Welcome to my first June mailbag. The next few weeks are about to get busy with the NHL Draft, free agency, the schedule release and all kinds of other news. So, let\u2019s roll with a couple of mailbags this week.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s Part 1, which begins with an impossible question. But that\u2019s part of the fun.<\/p>\n
Away we go.<\/p>\n
What is your best guess as to the opening night lineup, leaving blank spots for FA\/trade acquisitions? \u2014 @EvVog33<\/p>\n
It would be so much easier to answer this question a month from now, but I suppose that\u2019s why you\u2019re challenging me.<\/p>\n
Left wingCenterRight wing<\/p>\n
FA\/Trade<\/p>\n
Sidney Crosby<\/p>\n
Bryan Rust<\/p>\n
Egor Chinakhov<\/p>\n
Tommy Novak<\/p>\n
Evgeni Malkin<\/p>\n
\nRutger McGroarty<\/p>\n
Ben Kindel<\/p>\n
FA\/Trade<\/p>\n
\nConnor Dewar<\/p>\n
Blake Lizotte<\/p>\n
Avery Hayes<\/p>\n
Extras: Elmer S\u00f6derblom, Justin Brazeau\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, a couple of things about these forward looks. My prediction is that a veteran will be traded, and I\u2019ll guess it\u2019s Rickard Rakell. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas could bring back all the veterans, but I suspect there will be plenty of trades this summer, and someone will likely go. You can\u2019t keep all of the 30-somethings forever. I think the Penguins would prefer to keep Bryan Rust more than Rakell, though I could envision either being dealt.<\/p>\n
I also wouldn\u2019t be shocked if Tommy Novak is traded. The Penguins really like him, but let\u2019s be honest: If the Penguins want to be better next year, they could probably find themselves an upgrade at second-line center.<\/p>\n
S\u00f6derblom will probably find his way into the lineup, though I\u2019m not sure the way he produced last season is an indication of things to come. Maybe it is, but I still need to see more. I think Avery Hayes and Rutger McGroarty are good bets to make the team in September.<\/p>\n
The Penguins aren\u2019t going to spend a ton of money on July 1, but they might get a good player. Mason Marchment would be a great fit, and we know Dubas is a fan.<\/p>\n
One thing is certain: The Penguins\u2019 bottom-six forwards will be extremely deep.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the defense:<\/p>\n
Left defenseRight defense<\/p>\n
Parker Wotherspoon<\/p>\n
Erik Karlsson<\/p>\n
Samuel Girard<\/p>\n
Kris Letang<\/p>\n
Ryan Shea<\/p>\n
Harrison Brunicke<\/p>\n
Extra: Ilya Solovyov\u00a0<\/p>\n
How boring of me!<\/p>\n
Harrison Brunicke is still young, and seasoning in Wilkes-Barre next fall wouldn\u2019t be the worst thing for him. But I think, from what I saw recently<\/a>, there\u2019s a strong chance he\u2019ll make the team out of camp. His talent is real. I doubt Erik Karlsson will be traded, and I don\u2019t see a scenario where Kris Letang doesn\u2019t return.<\/p>\n Parker Wotherspoon isn\u2019t going anywhere. I think they\u2019ll bring back Ryan Shea. Samuel Girard is a candidate to be traded because he never completely fit in last spring, but odds are he will return for next season.<\/p>\n And finally, the netminders:<\/p>\n Goaltender<\/p>\n Sergei Murashov<\/p>\n Art\u016brs \u0160ilovs<\/p>\n I\u2019d be quite surprised if the Penguins don\u2019t go with a Sergei Murashov\/Art\u016brs \u0160ilovs tandem to start the season.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the more likely scenario \u2014 Kyle Dubas trades up in the draft or trades for an impact player? \u2014 @DrNickNYC<\/p>\n Well, both are in play, but I feel like there\u2019s a good chance he trades up in the draft. So, I\u2019ll say that\u2019s more likely. But both are conceivable.<\/p>\n There is some serious talent in the top 12 or so of this draft, and Dubas would surely love to get his hands on one of those players. The problem with that, of course, is that many other teams around the NHL would like to do the same.<\/p>\n Is there more pressure than ever on Dubas to do at least 2-3 huge trades with the amount of cap space we have, the stocked prospect cupboard and the massive amount of picks we have to use this off-season? \u2014 @Jeffs_Penguins<\/p>\n So, I know what you mean and I understand why you\u2019re asking the question. Dubas regularly talks about wanting to add impactful players in their 20s, and because of that, there is pressure to make it happen.<\/p>\n On one hand, it seems that making the playoffs last season felt so good that more fans are willing to take a wait-and-see approach this summer.<\/p>\n On the other hand, besides trading for Karlsson<\/a>, Dubas has yet to make another splashy deal as he enters his fourth offseason in Pittsburgh. It\u2019s getting close to being time for that.<\/p>\n Will Dubas try to sign Alex Tuch in free agency? \u2014 @Armandisamazin<\/p>\n I\u2019d be very surprised. Tuch is a good player, but he\u2019s 30 and will cost a fortune. I\u2019m sure Dubas likes him, but I\u2019d be stunned if this happened.<\/p>\n With Dubas stating that none of the kids had done enough to take a top-6 spot from Geno and how important a deep playoff run was for them, was losing in the AHL\u2019s ECF a deep enough run? Based on what I saw, Murashov and Brunicke are the only two that I\u2019d pencil in to the NHL roster. \u2014 @Flux_cc<\/p>\n Sure, I think the Penguins will take it. Murashov is a borderline lock to be on the team next season out of camp. Brunicke, who was exceptional in the AHL playoffs, has a real chance as well. I would give McGroarty a better than 50-50 chance, and I think Hayes will have a real opportunity, too. Bill Zonnon is probably a year away.<\/p>\n But you never know. A lot can happen between now and September.<\/p>\n Many players in Wilkes-Barre made visible strides last season, and playing in a pressure-packed environment, as they just did, can only help their development \u2014 especially for Murahsov, who was outstanding.<\/p>\n Do the Penguins wind up with a younger \u201cproject\u201d type player like Elias Pettersson or Patrik Laine? If so, how do they also find room for some of their own prospects? \u2014 @Letangcult<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the worst idea with Laine, though his personality isn\u2019t going to fit in every locker room. Personally, I wouldn\u2019t touch Pettersson\u2019s contract. Rarely has a player seen his production diminish immediately after getting paid quite like him. That\u2019s a big red flag to me.<\/p>\n Are the Macklin Celebrini comparisons to Sid accurate? I am biased and say hell yes. \u2014 @joan87771<\/p>\n Oh, no question. On and off the ice, I\u2019ve never seen a player who reminded me of Sidney Crosby as much as Celebrini. He\u2019s special.<\/p>\n