For years, the Penguins played fast and loose. Their opponents might score a few goals, but Pittsburgh’s youthful superstars would almost always score more. Every night was appointment television because Sid or Geno could do something you’d never seen before.
That phenomenon started two decades ago, and those youthful superstars are now the elder statesmen.
Last night against Anaheim, Sid, Letang, and Geno watched as younger stars seemingly did to them what they used to do to so many other teams.
Cutter Gauthier scored a hat trick. Jackson LaCombe piled up assists. Leo Carlsson was a menace all game. It was truly like watching the Penguins from the late 2000s, except Pittsburgh was on the receiving end this time.
The Penguins weren’t without their chances. Letang and Rakell even managed to get Pittsburgh on the board twice in the third period. However, the game brought about a stark reality.
The once-indomitable trio is no longer superhuman.
They’re all still capable of playing at a high level, even a great level on certain nights, but they can no longer single-handedly skate a team out of the rink.
Sure, the dumb mistakes in the Penguins’ team game remain present, but last night was more conclusive evidence of why Kyle Dubas needs to turn this roster over.
The old guard is still completely serviceable, but they’re no longer championship-caliber on their own. They need help. They need youth and speed surrounding them.
More players like Chinakhov and Kindel need to surround Crosby and Malkin.
Rakell and Rust are great complementary pieces for teams that already have youth, like the Ducks. For Pittsburgh, they only help pull the team up from the bottom.
Once upon a time, those secondary pieces were necessary to win championships in Pittsburgh, but those days are gone.
Now, it’s time to transition, and the performance put together by the young Ducks last night was all the evidence Dubas should need.
