So much is changing around this franchise. Our icons are in the twilight of their career, but have been reinvigorated by Dan Muse (who I love). We are going to have new owners, but people don't know much about them. And while Kyle Dubas started his tenure with some shakier decisions (Jarry contract/Graves deal), he seems to be getting things right more and more lately. So, what's next for us? What do people expect the next five years to be like with this team?

44 comments

  2. If we keep this up, we ride it into the playoffs. If we fall apart (can happen as we saw when Malkin was out), we sell veterans to contenders for prospects and draft picks and come back stronger next year. Win-win!

  3. i think theyre set up really well to be pretty good thru the rest of Sid’s career, and at least be okay after he’s done. whether or not theyre *good* after he hangs it up depends on their ability to bring in the right star from the outside, and how they do it.

    key word being “right”. they dont need to force a “i guess we will just take this dude from free agency cuz he’s the best available”. i’d rather they be patient for the right guy to strike on. but they do need to strike on someone who is extremely good and pretty young, over the next 3ish years. in my opinion.

    you can’t make a habit of “overpaying” for guys but it’s okay to pick your spots and do that when you otherwise run the ship with ruthless efficiency as dubas has.

    but honestly that is all something to worry about later. enjoying this season is the main thing on my to-do list.

  4. I think my main concern, from a personal standpoint, is that I’m becoming attached, especially to the forwards. Chinakhov was a godsend, but the only impact was McGroarty/Koivunen getting more time in the AHL, which is a good thing anyway. But from here on out, I think any forward acquisitions (or moving kids up from the AHL) lead to the unavoidable question of “who sits?” or “who goes down?” And, honestly, I have a full-throated defense for all of them. Beginning of the season, I’d say sit Novak. Now? Over my dead body.

    Malkin, Crosby, and Letang have mad clout, and they’re safe. But I’m worried about people like Acciari, and I’m also worried about top liners like Rust/Rakell. Maybe not before the end of the season, but certainly next season or so.

    So how do we balance bringing in new blood and keeping around beloved members? To an extent, I know we have to be logical and buy assets low and sell them high. But I also know that connections and loyalty mean something (and I know Muse understands that, probably Dubas, too). But every time I’m like “okay, well, I trust them,” that’s quickly followed by thoughts like “but if they trade someone like Dewar, I might actually die.”

    For me, this is the crux of my concern with a “rebuild.”

  5. I’d like to see Dubas continue acquiring talent with the influx of picks we have, trade similar prospects of value for others that have blocked paths/disgruntled with their org that could contribute faster here.

  6. This year’s success has been more to do with continued excellence from the vets than real contributions from the kids. Either from guys already here or guys brought in.

    Top 6 forwards are currently Crosby, Rust, Rakell, Malkin, Novak, and Chinakhov. Average age of 32.3.

    Adding Mantha, Brazeau, and Kindel moves it down to 30. That’s not really a rebuild. To rebuild that number really needs to come down. I’d argue we’re really more retooling at the moment, and doing so pretty successfully.

    The problem comes with how to get premium talent without premium draft picks. Quantity has a quality all of its own of course, but we’re going to need to hit an absolute home run or two for top end talent to really build around. We don’t look positioned to end up with any no brainers anytime soon.

  7. There won’t be a full rebuild until Crosby retires. And I’m fine with that. As long as Sid wants to keep breaking records, I’m here for it. I’ve been a Penguin fan since the 70s. I’ve seen much worse than this. But it lead to the two greatest players to play the game to become Penguins. So it was worth it, and it will be worth it again, eventually.

  8. I dont think you so much this season either. I eouldnt trade high picks for guys. Keep acquiring talent in the draft. That must be a priority. Malkin and Letang will not be here in 3 years. Sid will be gone in 5.

    Acquiring young talent in the draft. Pickpocket some players in free agency, nab dudes in the waivers, steal Disgruntled players for later picks in the draft. Keep doing that.

  9. They’re off to a solid start, and have made major steps in places ranking prospects. But without a true ‘blue chip’ or two, I think the future may be stunted. The 2025 draft was huge, and maybe guys at that level play significantly above their scouting report. That’d help a lot.

  10. /j we sign Jesse Puljujarvi, Nail Yakupov and Alexander Burmistrov and we win the Cup in the same year.

    /uj i think that Dubas will make some trades to bring in new young guys with the Graves 27 rule™ (no guys over 27) and hopefully try to do a rebuild thats quick

  11. I could see the Pens trading some of the futures and youth to add now if the player is signed to term and young enough (ie Robert Thomas or Jason Robertson).

    Then you can always trade them if needed in 3 years to rebuild if needed then.

    In the meantime you get to push once last time with Sid and Geno

  13. More China trades. Dubas wont trade for anyone much over 25 and wont trade top draft picks or prospects unless they are a star or up and coming. I think Pens fans will be disappointed at trade deadline and free agency. Maybe summer pf 27 that starts to change, but our prospect pool needs more. We dont want to be the Caps and how they are from previous 2 yrs to this year. I think he banking on Kindel, Horcoff, Murashov, Connor, Brunicke and who we get this year. I do believe his main goal still is the future

  14. I’m not sure if they are rebuilding right now. They are legitimately good and might make a little run if they can keep it up.

  15. Trade Rust and picks for Robertson, offer him an extension.

    Could go for Tolvanen with picks and a youth player.

    Kindel is part of the future, and I’m hoping Horcoff will be as well.

    Keep paying Crosby 8.7 million until he doesn’t want to play anymore. I think Malkin should also play as long as he wants, but would probably take less money than Crosby. Both are over a point per game. And I think Malkin’s doing better because he has players to pass too.

    Chinakhov seems like a steal, I hope he can stay excited here.

    Sign Mcdavid when his contract expires after the 27-28 season, or trade for him that season.

  16. There are 2 realistic extremes that I currently see from the recent success:

    1 is the team gets REALLY good very quickly in the next couple of seasons. Which means the young guys have come in and learned things quickly with Sid and Malkin. Then when Sid and Malkin leave the team is kind of “OK” until younger people grow more to fill those holes.

    2 is the team is kind of decent for a few years. We flirt with playoffs a bit. But when both Malkin and Sid are gone, there are unavoidable dark years. This is because not enough prospects and drafts (that we haven’t even picked yet) will be developed/ready when Sid is 41 and the tank is pretty empty.

    I think it will fall closer to option 2. And I think fans should enjoy what success we have now while it lasts.

  18. I think as long as we don’t rangers it, the rebuild trajectory is going close to perfect. All I’m really worried about is the inevitable reshaping of our identity when Sid retires. Can’t fill th shoes, but hopefully we have enough guys who are willing to take part of that leadership role and carry the torch. Not to put everything on Kindel but he’s the first young guy in a while who could be that person in 3-4 years 

  19. Well Crosby is going to play at a high level until he’s like 53 so I’d say the future is now.

  23. Hopefully we don’t make any major moves and sell too many assets. Would be nice to just continue on as we are now and if the team plays good, let them and hope we avoid the whole Washington situation they have going on over there

  25. A few scatter brained thoughts. 

    Dubas built this roster to be perfect sellers at the deadline without moving any major pieces.  The Pens have a bunch of players on expiring contracts and the Pens have all 3 salary retention spots open.   Skinner for only 375k… Mantha for less than that.. those are worth quality draft picks.  Shoot even Accari for like 50k …. BUT

    This team is competitive… what does Dubas do?  No way he sells at this moment … right.   But man, the draft capital they could acquire. 

    That’s this year, long term though. I was never in trade Raks or rust camp and I’m still not.  Unless next year is Sid’s last year (I think he plays another 5 yrs).  Basically, you don’t rebuild until Sid is gone (retire or trade).   That’s long term.  I assume the Pens have plans to offer sheet a RFA, that is why they kept their own 2nd rd in the Chinakov trade.   But, resign Malkin.  Probably Skinner, Mantha, Shea, and maybe Kulack too… Silvia as well.  They’ll need a 2nd line winger and top 4 LD to find via trade or FA. 

    What could Novak, 1st, and kouvinen fetch?  Looking quality RFAs that are about to be paid. 

    Edit:  don’t huff-n-puff about the 1st. Pens had 3 last year.  And they would be using it on a legit nhl player (better than a hopeful draft pick) and not on a ufa. 

  27. I don’t think we can really consider this a rebuild with the way the Pens are playing. They are not playing good hockey right now, they are playing great hockey right now. I would love to see Karlson go, but there is no reason to trade anyone. They have plenty of cap room right now. They can add at the trade deadline to help the team this season. Keep the draft picks unless they can manage to get another star player that is young. I would also like to have Geno back next year with the way he is playing now.

  29. I think Dubas is either going to hold the line or if he’s going to make any big moves, it’s going to be lateral moves and a major buy or sell. I think next season is where the questions about a continued rebuild will be asked.

  30. With Sidney Crosby recruiting Conor McDavid into his superstitious number/salary symmetry cult and 97 comes east.

  31. Continue the rebuild. We have the 5th hardest strength of schedule remaining and we are just in the playoffs by 2 points. To stay in this position is going to be much harder then it was to get here in the first place . (Had like the 25th hardest schedule in the first half the season )

  32. Crosby plays until his 87th birthday. Malkin and Letang retire next couple years and we use the space to bring McDavid after he eventually realizes his deal with Edmonton has screwed him from success. Every other generation talent over the next few decades decides they want to play with old man Sid as well. Pens overtake MTL for most cups.

  34. Cautiously.

    Winning is great and all but if we’re not careful with acquisitions then we could end up like sullys rangers.

    I have full trust in Dubas’ ability to seek out great talent at a good price.

  35. I think a very slight adjustment in the overall plan is needed.

    Start stocking 2028+ picks where possible for the years after Sid and the crew have retired so we have a little more draft stock and a less superstar heavy team that *should* result in some earlier round picks.

    I think we keep any and all draft picks we currently have after this season, maybe trade one or two away from the upcoming draft depending on where we are when the deadline comes around. I would not be opposed to us going after someone from one of the bottom of division teams.

    We’re in a weird spot, blew expectations out of the water, Muse has the boys playing like they’re young again and the actual young boys are slotting in with fantastic chemistry.

    Couldn’t be happier as a Pens fan this year.

  36. With Dubas I trust him fully to get us back, when the big 3 are gone it might be a couple of years of bad, but im optimistic

  38. Trade for younger guys and pick young stars in the draft. Encourage Muse to rotate players and play the younger talents when viable.

  39. Rebuild? I assume you mean after this year, because we’re winning the cup this year.

    Avs get upset in the playoffs and we can beat any other team.

    Skinner took his team to the finals the last two years. We shouldn’t be surprised when he does it again.

  40. The biggest worry for me is the blue line. They have some solid forward prospects (although none that are likely stars aside from Kindel) but outside of Brunicke the defense future looks… bleak.

  42. They need to just keep making a ton of draft picks while trying to polish some potential turds. Idk if they should go in on Robertson.

  43. I think if they nail a 1-2 FA signing punch once our aging core retires, paired with the young talent growing further, the future looks bright. Easier said than done but honestly with Sid Letang and Geno on the books, even on admittedly affordable deals, we’ve never been really in on an outside splash signing but could change by 2027 or 2028

Leave a Reply