So JR has been given the orders to win at all costs. Looking at the product on ice, I believe this is highly, HIGHLY dangerous for the owners to command. It's no secret they are looking to move the team. If they try to win at the expense of the future, all they are doing is putting a fancy wax job on that 67' GT500 whose tranny and engine are about to blow. If a buyer is going to put down the cheddar to buy the Penguins, somewhere around the $500mil mark I imagine, they are damn well going to do their homework. All they are going to see is a decent team right now that's going to fall right off the cliff if they destroy their future. Then it will Gen X all over again. Not exactly a great business deal if you ask me.
No, if the owners want to sell they will have to convince a rich, savvy buyer that the Penguins are good now and will be good in the future, even despite their hilarious mismanagement the last 6 years. With that, they are going have to show a pipeline of young talent that can carry the team. I think they are stuck with them for another couple of years. In that time, they need to retool, in a big way.
First, understand that their approach to roster building and winning is wrong.
Second, admit and understand that Malkin and Crosby are past their primes and can no longer single handedly propel the team to wins. They need a team around them that supports their strengths.
Third, if Sullivan is your guy, then fine. Work with him to find an identity. Build to that identity. Come to terms with the fact that this is about building a f-ing hockey team that can win. Winning is what sells tickets. Build a team to win. That may mean shipping out players that the city loves...but so be it. Sometimes new is exciting!
Fourth, evaluate the roster. See who fits the new identity and who doesn't. Make the trades needed. Be sellers at the deadline. Right now, I'm not convinced that bring up our best 5-6 WBS guys puts us in a worse position that right now...I mean really...does it?
Perron+pick for 1st @ TDL. SOMEONE will do it. With the pariety, someone will be desperate. Nashville gave up a first for Paul Guastad. We gave up a 1st for Iginla. If we add in a second or third, I think someone bites. We can replace Perron in the top 6 with Plotnikov.
Bonino for a 2nd+4th/prospect. Common return for someone like that. See Winnik, Hemsky, Petry...not unreasonable. We can replace Bonino. We have Fehr and Cullen and Sundqvist.
Letang for the best package. When he's on, he's on; when he's not...he's not. Look for a younger Top 4 dman, Top prospect or high pick. This is where a Letang+prospect for Fowler+Ritchie would be amaz-****. I would even consider Letang for Fowler+Maroon. I would also consider Letang+pick/prosp for Johansen+Rychel then flip Johansen for a top 4 dman like Seth Jones+.
Kunitz to anyone for a 3rd. Someone will take him. He's a decent vet bolster to someone's 3rd line.
Cole in a package mentioned above or for a 2nd/3rd.
Kessel. I still don't know. Not even sure who would take him to be honest...but I would explore it. I would expect a return similar to what we gave up minus Spaling. I would take 2 prospects and a 1st (no conditions).
NYR fans want Hornqvist. Wonder if we could do a Kreider+ for Hornqvist swap. Kreider is that in your face, young jam guy. Horny was that guy...but...not sure where it went. Kreider is younger and likely be cheaper too.
I would then take a prospect or two and some of the new picks we aquired and send them to Arizona for Boedker. Work ASAP on an extension. $4.5milx4yrs. Take the Ritchie/Rychel/Maroon player we get back from the Letang trade and stick him on Malkin's LW.
Boedker-Crosby-Hornqvist/Kreider
New guy-Malkin-Plotnikov/Kessel (depends on trade)
Plots/Sheary-Fehr-Bennett
Sundy-Cullen-WBS
Maatta-Trade
Dumoulin-Lovejoy
Daley-Clendening
Is that a playoff roster, no...duh. But look at the picks you have accumulated. 2 1sts, 2-3 2nds, 3-4 3rds, 4/5/6. THAT will replenish the cupboards. OR you can use that bring in players that fit the identity kinda like Buffalo did with Kane and ROR.
Then you can look to the NCAA and KHL other European leagues for UFA assets ala Plotnikov, Panarin, Tikhonov. Zaitsev is a decent sized PMD. We have the Gary Roberts connection, get him here. There are a couple other guys out there too that have flown under the radar. Worst case, they become AHL backups.
Next season you look at the group of Fowler/Jones/etc, Maatta, Dumoulin, Pouliot as the Top 4. We have plenty of bottom pairing options. Adding in Zaitsev would be just that much better. You then have size and skill on the defense. REAL puck moving ability. Young too.
In the forward group we have gotten younger, added size and snarl, and added speed.
Looking at the draft, in the 1st round with two presumable 1sts, take BPA dman or power forward. With the second, take the BPA on the other dman or power forward, depending on which you chose with the 1st pick. Use the 2nds and 3rds to either move up, trade for roster players, or simply restock.
With the new stock cupboards and couple of roster move switches and you've cut dead weight, added size, snarl, and speed and more importantly you've helped show future buyers that the team will be competitive now and years into the future. At least when you look at the pipeline there is hope rather than one and done.
If I'm the owners...I'm fixing up the house meaning, I'm replacing the worn carpet, I'm replacing appliances, and I'm rearranging furniture...not just slapping a meh paint job on the outside and trying to sell it for top dollar. Invest in this TEAM...not just this year. DON'T buy players...BUILD a roster.
You can't make a trade to change the complexion of your hockey club like that, man. You've gotta make sure ol' Z feels at home, feels loved, feels appreciated. You've gotta trade him back to Arizona for a 3rd (which ended up being Sundqvist, I think).
