The Pittsburgh Penguins have been as soon as a longtime playoff contender within the NHL. Now it seems they might miss the playoffs for the third straight season. And whereas folks wish to level the finger at normal supervisor Kyle Dubas, the development of this roster began earlier than he obtained there.
When you may argue the Penguins rebuild ought to have began after they misplaced to the Washington Capitals in 2018 within the second spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Penguins did make the playoffs the next seasons from 2019-2022 dropping within the first spherical. Within the case of 2020 the Penguins “didn’t make the playoffs” dropping to the Montreal Canadiens within the qualifying spherical.
However the indicators have been there that this was an ageing crew. The Penguins obtained outplayed by the New York Islanders in 2019 and 2021, and the Canadiens in 2020. In 2022, the Penguins have been up 3-1 within the sequence, Sidney Crosby obtained damage and the sequence modified. The Penguins couldn’t defend or maintain leads dropping to the New York Rangers in seven video games.
Kyle Dubas Has Made Two $11 Million Errors in His Profession
The summer time of 2022 was essential. That summer time, the Penguins ought to have decided on Kris Letang or Evgeni Malkin, not each. To not point out Rickard Rakell was a free agent too. When Letang signed his six-year deal at $6.1 million and Rakell signed his five-year deal at $5 million, many thought Malkin was gone.
On the time, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke and Common Supervisor wished to maneuver on from Malkin and begin the rebuild. Possession had different concepts. They wished to maintain Letang, Malkin, and Sidney Crosby collectively. Malkin will get a four-year deal at $6.1 million. An ageing crew simply obtained older.
The Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs in 2023 as a result of they’ll’t beat groups with dropping information. This allowed the Florida Panthers to get in and the Chicago Blackhawks to draft Connor Bedard. However adjustments wanted to come back.
NHL Rumors: Have the Pittsburgh Penguins Thought-about Buying and selling Tristan Jarry?
Much like Malkin, it appeared goaltender Tristan Jarry was leaving Pittsburgh. At the very least that’s what the studies have been. After which new GM Kyle Dubas signed Jarry to a five-year extension value $5.375 million. Jarry is now within the AHL on a conditioning stint.
Jarry didn’t play nice in 2023 as Casey DeSmith took the starters’ reign. In 2024 it was Alex Nedeljkovic. This season it’s Joel Blomqvist.
Along with the Jarry signing, Dubas signed Ryan Graves to a six-year, $4.5 million a season cap hit. He additionally traded for Erik Karlsson. This was one other $11 million a 12 months participant {that a} crew Dubas ran didn’t want (The Penguins are on the hook for $10 million of Karlsson’s $11.5 million cap hit). Within the 2022-23 Karlsson had over 100 factors on a nasty San Jose Sharks crew. However Dubas and possession thought this was the piece to place the Penguins excessive. It was not.
Then this previous low season he traded for Kevin Hayes and signed Matt Grzelcyk. Once more, this was after the commerce of Jake Guentzel eventually 12 months’s commerce deadline which didn’t internet him a lot in return.
The chemistry is off for an ageing crew that’s missing curiosity and a spotlight to element. Crosby, who simply signed a brand new two-year deal is off his recreation to start the season. It looks like he’s lacking Guentzel on his wing. Now Crosby won’t ever say this, however you need to think about he was not joyful concerning the commerce.
NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins and Marcus Pettersson
It looks like head coach Mike Sullivan might be the primary coach to lose his job if issues don’t flip round. Once more it may need occurred this previous low season, however his extension solely kicked in, so how a lot of a buyout does possession wish to pay him?
That elements into the choice to not hearth a coach. However Sullivan would possible get picked up shortly. However one thing has to alter and the Penguins have quite a lot of unmoveable contracts. A lot of these gamers have modified or full no-trade clauses. So this crew must decide on what they wish to do earlier than it’s too late.
However the Pittsburgh Penguins are a paying a value for over a decade of being a constant playoff crew within the NHL. Finally, their reign needed to come to an finish. If solely they adopted their rival the Washington Capitals, it is likely to be just a little extra bearable.
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