Nothing in Ron Heckstall’s profession as a basic supervisor in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh signifies he’d be prepared to do one thing like that, however a person can dream, proper?
It is extremely clear that the Pittsburgh Penguins Want a spark now.
Whereas I nonetheless preserve that lots of their present issues may be fastened just by bringing Kris Letang, Jeff Petry, and Tristan Jarry again into the lineup, they nonetheless want just a little extra assist after that. Particularly with regards to their scoring depth and talent to get one thing out of the underside half of their lineup.
Earlier this week Hawks appeared Its some glorious potential choices to assist approximate this depth.
That is the almost definitely path the Penguins will take for a variety of causes, from the wage cap, to the enterprise property, to the gradual, methodical, and “affected person” method of the final supervisor.
However let’s faux for a second that Ron Hextall ripped a web page out of Jim Rutherford’s e book and mentioned, “Let’s get away!” And you probably did one thing recklessly aggressive.
With that in thoughts, let’s discuss Timo Meier.
On the floor, this does not make sense.
Meyer is a high notch participant and the Penguins are properly set with high stage gamers in the intervening time. He’s additionally a pending restricted free agent who would require a qualifying supply of $10 million for the season (or a major contract extension) whereas additionally carrying a wage cap of $6 million for the season.
It is also actually good and sharks will not need to give it up.
All of those info appear to be potential obstacles.
However the one technique to overcome an impediment is to truly attempt to recover from it.
Here is what stood out to me in regards to the Mayer possibility this week: The quoted buying and selling worth might not be that outrageously excessive.
NHL insider Frank Serravalle I reported this week that sharks might not get it like Chicago Blackhawks They had been capable of get out Ottawa Senators For Alex DeBrincat. And for those who recall, the Blackhawks did not get a ton in alternate for DeBrincat, selecting up simply three draft picks, solely one in every of which was within the first spherical.
Seravalli speculates that Meier might are available in at a less expensive worth given DeBrincat nonetheless has a full 12 months left in his deal earlier than a qualifying supply is required and he is additionally a full three years youthful than Meier.
Assuming that is true, and the argument round it’s definitely true, the place else would you get a chance to accumulate this good participant and this product for such a low worth by way of property and trial capital?
The reply: most likely not.
So why not go for it? You are already on this season and future seasons due to the best way the Penguins have stored their core, so I am not too involved about dropping the draft decide’s origins. I’ve made this argument earlier than, however there is not a participant picked within the 17-32 vary that might so dramatically have an effect on the Penguins’ future and hasten their inevitable rebuilding when Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Chris Letang all stopped taking part in. . If this choice might help you compete now whereas these three are nonetheless taking part in at a excessive stage, then you must.
So how can this assist the penguins within the brief time period when their biggest want is deep help?
Nicely, there’s a couple of approach to enhance that depth.
You will get a deep participant, or you may get a top-tier participant who helps push another person down the lineup.
Would not the Penguins be higher off with somebody like Meyer skating within the high six and relegating somebody like Brian Rust or Jason Zucker to the third row? In fact they are going to be higher. He nonetheless provides one other influential participant to the lineup and helps stability issues out. s
The query then turns into what to do in regards to the wage cap this 12 months and subsequent.
like Tampa Bay LightningAnd Colorado AvalancheAnd even the Penguins themselves have proven us through the years that there are at all times — at all times — methods round that to get the participant you need. Retained wage, different trades to surrender contracts, and contain a 3rd social gathering to take up extra retained wage.
If you happen to actually desire a participant, you may get it.
This requires a stage of creativity and aggressiveness that Hextall by no means reveals, however the choices are all there.
There’s additionally the truth that the Penguins have some huge cash off the books after this season.
Zucker (who would once more create a high six opening) and Brian Dumoulin had been the massive two.
Is it attainable? No. However the penguins want some juice. spark. One thing daring to show issues in a special course now. There is a chance so as to add an amazing star suite at a worth that may be laughably low cost by way of enterprise property and ones that do not come round fairly often. Attempt to reap the benefits of it when the chance arises.