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Penguins Running Out of Time to Clear Space
The Pittsburgh Penguins could be busy before free agency opens on July 1st.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been somewhat quiet this offseason, signing a handful of restricted free agents to league-minimum contracts and switching out a pair of coaches. But with free agency set to open up in under two weeks, it may be time for Penguins' President and GM Kyle Dubas to kick off his summer.
According to CapFriendly, the Penguins have $13.2 million in salary cap space with nine forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender on the NHL books.
While minimal cap space doesn't preclude the Penguins from doing business on July 1st, Dubas could create more room to operate before the market opens. Among their needs entering the busy period of the offseason are a top-six winger, a defenseman to play alongside Kris Letang, a backup goaltender, and a few bottom-six pieces. That's a lot of positions to fill with just $13.2 million.
Several Penguins have been the subject of trade speculation since the season ended, but forward Reilly Smith has received the majority. Smith struggled to find a footing in his first season with the Penguins, scoring only 13 goals in 76 games.
The Fourth Period has reported that four teams have shown interest in acquiring the veteran forward, including his former club, the Vegas Golden Knights. Dubas has been vocal about his aversion to retaining salary and buying out contracts.
If he can offload Smith's entire contract via trade, it would create $5 million in extra salary cap space for the Penguins.
A handful of Metropolitan teams kicked off their summer earlier this week. It's time the Penguins get on the board with a move of their own.
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Penguins Goaltender Near Top of NHL's Trade Market
If the Pittsburgh Penguins put Tristan Jarry on the market, plenty of teams will have interest.
The NHL offseason is beginning to pick up, and the Pittsburgh Penguins should be a significant player over the next few months. President and general manager Kyle Dubas may need to overhaul a few positions to reverse the Penguins fortunes next season, including goaltender.
Tristan Jarry has been the Penguins starting goaltender for four seasons. Yet several questions remain about his ability to succeed in that role. His ability to stay healthy and his lack of consistency remain noteworthy concerns heading into his age 29 season.
A few weeks ago, The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported that while the Penguins aren't actively shopping Jarry, others around the league believe that he could be available this summer. If so, Jarry joins a sizable list of available netminders on the trade market this offseason.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff included as many as five goaltenders on his latest "Trade Targets Board," including Linus Ullmark, Juuse Saros, and Jacob Markstrom. Talent-wise, Jarry likely falls behind that trio of Vezina-nominated netminders (Ullmark won in 2023).
However, if offloading Jarry's contract is part of their decision to move on, the Penguins asking price may bump Jarry above someone like Saros, who may only be on the market for a steep price.
His time with the Penguins has been rocky, but if Jarry lands on the trade market, he'll be one of the top options available this summer.
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Penguins Not Ruling Out Alex Nedeljkovic Return
The Pittsburgh Penguins have reportedly not closed the door on re-signing Alex Nedeljkovic.
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic will be one of the top free agents at his position in just under a month. However, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Penguins may be interested in running it back with the 28-year-old netminder.
"The Penguins have not closed the door on netminder Alex Nedeljkovic, who can become a UFA July 1," Pagnotta writes. "The team continues to have an open dialogue with his agent, Rich Evans, about a possible return."
Nedeljkovic revived his career with the Penguins last season following two rough years with the Detroit Red Wings. He wrestled the starting spot away from Tristan Jarry late in the season, starting 13 consecutive games to finish the campaign.
Following the season, Nedeljkovic was open about his desire to return to the Penguins organization saying, "I’d love to be back in a Penguins sweater and pick up where we left off this year.”
While both sides are seemingly open to a reunion, the Penguins' goaltending situation may complicate matters. Nedeljkovic envisions himself as a starting goaltender.
However, the Penguins are still financially committed to Tristan Jarry for four more seasons at $5.375 million. Meanwhile, prospect Joel Blomqvist made tremendous strides in the 2023-24 season and could be in line for some NHL action next season.
The Penguins may not be able to offer the money or the opportunity that Nedeljkovic is looking for moving forward, and that may end up being what leads him to sign elsewhere when free agency begins.
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Potential Changes Coming to Penguins Goaltending
The Pittsburgh Penguins may have a new starting goaltender next season.
The NHL offseason is on the verge of picking up steam, and Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas seems ready for a busy few months.
The Penguins are searching for answers following back-to-back playoff absences, and very few on the roster are safe from trade speculation this summer. Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry is no exception.
Jarry has begun to form a pattern with his performance. At his best, he is a top 15, possibly top ten, goaltender in the NHL. Unfortunately, Jarry has only been at his best early in the season, typically falling apart for one reason or another after the All-Star break.
Injuries played a pivotal role in two of Jarry's last three seasons. Dubas and the Penguins looked past those injury issues, signing Jarry to a five-year contract last summer. While Jarry remained healthy throughout this season, he lost the starting role to Alex Nedeljkovic down the stretch following a 2-7-1 stretch in early March.
While the Penguins are not actively shopping Jarry, Rob Rossi of the Athletic says he may be available for trade.
"Goaltender Tristan Jarry is not necessarily being shopped by Dubas, but there is a sense among other teams that Jarry is available. While that doesn’t mean Dubas or Sullivan has abandoned the idea that Jarry can become a No. 1 goalie, Jarry’s inability to wrestle the crease from Alex Nedeljkovic late this past season did not win him many points with top brass, two team sources said".
With several options on the free agent and trade markets, as well as the potential emergence of Joel Blomqvist, the Penguins may look to free themselves from their long-term commitment to Jarry this summer.
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Projecting Marcus Pettersson's Next Penguins Contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins should lock down their top left-shot defenseman this summer.
Marcus Pettersson was unquestionably the Pittsburgh Penguins' top defensive defenseman last season. The same could probably be said for the previous two seasons as well.
Pettersson will likely use that in his upcoming contract negotiations with the Penguins. The 28-year-old defenseman is entering the final year of his current deal and is coming off a fantastic season. He set new career highs in goals (4), points (30), and +/- rating (+28).
The Penguins should look to lock down their top left-handed defenseman this summer when his extension window opens. The only question will be how much it will cost them.
When his new contract begins, Pettersson will be 29 years old. He's a fantastic penalty killer, a consistent puck mover, and a steadying force for the Penguins top pairing. He's also been a pillar of health in his time with the Penguins, missing only 33 games in his six years with the organization.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has signed a handful of similar players, including his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dubas inked Jake Muzzin and TJ Brodie each to four-year contracts ahead of the 2020-21 season. Muzzin made $5.62 million against the cap that season (6.9% of total cap), while Brodie made $5 million (6.1% of total cap).
Dubas signed Ryan Graves last summer to a 6-year deal that costs the Penguins $4.5 million per season (5.4% of the total cap).
Projection: 6-Years x $5.713 million AAV ($34.28 million)
Pettersson's value certainly exceeds that of Graves, and this contract illustrates that along with a similar value against the salary cap (6.5%) as Brodie and Muzzin did in 2020.
This extension would carry Pettersson through his age-34 season, guaranteeing the remainder of his top production in Pittsburgh. With Jeff Petry's retained salary falling off the books in 2024, the Penguins could pay Pettersson's raise without using a substantial amount of the projected new salary cap space entering the 2025-26 season.
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Penguins May Finally Sign Long-Rumored Forward
Jake DeBrusk to the Pittsburgh Penguins may finally happen this summer.
With the calendar ready to flip to June, the Pittsburgh Penguins are one month away from the opening of NHL free agency. The Penguins' list of needs extends to many areas of the lineup, but adding a proven goal-scoring winger should be high on their wishlist.
Jake DeBrusk has been rumored to be in the Penguins' sights for some time now. The most recent set of rumors circulated around the trade deadline had DeBrusk as part of a hypothetical three-team trade involving Jake Guentzel.
DeBrusk is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st but has shown interest in signing an extension with the Boston Bruins. However, a deal has yet to be signed despite the Bruins having over $20 million in salary cap space available this offseason. Outside of goaltender Jeremy Swayman, DeBrusk is the biggest name the Bruins have left to re-sign.
The 27-year-old winger's production slightly regressed in 2023-24, scoring 19 goals and 40 total points in 80 games. He made up for some struggles with a stellar playoff performance (5G-11Pts-13GP). One of the Bruins' most complete players, DeBrusk saw time on both special teams units and is considered by many to be a solid 200-foot player.
If the Penguins finally bring him to Pittsburgh, he would likely battle Michael Bunting and Drew O'Connor for positioning on the left. DeBrusk's net-front offense, scoring 12 of his 19 goals from high-danger areas, would be a stellar fit with Penguins first-liners Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.
The Bruins are publicly in favor of bringing back DeBrusk, but if the business of hockey steps in, the Penguins should be among those who call DeBrusk's camp on July 1st.
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Penguins' Star Still Among Best at Position
The Pittsburgh Penguins still have one of the best second-line centers in hockey.
Heavy criticism is nothing new for Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin. He's faced it throughout his career and saw his fair share during the 2023-24 season.
The Penguins star wasn't without his struggles this season, including two lengthy goal-scoring droughts. But even in a rough season, Malkin's offensive production was among the best at his position.
He finished the year tied for fifth in goals (27) and sixth in points (67) among NHL second-line centers. Malkin achieved those numbers despite historically low power-play production and a lack of consistency from his wingers.
Malkin finished this season tied for his third-lowest power-play points (18) of his 18-year career. It was also the lowest power play percentage (15.3%) the Penguins have finished with since Malkin joined the league in 2006.
He was able to find some consistency late following the arrival of Michael Bunting in Pittsburgh. Bunting brought a new dimension to Malkin's line and helped unlock a higher level of performance out of Malkin and winger Rickard Rakell. Malkin finished the season scoring 19 pts (9G-10A) in 19 games.
An entire season with Michael Bunting and any positive regression from the power play should result in a big year for Malkin in 2024-25. He may no longer be one of the top ten centers in the league, but Malkin remains among the best second-line centers in today's game.
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What’s Next for Young Penguins Forward?
What is Jesse Puljujarvi's role with the Pittsburgh Penguins?
When the Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Jesse Puljujarvi to a two-year contract in February, they were searching for answers in their bottom six. Puljujarvi provided that to some degree, playing in 22 games and giving the Penguins a much-needed size boost.
Now, the Penguins enter a pivotal offseason in search of more answers. General manager Kyle Dubas has stated his desire to get younger, referencing players like Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, and Brayden Yager among those he expects to vie for an NHL roster spot this fall. Where does that leave Puljujarvi?
The 26-year-old winger has one year remaining on his current contract worth $800k next season. While he didn't perform poorly in his first look with the Penguins, it's clear that he left something to be desired by the coaching staff.
Puljujarvi bounced around the Penguins lineup, even drawing a handful of healthy scratches down the stretch of last season. It's not unrealistic that he could move up in the lineup to play with one of Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, but he would have to beat out two of Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Valtteri Puustinen to do so.
That leaves either the third-line or fourth-line role on the right side. Those spots are expected to have heavy competition, with hopes that one of a handful of young forwards (Koivunen, Puustinen, or Yager) can break out and become a key contributor to their bottom six.
Puljujarvi has a size advantage on those three, not to mention a more defined skill set at the NHL level. The Penguins may view him as a reliable backup option if none of their young players are ready at the outset of the season.
But if one or more of those young forwards breaks out early next season, Puljujarvi's role on the Penguins may not be one of much significance.
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Possible Penguins Third Line Center Targets
Several options are available for the Pittsburgh Penguins to upgrade at center.
The NHL offseason is at its infant stages, and the Pittsburgh Penguins would benefit from upgrades at several positions. While adding another top winger and solidifying their left defense may be top priorities, adding a new center should not be far behind.
Lars Eller fit well as third line center in his first season with the Penguins. He scored 31 points (15G-16A) and provided stellar defensive production at 5v5 and on the penalty kill. However, the Penguins may still look to upgrade at that position this summer.
A handful of the players hitting the open market on July 1st could fit what the Penguins are looking for.
Max Domi will hit free agency for the third straight summer following a successful season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Domi's antagonistic style of play would provide the Penguins a needed dimension to their bottom-six.
He showcased his positional flexibility this season, playing up and down the Leaf's lineup. That flexibility could be pivotal in Pittsburgh as the Penguins look to get Sam Poulin an opportunity next season.
Chandler Stephenson may be the latest Vegas Golden Knight to leave town due to their trade deadline spending. Stephenson is coming off a four-year contract where he severely outplayed his $2.75 million salary, scoring 77 goals and 215 points in 286 games.
Stephenson's success with the Golden Knights may make him too expensive for the Penguins this summer. But bringing in a center with his offensive pedigree would go a long way toward closing the scoring gap between the top six and bottom six in Pittsburgh.
Center is not the most prominent position of need for the Penguins this summer, but adding one of these two would be a tremendous upgrade for an underwhelming bottom-six the past few seasons.
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Penguins Continue Locking Down Impact Players
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their trend of re-signing role players.
The offseason has hardly begun, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have already established a pattern. Kyle Dubas has spent this month locking up a handful of players who have an opportunity to make a significant impact over the next few seasons.
The Penguins latest additions to that growing list are defenseman Jack St. Ivany and forward Jonathan Gruden.
St. Ivany may be the most significant signing of the offseason so far. He quickly stabilized the Penguins' third defense pair following his NHL debut in late March. St. Ivany and Ryan Shea became a shutdown pairing down the stretch as the Penguins fought back into contention for a playoff spot.
The 24-year-old blue-liner is expected to reclaim that role next season, and re-signing him for three years solidifies the right side of the Penguins defense for the foreseeable future.
Gruden also received his first extended stay at the NHL level this past season, scoring one goal in 13 games. Despite his lack of scoring with Pittsburgh, Gruden had a visible impact on the ice, collecting 35 hits and his first fighting major on March 26th against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Penguins may not have made any significant on-ice changes yet this offseason, but locking up impact players like St. Ivany, Gruden, Sam Poulin, and Valtteri Puustinen to league-minimum contracts is a great start for the organization.
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Veteran Forward Inheriting New Role for Penguins
Bryan Rust appeared ready to become the Pittsburgh Penguins top winger last season.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust entered the 2023-24 season with something to prove. The year prior, he played in a career-high 81 games but failed to reach the 50-point mark and nearly fell short of the 20-goal mark.
The veteran winger bounced back this season, setting a new career-high in goals (28) and finishing third on the Penguins with 56 points in just 62 games. With the departure of longtime teammate Jake Guentzel, Rust sits in an unfamiliar position as the Penguins top winger on the roster.
Kyle Dubas may elect to acquire another top-line winger this offseason with his projected $13.9 million in salary cap space. However, Rust's play down the stretch this past season proved that he may be ready to take on that role himself.
Following Guentzel's injury on February 14th, Rust scored 14 goals and 26 points over the final 25 games. It was the second time this season that Rust scored at a 40-goal pace for a significant stretch. He opened the season scoring nine goals in his first 17 games before missing time due to a lower-body injury.
Availability is the biggest hurdle for Rust becoming the Penguins' top option on the wing. He missed stretches of games due to injury on three separate occasions, with two of those landing him on the injured reserve.
Injury concerns aren't a new issue for Rust. He's played 70+ games just twice in his ten-year career. He did play in all 56 games during the COVID-shortened 2021 season, but injuries will not be easier to avoid as he gets older.
The talent is present for Rust to break through and reach another level late in his career. With several areas to fix this offseason, Dubas and the Penguins may be counting on Rust to do just that in 2024 as they look to fill out a deeper and more balanced roster.
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Penguins Facing Massive Decision With First-Rounder
It may be time for Owen Pickering to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization full-time.
When Owen Pickering got drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, he instantly became the Pittsburgh Penguins' top defensive prospect. He's carried that mantle for two seasons but enters the 2024 offseason with a major opportunity.
The 6'5" defenseman led all Swift Current Broncos defenders with 46 points in 59 games this season, a new career high. Pickering has one year left of WHL eligibility remaining but is also old enough to jump to the AHL next season.
It's unlikely that the Penguins will turn to Pickering for NHL ice-time next season, but an opportunity may emerge soon after as several questions are forming on the left side.
Marcus Pettersson has been a pillar of consistency for the Penguins left side but has only one year remaining on his current contract. While reports indicate that the Penguins have already begun conversations about an extension, several questions remain behind him.
Ryan Graves is coming off a "worst-case scenario" season and could be on the trade block as early as this summer. P.O. Joseph's role remains undefined within the organization. Do they view him as a top-four option? Or is he simply a depth piece with decent chemistry with Kris Letang?
John Ludvig will already miss time next season due to a wrist injury, his third longer-term injury in under a year. The only other left-side defensemen under contract are Isaac Belliveau (70GP in ECHL) and Emil Pieniniemi (37GP in Liiga).
With a spot potentially opening up in the near future and a handful of other prospects like Ville Koivunen and Vasily Ponomarev potentially beginning next season in the AHL, the timing may be right for Pickering to turn pro this fall.
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Penguins Came Out on Top of Jake Guentzel Trade
Even without a first-round pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins got the better of the Jake Guentzel trade.
The Jake Guentzel trade official closed last night following the Carolina Hurricanes' game-six loss to the New York Rangers. As a result, the Pittsburgh Penguins will receive the 44th overall (second-round) pick from the Philadelphia Flyers and will not receive a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Penguins would've preferred to receive their conditional picks, but even without those selections, Pittsburgh came out on the better side of that deal.
Not only did the Penguins receive an immediate impact player, Michael Bunting, with two years remaining on a team-friendly contract. They also received two prospects that could become NHL contributors as early as next season in Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen. They also added a mid-tier prospect in Cruz Lucius and a second-round pick.
In exchange, the Penguins gave up Ty Smith, whom they had no use for following Erik Karlsson's arrival and a second-round playoff exit.
Guentzel was phenomenal for the Hurricanes, scoring 34 points in 28 games, including the postseason. However, the Hurricanes fell short against the Rangers and failed to reach the conference finals, let alone the Stanley Cup Final.
The Penguins weren't on track to sign Guentzel. They weren't on track to make the playoffs, and Dubas secured a significant return for a pending free agent in what many considered a buyer's market at the deadline.
Dubas had as many misses as he had hits in his first season with the Penguins, but the Guentzel trade firmly falls into the latter category.
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Analyst Believes Penguins Need Top Winger
Should a top-end winger be atop the Pittsburgh Penguins wishlist this offseason?
The 2023-24 iteration of the Pittsburgh Penguins had many flaws. Those flaws led the team to a turbulent and, at times, tumultuous season that concluded with a second consecutive missed postseason.
Most who watched the Penguins this year would not place them anywhere close to being a Stanley Cup contender. According to Shayna Goldman of The Athletic, one significant addition this summer could reverse their fortunes.
According to Goldman's Stanley Cup Checklist, the most prominent missing piece for the Penguins is an elite first-line winger to support Sidney Crosby.
"Knocking each forward down a slot would make a big difference; someone like Michael Bunting would be in a top-six capacity versus the top line. Drew O’Connor would slip off the list entirely. There would still be depth issues to solve, considering what a black hole for scoring the bottom six was all year. But reinforcements at the top of the lineup would have a trickle-down effect. A change in power play direction should help after this year’s surprising struggles."
Penguins president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas teased potential bottom six opportunities for prospects Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, and Brayden Yager, among others. That could allow the Penguins to barely add another big name to the top of their lineup.
Free agents Sam Reinhart, Steven Stamkos, and Jake Guentzel would fit that mold. There are also multiple trade options, Mitch Marner and Trevor Zegras, that could have a similar effect on the Penguins lineup.
The Penguins have roughly $12.9 million to work with this offseason. Any sizable addition will come at the expense of other positions that need improvement (goaltending, left-side defense, etc.).
With the Penguins in win-now mode, it is not unrealistic that Dubas may want to swing big again this offseason. However, any noteworthy additions like this will limit the Penguins in any other improvements they may want to make over the summer.
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Familiar Faces Could Land On Penguins Radar
The Pittsburgh Penguins could reunite with a few former players through the trade market.
Following the Valtteri Puustinen signing, the Pittsburgh Penguins have 12 forwards under contract for the 2024-25 season. However, with a few of those players potentially on the move this summer, the Penguins may have more room remaining.
President of hockey ops Kyle Dubas could look to fill those positions with one of a few prospects like Ville Koivunen, Sam Poulin, or Vasily Ponomarev. But the Penguins should (and probably will) want a handful of proven commodities as a contingency in case those young players aren't ready to start next season.
A pair of former Penguins could fit that mold and potentially be on the trade block this summer.
The Penguins lost Brandon Tanev to the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 expansion draft. The 32-year-old forward is coming off a down year, 16 points in 66 games, but would bring more physicality to the bottom of the Penguins lineup without sacrificing speed.
With the cap-strapped Kraken having to re-sign top forward Matty Beniers and add three more forwards and a defenseman, Tanev could find himself as the odd-man out.
Evan Rodrigues faces a similar situation with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are gunning for a Stanley Cup, and a few of their top players, Brandon Montour and Sam Reinhart, are playing on expiring contracts.
Add on the already guaranteed raises for Eetu Luostarinen and Gustav Forsling, and the Panthers may need Rodrigues' $3 million salary off their books.
Rodrigues and Tanev would bring terrific penalty-killing ability back with them and the flexibility to move throughout the Penguins' bottom six. While both are on the wrong side of 30, neither has lost their skating ability and could come at a cheap price this offseason.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVaeWW7bzWA[/embed]
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Finnish Forward Will Lead Penguins Youth Movement
Valtteri Puustinen re-signs as the Pittsburgh Penguins look to get younger.
Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas checked another box over the weekend, re-signing forward Valtteri Puustinen to a two-year contract extension. Puustinen was due to become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
The 24-year-old Penguins' forward enjoyed his first extended run at the NHL level this past season, scoring 20 points in 52 games. Puustinen played primarily on the third line alongside Lars Eller but did find some success with Evgeni Malkin sporadically throughout the season.
With Dubas and the Penguins emphasizing youth this summer, Puustinen figures to be a pivotal piece to next season's forward lineup. However, with Puustinen under contract, the Penguins have 12 NHL forwards under contract for next season.
A handful of forwards could be in danger of being moved this summer to open up more opportunities for one of a host of young forwards slated to battle for NHL playing time in 2024.
Young forwards Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Tristan Broz, Brayden Yager, and Sam Poulin are all expected to get an opportunity at training camp this fall. Puustinen and Drew O'Connor will lead the charge to help the Penguins achieve their goal of getting younger and elevating the team's overall ceiling in the 2024-25 season.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn43vzh_OAs[/embed]
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Breaking Down Erik Karlsson's First Season With Penguins
Erik Karlsson's first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins didn't go as planned.
Year one of Erik Karlsson's tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins is in the books, and many fans are divided on whether or not it was a success. With the trade officially completed and the Penguins 2024 first-round pick heading to San Jose, let's look at Karlsson's debut season in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins saw three very different versions of Karlsson throughout this season. Early on, the veteran defenseman was not his typical self in the offensive zone but was more defensively conscious than expected as he attempted to settle into his new team.
Once settled, his defensive performance faded as his offense began to take off. This was the version of Karlsson many expected to see when the Penguins acquired him. However, Karlsson found a new level late in the season as the Penguins playoff hunt turned desperate.
Karlsson scored ten points (3G-7A) in the final eight games and had 28 shots on goal. While his defense was never perfect, Karlsson became much more aggressive in the defensive zone. He utilized his speed to take space away from opposing forwards, gain possession, and transition to offense.
Unfortunately, that aggressiveness also led to an uptick in minor penalties. Nearly a quarter of Karlsson's penalty minutes this season were from the final nine games.
Despite his overall numbers falling short of expectations, Karlsson was still one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL. He finished in the top ten among defensemen in ice time, shots on goal, and rebounds created. He also ranked 13th in points.
It's no secret that the Penguins will need more than 56 points from Karlsson next season, but if he can find that final version more consistently, the Penguins will have a much better chance at returning to the playoffs in 2025.
It wasn't a perfect debut, but the good far exceeded the bad for the future Hall of Fame defenseman.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzqJFXgsLo0[/embed]
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Ron Hextall Trades Still Dragging Penguins Down
Ron Hextall had a major impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season.
Kyle Dubas' first season in charge of the Pittsburgh Penguins unfolded similarly to Ron Hextall's last as general manager. The Penguins missed the postseason both years, finishing with the 14th overall selection in the NHL Draft and facing massive questions as the summer begins.
Despite Dubas turning over a large portion of the Penguins roster, the impact of Hextall's moves still reverberates through the organization. But which trade executed by Hextall impacted the current iteration of the Penguins the most?
There are a handful that immediately jump to mind. But with the Penguins firing top defensive assistant Todd Reirden last week, it's hard to look anywhere besides the John Marino trade.
The Penguins traded Marino to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Ty Smith and a third-round pick. Marino was the Penguins' second-pair defenseman behind Kris Letang and was establishing himself as a quality NHL defenseman at just 24 years old.
Hextall chose to dismantle the Penguins defense core following their first-round exit at the hands of the New York Rangers in 2022. After starting with Marino, Hextall dealt Mike Matheson that same day for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling.
Since those trades, the Penguins have plummeted from ninth in expected goals allowed per 60 minutes to 19th and 17th in the past two seasons. None of the players acquire in those trades, or the Devils' third-round pick, remain with the Penguins today.
The Hextall front office made more than a few gaffs over their short tenure, but the mess created on defense may still take a few seasons to undo.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1d_DIMAnVg[/embed]
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Penguins Top Prospect Impressing in WHL Playoffs
First-round pick Brayden Yager is elevating his game in WHL playoffs.
Kyle Dubas has teased that the Pittsburgh Penguins will provide NHL opportunities to a handful of young players and prospects in the 2024-25 season. A few of those players played in the short-lived AHL playoff run for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
However, the Penguins' top prospect is battling for a spot in the WHL Championship. Brayden Yager, the Penguins' first-round pick in 2023, has 20 points (10G-10A) in 15 games this postseason with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Warriors blew past the Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos in the first two rounds but find themselves in a massive Game 7 against the Saskatoon Blades.
Yager has six points (3G-3A) this series, including the overtime winner in Game 1.
The 19-year-old forward was impressive in his first rookie and training camps with the Penguins last fall and could enter next year's camp with a chance to earn an NHL sweater. At his season-ending press conference, Dubas included Yager on a list of players he expects to push for a role with the Penguins next season.
But before he can get to that, Yager will look to help lead his junior team to their first WHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance in the organization's history. Game 7 between the Warriors and Blades begins at 8 pm Eastern later tonight.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaLK6qoja50[/embed]
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Penguins Must Avoid 'Comfort Hire' When Replacing Coaches
The Pittsburgh Penguins' new coach must bring a new perspective as well.
After weeks of speculation, the Pittsburgh Penguins finally pulled the trigger on firing associate coach Todd Reirden.
Reirden's dismissal is no shock to anyone who watched the Penguins' power play and defense operate this season. Whoever the Penguins hire as a replacement will inherit the 30th-ranked power play in the NHL and an expensive defense core that vastly underperformed in 2023-24.
An initial list of candidates all have ties to the Penguins in some form. Former San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn and Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan have an extensive history on and away from the ice.
Meanwhile, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe and former Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol have similar ties to Kyle Dubas, having coached under him with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With Sullivan entering his tenth season with the Penguins and sixth since winning a series in the postseason, Dubas should avoid hiring Sullivan's close friends. The Penguins need new voices and perspectives in the locker room.
Hiring a familiar face in Quinn, Hakstol, or Keefe won't achieve that goal next season. Dubas and the Penguins need to steer clear of the comfortable hire and seek to bring in someone who will challenge Sullivan and the Penguins' way of thinking.
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