I feel like there’s too many mediocre contracts eating away at their cap space and the younger players are still too early in their development to be game changers. Next year won’t be any better unless you offload contracts like Hayes, Graves, and Acciari and use that money for legitimate free agents like Ekblad, Ehlers, and/or Bennett.

I’m all for repeating another season like this and getting a high pick (and hopefully the Rangers give us their 2026 pick). Then you have Hayes, Acciari, Heinen, Lizotte, and possibly Malkin coming off the books. Karlsson would be easier to trade with less term. Younger players get a year of more development at the NHL level. Dubas would have a much better understanding of how guys like Pickering and Mcgroarty will be used.
- drummer829

The mediocre contracts are part of it, but its also that Dubas has brought in all guys who have no upside. Hayes, Accari, Heinen, Nieto are all what they are... there is no scenario in which these guys take another step forward and become strong top 9 players.

Even Tomasino & Novak, they show flashes, but if either of these guys end up in your top 6, you are going to suck.

My point isnt that all of these guys are bad, but he hasnt made one move where there was a shot a player could be a real contributor. Compare that to Washington, Montreal & Ottawa taking swings on Dubois, Laine & Cozens... Those trades all came with risk, but all helped put their teams over the top.

The oilers…

Any chance they desperate enough to trade for Jarry next season if they get bounced?

The oilers…

Any chance they desperate enough to trade for Jarry next season if they get bounced?
- drummer829

Jarry isnt the answer for them, but what a disaster. 2 generational players and you cant win because you've refused to address the goalie position for years now.

Sooner or later, McDavid has to stop being a "good soldier" and think about his career.

The mediocre contracts are part of it, but its also that Dubas has brought in all guys who have no upside. Hayes, Accari, Heinen, Nieto are all what they are... there is no scenario in which these guys take another step forward and become strong top 9 players.

Even Tomasino & Novak, they show flashes, but if either of these guys end up in your top 6, you are going to suck.

My point isnt that all of these guys are bad, but he hasnt made one move where there was a shot a player could be a real contributor. Compare that to Washington, Montreal & Ottawa taking swings on Dubois, Laine & Cozens... Those trades all came with risk, but all helped put their teams over the top.
- MacPatty

Disagree. He made one huge risky move to try and improve the team, trading for EK. The difference vs WSH is that it didn't work. After that, he's clearly been in retool mode. Hayes was not brought here for any reason other than getting a draft pick. Same with Glass. Heinen as part of a deal to make the team better in the future. These guys have no upside but that's why we took them on in deals for futures.

Jarry isnt the answer for them, but what a disaster. 2 generational players and you cant win because you've refused to address the goalie position for years now.

Sooner or later, McDavid has to stop being a "good soldier" and think about his career.
- SuperHenderson13

Maybe he should scream at his teammates like a little girl with tears in his eyes again. No respect for that dude after seeing that. He deserves nothing.

The mediocre contracts are part of it, but its also that Dubas has brought in all guys who have no upside. Hayes, Accari, Heinen, Nieto are all what they are... there is no scenario in which these guys take another step forward and become strong top 9 players.

Even Tomasino & Novak, they show flashes, but if either of these guys end up in your top 6, you are going to suck.

My point isnt that all of these guys are bad, but he hasnt made one move where there was a shot a player could be a real contributor. Compare that to Washington, Montreal & Ottawa taking swings on Dubois, Laine & Cozens... Those trades all came with risk, but all helped put their teams over the top.
- MacPatty

Didn’t Hayes have 15 goals playing on the 3rd and 4th line all year, and PP. what did Malkin have?

Oof. Howe had ACL surgery. He'll be out until around January. He's actually able to go to WBS, but that's going to be delayed.

Sidebar: if McGroarty and Koivunen make the team, who is WBS best forward prospect? Howe and Broz I figured would be the popular names. I'd be tempted to consider Avery Hayes, though ultimately I think I'd say Howe.

Didn’t Hayes have 15 goals playing on the 3rd and 4th line all year, and PP. what did Malkin have?
- Grinder47

No, he didnt have 15 goals but even if he did... I think most would say he overachieved this year and he scored at the rate of a 3/4 liner.

Malkin is slowing down, but lets be serious, he playing 2C with guys who really don't belong in the top 6. So he plays tougher competition with lesser players. That is exactly what we need to fix.

Oof. Howe had ACL surgery. He'll be out until around January. He's actually able to go to WBS, but that's going to be delayed.

Sidebar: if McGroarty and Koivunen make the team, who is WBS best forward prospect? Howe and Broz I figured would be the popular names. I'd be tempted to consider Avery Hayes, though ultimately I think I'd say Howe.
- Tojo.

I like Howe, but even before injury, he had a long way to go to be considered a top prospect. He has been a hell of a lot less effective when he hasnt been playing with Bedard. Before injury he was averaging less than a PPG in the WHL... thats not a good sign.

I think as long as Koivunen has a good summer, he will be on the team to start the year. On the basis of merit, McGroaty probably isnt there. But Dubas really tied himself to McG with that trade and is going to do everything possible to make that trade look good. He will 100% get the benefit of the doubt in making the roster.

Jarry isnt the answer for them, but what a disaster. 2 generational players and you cant win because you've refused to address the goalie position for years now.

Sooner or later, McDavid has to stop being a "good soldier" and think about his career.
- SuperHenderson13

McDavid is part of the problem there in Edmonton. Their goalie situation is very similar to the one the Pens went through with Fleury. They just completely sell out for offence... no goalie is going to be successful if the best players on that team don't commit to playing 2 way hockey.

To me, that is the difference between Sid and McDavid. Sid could have just as many 100pt seasons as McDavid if all he focused on was scoring. Sid decided that playing 2 way hockey would help him win more cups, McDavid still hasnt figured that out.

I get a weird vibe from McDavid, just has a bit of an entitled attitude. Its the same thing with the Leafs... when I saw that clip of Reilly and Matthews simultaneously doing the violin after beating the Sens the other night, it just showed that they are immature and focused on things other than winning... can you imagine Sid & Letang ever doing that? Especially after beating a team that barely squeezed into the playoffs...

I like Howe, but even before injury, he had a long way to go to be considered a top prospect. He has been a hell of a lot less effective when he hasnt been playing with Bedard. Before injury he was averaging less than a PPG in the WHL... thats not a good sign.

I think as long as Koivunen has a good summer, he will be on the team to start the year. On the basis of merit, McGroaty probably isnt there. But Dubas really tied himself to McG with that trade and is going to do everything possible to make that trade look good. He will 100% get the benefit of the doubt in making the roster.
- MacPatty

Howe isn't a top prospect. Once you remove Koivunen and McGroarty as prospects they don't have a top forward prospect. The question I asked is essentially is he the best of what's left.

Koivunen was the top prospect from the Guentzel trade, so I'd argue he's just as tied to Dubas as McGroarty.

Exactly, if Sid wanted to go to a contender, they'd probably ask him what team. He's not being held captive. He wants to be a one team guy.
- Tojo.

That's not gonna happen though. Even if they had a clean slate, it's hard to build a contender in 3 or 4 years. There are no gamechanging prospects, relatively few decent ones. And some serious dead weight contracts for a few years, most notably karlsson.

It's a 4 or 5 year road back at minimum.

That's not gonna happen though. Even if they had a clean slate, it's hard to build a contender in 3 or 4 years. There are no gamechanging prospects, relatively few decent ones. And some serious dead weight contracts for a few years, most notably karlsson.

It's a 4 or 5 year road back at minimum.
- prock

Alright call Crosby and tell him that.

Sid can do whatever he wanrs

That's not gonna happen though. Even if they had a clean slate, it's hard to build a contender in 3 or 4 years. There are no gamechanging prospects, relatively few decent ones. And some serious dead weight contracts for a few years, most notably karlsson.

It's a 4 or 5 year road back at minimum.
- prock

He just chose to sign a 3 year extension with the Penguins. He knew the exact state of the team.

He just chose to sign a 3 year extension with the Penguins. He knew the exact state of the team.
- madmike71

He knows the off chance he wins again in Pittsburgh does 100x more for his legacy vs being traded to a contender and putting an already elite team over the top

Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders and took a 300 pound defensive lineman. Perfect night for the Steelers.

Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders and took a 300 pound defensive lineman. Perfect night for the Steelers.
- SuperHenderson13

I was so glad they passed on him. I wanted them to take Egbuka and trade Pickens, but they definitely needed help on the DL. I think I would have preferred Will Johnson from MI to play opposite of Porter Jr. in the future but the Steelers got gashed in the run later in the season so hopefully this kid is the heir apparent to Cam Heyward.

Howe isn't a top prospect. Once you remove Koivunen and McGroarty as prospects they don't have a top forward prospect. The question I asked is essentially is he the best of what's left.

Koivunen was the top prospect from the Guentzel trade, so I'd argue he's just as tied to Dubas as McGroarty.
- Tojo.

Yeah, agreed on Howe. And this injury will really set back his career.

I think 2 things there:

1. McGroaty was a 1 for 1 trade with another top prospect. It is very easy to compare who did better on the trade. Koivunen was one of 5 pieces in that trade with the Canes. If he were to tank, it wouldnt be the whole story of the deal.

2. My previous point was that Koivunen has clearly earned a spot, so he doesnt need any favoritism. He was nearly a PPG in both the AHL and NHL, and he looked the part in the NHL.

McGroaty had some good and bad periods in the AHL, but was far from dominant. He got a sample in the NHL where he got a few points on the board, but he did not look close to ready. He wouldnt even be considered for a roster spot next season if not for Dubas.

No, he didnt have 15 goals but even if he did... I think most would say he overachieved this year and he scored at the rate of a 3/4 liner.

Malkin is slowing down, but lets be serious, he playing 2C with guys who really don't belong in the top 6. So he plays tougher competition with lesser players. That is exactly what we need to fix.
- MacPatty

Yeah. Hayes and Lizotte should have played with Malkin all year. But the coach is a (frank)ing idiot.

That's not gonna happen though. Even if they had a clean slate, it's hard to build a contender in 3 or 4 years. There are no gamechanging prospects, relatively few decent ones. And some serious dead weight contracts for a few years, most notably karlsson.

It's a 4 or 5 year road back at minimum.
- prock

No part of anything I said talked about the Penguins being contenders soon.

I will never understand how another NHL club hired Dubas as their GM. He’s a fraud

lol Steelers don’t have a qb. Shadeur available and they pick a RB.

Dude is a joke

lol Steelers don’t have a qb. Shadeur available and they pick a RB.

Dude is a joke
- sammy87

I don’t really give a poop about either of the Sanders’ but I just don’t think Shedeur has any traits to make him a franchise QB so I care a lot about the Steelers not drafting him. I do think that picking Milroe and Gabriel over him is pretty insane though.

I’ve convinced myself that taking Ewers if available as soon as this next round is a good idea. Kahn has been a good drafter and I think in 2026 this team could maybe be a QB away if health and development permit. Ewers has a cannon and his negatives can be mitigated by a good o line (again this is very much development dependent since our o line sucked this past year but I do think we have the pieces to have a very good line with seasoning). He played almost all of last year hurt which I think is making him very undervalued. I’d rather have Ewers than any QB in this draft not named Cam Ward.

Hopefully Florida puts a hurting on Kooch tonight. Going to be a fun one.

Edit games at 1. That blows.

I don’t really give a poop about either of the Sanders’ but I just don’t think Shedeur has any traits to make him a franchise QB so I care a lot about the Steelers not drafting him. I do think that picking Milroe and Gabriel over him is pretty insane though.

I’ve convinced myself that taking Ewers if available as soon as this next round is a good idea. Kahn has been a good drafter and I think in 2026 this team could maybe be a QB away if health and development permit. Ewers has a cannon and his negatives can be mitigated by a good o line (again this is very much development dependent since our o line sucked this past year but I do think we have the pieces to have a very good line with seasoning). He played almost all of last year hurt which I think is making him very undervalued. I’d rather have Ewers than any QB in this draft not named Cam Ward.
- Victoro311

Cam Ward is a goalie dude.