The Pittsburgh Penguins had a good season, and even though they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2022, they are not serious Cup contenders. President of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas has been vocal on his goal to return his team to the Stanley Cup Final.
On May 26, Pittsburgh re-signed veteran star forward Evgeni Malkin to a one-year contract extension. Can Dubas effectively rebuild with Malkin still a part of the team, or will the Penguins remain in limbo next season?
Did Dubas Make the Right Call?
Malkin was one of the best players on the roster this season. He played in 56 regular-season games and scored 19 goals with 42 assists for 61 points. He also had a good postseason, scoring two goals in six games. He will be 40 years old at the start of next season, so re-signing him doesn’t exactly match with Dubas’s plan to make the team younger.
Dubas has done a good job of catering to his veterans by adding players like Egor Chinakhov and Sam Girard to the roster. Instead of tearing everything down, he has strategically placed young players throughout the lineup to help strengthen the team. That plan took the Penguins back to the playoffs this season, but after their first-round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, it was clear that was not going to be a long-term fix.Â
One take is that Dubas is continuing to delay the inevitable rebuild by keeping his core veterans in place. He could have easily named his price for Malkin, Kris Letang or Erik Karlsson and fast-tracked the rebuild, but he has chosen not to rock the boat in that way.
Another point of view is that Dubas has chosen to keep the veteran core together so that players like Ben Kindel, Rutger McGroarty and Owen Pickering can continue to learn from the veterans. Malkin, Letang and Sidney Crosby have played a combined 61 seasons together in Pittsburgh. All three of them have set the standard of excellence in Pittsburgh, and there is no better group for the younger players to learn from.Â
Penguins Going to Run It Back for One More Season
The Malkin signing makes it clear that the organization is standing behind the core in what will be an improved Metropolitan Division next season. Dubas has plenty of cap space, and he will no doubt be using it this summer to strengthen their lineup.Â
If the Penguins start to tank early next season, it will be interesting to see how Dubas reacts. He has done a good job of threading the needle just right to maintain the delicate balance he has created in Pittsburgh. Moving veterans like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell could be an option if it comes to that.Â
A lot of things have to go right for the Penguins to make the playoffs next season. Now that they have committed to running it back, this may be the most important offseason for Dubas since he has been in Pittsburgh. He needs to add one, if not two, forwards who can make a difference now, and he needs to strengthen the blue line.
Forward Mason Marchment of the Columbus Blue Jackets would be a good player to target. At 6-foot-5, he is good at protecting the puck in the offensive zone and winning puck battles along the boards. He also plays a strong two-way game. Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks would be a good player to target on defense. He is good at blocking shots, and he’s good on the penalty kill.Â
Pittsburgh had its fair share of naysayers this season and will probably have even more next season. Re-signing Malkin does not help the team get younger, but it does provide veteran leadership for another season. Dubas needs to build a strong supporting cast around his core over the offseason.Â
Free Newsletter
Get Pittsburgh Penguins coverage delivered to your inbox
In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes – free.
Subscribe Free →
