TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Just because I’m in Tampa covering the Florida Panthers-Tampa Bay Lightning series doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about my day job.
The offseason has arrived early in Pittsburgh for a third straight season. What comes next?
Lots of interesting topics to tackle and, as always, you’ve outdone yourselves with some outstanding questions. Two mailbags are on the way. Here comes the first.
Away we go …
Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for clarity.
Realistically, how many years do you think it’s going to take to build a playoff-competing Penguins team that could win at least a few rounds? —@KatieTalksPens
Well, Katie, a playoff-competing team and a team that can win a few rounds are two very different things.
They could make the playoffs next season. They absolutely could. The East stinks. It would almost be impossible for the Penguins to receive worse goaltending next season. They have around $23 million in cap space, so it’s not like improvements couldn’t be made.
Realistically, however, they probably won’t make the playoffs next season. At least, I wouldn’t be surprised. Kyle Dubas has made it exceedingly clear that he’s not interested in sneaking into a playoff spot. Rather, he wants to build a powerful team that can compete for championships annually.
It’s an admirable goal and when Dubas says he believes Pittsburgh fans would prefer the approach he’s taking, I tend to agree with him. This approach, however, requires patience. I have long believed that the summer of 2026 is when the Penguins will make their move and turn extremely aggressive.
What’s your grade on Kyle Dubas so far? — @Td413Crew
Probably a C-plus.
I think he’s done outstanding work during the past 18 months. Many didn’t like the Jake Guentzel trade, but it wasn’t a bad move for Dubas. Quite to the contrary. In return, the Penguins got Ville Koivunen and the draft pick that turned into Harrison Brunicke. Then, there’s Vasily Ponomorov, who might emerge as a solid bottom-six guy. And don’t forget, they flipped Michael Bunting into the far more talented Thomas Novak.
That’s a good trade. Dubas has done a marvelous job of acquiring draft picks and early indications are that Dubas is very good when it comes to the draft.
We can’t forget about the disastrous summer of 2023, however.
Say the New York Rangers opt to give their 2025 pick to the Pens. Any chance of us using the ninth and 11th picks to move up into the top five or top three? — @Wld4hky
Sure, there’s a chance. It’s no secret that the top four players in this draft are a cut above the rest. So, it’s possible.
My sense, however, is that the Penguins would rather have two top-12 players instead of one top-four player. It’s a top-heavy draft, yes, but this is still a reasonable way to look at the draft if you’re Dubas.
Josh, when will the fan base realize that the Pens are rebuilding and aren’t trying to make the playoffs next year? — @trithart_
I think most of the fan base is very well aware of this. This isn’t to say they don’t want to make the playoffs, but it’s not a top priority and I think most people know this. The Penguins’ fan base is generally pretty bright.
Could Rutger McGroarty be the next Penguins captain? (Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)
Who will be the next captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins? — @sean_t_campbell
That’s an impossible question to answer and it’s not like Sidney Crosby is planning on retiring anytime soon.
Bryan Rust would be a very good captain, but I’d bet on Crosby being in Pittsburgh for about as long as Rust is.
Of all people in the organization currently, I’d put my money on Rutger McGroarty. He was the captain of Team USA at the junior level. There’s just something about his personality that’s different than other young players.
Every time Sid’s five-on-five play is mentioned, it is accompanied by the explicit “if only he had a competent power play” comment. Why shouldn’t the wistful “if only” be “if only he was better at elevating the power play”? — @elinadoff
You’re in a glass-half-empty mood. The Penguins’ power play, incidentally, finished sixth this season. That’s not so bad.
Who is the most “Penguins-like” team in this year’s playoffs? Maybe the one most like the tone of the Sid-era Cup teams that Penguins fans can root for? — @NickNeppach
Edmonton reminds me of some of the Penguins’ teams from more than a decade ago, when Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were very much in their respective primes. So much talent. So entertaining. Not a lot of depth.
I have to mention Tampa, too. On Monday, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper explained that this team gets preoccupied with scoring goals early in the season and that it causes defensive issues. I laughed to myself because it made me think of the Penguins.
How does covering a “neutral” playoff series compare to one with the team you normally cover? — @JWolperPGH
It’s been a totally different kind of experience, and I’m enjoying it. Not going to lie: It’s a ton of work. I pretty much know the Penguins like I know the back of my hand, so it makes covering them pretty simple. This is great fun, but there’s also so much work. Sure, I know the big names on these teams. But I’ve still had to study line combinations and depth players to get a proper feel for the locker rooms, etc. No complaints, though. I miss being around playoff hockey and it was a joy to witness Game 1.
What does it mean that Rick Tocchet won’t exercise his option year in Vancouver, but he has a chance to stay there? Is this the same thing as trying to renegotiate his contract? — @skiab94
Here’s my take on the situation. Vancouver, led by team president Jim Rutherford, very much wants Tocchet to stay. I know this for a fact. So extreme is Rutherford’s respect for Tocchet, however, that he didn’t want to force him into signing an option year if indeed he doesn’t wish to coach the Canucks. Rutherford, therefore, is simply giving Tocchet the power here.
My sense is that Tocchet is probably going to walk. That Canucks roster is a mess and I imagine Tocchet would like to head back east.
Who is your pick in the NBA playoffs? — @cgibson724
I like Oklahoma City quite a bit this year. What an entertaining basketball team. There are a handful of contenders, but I can’t go against that team.
Will Connor McDavid win a Cup in Edmonton? — @ilikewartorles
My instinct was to say no. He’s not going to this season, I don’t believe.
And the scary thing is, he turns 29 next winter. Unfortunately, that’s around the time when most great hockey players begin a bit of a regression. We’re getting to the end of his prime years, I’d have to think.
Why do we know so little about off-ice Crosby? Most dads have given their daughters a Sidney Crosby approval because we sense he’s a great guy. We gotta know why. — @JakeAll60116562
He might be a little boring and a little shy about his private life, but all Crosby has done is be a perfect gentleman. He has a girlfriend. He likes to travel to Europe in the summer. He likes watching hockey and reading about World War II.
What is it that you so badly want to know about him? What don’t we know about him that we do know about many athletes?
(Top photo of Erik Karlsson and Sidney Crosby: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)