More offseason plans previews as I see how the Penguins and Bruins can rework their rosters to still be playoff contenders if long time cornerstones of each franchise leave this offseason.
Pittsburgh Notable UFA’s: Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell, Evan Rodrigues, Brian Boyle, Kris Letang, Nathan Beaulieu, Casey DeSmith, Louis Domingue
Notable RFA’s: Kasperi Kapanen, Danton Heinen, Alex Nylander, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Pierre-Olivier Joesph, Alex D’Orio
Draft Picks: PIT 1RD, PIT 4RD, PIT 5RD, PIT 6RD, PIT 7RD
Why did they exit the 1RD of the playoffs.
The Penguins had a great regular season and had chances to get out of the first round but ended up falling 1 goal short of the second round and while they have a big offseason ahead of them now, but first here are a couple of reasons why I think they exited so early in the playoffs.
First is the fact that they had so many opportunities to end this series and they chocked big time. The Penguins had a 3-1 series lead after game 4 and were one of only two teams to lead the series after game 4 and then after that is where they chocked as in game 5 they were up 2-0 but gave up 5 of the next 6 goals and lost 5-3, in game 6 they had a replica of game 5 as they went up 2-0 and then gave up 5 of 6 and lost 5-3 and then in game 7 they were up 2-1 and 3-2 before giving up two consecutive goals including the OT winner to lose the series. So not only did they lose three consecutive games after going up 3-1 but in those three games they also gave up leads and their inability to close not only the series but game as well is the biggest reason for me why they went out.
Secondly would be their defending as they had a pretty bad series when it came to defending. I know that Jarry was injured until game 7 and DeSmith was injured in game and they went with Domingue for the middle five games but while they were able to win 3 games they were heavily out scored by NYR. While the Penguins had two blowouts in Pittsburgh and played well I think that defending was definitely a problem because the Rangers scored 4 or more goals in 5 of the seven games and the only times they didn’t was when they lost triple OT and Pittsburgh slammed the door in game 4. I think that when Shesterkin was rattled the Penguins were able to out score the Rangers bit once Shesterkin regained his form it became clear that Pittsburgh couldn’t Defend the Rangers offense and that’s another reason why they are out. And lastly the fact that injuries played a big role because a lot of key players missed time in this series. Forward Rickard Rakell missed games 2 through 6 due to a injury sustained in game 1, Jason Zucker missed the first two games of the series, Sidney Crosby missed game 6 and a majority of game 5 due to injury, defensemen Brian Dumoulin missed games 2-7 because he was injured in game 1, and then with the goalies Jarry missed the first 6 games due to a injury and DeSmith missed games 2-7 after sustains a injury in OT of game 1, and if they were just a tad healthier then I think they might hold on to those leads but with the injured players they definitely had a uphill battle and these three reasons are why I think Pittsburgh never made it to round 2.
How can they improve in the offseason.
The Penguins had a okay season finishing with over 100 points but when it came playoff time they chocked, coughing up a 3-1 series lead and falling to the Rangers in 7 games and after the series loss I think big changes are in store as here is how I see the Penguins offseason going.
First is the goaltending as I do see a bit of changes there. So Jarry had maybe his best NHL season this year and was a solid piece on the backend for Pittsburgh and even though he is entering the final year of his deal he is better then anyone they can sign or trade for and I would see the Penguins discuss a extension with Jarry then trade him so I see no scenario where Jarry isn’t with Penguins next year but the backup position is bound to have changes. Now DeSmith and Domingue who were the 2nd and 3rd string goalies this year are both pending UFA’s and with the way they played I don’t see either of them back next year so the question is who is the backup next year and I think the answer will be in free agency. I think that the best opportunity for them to improve is to sign a goalie who can be either a 1B or can play in a solid backup role and while I would say many UFA’s would work in that position I think that the one that makes the most sense and has been mentioned a lot is Marc Andre Fleury reuniting with Pittsburgh. I think that if Fleury hit free agency he would go back to Pittsburgh and make the perfect tandem for Pittsburgh but if not him then another veteran would probably sign with Pittsburgh and give them better backup goaltending then last year. So to recap they should keep Jarry as starter, move on from DeSmith and Domingue and get a veteran backup either a reunion with Fleury or another veteran to play in the backup position.
Next up their defence as the Penguins biggest question on the backend has to be what will Letang do when it comes to either signing with Pittsburgh or leaving via free agency. Now on the Letang front it sounds like he wants 5 years on his next contract at his current cap hit of $7.25 Million or more and for a team who may need to get younger over the next few years I don’t think having Letang until he is 40 at that kind of cap hit would be the smartest move for Pittsburgh so while they really want to keep Letang I don’t see a way they do unless Letang lowers his price or years he wants. Now I feel beyond Letang that one of their left shot defensemen have to go as they have not had the best defence and that was showed to me especially in the playoffs. So I think that Pittsburgh would agree that moving Matheson would be the best one to go as he is best suited for a 3rd pair role and playing him higher hasn’t worked out for Pittsburgh but with 4 years left on his contract at $4.9 Million per year, unless Pittsburgh retains salary I don’t think any team would look to acquire Matheson so then they may have to look to move one of their other two defensemen in either Pettersson or Dumoulin. Pettersson has not played up to his contract and a change of scenery might be good for him but Dumoulin is entering the final year of his contract and if he isn’t back next year I think considering moving him would be okay. Pettersson is 4 years younger then Dumoulin and is signed for 3 years instead of 1 and both players make just over $4 Million per year so in my eyes I think that Pettersson offers more upside but Dumoulin is on a short term deal with experience and if it was up to me I think that Pettersson would be the one to go. Now with one of those left side defensemen moved they can bring up Pierre Olivier Joseph who i think is finally going to get a full time role at the NHL level whether it be on pair 2 or 3 although I think he is ready to be a top 4 defensemen, and on top of having Ruhwedel and Friedman both starting two year extension and both fighting for a spot on the 3rd pair which I think one will get, I think with the departure of Letang that either via free agency or via trade the Penguins will get a cheaper and/or younger defensemen who can play in their top 4 on the right side with Marino and maybe be as best of a Letang replacement as that guy can be. So to recap sign a new right side top 4 D-Men to replaced Letang who I think will go, move one of Matheson, Pettersson or Dumoulin to free up a roster spot to have Pierre Olivier Joseph play in and then also have Friedman and Ruhwedel fight for a spot on the third pair and I think they would do just fine next year.
And finally their offense as they have to see if it is worth it to sign Malkin or not this year. I thought that of the 3 big pending UFA’s Pittsburgh had in Malkin, Rust and Letang that Malkin was the one that was most likely to take a discount and return but after Rust signed his long term extension and with reports coming out that Malkin doesn’t want to take a discount to remain in Pittsburgh I think that now I don’t believe he will remain with Pittsburgh and will leave as a free agent. Now after the Rust signing I feel that the top line of Guentzel, Crosby and Rust will remain the top line as that line can do tons of damage to other teams but I strongly believe that their middle six will have to be shuffled in the offseason. Now if Malkin ain’t back next year then I would suspect Jeff Carter who will enter the first year of his 2 year extension would be the 2nd line Center with Kapanen on a Wing after the Penguins get him locked up long term as he is a pending RFA and I think he will be and important top 6 forward, then I Think that Blueger and McGinn will be Center and a wing position on the third line but the rest will have to be figured out. I think that Jason Zucker could be a bottom 6 forward but with him entering the final year of his deal at $5.5 Million then I could see him being a trade candidate as well, I think that Heinen will resign as he is a pending RFA and be a bottom 6 forward as well. Then with all of these player I think signing someone who can play wing and maybe a little Center in free agency to play on the 2nd line with Carter and Kapanen would be a smart move and maybe also signing some depth forwards who can play on the fourth line and I think it is time for young players like Drew O’Connor and Samuel Poulin to finally get a full time role with the team given all of their likely free agent departures. So to recap have the top line of Guentzel, Crosby and Rust remain after Rust’s extension, let Malkin go and replace him with a top 6 Center winger in free agency who can play second line minutes with Carter and Kapanen, then have McGinn and Blueger on the third line with Zucker, Heinen, O’Connor, Poulin, and some free agent signings fight for the remaining bottom 6 spots and if the Pens do all of these moves I have no doubt they will be in contention for the playoffs next year.
BostonNotable UFA’s: Patrice Bergeron, Curtis Lazar, Anton Blidh, Jesper Froden, Joshua Brown
Notable RFA’s: Jack Studnicka, Jack Ahcan
Draft Picks: BOS 2RD, CAL 3RD, BOS 4RD, BOS 6RD, BOS 7RD, OTT 7RD
Why did they exit the 1RD of the playoffs.
The Bruins has a great regular season this year but when it came to the playoffs they barely missed out on the second round losing by one goal in game seven and here are my three reasons why I think that the Bruins bowed out in the first round this year.
The first reason was the inability to win on the road as they lost all four games that were in Carolina. Now I know that they did win all three games on their home ice but I think that had they been a bit better on the road then maybe they could have won the series and I know that games 1 and 2 Carolina had all the momentum and Ullmark didn’t play particularly well, but I think in games 5 and 7 they had the momentum following a win and the goaltending was decent but they just couldn’t keep momentum on the road and that was the biggest for me as to why they exited in the first round.
Secondly I think that their depth scoring that was so prominent in the regular season just vanished in the playoffs. Only Coyle, all the perfection lines members and McAvoy had more then four points and really besides Marchand and Bergeron there was almost no scoring for the Bruins and given that fact that they couldn’t get the depth scoring to keep up with Carolina’s scorers was another factor to them losing the series. And Lastly was the pure inexperience in the playoffs got the Bruins goalie duo. Boston went into the series with no playoff experience for either Ullmark or Swayman and after two bad games at the start of the series Ullmark was replaced by Swayman who actually played quite well in his starts but when it mattered most he couldn’t make the saves is while this was a good learning experience for the two goalies I think that the inexperience for those players in net also contributed to the series loss and I feel that due to all of these reasons the Bruins did not make it to round two.
How can they improve in the offseason
The Bruins has a pretty good regular season and followed it up with a decent playoff performance losing in 7 to the Hurricanes so while they had a good year it wasn’t good enough to even make it to the 2nd round but here is how I think the Bruins can improve their team in the offseason to keep their team as playoff contenders for next year.
First with the goaltending and I think that they will be one of the few teams to do absolutely nothing to their tandem in net. The Bruins have a tandem of Ullmark and Swayman and quite frankly I don’t think that they are in any need of changing anything’s the position. Both goalies had decent regular season and helped carry the Bruins to a playoff spot and I feel that the inexperience in the playoffs was a factor to why Boston left so early but both guys were able to get a very good learning experience in those playoffs and it will do wonders for future playoff runs. Now Ullmark is signed for 3 more years and $5 Million dollars and not only had he played great but I don’t think anyone else would trade for him and Swayman is entering the final year of his contract before becoming a RFA so signing him will be a big priority but that is next year and I think keeping both is the best and only way for Boston to go. So to recap at the goalie position all I expect the Bruins to do with their goalies is keep the tandem of Swayman and Ullmark and run it back with them next year.
On the defensive side I do foresee a bit of change but actually non to significant for this team. The top half of their defence is not going anywhere as McAvoy and Lindholm’s long term 8 year extensions are going to kick in next year and the defence gets a lot more costly with those two who I believe will make up their top pairing and you also have Carlo who played his first year of his 6 year extension this past season and still had 5 years left on his deal so with these three signed long term I don’t suspect any to move. Now I would suspect that Matt Grzelyck will remain on the 2nd pairing with Carlo and that would be the most likely scenario but if the Bruins feel that they might be better off without the injury prone Grzelyck who has 2 years left at $3.7 million per year is a possibility I think but if I where them I would keep the top 4 together. Now they have Connor Clifton and Jakub Zboril are both signed for next year and even though Clifton is entering the final year of his deal I think that with both players on the younger side and signed cheaply that they will fight to play on the right side of the third pair and being the seventh defensemen but I feel that the left side of the third pair will have to be determined. Now they have Forbort and Reilly who are both signed for the next two years and both are signed at $3 Million dollars and Forbort is the older one and has a 8 team no trade list and I feel that both of the players can play on the 3rd pair quite well and given their cap hits I think moving one of them would be the smartest move as they both are similar in playing style and getting rid of $3 Million dollars in cap space would be smart so one I believe will be on the move this year. So to recap they keep their top four of Lindholm, McAvoy, Grzelyck and Carlo, then have Clifton and Zboril fight for a third pair role and keep only one of Forbort or Reilly and trade the other and they will be still really good at the defensive position next year.
Now for the Offense as the biggest question for the Bruins is what will happen with Bergeron. Now it sounds like if Bergeron wants to keep playing hockey then he will sign a 1-2 year extension with the Bruins but there is talk that maybe he retires and I think at this point that is probably the greater possibility and that would leave the Bruins without a top line Center for next year. Now more on the top line in a minute because I think that the entire 2nd line will return as it was in the regular season. Now I know Haula is entering the final year of hit deal but it isn’t quite expensive and I think for how he produced this year it is a really good contract and he should Center the 2nd line with Hall who has 3 years left on his contract at $6 Million and even though Pastrnak is also entering the final year of his contract, he is the Bruins and they should be talking extension instead of Trade so he will also be on that 2nd line as well. Now Coyle who is signed with the Bruins longest isn’t going anywhere and I think he will remain on 3rd line with Trent Frederic who played well with Coyle on the 3rd line last year but is a Pending RFA, however I feel that the Bruins should be able to get a extension done for him to keep him on the third line and I think Nosek and Steen who was recently extended would be very good 4th line players and they are on cheap deals so it wouldn’t hurt their cap space to much and the will play with one of Foligno and Smith. Now Foligno and Smith are both entering the final year of their deals and didn’t have particularly good seasons last year and I think at least one if not both are moved before next year as they are players Boston can do without and are signed to $3.8 Million and $3.1 Million cap hits respectively so I would say that Smith is gone for sure and if they can’t find a place for Foligno to be moved to then he would play on the fourth line with Nosek and Steen. Now as much as the Bruins like Jake DeBrusk and would love to keep him I think that DeBrusk still wants a trade and moving him for maybe a cheaper forward would be the best scenario because they could get even more cap space. Now I think they sign a forward who can play in their middle 6 in free agency who isn’t very expensive and even if Bergeron wanted to remain a Bruin, the Bruins don’t have enough cap space to sign him so I think that they will look internally to find top 6 players and give at least one of Beecher, Studnicka or Lysell a shot at being a NHL forward next year given that they don’t have any cap space and could use players on ELC’s to round out their roster and maybe even play top line Center position. So to recap I think that Bergeron retires, leaving the Bruins to either work around their cap space problems and sign or trade for a 1st line Center to play with Marchand or let Beecher or Studnicka get a shot to be the 1C in Boston. Have Hall, Haula and Pastrnak play on the 2nd line again with Frederic and Coyle playing with a newly signed middle 6 winger that I think will sign in free agency and then whoever doesn’t get moved who I think will be Foligno will play on the fourth line with Nosek and Steen and then sign some depth players to challenge for fourth line roles and after moving DeBrusk either have a middle six forward play on the top line or let Lysell or Studnicka play on the top line and if they do all of this I think they will be well suited to contend for a playoff spot next year even though they subtracted a lot.
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