A change in some way, shape, or form needs to happen within the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup.
PITTSBURGH - The wait has gone on long enough, something about the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup and personnel needs to change.
Whether it’s a trade, a healthy scratch, or a waiving to the minors, the most recent loss to the New York Islanders needs to be someone’s last game in a Penguins uniform.
Three straight losses, all while leading at one point or another, has pushed the team out of a wild card spot and it’s obvious something in the roster construction needs changed.
Ron Hextall can’t keep sitting on his hands and being patient, it’s far past due that he makes some kind of move to improve the team.
Hextall has said on multiple occasions that he ‘likes our team,’ and that’s great for him, but many fans are don’t like the team.
Fans aren’t too fond of Hextall at this point either; sure, Pittsburgh sports fans can be quick to say someone should be fired, but those thoughts become more valid with each passing day in this situation.
The Penguins roster has gotten soft, stale, and easy to play against, something needs changed.
The third line takes a lot of scrutiny, but it’s warranted; Brock McGinn hasn’t scored a single point since before Christmas and has done nothing else to still be considered an everyday player.
Jeff Carter is cooked, no other way around it; one point in 17 games, but we all know he’s not going anywhere.
Talking about the Penguins third line is past the point of painful, and it’s something Mike Sullivan doesn’t even want to talk about.
Maybe that should be a sign for Hextall to step up and fix something there; Sullivan doesn’t have much choice in the matter until some moves are made.
Turning attention to the fourth line, you have to wonder if Teddy Blueger will ever score again.
Blueger has one goal on the season and it came in early December; he’s played 30 games since then and has only recorded three assists.
No one in the Penguins bottom six should be safe from being taken right out of this lineup.
Fans have been calling for Carter to be scratched for weeks, there is no reason to keep McGinn in the lineup at his literal 0 point pace, and Blueger needs something fresh.
Maybe Hextall tries to shove someone through waivers? That’s fine… speaking of the AHL.
Two players on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins roster have eclipsed 20 goals on the season.
AHL All-Star Alex Nylander sits at 21 goals in 48 games and Valtteri Puustinen has 20 in 49.
Does the organization not believe these guys deserve a chance with the big club? Are they truly not going to produce more than McGinn or Carter at this point?
In Nylander’s case, it’s not like there’s lack of experience, he’s played parts of four seasons in the NHL.
Sure, he hasn’t seen NHL ice since the COVID playoff bubble, but he’s proving to be a worthwhile talent.
This is all up to Hextall, a change needs to be made, and it needs to be made now before things sink even deeper than they already are.
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