Équipe: 2021-22 Penguins de Pittsburgh

Date de création initiale: 18 nov. 2021

Publié: 18 nov. 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

"1. Right-Defenseman

The Penguins could use either a top-four defenseman or a third-pair right-sider. Chad Ruhwedel has been a solid fill-in. Credit where it is due, Ruhwedel has been steady. John Marino has been great. And not so great. His pendulum has a pretty big swing this season. Marino would be more effective as a third-pairing defenseman. But the Penguins could use more from the blue line. Last season, the Penguins eight-cylinder defensive production propelled the team to be one of the highest-scoring teams in the league. A bit more production this season would do a world of good.

2. Winger for Jeff

It’s a broad term, and intentionally so. The Penguins will get plenty of offense from their top-six, eventually. Evgeni Malkin will return and–unless he moves to wing–will probably take Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker. Jeff Carter doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and he’s a goal-scoring threat. But Carter on the third line between Zach Aston-Reese and Brock McGinn doesn’t sound like enough. Nor does playing between Danton Heinen and Evan Rodrigues. Will Evan Rodrigues be enough? Maybe, maybe not. The annual “wingers for Sid” telethon may have a different beneficiary this season. Perhaps Ron Hextall will be manning the phones for a winger for Big Jeff. Double bonus points if that winger likes to play at the net. The Penguins lack that, too.

3. Spark Plug

The Penguins have traded Patric Hornqvist and lost Brandon Tanev. There is no longer a boundless source of energy from which the Penguins can draw. Some teams don’t need it. The Penguins are getting old. They’ve won everything there is to win. It’s not a coincidence they have performed at their best when a bunch of kids hungry for NHL ice invade the lineup, or their energy players are on their game. Right now, the Pittsburgh Penguins don’t have either. There are no kids as Drew O’Connor, and P.O. Joseph are back with the WBS Penguins, and the Penguins don’t have a feral energy player, either. Triple bonus points if the energy player doesn’t mind creating a little chaos near the net. The Penguins lack that, too (repeated from above for emphasis). A bit more moxy or untamed energy is part of what the Penguins are missing. A team can’t snooze against the Washington Capitals and go through the motions for a few weeks. The Penguins engine needs some gasoline. And their roster needs some help."

Got any ideas?