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Penguins Summer 2024

I freely admit I have no real clue.....mostly because I saw only a handful of games (on non-PPV/streaming) this past season.....if their greater problem was in the basic construction of the PP (his fault) or the players' inability/unwillingness to follow the road map (their fault).

All I know (and I wasn't the only one) is that somebody was going to take the fall for the season-long problems; it clearly wasn't going to be Sully, and we all know it's usually not the talent. Though, it's hard not to figure him as some kind of sacrificial lamb in the Ryan Graves abortion.

As for TR himself, he surely knew he was finished in Pittsburgh with his contract expiring. Happily, with so many new head coaches coming into the League in 2024/25, I'd be shocked if he doesn't get right back on the horse this summer as part of the NHL's never-ending assistant coach's merry-go-round.

Meanwhile, it should be an interesting summer at PPGPA in light of the fact Dubas' own honeymoon got torched so badly this season.
 
Listen, I couldn't care less if Pens fans don't like Dubas; as I've said before, he's making the big money.......plus he's stuck with the League's Toronto-based media focusing on every single move he makes (even if solely to make themselves feel better about their own team's continuing to underachieve).

But it amazes me that almost nobody......either within or outside Pittsburgh.....seems at all willing to accurately analyze the Kevin Hayes deal. At the worst, his contract is a wash for Jeff Carter, and he can probably do as much or more (relatively speaking) for the team as he can play multiple positions (which I think Carter played strictly center). But nobody on this team.....including Dubas.....expects him to be any kind of difference maker.

No, taking-on the Hayes contract was the price to acquire the #2 pick from St Louis, period. Why can't anyone seem to recognize this; well, I think it's simply because the Pittsburgh is so universally despised around the League (by fans and media), and they all like to see the team sinking You add to that the hatred everyone associated with Toronto has with Dubas, and you have a story nobody has the remotest interest in getting right.

Meanwhile, I'm perfectly happy they were able to cut their losses on Riley Smith, no matter what he does/doesn't do for the Rangers next year (on their 3rd or 4th line). I'd have liked that #2 pick to come back before 2027, but the Rangers should be a Top 5 team for the next couple years at least (putting their #2 pick in the high 50's). Hoping they'll begin to regress by 2027 and move this pick up u the list at least a bit in 3 years.

What's also funny is how League media in Canada is now coming down hard on the notion of Sid staying with the team; though there's not a team (or local media group) who wouldn't kill to have their team trade for him. Of course, the cement-heads have hated Sid since he entered the League. You watch; if/when Sid signs a new Pens contract, the CBC/TSN types will roast him; claiming he's just taking the money and playing out the string (and will start calling for him to be left off Canada's next Olympic team).
 
Oh one more thing; did you see/hear that Jersey bailed on John Marino, and the Kraken on Brian Dumoulin ??

I think most Pens' fans knew Dumo was done when they left him unprotected in the expansion draft; but it's interesting to see that.......much like his time in Pittsburgh.....Marino had his one good season in New Jersey before the Devils decided they had enough of him after last year and sent him to Utah (with a #5 pick) in exchange for a #2 this year.

Guess he still owes Rutherford big time for that $26+ million deal he signed back in Pittsburgh. As for Dumo, he was moved to Anaheim for a 4th rounder in 2026.
 
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