Mark Madden: Penguins are done winning and shouldn't be afraid to rebuild
With Nashville off to a 4-9-1 start and sitting last in the NHL's Central Division, GM Barry Trotz said, "If we don't get it going, then I'm going to start our rebuild plan."
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas needs to say the same, then follow through.
The Penguins are 5-8-2 before Friday's game at Washington and look worse than their record. Their last two losses have been unmitigated disasters: Blowing a 3-1 third-period lead to lose 4-3 at the New York Islanders, then conceding a first-minute goal on the way to a lopsided 5-1 defeat at Carolina.
That record, those losses and having missed the playoffs the previous two seasons would get most coaches fired. But Fenway Sports Group isn't going to terminate Mike Sullivan.
There's no point in propping up a lie any longer. These Penguins are done winning. The longer the inevitable gets put off, the deeper the hole gets dug.
Saying it out loud puts the players on the spot. It splatters them with accountability. Rally, or disintegrate.
But this team won't rally.
Erik Karlsson certainly won't. He is an absolute disgrace. He gave minimal effort at Carolina and was directly responsible for the Hurricanes' first two goals. He may be a three-time Norris Trophy winner, but that was yesterday. He's currently an $11.5 million nothingburger.
After that debacle in Raleigh, Karlsson evaluated his play thusly: "Not bad." He's either clueless, indulging sarcasm or overwhelmed by conceit.
Rebuilding can't start immediately.
It will go slowly because of no-movement clauses, limited-movement clauses and a lot of players nobody wants. It will go slowly because of loyalty and nostalgia, which has been a problem all along.
It starts with trading defensemen Marcus Pettersson. Probably at the March 7 trade deadline but whenever the right deal can be made. Pettersson's contract is up at season's end.
Rickard Rakell hopefully keeps scoring. The winger's contract runs through 2028 at a $5 million cap hit and has an eight-team no-trade list. But if Rakell stays hot, he can be moved.
That's not an indictment of Pettersson and Rakell, or of any players that get traded. Those who can't be moved are likely the ones most easily criticized.
But it's about compiling assets for the future. It's about getting to that future. It's about letting a smart GM execute his complete vision, at long last.
Then, after the season, it's time for a hard conversation with the core three.
Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang would be difficult to move.
Malkin is more likely to play in Russia than for another NHL team.
Letang could help a contender in the immediacy. But his deal runs through 2028 at a $6.1 million cap hit and includes a list of 10 teams Letang can be traded to.
Crosby would be easy to move and would fetch big return. He's still one of the league's top five players. Any contender would see him as the final piece in a championship puzzle.
But Crosby is an iconic Penguin, just about on the level of Mario Lemieux.
It comes down to what Crosby wants and what he's willing to say out loud.
He's often expressed a desire to finish his career in Pittsburgh. But now he's experiencing this. It hasn't been this bad since his rookie year. But that scenario had youth, hope and a conspicuously bright future.
Crosby doesn't make ultimatums. Never has. Not his style.
Crosby didn't demand that the Penguins keep Malkin and Letang. But that was his clear preference. FSG also didn't want to buy the Penguins and be perceived as immediately running old favorites out of town.
The organization is afraid of letting Crosby down. Heck, I feel the same. Crosby is revered. If you're involved with the Penguins, Crosby is a constant presence. "What will Sid think?"
But that has to stop.
There was hockey in Pittsburgh before Crosby. There will be hockey in Pittsburgh after Crosby.
It's time to prioritize the after. Because what's current is obviously going no place. The Penguins shouldn't be afraid of rebuilding. Every team does it.
Dubas should do what Trotz did. Say it out loud. Stop the charade. Make it so there's no going back, barring a winning streak that would be so against the run of play.
