Happy Boxing Day. The NHL is ramping back up as training camps will be opening in about a week. As a result we’ve seen some roster moves also ramp up. There were some signings made that I think were pertinent to the Penguins.

Mikael Granlund signed a one- year 3.75M with Nashville. The Predators also signed Erik Haula for one year at 1.75M. The Capitals signed two-time Penguin Conor Sheary to a one-year 735k contract. Mackenzie Blackwood signed a three-year contract worth 2.8M per season with the Devils. Anthony Duclair signed a one-year contract with the Panther for 1.7M

Edit 1:15 PM: Add Carl Soderberg to the list. He signs with Chicago for one-year and 1M.

None of these players are make or break for the Penguins and Mackenzie Blackwood was an RFA. So why bring it up? Well, when you look at the Penguins depth in the bottom six and what they paid their RFA goalie it further highlights Pittsburgh not getting good value throughout the roster and as a result puts a lot of responsibility on a 33 year old Sidney Crosby and a 34 year old Evgeni Malkin .

I am not bothered the Penguins moved on from Conor Sheary this time like I was the last time. I am bothered that he is a better bottom six option than anybody not named Jared McCann and was dirt cheap on a one-year deal. He is also an option to fill in for an elevated role in a time of short term need. The current fourth line is an overrated commodity and will not move the needle towards another championship. They are one-dimensional and it is a dimension I don’t place as much value in as the players who create chances and offense.

Mikael Granlund at 3.75M doesn’t fit the Penguins cap situation. Although, the Penguins cap situation is because they overpay for players like Brandon Tanev. This isn’t saying I think the Penguins need Granlund or if he would even entertain a similar offer from the Penguins, but I am saying the value of Granlund at 3.75M in laughably better than the Penguins paying for a fourth line grinder when they are absent any offensive talent in their bottom six. Cody Ceci and Colton Sceviour only compound the problem. Speaking of Ceci the Oilers signed Slater Koekkoek for under a million today as the Penguins will pay Ceci 1.25M. All the pieces matter

Erik Haula at that price is a good risk/reward deal. He would have been an upgrade over what the Penguins have. He has injury risk, but a one-year deal at that price would have been worth trying out.

Anthony Duclair picked a bad time to be his own agent. He bet on himself and played well. Only to hold out for more money during a pandemic. It clearly backfired. A 1.7M one-year contract could have infused some offense into the Penguins bottom six.

I only bring up Mackenzie Blackwood because he has an identical NHL sample to Tristan Jarry yet he makes 700k less. All the overpays add up, 500k here, a million there, and you run out of space. The result is a top heavy late stage Ray Shero looking team. The team will have to navigate a shortened and high variance regular season. It could pan out with a player berth. It could be disastrous. The fact is it didn’t have to be so much of an unknown if proper care was taken to build the depth of the roster. The offseason plan and execution was rushed and it shows. I don’t think there are many alternate timelines that would be as uninspiring as the current one.

Thanks for reading!

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