After the Vegas and Arizona game Pens fans absolutely lost it (I get it, that two game stretch was embarrassing).
I think fans need to have a bit of a come to jesus moment with their expectations over the next few weeks.
1. Just enjoy that we continue to get to watch Crosby, Malkin and Letang (and I know Malkin hasn't been his best, but we're still extremely lucky).
2. Don't expect Dubas to buy at the deadline, even if the pens turn it around here over the next few weeks. Most insiders have been discussing the fact that a lot of GMs in the league right now may not be big buyers at the deadline given that there is so much parody in the league right now and most teams have a shot still to make playoffs. (teams may use their own UFAs as a "rental" without having to give up assets to improve there team). Along with most teams still being in a playoff position, only Anaheim, Buffalo, Nashville and Chicago have more than $4M in cap space. Nashville is in a playoff spots and Trotz hasn't counted out buying at the deadline, so really there aren't even many teams to dump cap on.
3. A lot of people are calling for Sullivan to get fired as well, and I can understand why, but where I think it becomes a bit gray is with how much FSG like Sullivan. He has a 3 year contract extension in place after this season and it could be a situation where ownership is putting its foot down to keep him, but I still think that Reirden should be and needs to be shown the exit.
4. With the possibility that not many teams become sellers, the ones that do are going to be able to create a bidding war for contenders if there are less players to buy at the TDL. This doesn't favor the penguins as they don't have many assets to try and compete with other teams.
5. Some fans want pens to become sellers and blow up the team, I don't think this is very likely. There are some contracts that would be really difficult to move. Rust has 4 years left plus a full NMC a $5.125M/aav while being 31. Rakell is similar, 30 at $5M/aav with 4 years left and an NTC. Graves I would imagine would cost the team assets to move give his contact length and I don't see the pens wanting to move Jarry. If there are three likely candidates to sell it would be Guentzel, Nedeljkovic and possibly trying to flip smith to a team. Smith hasn't seemed to fit in with the penguins but has 20 pts and is a SC winner, he could be attractive to the correct team or even a team looking to make a hockey trade. (My example would be Smith for Saad straight up, pens save $500K aav, and Blues shed an extra year of a contract and could even flip Smith). Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Karlsson are all off the table and would argue that Pettersson is as well (i'll explain why next).
6. The core for the most part this season has still performed well. Crosby doesn't need any explanation, letang has played well, Karlsson has still played well regardless of what some fans may say, he's had better than normal defensive metrics and has been very good at 5v5. Malkin has caught a lot of heat but is still on pace for 70 pts and 28 goals well essentially having no true winger all season. (smith was good for about 10 games and then fell off a cliff, Rakell got hurt and malkin has since had the likes of Nylander, Puustinen, zohorna and some rust).
7. The cap is rumored to go up to $87.7M next year and with that it should leave the penguins with roughly $18.2M as the roster stands today with 9 forwards signed, 5 defensemen and 1 goalie. So with those things I would suspect that Dubas doesn't spend at the deadline this year, the season plays out (maybe small selling) and he will look to spend in the summer to take another run. With the season that Ned is having I can't imagine the pens will be able to afford him next season so they'll either give Blomqvist a chance to backup Jarry as he's had a very strong year in the AHL, or they look to sign another cheap backup. They can go out and either sign two centers (bump Eller to 4C and move Malkin out to Wing) or keep Malkin at 2C and sign a legit 3C. Team can then fill out wingers where needs, and even possibly resign Jake.
So, just chill out, keep your expectations low for the remainder of this season at least around potential moves. We are an extremely lucky fanbase....
2. Don't expect Dubas to buy at the deadline, even if the pens turn it around here over the next few weeks.
I can see Dubas being a cautious/passive buyer. Maybe a minor move for a defenseman like Jaycob Megna (Karlsson's partner for 667 minutes in San Jose last season). Or maybe Kyle Burroughs, a noted gritty player.
6. The core for the most part this season has still performed well...Malkin has caught a lot of heat but is still on pace for 70 pts and 28 goals well essentially having no true winger all season.
Why does Malkin always get the poor wingers excuse? A lot of it is on him this season, he simply needs to perform better and should also be taken off PP1 for an extended period of time. I have hope with the latest lines at practice, O'Connor - Malkin - White. This should help him simplify his game more.
it's tough to "Go for it" but I'm going to assume you read absolutely nothing I wrote.
They have 13 contracts with some type of NTC, a couple decent players that aren't on good contracts (rust/rakell).
They don't have the ability to generate cap space while adding to the team in an impactful way unless someone were to go on LTIR for the rest of the season.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
pens1991 et Jonnyhiebs7 a aimé ceci.
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