The Penguins’ epic fail was so disastrous on so many levels. Listing the problems that need solved is itself a considerable task. Going 32-16 on the regular season doesn’t matter. Beating mediocre teams in the first two rounds of the playoffs means zip. The goals, the highlights: Zilch.
All that counts is four straight losses to Boston in the Eastern Conference finals. The Penguins were designed to win that series and didn’t come close. Zero points by the two best players in the world. Erratic decisions by the player’s coach. Four acquisitions that hurt more than helped. Two goals in four games.
That’s what the Penguins’ season must be judged by. Those happenings alone provide the template for corrections to be made.
Dan Bylsma is a good coach. But not for the Penguins. Not any more.
When Byslma replaced Michel Therrien in 2009, it was the perfect storm. Gandhi instead of Gaddafi. Therrien’s structure remained, but Bylsma let the Penguins exhale.
But you can’t deny four straight playoff flameouts, losing each time to a lower seed. You can’t deny three-games-to-none deficits in the series that ended each of the last two seasons.
Bylsma stubbornly clings to Plan A, even when it’s not working. Using Plan B seems a last resort. Bylsma made brilliant adjustments between Games 2 and 3. He should have made some of them during the second intermission of Game 1.
The Penguins tried to outhit the Bruins. They did, but to what end? Adjusting your fundamental way of playing wasn’t wise. Not in the conference final.
Byslma is a quality coach, but might be better coaching a Nashville- or Phoenix-level team. Bylsma preferred Deryk Engelland and Joe Vitale to Simon Despres and Beau Bennett, marginal NHL players instead of first-round draft picks.
Bylsma says Bennett will be a top-six forward next season, Despres a top-four defenseman. Great. Why didn’t that happen this year?
If Bylsma leaves Pittsburgh and replaces John Tortorella with the Rangers, they might win the Stanley Cup. Same situation as ’09 in Pittsburgh.
Coaches are temporary. Bylsma’s expiration date in Pittsburgh has arrived.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin betrayed their talent vs. Boston. But where does that discussion lead? Neither is going anywhere, nor should they. Their distress was palpable. Do they need a sports psychologist? A hug, maybe.
As for the free agents…
No need to re-sign Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow or Douglas Murray. None worked out. GM Ray Shero is doubtless chagrined. His pro scouts should be mortified. If that’s all that trio had to offer, why did the Penguins get them?
Mark Eaton considered retiring before the Penguins called…and made him a top four defenseman. Inexplicable. Eaton’s time is done. The Penguins are caked with young defenseman. Time for new meat, not old bones. Trust pedigree.
Matt Cooke served the Penguins well. But he wants three years. The Penguins won’t give that. The organization and locker room have wearied of Cooke’s drama.
Tyler Kennedy made more than Pascal Dupuis and did less than most. Out.
Craig Adams is a solid fourth-liner. At a low price, he’s as good as any.
That leaves Dupuis. Dupuis scored 17 even-strength goals, tied for sixth-best in the NHL. Dupuis led the Penguins in even-strength tallies. More than Crosby, Malkin, Chris Kunitz, James Neal, everybody. That’s amazing.
Dupuis, 34, made a paltry $1.5 million this year. This is almost certainly his last chance to cash in. Shero won’t want to give Dupuis three years. He should. Dupuis is a glue player. His versatility would make him, at worst, a solid third-liner in the third year of his deal. Pay Dupuis $10 million over three and slap an “A” on his sweater.
Then trade Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang.
Fleury needs a fresh start. He’s 28. He’s the goalie he’s going to be. Fleury might thrive in a situation with less pressure. Bylsma proclaimed Fleury the No. 1 goalie for next season. That’s just dressing up Fleury for the shop window.
The Penguins will have trouble extending the contracts of both Malkin and Letang without creating salary cap problems. Malkin will likely want Crosby money, give or take: $8.7 million per. Letang probably wants $7 million per.
The Penguins’ system is loaded with puck-moving defensemen. None as good as Letang, but none will make $7 million anytime soon. Letang’s playoff performance was erratic, and he’s not good on the power play. Given that, Letang simply isn’t worth what he’s going to ask. Not to the Penguins, anyway.
Trading Fleury and Letang fetches good return and provides cap relief. You hate to trade a talent like Letang. But your cap structure can’t be too top-heavy
Major change is needed. That much is certain. The Penguins are a good regular-season team. Nothing more. This past week was an abomination.
TV cameras caught Mario Lemieux during Game 4 Friday night. He hasn’t looked that unhappy since the Penguins lost to Florida in the 1996 Eastern Conference finals. Lemieux must act. He must make the biggest decisions. Nobody else.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
Photo: AP
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