{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/CVKtUGhq.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell evaluates his season and the entire team’s as he weighs the cost of their inconsistency this year.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/CVKtUGhq-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/CVKtUGhq.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/CVKtUGhq.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/CVKtUGhq-PleLi0gz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 182, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 437521, "filesize": 7000337, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/CVKtUGhq-TPyFHjSz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 272, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 607247, "filesize": 9715961, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/CVKtUGhq-j3UGax3n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 724, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1452494, "filesize": 23239908, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/CVKtUGhq-KwtrUhfG.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113516, "filesize": 1816265 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/CVKtUGhq-hoWDbBur.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 362, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 593298, "filesize": 9492777, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/CVKtUGhq-TcGp53GP.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 544, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 932059, "filesize": 14912945, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "At the end of the day, every player, coach, front office member, and fan should have wanted to see the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, but they fell just short." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "For the first time since 2006, the Penguins are missing out on the battle for the Stanley Cup, but there are definitely some silver linings to the situation." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "New Management on the Way", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "For starters, the verbal requests of the fans have been answered; Fenway Sports Group (FSG) stepped in and fired general manager Ron Hextall." } }, { "id": "8jx8081x-g6irqna6", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1646894586206224385", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1646894586206224385", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "President of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant general manager Chris Pryor were also caught in the crossfire, but FSG stated they want to build a whole new hockey operations department." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The coming weeks will be interesting and game changing for the Penguins as FSG looks to find their group to put in charge." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Whoever steps in will have a tall task ahead of them, but any new name in the front office will benefit the Penguins." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "The First Round Pick", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "One of Hextall’s flaws in the closing months of his tenure in Pittsburgh was not utilizing the Penguins’ 2023 first round pick at the trade deadline." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "With that pick still in the Penguins’ possession, there are a few different directions a new front office staff can go." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Whoever FSG puts in place can either hold onto the pick and take a prospect in the top half of the draft, it can be traded for a proven NHL commodity, or it can be strapped to an existing contract to be taken off the books." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Still having that first round pick is one of the more underrated points to this offseason." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "At this moment, while waiting on the NHL Draft Lottery still to take place, the Penguins are picking 14^th overall, but with a 1.5% of moving up." } }, { "id": "ld3gdm9l-5eo6wqto", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/1647110000223952897", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1647110000223952897", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "If the Penguins ‘win’ the lottery, they can move up as many as 10 places, and could be picking as high as 4^th overall." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It’s a slim chance of movement, but something the Penguins will surely be keeping an eye on." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Regardless, the Penguins hold their highest draft pick since 2012; what they decide to do with it is still to be determined." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Player Movement", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Almost everyone can agree there were players on the Penguins’ roster that just weren’t good enough." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sure, everyone across the organization takes responsibility for missing the postseason, but there needs to be a fair bit of turnover on the ice this summer." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Penguins have to find younger players somewhere and find a way out of certain contracts." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Guys who spent a majority of the season in the AHL like Ty Smith, Alex Nylander, and Filip Hallander deserve more of a shot at the NHL." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "With 10 players on expiring deals, there is plenty of opportunity and possible salary cap space to make some moves." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "A lot of what needs to change with the Penguins boils down to the decision making of management." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "There will be plenty of pressure on FSG to hire the right group; Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang aren’t getting any younger and it’s not certain they have the same production or health in 2023-24." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more!" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Best and Worst of the Ron Hextall Era for the Penguins" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Flavell's Five Thoughts: Penguins' Season Debrief" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Former Penguins Have Great Chances to Win Stanley Cup" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Management Changes Means Penguins Won't Pursue J.T. Miller" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins' Jake Guentzel Plans on Playing in World Championship" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube", "Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins" ] } } ] }

Benefits of Penguins Missing Postseason