Pittsburgh Penguins fans are beginning to judge Kyle Dubas’s tenure. There could be a couple of moves before training camp. And what of Kris Letang’s role this season?
The questions were so good, but also so voluminous, that the Pittsburgh Penguins Q&A overflowed into a second run. Whether or not fans realize it, many are beginning to answer their own questions, but with answers they do not want.
Cryptic hints aside, Penguins fans are also caught in the middle with the Penguins’ transition: a glut of young players and an infusion of veterans without great expectations but not terrible expectations, either.
The season is nearing, and so the anticipation is growing.
Penguins Q&A Part II
**Does Sid continue his point-per-game this year?– Cal
The odds are that he will be close, but he’ll be 39 years old. Injuries could play a role, and so, too, could trades. After all, if Dubas deals away Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell, Crosby’s chances to continue his streak will be greatly diminished.
A little bit of blunt honesty on this topic might not be welcome, but this is also a made-up record. If the Penguins captain had 68 points in 69 games last season because he played through a knee injury, would that have reduced his impact or greatness?
**Do you foresee Kris Letang drawing Nacho Duty frequently in order to go with a right side of Erik Karlsson, Kaedan Korczak, and Harrison Brunicke? If so, knowing No. 58 as you do, what kind of fallout would you expect? — JHD007
First, I cannot tell you how much I love that the phrase “press box nachos” as a term for being scratched is entering the zeitgeist. It feels like an accomplishment. But I digress.
The question makes sense, but it’s more likely that Letang will retain his role in the top six. In hockey, veterans do not get nachos unless it is beyond necessary, and even then, coaches are extremely reticent to scratch a player of Letang’s caliber. It’s embarrassing for the player and can negatively impact the team by unsettling players. It’s also a distraction that coaches don’t want to deal with.
Former coach Mike Sullivan kept Jeff Carter in the lineup long after he should have been scratched because of all of those reasons. You might scoff, but that’s hockey. Every coach. Every team.
The upside is that Letang works harder in the offseason than most players and has a chance to improve on last season’s ups and downs. It’s also a good bet that Letang will not be needed to play 22 minutes a night anymore, which should help his consistency, too.
**So let’s say Geno goes out this year and runs back exactly the same stat line as last year. Do you bring him back again in 27-28? And if you do, what if he repeats the same production? Does a point come where you have to turn the page, regardless? — 702Pens
–Reader Comment: Who in their right mind turns away a productive point-per-game player? Let him be the new Gordie. — Bombay
On the Evgeni Malkin issue, the Penguins fanbase decided what it wanted and rejected any and all contrary views. But no, Malkin should not be on a series of one-year contracts.
So, here goes, one more time.
Dubas made it pretty clear that, at this point in his career, Malkin isn’t at his best when he plays too many games. Putting it all together as one big picture, Malkin is better with rest, and his game is increasingly less complete. It is also objectively incorrect that he’s not blocking anyone, because Malkin is filling a spot the Penguins could use in various ways to further their rebuild.
Brusquely, it does not matter if there isn’t a prospect pushing for Malkin’s spot. If there are no internal options worthy of Malkin’s role, a veteran free agent who holds trade value would be the next best option.
Trade value and future benefit are what Malkin lacks. Even if Malkin notches 60 points in 60 games this season, it won’t help the Penguins long-term, nor will it make them a contender now.
So, beyond honoring the player, there’s no benefit for the organization to extend beyond this season. At some point, they must turn the page, and this should be the final year, regardless. The next question also unwittingly answers this.
**When is it fair to evaluate the job Dubas is doing? The Penguins obviously enter the season incomplete, and the heavy expectation is a trade or two, but what if the market doesn’t budge and the team is stuck as constructed? They are not a real contender, but they are not a real lottery team either. I’m not suggesting he is doing anything directly wrong, but the way the off-season unfolded makes this year feel like he’s just buying time. You almost wonder if he just wants to give the Big 3 one final respectable attempt before he can turn the chapter next year in a more natural way. I feel like this ensuing off-season will mark the end of this bizarre flux period, and we can really begin to grade what he’s building. — Dominik
There are a lot of good questions in one, Dominik.
The market certainly shifted away from Dubas, and the Penguins were pushed into a summer of small-ball moves rather than the home run swings that Dubas wanted to take. Dubas showed discretion, which is to his credit.
However, fans are free to judge his progress. It has been slower than he wants, but it also remains on an upward trajectory.
One thing to note: having Crosby, Malkin, and Letang at the top of the lineup for years camouflaged just how barren the rest of the organization had become. Dubas didn’t start from scratch; he started in the negative, but without the ability to wipe it clean. In some respects, he’s still in that trap.
**After Lemieux, Crosby, Jagr, Malkin, and Francis, who are the most TALENTED players to wear the Penguins’ jersey? –Straycat44
Easy answer. Alexei Kovalev.
Kovalev was one of the most talented players in the NHL throughout his career, and he would have bigger numbers in today’s game. Kovalev didn’t get the credit for how strong on the puck he was, or how fast he was, because his immense skill with the puck overshadowed it all.
He was a complete player with incredible talent. Inside the game, many felt that if he had wanted to be, he could have been an all-time great.
**What’s the talking Malkin bobblehead going to say? — Grimace
If it doesn’t say, “I am score,” there should be a federal investigation.
**Do you see Kyle bringing in a veteran goalie on either a PTO or a one-year contract… Such as Connor Ingram or someone else?
There are many people who are surprised that Ingram is still available. And yes, I could very much see the Penguins bringing him in on a one-year deal.
In fact, Ingram would be the perfect addition because he would be NHL insurance for Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist without blocking them. If the boys aren’t good enough at the NHL level, Ingram could step in as an .890-save-percentage type 1A goalie. It also seems he could clear waivers to be stationed in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton until needed.
Last season, he posted an .899 save percentage in 32 games with the Edmonton Oilers after starting the year with the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Penguins goalie coach Andy Chiodo has also shown a knack for working with goalies who might be struggling, journeymen, or otherwise not considered top-tier. When I spoke with Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs about Chiodo, Skinner especially lit up and couldn’t offer enough praise.
Ingram would be a Chiodo-type project.
The only person who would lose in the deal is Taylor Gauthier, who has paid his dues in Wheeling and deserves to be in the AHL. But life is rarely fair.
Thanks for the great questions, everyone. Have fun.
Tags:Evgeni Malkin Kris Letang kyle dubas
Categorized:Pittsburgh Penguins