GM faces many tough decisions
2. What happens with Phil Kessel?
Trading one of the team’s most well-liked players probably won’t go over well with fans or those inside the dressing room, and it might seem borderline insane on the surface. But an argument could be made that it makes sense from a business perspective.
Kessel is coming off a career-best offensive year with 92 points. The 34 goals he scored represented his most since 2013-14, and he led the league in power-play points with 42. His stock has probably never been higher as a Penguin. He also will be 31 at the start of the 2018-19 season and has four more years on a contract that pays him $8 million ($6.8 counting against the Penguins’ salary cap).
If ever there was a time to make a move and get out from under that contract — which the Penguins didn’t negotiate — it could be now. But it’s also not hard to see the Penguins standing pat given Kessel’s talents and his value to the team.
3. Is it worth it to keep Carl Hagelin?
Hagelin had a terrific second half, and it might have pushed him out of Pittsburgh. He will be 30 by the start of next season, when he’ll be in the final year of a deal that pays him $4 million annually. At his age, and given what they have coming up, the Penguins might not want to go there on Hagelin’s next contract. Surely, if Rutherford wanted to, he’d find a suitor for Hagelin and would be able to gain some financial flexibility.
4. What about a few longterm deals?
Last summer, the Penguins signed Brian Dumoulin and Conor Sheary, a pair of restricted free agents. The former looks incredible, the latter not so much after Sheary — who made $3 million this past season — failed to score a goal and produced just two points all postseason.
The guys Rutherford will look at include Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel. Rust is an RFA, and the Penguins would undoubtedly like to have him around for the long haul. Guentzel is even more of a slam-dunk, although he’s a year away from restricted free agency. The Penguins might want to wait to gain additional clarity on their financial situation, while it makes sense for Guentzel because, if he produces, his value will only increase.
5. Will Daniel Sprong ever spring in Pittsburgh?
Scoring a Penguins rookierecord 32 goals in the AHL this past season was quite impressive, but it wasn’t enough for Sprong to get NHL work. Or many opportunities at nailing it down, which seemed to frustrate a large contingent of fans who routinely clamored for Sprong and his deadly shot.
Talk to people inside the organization, and they’ll talk about Sprong’s defense and play away from the puck.
Perhaps that has developed enough to put him in position to earn a spot in camp. Maybe they’ll ascertain that Sprong needs more time.
It’s also conceivable that, through conversations had over the summer, the Penguins conclude Sprong will never fit the style they’re trying to play.
If that’s the case, there are enough other moves that could or should happen that packaging Sprong with one of them is entirely possible.