The Penguins roster looks set. They avoided arbitration with almost all of their restricted free agents. Nick Robertson is the only surefire NHLer that has yet to sign a contract. Ville Koivunen is also awaiting a contract, or a trade, but he would need to have a hell of a training camp to make the roster on night one. Yet, it feels like the current team isn’t what they will start the season with. As currently constructed, assuming Robertson is here after arbitration, here is what the roster will look like in my opinion.
Offense
Rakell- Crosby- Rust
Chinakhov- Novak- Malkin
Kuzmenko- Kindel- Robertson
Dewar- Lizotte- Soderblom
Defense:
Van Reimsdyk- Karlsson
Carlile- Letang
Girard- Korczak
Goalies
Silovs- Murshov
That roster leaves Brazeau as an extra. So too is Lapierre. They likely make Solovyov an extra as well because they need an extra defenseman on the roster.
Why This Penguins Roster Isn’t Actually Finished
I just don’t think they are done. That roster is way too similar to last season. The top 6 is completely the same. The fourth line might have lost Acciari, but Soderblom did slot in there for parts of last season. Half of the defense is new, but the feeling is similar to last year’s group. Also, there is no wave of young players coming up to play, which has been the stated goal. Now, I’d like to start by saying that I actually like what we have done so far in the offseason. The Robertson trade was good, and his age profile fits. Kuzmenko was a very good Mantha replacement. Van Reimsdyk is perfect trade fodder, and a reliable player if they are good. Korczak was a good acquisition too, and he helps make the future of the defense younger. Carlile is last year’s version of Wotherspoon. So, all of the moves make sense but it’s hard to imagine this roster is set in stone.
If any of McGroarty, Koivunen, Zonnon, Broz, Pickering, or Bruincke show out in camp what exactly happens? I don’t think management minds having their prospects properly marinate in Wilkes Barre, but there comes a point where they need full-time NHL work. Sure, Bruincke and Zonnon could each benefit from a full season in the AHL. However, the remaining players should all be making the jump to the big boy league. Yet, the way the roster is currently constructed really only leave a pathway for Pickering to make the team out of camp. If Pickering plays well, it’s conceivable that they make Van Reimsdyk or Carlile the 7th D on the roster. Yet, for everyone else, they don’t have pieces to move around. I guess Robertson and/or Kuzmenko could sit in the press box if McGroarty and Koivunen show they are ready, but I think it’s unlikely they make 8 million dollars’ worth of signings watch the games.
So, if the young guys are blocked, and the roster isn’t too dissimilar from last season, another shoe must drop right?
I think so.
Reports continue to tie us to Nick’s brother Jason Robertson. I am of the belief that he is going to be available, and that he would like to play with his brother. For Dallas it honestly doesn’t make sense to sign him. For one, they don’t have the cap space. Secondly, Leo Carlsson’s situation is only going to drive Jason’s price upward. Dallas is a true contender so losing Robertson would hurt but signing him would also force them to further jettison players from their roster which wouldn’t bring them any closer to winning the cup. Jim Nill would be wise to acquire a few NHL ready players in exchange for Robertson because it can help them maintain their cup window.
Shane Wright is also available. He was a fourth overall selection a few years ago and is exactly the type of player Dubas is known to be looking at acquiring. Seattle isn’t likely to just give him away because the potential is there. Tommy Novak would have to leave the roster, at the very least whether in a Wright trade or a separate trade. Wright wouldn’t break the bank like Robertson would, but he does allow Dubas to get younger and change the look of the forward group.
Another forward addition, and one I am the least excited about is Elias Pettersson. Vancouver desperately wants to get his cap hit off the books. They are likely the only team in the NHL willing to take Ryan Graves contract back in return too. However, I don’t think that would be a prudent move. If Pettersson couldn’t be revitalized by Dan Muse, then you are looking at a disaster of a contract in the middle of a transition period. Plus, Vancouver isn’t giving the player away for free. Graves for Petey one-for-one is not happening. Pettersson isn’t the type of player you give up first round picks to acquire. The Canucks aren’t in a timeline that makes Rust, Rakell, or Karlsson attractive acquisitions for them. In saying all of this, I do think Dubas is interested in the player. I think he has complete belief that Muse, and the Penguins locker-room culture, could get Pettersson back to the 100-point player he was before signing his big ticket. It’s worth mentioning two things… When Petterson broke out, Kuzmenko was on his wing. It’s also worth mentioning that there are some rumors that the Penguins might have had a deal in place with Vancouver, but Petterson blocked it via his no-trade clause. Unfortunately, I think this is the most likely player we acquire but I don’t think it’s the best move. I’d rather stick with the brick by boring brick approach and leave the prospects blocked.
I know plenty of people are talking about Connor Bedard, but that isn’t happening. The Blackhawks are in absolutely no danger to lose him via an offer sheet. The Wirtz family has more than enough cash to not worry about a signing bonus heavy contract. The Hoffman group might not have the pockets to give Bedard 40 million dollars on day one to be honest, they did just spend over a billion dollars to acquire the Penguins. Even if it gets to the point where Penguin ownership signs off, and Bedard agrees, I just don’t see a world where Chicago doesn’t match. They have 29 million in cap space, so even with a max contract off they’d have 9 million in cap space after matching. The Penguins also can’t currently offer the max without being over the cap so players would need to be moved. I know people are fantasying about this idea, but it would honestly just be a waste of time because Chicago has no reason to let Bedard go.
The last game changing acquisition would be to get Alexander Nikishin from Carolina. Carolina doesn’t seem keen on retaining him. They would also attach the contract of Jesperi Kotkaniemi which would lessen the trade package the Penguins would need to give up. Personally, I am against doing this move. Carolina scouts their own talent extremely well, and if they’re willing to move on from a young defenseman coming off his ELC then something is amiss. Kotkaniemi also has no utility on this roster, and there’s no reason to accept his cap hit. I don’t have much else to say about this other than I’d stay away because I trust in Carolina’s management team to properly evaluate their in-house talent and there’s just no way they’d trade Nikishin if they believed in his ability to become a true top-pair D.
There are options out there. Everything I listed would be deemed a huge trade. Dubas has warned everyone that the huge trades might not be coming this year. I think all of the “huge” options, with the exception of Robertson, come with a lot of risk. So, maybe the Pens don’t need to do more. No reason to potentially wreck the future just to make a big splash. If this roster is what we enter October with, I think the Penguins will enjoy a season similar to last year. Maybe that disappoints some fans, but I’d be okay with it. If nothing else, the Penguins did lock up Chinny to a 3-year deal and I chose to just be excited about seeing him play for a full season in Pittsburgh.
