It's going to be crazy couple of weeks ahead. From getting possible 2025 unprotected to getting a decent prospect in 11-16 area to possibly having a 17-32 pick
BuT tHeY wIlL bE a LoTtErY tEaM nExT yEaR bEcAuSe GuYs ArE oLdEr.
Their schedule is pretty tough, but also means that they control their destiny. @ Washington, Tampa, @ Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Nashville, @ Islanders.
Until someone can come up with a legit reason the pens will be better next season, then there is more of a chance that they fall off even more.
They wouldn't have a 1st round pick and have Sidney Crosby on their roster. There is no scenario at all where management doesn't do everything they possibly can to improve the team. They can bring up some young guys and acquire cheap bottom-6 depth. No one is expecting them to become a stanley cup contender, but they could easily end up a mid standings team/playoff hopeful.
So they need to pull off a miracle and hope that they can get bargain players to exceed expectations at every position and that none of there star players take a step back while in there late 30's? Sounds like a very reasonable plan. One that has been proven over and over again just doesn't work. Case in point being the San Jose Sharks for the past 4 years.
With 12M it's not that unrealistic to acquire depth players and a back up goalie. Like I said, I'm not saying they're going to compete for the stanley cup but becoming a mid level team that drafts 15-20th overall isn't that far off.
When you need 7 players just to be at 12/6/2 on the every day roster, yes it is very difficult. Especially if you want quality depth which is what the team will need to stay out of the bottom half of the league.
Okay so trade/buyout one of Eller/Bunting/Smith and now you're looking at 15-20M...what do you think they're going to do this offseason? Just sit around and do nothing? Trade away assets and accept they're going to suck?
A four win in five game stretch at the tail end of the season doesn't change the accuracy of those arguments nor make you correct in any fashion. This just makes you more difficult to converse with unnecessarily.
They are going to try like Wilson kept trying, but that trying comes with praying for rainbow colored unicorns to be real and for all players to punch above there pay grades. I don't doubt the team is going to try, but there is just no room or flexibility for them to improve enough.
And on the other side, they are 4 points out of being 24th in the league.
They're only 3 points out of the playoffs, it's not like they need an entire new team to get closer. For all the reasons they could decline next year...Washington, Philly, and New York (islanders) could all also regress. That's their division alone.
They don't need an entirely new team but they do need to replace Guentzel and add on top of that to position themselves better for a playoff push next year. The adds are doable but the options are not unlimited in terms of what can address those spots. There are only so many Guentzel-type wingers available in an offseason and there are only so many top four defensemen available. These players could also choose to play with their division rivals because in the case of say Washington or Philadelphia, they have more flexibility to bring them in than Pittsburgh does, imo.
As you choose to engage with this post rather than the one below it that actually has thought and reason....
