have DOC coming along nicely (by seasons end turned into a great third line player who was also good when playing with Sid on line 1) and Rust is still a force when healthy. Pusti will be a nice player (lots of upside). Offensively they need to dump Smith and Rakell & replace them with productive players. If they can add an elite player like Marner (all the better). 4th line is brutal and they have some kids in the organization who could give it some punch/speed. Eller was outstanding on line 3 (i agree) and they are underutilizing Puljujarvi. They are not far away offensively. Three maybe four changes needed.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Puljujarvi is a black hole offensively. They don't have the cap space for Marner and the Leafs would want a top notch defenseman for him plus other assets. The Pens need to retool at the very least.

[@Caniac76]

They need to retool. They could have a good 4th line if the guys they got for the 4th line had played but they were injured the whole season, Accari and Nietto. They need to trade Reily Smith and get the best possible 3rd line center. They have players that can fill roles, but they need to find third-line guys that can score. They still have a decent top 6. Malkin's line looked a lot better with Bunting. If they can get Graves to play well their defense is good, with plenty of guys they can plug-in like St. Ivan y and Shea.

[@patrickcoughlin4148]

Father Time is undefeated. Until Crosby and Malkin are ready to retire, I think the Pens will just continue to try to use bandaids and hope they can stay in playoff race as long as possible. Making playoffs would be a bonus.

[@johnnythunder196]

They both have plenty left and are part of the solution not the issue. Terrible role players and Graves are the issue. Four or five changes and this is a very good team. Pens were best team in hockey last 3 weeks of season.

[@davidfox9947]

​@@johnnythunder196 You could say about 8-10 teams were the best team in hockey for three weeks of the season. The truth is about a 1/4 of the league are real contenders now.

[@KevinJL]

Crosby holding them hostage from it.

[@austin5944]

I don't think it's crosby, I think it's moreso Malkin. Crosby is still producing and I wouldn't mind having him on the team until he's 50. I think the problem is keeping the entire core of him, malkin, and letang.

[@dws3303]

I think Sid is a very superstitious guy & that is why he is paid 8.7 million. He might not take another number (I’m pretty sure I heard that somewhere).

[@gsipp00]

Is just making the playoffs a goal? Choose to Wait too long you won't have assets to trade and you will be stuck with a complete rebuild. Retool and trade some of your older star players and get younger and perhaps return to being a contender sooner.

[@captiankirkgames4385]

As pit fan I said last summer it’s over Kyle dubas thanks to him has no first round pick as pens should be grateful 3 cups wins back to runs 4 cup finals 5 eastern conference finals appearances winter classics stadium series I am for ever grateful for everything my favourite player Crosby and malkin and tiger did for the franchise it’s time to rebuild one thing I will say if it wasn’t for jimmy after 2017 trying stop Tom Wilson they would be still contenders and Ron hextall wreck the team like I said forever grateful

[@judistzoinkiski3395]

put the blame on Sullivan, but you are MIA on that right, have fun with Keefe stop crying

[@captiankirkgames4385]

@@judistzoinkiski3395yes Mike started become stubborn

[@JarradBruessel32]

​@@captiankirkgames4385 you do know that he made the trade fenway sports group wanted him to make right? And he got a better deal than he should have gotten. If they had a real powerplay coach karlsson probably puts up another 20 points

[@jacknumberone600]

the end to this season was, in a word - extremely annoying !

[@Carpy_On_Ice]

Loooooooooong road ahead. Dinosaur core, no prospects, albatross contracts. Love to see it 😍

[@gregbayers7214]

Sullivan staying will be directly proportional to if Keefe becomes available

[@McSomething15]

"Stupid hockey guy, thinks all the prospects are bad."

[@closethockeyfan5284]

It's not the same as Burns and Karlsson. Letang honestly has nothing to do with it, as he's more all-around type than OFD anymore. Karlsson is just a double-edge who cuts more against than for his team. We've seen it his entire career, save a few fleeting periods of getting covered for (e.g., Methot) or having no need to play defense anyway because the team clearly sucks, so might as well look out for No. 1 (Sharks last year). I'm amazed at how many smart hockey people deny their eyes when it comes to Karlsson.

[@militant_daisies2194]

its going to get worse before it gets any better in Pittsburgh. They made hay while the sun-shined tho

[@Bob-wy6zv]

I hate ESPN Hockey Night and I am searching every single avenue to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Canada 🇨🇦 Channels

[@mikepanick9362]

Ferraro is pathetic, gets worse and worse every year.

[@johnnythunder196]

@@mikepanick9362 He's still around wow...I used to think Thorne and Clement were terrible on ESPN (now i long for the bygone days of those two doing games)

[@tomlester5291]

As a very superstitious hockey fan, I'm a bit hesitant to say this but I think people are making WAYYY too big a deal about the Penguins being down for the count. Yes, there are issues but they are very fixable issues. The power play killed them this year. If the PP was performing even marginally better than it did, this team would have finished easily at 100+ points and in the playoffs. A little better success in not blowing it in a few of the O/Ts puts them in the playoffs. Those 2 things alone are coaching. If they fix things behind the bench, both in Pittsburgh and WBS, they'll be in good shape for another Cup run. The coaching issue also clearly applies to the "young guys vs. old guys" debate in every social media forum. Look at Drew O'Connor, Ludwig and St. Ivany when given a change. Puustinen is on that cusp, as is Poulin if given a change. Having said that, I'd still say give up on Graves if possible and see if Vegas wants to reverse the Reilly Smith deal since he liked it there and they only made the trade because of their own cap space, which changes this year. Goalie question is hard but I'd still take just about any deal to move Jarry. I don't think he's happy here and the team needs to have greater confidence in a guy, regardless of how many shutouts he puts up. With Jarry, it was either a SO or a disaster, it seemed.

[@johnnythunder196]

Even people who follow the team dont get this....they are 4 or 5 changes from being an outstanding team. Graves, Smith, Rakell did nothing (except hurt the team) all season and still nearly made the playoffs. Rierden buried the PP (almost the most inept in franchise history) and still Sid nearly 100 and Malkin nearly 70 points. Pusti and Doc getting better by the week. Rusty still a force when playing healthy. EK still the best offensive D man in NHL when playing unbridled. Add another gritty forward, an elite top 6 (Marner?), a third liner with more scoring punch & and two D men accountable in their own end.

[@hpshovecraft]

The one thing I hate about THG is how he keeps saying this year's draft is entirely made up of people who have never played hockey.

[@ephraimmcfarland576]

Will you be making an end of season video about the Blues?

[@cdfmmcc]

He's doing all teams. Starts with those who missed the playoffs and then teams as they exit the playoffs. Im guessing later this week for STL

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

I also feel Like Crosby is a guy who was drafted by Pittsburgh and wants to end his career in Pittsburgh which I don't think we've seen (a player drafted by a team and then stays with the team the whole time) since Super Mario maybe?

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

@@TheEskimeaux so u're not wrong but I think I should've clarified what I meant. I meant a guy like Sidney Crosby who has been in the league for almost two decades now and has stayed with the team that drafted him. I know Mario is a bit odd because he had that long layoff because of cancer but I think Sid and Ovi (now that i thik about it lol) are the only players in the 21st century that have played more than a dozen years with the team that drafted them. Note I don't count if u were drafted played a couple years then went elsewhere and came back. I mean u were drafted by them and u never left.

[@clydeblair9622]

Henryk Zetterberg 1999 210th.

[@alsolaniccal]

How poetic is it that the Sharks and Penguins met in the Cup Final nearly a decade ago and both are going to fall under the same trajectory. Just that the Pens have a cup.

[@QPINE01]

When he does Detroit there’s like 8 players he can add for On The Way

[@mattmackie9298]

I doubt Karlsson gets moved. Paid a price to get him, next season should be better for him, so I think they roll with it. Jarry is a tough spot, no one is taking that contract and I think there’s a lot of doubt in him. Ned probably gets a bump, so whether that’s with Pens or someone else, we’ll see. You almost need a 1A 1B with Jarry, he costed Pens more games than stole (but when he’s on, MAN he’s ON)

[@MisterVercetti]

The Penguins made their bed when they signed Malkin and Letang to those ludicrous extensions instead of shipping them off for younger talent. Now it's time for them to lie in it - and as Red Wings fans circa the 2010s can attest, they're gonna be lying in it for a long, _long_ time.

[@ponyboy9765]

Pittsburgh learn from the San Jose Sharks mistake they kick the can one too many times, and have ended up in a situation where playoffs aren’t likely for almost a decade when all is said and done. Lots of aging players, and not a lot of assets or prospects in the pipeline.

[@MisterWheelzProductions]

Shannon just curious to know if you know how much the salary cap is supposed to go up for this coming season?

[@TheHockeyGuy]

4.2 million this summer is the estimate. Next summer it's likely to be a similar increase.

[@rona6063]

Trading Crosby and Malkin will get them atleast 3 1st rounders. They would also have the cap space to take on a bad contract for another 1st. They could speed this up if they wanted to.

[@teethelowlife5879]

A retool would maybe bring them a 1st round. Rebuild is the only real option. Sure we have Crosby and malkin and the other, but they are not what they where. They can't drag this team to another cup. And to be frank are three home games really worth it?

[@chrisbelos2834]

1 point away from the playoffs last year, 3 points behind this year. i see a trend here

[@0nTopic22]

When Karlsson was traded to Pittsburgh I was hyped that we would have the best blue line, disappointed is an understatement they didn’t click and I think trading for picks for that upcoming rebuild is probably the play if I was Dubas

[@johnnythunder196]

It will turn around next season. EK was awesome offensively down the stretch (once they unbridled him a bit). You know we're adding 2 of 3 offensive weapons and dumping Smith and Raks (I bet that happens). Pusti and Doc are just scratching the surface of their potential. Sid is world class. Malkin still had it. Bunting is a perfect fit. Rust is a force when healthy. We need three offensive pieces imo.

[@0nTopic22]

@@johnnythunder196 you make great points and the optimism is great I just hope you’re right

[@johnnythunder196]

@@0nTopic22 Thanks man. I believe i am. We had a million things go wrong and still nearly made the playoffs. 4-5 player moves and this is a much different team. Most importantly Smith and Rakell need to go. Lines 1-3 need just one player (4th line needs to be gutted). Sid /Rust need a forward. Malkin/Bunts need a scorer to complement them. Doc/Pusti needs a better scoring option to work with them. I move Eller down to line 4 and play him with our two brightest prospects to increase team speed. One hopefully two defensive players who are accountable in their own zone (and we've already added one with St Ivany who is a revelation). And we already dumped Rierden so things are already brighter.

[@johnnythunder196]

@@0nTopic22 Karlsson with two sweet goals @ the world championship yesterday

[@user-cr4kl3uf5w]

Mitch marner is gonna be out in FA possible Pittsburgh makes a run on him ???

[@atlasfeynman1039]

Saw this thumbnail and immediately thought that a Tavares/Marner for Crosby/Malkin trade could happen.

[@dylanebers8017]

This draft class is weaker now however they said the same thing 2017 and that draft has some pretty good players Makar, Oettenger, Heiskanen, Hischier. And many more. There's no McDavid however still a lot of really good players.

[@tehbeernerd]

The question isn’t if the Pens need a rebuild/retool, it’s if ownership will allow for it.

[@benjaminmiller788]

That's the crazy part. Retiring Jagr's number may be a message that the new ownership is moving on from this core.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

​@benjaminmiller788 if only, but nope, FSG is somehow even keener than Lemieux Group to keep the band together. Unreal

[@ChadSimplicio]

Pens need to let Crosby finish his hockey career as a Penguin before going into full rebuild mode.

[@joachimgonzalez9397]

Malkin lost a step or two before he signed his most recent extension

[@johnnythunder196]

Malkin is still a beast and it showed once Bunting came on board

[@McSomething15]

If Pittsburgh continues to try making anothing Cup run, they're more likely to make the rebuild take just that much longer. Unless they win another lottery with a generational player. Which will make the other fanbases absolutely thrilled.

[@thomasw3285]

The fantasy GM in me says double down. Clear out either Graves, Smith or Rakell contracts. Move Malkin to wing and give Stamkos a 1 year 10 million dollar deal. On a side note, had Todd Reirdon been fired in January and not now, I think this is a playoff team, and comfortably slow.

[@johnnythunder196]

Agree with everything you wrote and was screaming in November for them to fire Todd R & get Malkin a real linemate. Of course once Bunts came on board Geno was in beast mode. Love the Stamkos thinking. Trust him more than pretty much anyone else on the market. Which line would you play him on & curious why you want to move Geno to winger. Thought he showed he was plenty capable of retaining center position after Bunts joined him but they did move Mario to winger so this could be the correct move....curious to hear your thoughts

[@Merlin_From_Shrek_3]

Here comes Keefe!

[@letsgobrandon7297]

I still wonder what would happened in 2018, if Penguins would won against Capitals would they have won 3rd straight cup. What do you all think?

[@clarkwilson9520]

Malkins totals were sunk by having black holes on his wings. Better depth, a league average power play, and Dubas not sitting on his hands all season puts them right back in the playoffs. As a penguins fan I don’t have any delusions of them getting another cup but I want 87/71 to have a good last few years and in my mind that means making the playoffs regardless of anything else.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Ehhh, he had insufficient support from Rakell and Smith, sure, but Malkin definitely did himself few favors this season too. He looked disinterested until the home stretch when it was too late.

[@johnnythunder196]

Bingo...Geno had a better 5:5 season than the previous year (80+ point season). He also went from 41 (22-23) to 18(23-24) PP points due to the useless Rierden burying our PP. How bad a coach are you when Malkin (who still has one of the biggest bomb shots in hockey) gets 18 points on the PP and you have 4 HOFERS on the team. And somehow they didn't fire this guy until after the season. Unreal!

[@pensavspatsfandom98]

If their power play approves than last season, I think they should be back in the playoffs, other than that, I don’t know what to make of this team.

[@Andyyy48]

Cosby 11 mil. contract at age 36, how is asking its not stupid, but how will pay is😄. Penguins need a rebuild and they need to get younger😁

[@letsgobrandon7297]

My opinion they need to trade all their draft picks for the remaining years crosby will be here. We don’t have time to develop players or we are just wasting crosby’s/Malkins final years. Then after they’re gone go back to developing players. We need NHL proven players now. They screwed themselves by going on that hot streak, if they wouldn’t have they would had a chance at the lottery draft but now lost the 1st rd pick all together. Idk about Sullivan. Every time we got a new coach in Crosby era we went to the cup the following year.

[@anubisgod23]

Washington's future looking a lot better than Pittsburgh. DC while struggling at least has some good talent in the pipeline coming up Pittsburgh...oof

[@annalundberg4773]

Maybe Pittsburgh should have traded for Hertl instead of Karlsson

[@toddsams7599]

Breaking news !!! Travis Green to be named next Senators Head coach per Bruce Garrioch

[@Wogger72]

Karlsson I think was a mistake in Pittsburgh? A signing mistake? How many old players by hockey standards let's add another one? Need younger with the older? Sid the kid is still putting up kid points

[@scottmatson4816]

It wouldnt be cheap, but a good move would be to bring Guentzel back, trade either LeTang or Karlson- don’t need an exact clone of an offensive defenseman on the same team and let the other one quarterback the power play. Next, add a solid defenseman to stay back when the Karltang surviving clone presses too hard and gives up the (every game several) odd man rushes. Goalie is Nedelkovic, he earned it this year. Jarry is good but Ned seems to be the future. Sid can fix the power play, especially if Guentzel returns. Move out, if possible, smith, graves, one of the Karltang’$ (probably Eric) and keep for sure Rust and Bunting and Petterson. Find some fast, young, hungry scrappers since giving away Blueger and Zucker.

[@mpontice]

Well said, I basically agree with this. I don't know that the team you outlined is a cup contender, but I think we finish above, rather than below, the playoff line at least. May just be forestalling the inevitable though.

[@HajiBhai-qo9yr]

Joel Blomqvis

[@roybatty2680]

Crosby for Marner.

[@benjaminmiller788]

_Coming This Summer..._

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

trade veteran or two to Utah for draft picks and prospects?

[@TheDolfanar]

I would take this lineup over the caps or Islanders. I think they’re a better team. The Karlsson v Burns/Letang thing was something that stood out to me when he first went to Pittsburg as well. I wonder if they expected Letang to miss a bunch of games? Who would have bet 82 games from Letang, Malkin AND Crosby? Letang is 37 and has 4 more years under contract which is insane to me… worst contract on the team?

[@ianhall6614]

You’d think having two top tier offensive defensemen would make your blue line deadly, when in fact all it does is prevent anyone from getting into a groove. Karlsson needs to find a team where he can be the guy on the blue line before it’s too late.

[@michaelpostsstuff9958]

Karlsson’s is worse. Letang (so far) is still living up to his ~$6 million cap hit. Until he truly slows down, you can’t complain about 6 mil for a #1D.

[@TheDolfanar]

@@ianhall6614 Im an Oilers fan, and we saw the same thing with Barrie and Bouchard… it seems like you can only have one Right handed ace d-man…

[@TheDolfanar]

@@michaelpostsstuff9958 from a roster perspective, you are 100% right, but with a bit of retention Karlssons contract is still tradeable, imo Letangs isn’t.

[@USAx777x]

wholesale clearance sale

[@FinDaemon]

Blomqvist is Finnish fyi

[@WarioSaysSo]

What? Retool or Rebuilding? Those words and actions don't exist in the Penguins GM's strategy book until there legends Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin retire! Both are under contracts and both have no-trade clauses that can't be lifted unless one agrees to that team offered. Since both seem to be steady in Pittsburgh and the fans always love having them there, then not much can be done till they leave. While Crosby is still a very good producer and a much valued asset, Malkin (who I have liked a lot) seems to continue degrade in the production factor. And despite getting Erik Karlsson, the 3-time Norris Trophy winner it still did not change things up. The team went dormant most of the season and not till when it was arguably to late they woke up, and esecally Crosby fired all cylinders and near himself carried the Pens. And oh how the Penguins should so ever regret trading away the great Marc-Andre Fleury. Ever since then they have not had solid goaltending.....

[@Paul-ud7pt]

They did not trade Fleury. Vegas took him in the expansion draft.

[@WarioSaysSo]

@@Paul-ud7pt Oh right! What I meant they still choose to put there chips on Tristan Jarry.

[@Niklas-bk7nu]

what u said sounded like finnish Joel, swedish Joel would be pronounced more like Joo-L. 😎

[@BrownKnee666]

1 jarry was bad 2 smith sucked. 3. Rakell and sullivan should go.

[@johnnythunder196]

Smith and Graves were catastrophically bad signing. Rakell is terrible.

[@elwizschold]

Wait... Dubas brought in an expensive player long term, who really isn't what the team needs? Who would've thought... cough cough Tavares cough cough

[@stacanator]

It is definitely time for a rebuild for Pittsburgh. They just do not have good young players. Crosby carried them this year, and can’t expect him to keep that up going forward.

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Too old it's not gonna happen.

[@UncleAnaesthesia]

Keeping the band together is a boon as much as it is an impediment. They need an injection of youth around the staples, or anchors depending on how you view the talented core.

[@Nikkerman]

I think they'd be making a mistake keeping Sullivan, not that he's a bad coach but I think they need a new fresh voice. That being said, as a Caps fan I hope they do.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Hextall extended him through 2027, so unless Sullivan chooses to depart, FSG is not pulling a Canucks paying for multiple coaches to do nothing.

[@TylerMorganShow]

Jarry needs a 1B

[@johnnythunder196]

Ned needs to be 1A

[@paulthompson8793]

Unless they're willing to move on from core players it's pointless, on top of that I dunno how they're gonna move that horrible EK contract without taking a beating.