That’s adequate but doesn’t live up to the talent assembled and rarely puts foes under siege. The power play converts 20% of the time, ranking 20th. Its success percentage of 73.2% ranks 27th in the NHL, and it stinks at every metric adjacent. Smith should be with the Penguins but can’t. Giving Kapanen a two-year deal at that price was a big mistake by general manager Ron Hextall, especially with defenseman Ty Smith stuck with the Penguins’ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton farm team because of cap limitations.
He’s more worried about being a postgame fashion plate than he is what happens during. Kapanen has three goals in his past 51 games and is utterly nonthreatening. So is useless winger Kasperi Kapanen and his $3.2 million cap number. But, given his lackluster play and $4.1 million cap hit, he’s untradeable. At 31, he may be washed up because of injuries and surgeries. Anyway, it’s way too early to consider firing Sullivan.ĭefenseman Brian Dumoulin is having a nightmare start. The Penguins would never eat that contract.
Any other change is minor.Ĭoach Mike Sullivan is signed through 2027. Anyway, no-movement clauses prevent that. They didn’t decide to keep the core three only to deal one. Who the Penguins are and what they do is all but set in stone. Here’s admitting I don’t see another path besides just playing better. Here’s betting the Pittsburgh Penguins navigate a way out of their seven-game losing streak and reach the NHL playoffs for a 17th straight season.
