TWILIGHT IS LOOMING
AFTER PICKING IN
the first round for the first time in five years, the Penguins are once again out of the top 31 thanks to a go-for-it trade deadline – this time Jason Zucker was the prize. But Pittsburgh won’t pick in the second round, either, and has just four selections overall. That’s boring for the scouts, but that’s the price you pay for extending your Cup window as far as you can in the Sid and Geno era. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: The Penguins’ back end is good, but it could be better. And if Justin Schultz leaves as a UFA, the unit’s puckhandling capabilities will take a hit. This is a minor quibble, given that this team persevered through an incredible run of injuries and still managed to thrive in the Eastern Conference. LONG-TERM NEEDS: Eventually, the wheels are going to fall off, and it’s probably going to sting. When Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin retire, there is no one to replace them (not that any team could replace such all-time talents). Luckily, legends tend to have longer career arcs than mortal players, but the day will come. The Penguins don’t have any topend centers in their prospect system right now, so that has to be the prime mandate. CAP SITUATION: The Pens have around $14 million in cap space and significant players in need of contracts. GM Jim Rutherford’s main challenge comes in net as both Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry are RFAs. Murray has two Cups while Jarry was one of the NHL’s best goalies this year. Their current cap hit of $4.4 million will more than double. Therefore, keeping UFAs Schultz and Conor Sheary will be difficult.
IN THE SYSTEM 2020-21: Should the Pens need a D-man, Pierre-Olivier Joseph is the obvious candidate to come up from the minors. Up front, Kasper Bjorkqvist would be useful – if he can stay healthy.
DID YOU KNOW: When 2019 top pick Samuel Poulin gets loose, watch out. The QMJHL Sherbrooke left winger had two five-point games and an eight-point outing for the Phoenix in just 46 games.