Pittsburgh Penguins Cannot Hold Doing This Balancing Act

The Pittsburgh Penguins proceed to wrestle this season. They give the impression of being nice one night time, and the subsequent, not a lot. And for stretches, they don’t look nice. That poor play carries from sport to sport underneath head coach Mike Sullivan.

The difficulty is that three pillars are nonetheless on the crew. President of Hockey Operations and Common Supervisor Kyle Dubas is strolling a skinny line that he can’t stability anymore.

Pittsburgh Penguins Problems Don’t All Fall on Kyle Dubas

It’s powerful to retool on the fly whereas attempting to be aggressive. Simply have a look at the Calgary Flames. The Flames knew they wanted to rebuild final yr by promoting off their unrestricted free brokers, giving them a pleasant younger corps with a mixture of veterans.

Nevertheless, as Flames Common Supervisor Craig Conroy advised NHLRumors.com, it’s by no means straightforward to inform gamers to lose after which inform them to go play to win.

“I all the time say it’s arduous to inform a participant or really feel prefer it’s okay to lose a sport, after which in some unspecified time in the future, flip and inform him he has to win each sport,” stated Craig Conroy.

As you may see in Calgary, the Flames are rebuilding however aren’t retooling on the fly as they construct a aggressive franchise when their new constructing opens.

Pittsburgh’s downside is that the edict from possession has been to attempt to win one other championship with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the items to do this.

Jake Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on the NHL Commerce Deadline final season. The return for Guentzel was okay. However Guentzel was a participant you would rebuild round and attempt to retool on the fly whereas being aggressive. This downside goes again a few years.

NHL Rumors: The Pittsburgh Penguins Are Not an Easy Fix

Actually, this retool on the fly or rebuild wanted to begin in the summertime of 2022. Then, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke and Common Supervisor Ron Hextall had the imaginative and prescient to inform Fenway Sports activities Group {that a} rebuild was needed.

They wished to let Evgeni Malkin stroll in free company however have been advised to signal him to a brand new deal so the trio of Malkin, Crosby, and Letang could possibly be collectively and win. Sadly, the cabinet is naked, and the draft picks are absent.

Bringing in Erik Karlsson has not labored. Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, and Matt Grezlcyk haven’t moved the needle. Anthony Beauvillier has been a vibrant spot, however there aren’t any younger gamers coming. Rutger McGroarty is within the system, however the jury remains to be out on his manufacturing within the NHL.

NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins, and Max Term Contracts

Once more, it’s a powerful act to stability. Mike Sullivan is the coach, however the defensive points this crew constantly reveals are a difficulty. Every other coach might be gone, however Sullivan is within the first yr of a multi-year extension. To not point out, Dubas is within the second yr of a seven-year contract with the Penguins.

We all know Pittsburgh doesn’t wish to tear it down. They place confidence in the coach, and possession nonetheless likes him, however the outcomes aren’t there.

The Pittsburgh Penguins try to do what their rival, the Washington Capitals, are doing. Washington made good hockey trades to raised their crew and are retooling on the fly. Pittsburgh didn’t. Now the Penguins are paying the value for profitable the Stanley Cups and attempting to be aggressive.

Did the Pittsburgh Penguins Do Enough This Offseason?

The Lars Eller trade was the beginning of one thing. However nothing will change except the Pittsburgh Penguins decide to transferring one in every of their huge weapons. It may take a Malkin commerce to get the required items to retool on the fly. Karlsson would possibly transfer the needle, however the Penguins should make a hockey commerce. Not one for simply picks and prospects.

A crew like Pittsburgh can’t be half severe about rebuilding. You both do it otherwise you don’t.