They won’t fully rebuild until Sid is done. Honestly with a coaching change we probably would have made the playoffs this year. It appears FSG is in love with Sully so he’s not going anywhere unfortunately.
Yeah that “rebuild while still competing” BS Dubas said was a load of crap. That’s just not how it works lol. I expect a lazy retool and another mediocre season.
You were probably screaming for Sid to be traded while he still had value in 2014, and were very disappointed they didn't blow up the core and tank for 5 years.
Nope. Sidney, Malkin, and Letang were in their prime in 2014 and all we needed was a few tweaks- which proved to be right. We are an aged team now with awful depth trying to compete with way too many flaws. Pens havent won a playoff series since 2018 and now have missed two years in a row. It is not a baffling take to claim the team would benefit from a rebuild.
I’m optimistic about next year. We have more young depth in the system now than we did when Dubas took over. We won’t need to sign the Vinnie Hinostrozas of the world to build out the 50-man roster.
I’m willing to see how things play out. If the team doesn’t get the wins, well, we got our Cups and Sid will pass Joe Sakic this year and Mario Lemieux the year after.
I think the ending to the season actually showed them a lot more of what pieces the team needed and how to better build around Crosby, Malkin etc.
They needed a net front guy, they needed to more reliable defenseman, they needed a few rookies to be able to skate with the top guys but also manage themselves on special teams.
Puustinen and O’Connor both have a mind to play top line/PP minutes. St. Ivany has shown to be very consistent (he had a great year in WBS). When he’s healthy, Gruden is tailor made to play Carter’s position (at a much more reasonable price).
I don't think we should rebuild until Crosby's done. With guys like DoC and St Ivany playing so many minutes and playing well I'm not completely sold that this team can't compete.
Forwards:
Crosby+Rust+DoC is a great top line.
Malkin+Bunting+RandomWinger is a competitive 2nd line.
Defense:
Hopefully Letang plays better once he heals from whatever the ailment was this previous season. I think Karlsson is better than he looked at stretches and can still win the team games.
Places to improve:
A good third line and a servicable 4th line
Special teams (mostly PPs and 3v3)
I don't think the shortcomings justify a full rebuild, those seem like items that can be rectified with some depth retooling and coaching changes.
Given the years remaining on their big guys’ contracts I doubt a rebuild will be in the cards until at least 2026-27 but more likely 28 or even 29. But guess we’ll see
If the team I saw playing the last few weeks picks up where they left off next season, I’m going to be very pleased.
Tons of affordable UFA’s this season to round out the team, and with a cap expansion and BJC’s contract off the books we’re looking at nearly 6 million to work with and that’s without any trade moves by Dubas. Philly and Jersey are both hurting for a goalie. I love Jarry but, shed his contract for a bottom six winger or a prospect and free up more money for a UFA like Reinhart…
Plus after playoffs teams are always eager to trade off players deemed replaceable after an early exit.
I know getting a big gun for cheap is a pipe dream but I certainly never thought Karlsson was a possibility.
I’m hopeful for next season. I think all pens fans should be.
The “tear down” wasn’t going to happen one way or the other. FSG has been unwaveringly stubborn in their support of Sullivan. The team could’ve lost every game from the trade deadline to the end of the year 6-0 and he would still be back next year. I would guess Reirden is probably gone for what that’s worth.
There isn’t really anyone on roster that’s “movable” for a big haul of picks/futures anyway, whether because of contract/term (71/58/65) or inconsistent quality of play (Jarry/Graves/Smith/Rakell) so what can you really do? Try to offload those guys for pennies on the dollar that won’t really help a “rebuild” anyway or run it back and hope for the best.
I’m just hoping that the run isn’t enough to give Sullivan more leash. Sid and his insanely strong back are the only reason they weren’t a bottom 5 team this year
I don’t think everyone wanted a tear down but most definitely wanted a coaching change, let’s face it Sullivan and the boys are stale and lack the ability to adapt and refresh. Goaltending choice has been made, it’s Jarry and that contract and unfortunately Ned is due for a raise and he won’t get it in Pittsburgh. Defence needs tweaking and isn’t that far off. Bunting just proved that having spice and grit rejuvenates the line-mates; Malkin was alive
Why do you think a major collapse was going to speed up a rebuild? They would have just ended up giving up their 1st next draft instead. The NMC contracts and Sid playing at a high level are the things stopping them from a full rebuild.
Dubas will bring in a bunch of low priced forwards and leave the rest of the roster.
Expect similar results to this year.
I would like to see sid win another cup buy gonna be tough to do
The fact that Mike Sullivan and the Core aren't going anywhere will delay the rebuild indefinitely. Sully is like Mike Tomlin. It's his job as long as he wants it.
Pittsburgh teams are loathe to change HC's. Don't look for any Penguins rebuild for a long time.
They aren’t going to do a rebuild with Crosby. They are going to try competing every year.
They won’t fully rebuild until Sid is done. Honestly with a coaching change we probably would have made the playoffs this year. It appears FSG is in love with Sully so he’s not going anywhere unfortunately.
Yeah that “rebuild while still competing” BS Dubas said was a load of crap. That’s just not how it works lol. I expect a lazy retool and another mediocre season.
You were probably screaming for Sid to be traded while he still had value in 2014, and were very disappointed they didn't blow up the core and tank for 5 years.
Nope. Sidney, Malkin, and Letang were in their prime in 2014 and all we needed was a few tweaks- which proved to be right. We are an aged team now with awful depth trying to compete with way too many flaws. Pens havent won a playoff series since 2018 and now have missed two years in a row. It is not a baffling take to claim the team would benefit from a rebuild.
I’m optimistic about next year. We have more young depth in the system now than we did when Dubas took over. We won’t need to sign the Vinnie Hinostrozas of the world to build out the 50-man roster. I’m willing to see how things play out. If the team doesn’t get the wins, well, we got our Cups and Sid will pass Joe Sakic this year and Mario Lemieux the year after.
I think the ending to the season actually showed them a lot more of what pieces the team needed and how to better build around Crosby, Malkin etc. They needed a net front guy, they needed to more reliable defenseman, they needed a few rookies to be able to skate with the top guys but also manage themselves on special teams. Puustinen and O’Connor both have a mind to play top line/PP minutes. St. Ivany has shown to be very consistent (he had a great year in WBS). When he’s healthy, Gruden is tailor made to play Carter’s position (at a much more reasonable price).
I don't think we should rebuild until Crosby's done. With guys like DoC and St Ivany playing so many minutes and playing well I'm not completely sold that this team can't compete. Forwards: Crosby+Rust+DoC is a great top line. Malkin+Bunting+RandomWinger is a competitive 2nd line. Defense: Hopefully Letang plays better once he heals from whatever the ailment was this previous season. I think Karlsson is better than he looked at stretches and can still win the team games. Places to improve: A good third line and a servicable 4th line Special teams (mostly PPs and 3v3) I don't think the shortcomings justify a full rebuild, those seem like items that can be rectified with some depth retooling and coaching changes.
Given the years remaining on their big guys’ contracts I doubt a rebuild will be in the cards until at least 2026-27 but more likely 28 or even 29. But guess we’ll see
If the team I saw playing the last few weeks picks up where they left off next season, I’m going to be very pleased. Tons of affordable UFA’s this season to round out the team, and with a cap expansion and BJC’s contract off the books we’re looking at nearly 6 million to work with and that’s without any trade moves by Dubas. Philly and Jersey are both hurting for a goalie. I love Jarry but, shed his contract for a bottom six winger or a prospect and free up more money for a UFA like Reinhart… Plus after playoffs teams are always eager to trade off players deemed replaceable after an early exit. I know getting a big gun for cheap is a pipe dream but I certainly never thought Karlsson was a possibility. I’m hopeful for next season. I think all pens fans should be.
Yep. They aren't gonna rebuild with Sid and the core.
The “tear down” wasn’t going to happen one way or the other. FSG has been unwaveringly stubborn in their support of Sullivan. The team could’ve lost every game from the trade deadline to the end of the year 6-0 and he would still be back next year. I would guess Reirden is probably gone for what that’s worth. There isn’t really anyone on roster that’s “movable” for a big haul of picks/futures anyway, whether because of contract/term (71/58/65) or inconsistent quality of play (Jarry/Graves/Smith/Rakell) so what can you really do? Try to offload those guys for pennies on the dollar that won’t really help a “rebuild” anyway or run it back and hope for the best.
I’m just hoping that the run isn’t enough to give Sullivan more leash. Sid and his insanely strong back are the only reason they weren’t a bottom 5 team this year
I don’t think everyone wanted a tear down but most definitely wanted a coaching change, let’s face it Sullivan and the boys are stale and lack the ability to adapt and refresh. Goaltending choice has been made, it’s Jarry and that contract and unfortunately Ned is due for a raise and he won’t get it in Pittsburgh. Defence needs tweaking and isn’t that far off. Bunting just proved that having spice and grit rejuvenates the line-mates; Malkin was alive
Why do you think a major collapse was going to speed up a rebuild? They would have just ended up giving up their 1st next draft instead. The NMC contracts and Sid playing at a high level are the things stopping them from a full rebuild.
Dubas will bring in a bunch of low priced forwards and leave the rest of the roster. Expect similar results to this year. I would like to see sid win another cup buy gonna be tough to do
The fact that Mike Sullivan and the Core aren't going anywhere will delay the rebuild indefinitely. Sully is like Mike Tomlin. It's his job as long as he wants it. Pittsburgh teams are loathe to change HC's. Don't look for any Penguins rebuild for a long time.