Dan Muse was hired June 4 as a 43-year-old first-time NHL head coach.
“We’re going to put together a plan and we’re going to be talking with every single player that’s here,” Muse said. “So, you do have players that have been in this league a long time and have done great things in this league for a long time. Working with those players to help them continue to take steps.”
It’s not just about the veterans, though.
“At the same time, we’re going to be working on the younger players that are coming in,” Muse said. “How can they come in and make their mark here in this organization and in this league?”
Forwards Rutger McGroarty, 21, and Ville Koivunen, 22, are favorites to make the roster out of training camp. Owen Pickering, 21, could also find a permanent spot and fellow defenseman Harrison Brunicke, 19, will look to make his NHL debut.
“We want these guys to earn it,” Dubas said. “If we start just handing these guys spots, we’re going to very quickly lose what I think the Penguins have been about for a very long time.”
A second straight offseason has been full of additions on short-term contracts.
Forward Anthony Mantha signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract on July 2. Forward Justin Brazeau joined on a two-year, $3 million contract July 1, the same day the Penguins signed defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (two years, $2 million) and Caleb Jones (two years, $1.8 million).
Defenseman Mathew Dumba was acquired in a trade with the Dallas Stars on July 10 and goalie Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks on July 13.
There might be more; defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell have not been ruled out as trade candidates.
“We’re going to evaluate everything,” Dubas said. “We’re going to do what’s best for the Penguins.”
Karlsson has led Pittsburgh defensemen with 109 points (22 goals, 87 assists) the past two seasons. Rakell led the Penguins with 35 goals last season. Rust won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 and has developed into a mainstay on the first line with 437 points (203 goals, 234 assists) in 11 seasons.
Dubas doesn’t necessarily want to part with any of the three, especially Rust, but would if it cleared a path to reestablishing a certain standard.
“Unless it’s something that blows us away in terms of what it returns, then it could very easily be looked at that (Rust) helped us return to contention,” Dubas said. “That would be a tough one, but we’ve got lots of calls on him. He’s a great player, signed. But he’s also a massive member of the Penguins. We’ll continue to be open for business but the price will be very high.”