DENVER — There was a feeling of confidence spewing out of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ locker room late Monday night after their stunning drubbing of the Colorado Avalanche.
There was no detectable arrogance, though.
The Penguins look and feel focused and on a mission, not suddenly satisfied because a difficult road trip has produced generally good results.
It’s evident in the locker room and in the front office: The Penguins believe they might not be a one-year fluke during an otherwise prolonged rebuilding process.
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Even though many of their best players are on the wrong side of 30 — and, in some cases, on the verge of 40 — the Penguins could be on their way to a long period of contention. Why? Kyle Dubas, the team’s president and general manager, has added crucial, young pieces into this lineup:
Player
Position
Age
Center
18
Goaltender
24
Right wing
25
Center
26
Goaltender
27
Defenseman
27
Defenseman
28
Sergei Murashov (21), Joel Blomqvist (24), Rutger McGroarty (21), Harrison Brunicke (19), Bill Zonnon (19) and Will Horcoff (19) all figure to contribute at the NHL level, in a potentially big way, within the next couple of years.
So, some youthful help has already arrived, and more is on the way.
The Penguins have done so well in adding veterans, some of whom are young, that they don’t need to force-feed youth into the lineup. When it’s ready, it’s ready. At the same time, they’re winning and are sitting on an enormous amount of money to spend this summer. The Penguins believe they are well set up for the future and will continue to add young talent in the next few drafts, given their considerable stockpile of picks.
Dubas’ 12-month heater has clearly expedited the Penguins’ rebuild. Is the future now? Maybe.
Crosby’s future
Given how good this team could become in the next few years, there is a belief within the organization that Sidney Crosby might stick around for a while. He’s been in a noticeably good mood all season, presumably because the Penguins are winning, which is all he wants.
That isn’t to say he’s ever in a bad mood, but there’s been a different feeling around the Penguins captain this season. He’s loving this team. One year is left on his contract, but I’ve yet to speak with anyone close to Crosby who thinks next season will be his last in the NHL.
Trade Karlsson?
I’ve seen the speculation that Erik Karlsson could be traded this summer because his value has risen.
Though anything is possible, I don’t believe that will happen. If anything, I think it’s more likely the Penguins offer him a couple more years. He’s been that good under new coach Dan Muse’s staff. Karlsson is a difference-maker who isn’t showing signs of age-related decline.
The Penguins don’t want to make a habit of giving new contracts to players in their 30s, but Karlsson has been spectacular. I see him, at the very least, in a Penguins uniform at the start of next season.
Mantha’s value
I don’t think the Penguins will let Anthony Mantha walk quietly this summer. They’ll make an offer to the pending unrestricted free agent forward. I have no doubt. He’s a huge part of this team. At 31, he isn’t a kid, but he isn’t old.
I don’t see the Penguins getting into a bidding war, but I bet they’ll try to keep him.
Praise for Dubas
I can’t count the number of people within the organization who are impressed with Dubas, and not just because of his outrageously good run over the past year.
Rather, the team sources I spoke with are impressed with his vision for the future and how delicately he’s balanced aging superstars within an organization that is trying to get younger.
“Other than Sid, Kyle is our biggest star,” one team source told me recently.
Goaltending galore
I don’t sense that the Penguins have a clue which goaltender they’ll lean on when/if they reach the postseason.
This would normally be a concern, but for these Penguins, I don’t think it particularly matters.
While I think this idea is unlikely, some people in the organization have suggested that the goalie rotation that has served the Penguins so well all season could continue in the postseason. It would be unorthodox, yes, but that’s how evenly the organization views Šilovs and Skinner. Šilovs has the edge in ceiling and athleticism, but Skinner has a calming presence behind his personality and playoff experience.
Look for both goaltenders to split time. The organization is delighted with them.
See ya, Skinner?
The Penguins seem interested in bringing Skinner back next season. He’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The organization likes the goaltender and loves the person.
The problem is that I don’t know whether Skinner would be interested in returning. It’s not that he doesn’t like it in Pittsburgh; from what I can tell, he likes living in the city and playing for the Penguins quite a bit. This is simply about the big picture.
Šilovs is playing well, and the Penguins would like to bring him back. Murashov is on his way, and everyone knows he’ll be in the NHL — almost certainly permanently — next season. Blomqvist is a promising prospect, too.
Because of these reasons, it would seem unlikely that the Penguins would offer Skinner a multi-year deal. It’s far from impossible, but Skinner could likely receive a longer contract worth more money elsewhere. The NHL is a goaltender-hungry league, and Skinner has improved his reputation since leaving Edmonton.
Zonnon buzz
The Penguins, from the top of the organization on down, are taken with Kindel. It’s easy to see why. He might finish in the top five of Calder Trophy balloting. Reminder: He’s 18. He’s special.
The Penguins are also excited about Horcoff, who has 23 goals in 36 games in a breakout campaign at the University of Michigan. Obviously, the Penguins have big plans for him.
However, don’t forget about the other first-rounder from last year’s draft. The more I talk with people in the organization about the Penguins’ prospects, the more I hear about Zonnon. The 19-year-old was banged up much of the season but has 42 points in 33 games with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. Penguins sources I’ve talked to believe that Zonnon is the closest thing you’ll find to a safe bet. They think he’ll be a very good middle-six center at the NHL level.
Patience for McGroarty
It’s easy to assume the Penguins are down on McGroarty because he remains at AHL Wilkes-Barre. His NHL numbers this season are modest, as he has two goals and five points in 20 games. In Wilkes-Barre, McGroarty has seven goals and 24 points in 22 games.
The Penguins are not down on McGroarty. They were pleased with his most recent NHL stint and think he’s close to becoming a steady contributor. As one team source recently told me, scoring is often the last thing to come, and that’s been the case with McGroarty.
With so many veterans playing well, the Penguins have the privilege of being patient with McGroarty, who is only 21. He remains a big part of their future.