Complete Guide to the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2015 Offseason

Jonathan WillisApr 26, 2015

It's a dark time for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 2014-15 season started with hope. A new general manager and head coach were installed. Trades and free-agent signings were made. Change was the order of the day, all of it aimed at improving the team around superstar centres Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

It didn't work. Injuries were undoubtedly a factor—a bigger one than many critics this summer are likely to admit—but the bottom line is that the Penguins entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations but instead were quickly dispatched in the first round of the playoffs.

What happens next? Read on for our offseason guide.

Season Wrap-Up

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Top Performers: Pittsburgh's two main attractions were both excellent as usual, though Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin posted somewhat disappointing numbers relative to their career standards. Patric Hornqvist was excellent in his first season with the team, Kris Letang was a Norris Trophy candidate when healthy and Marc-Andre Fleury was often the team's best player during both the season and playoffs.

Biggest Disappointments: Injuries are the biggest black mark on this list, but they aren't the only one. Chris Kunitz posted just 40 points; 2014-15 was probably his worst season since leaving the Atlanta Thrashers. Malkin was sharply criticized after going pointless in five playoff games. David Perron and Daniel Winnik failed to help as much as hoped after Pittsburgh added them midseason.

Final Assessment: This season isn't going to be remembered fondly. The Pens were supposed to be a Cup contender; instead they limped into the playoffs and were eliminated in just five games. The impact of injuries cannot be understated, but that's cold comfort and for many won't be an acceptable excuse given the team's recent history.

Biggest Storylines to Follow

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Do heads roll? When the Penguins brought in Jim Rutherford as general manager and Mike Johnston as head coach, they weren't doing it in the hopes of a first-round playoff exit. Penguins CEO David Morehouse recently told Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that ownership had "never given any consideration" to replacing either. But speculation will continue about their futures, and changes are also possible at other levels.

Will one of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin be traded? Yes, it's a stupid idea. Yes, Morehouse told Cook in that same piece that the team's owners have "no interest" in trading one of the Penguins' star centres. But the hockey media just can't help itself, and this is a story that's likely to get some play this summer.

Will Pascal Dupuis be able to return next season at 100 percent? The Penguins' last major update on Dupuis' health came at the end of March, when general manager Jim Rutherford told NHL.com that the forward would not play again in 2014-15. Dupuis, who had been missing from the lineup since November after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung, is expected to be cleared for action in June; with any luck he will be able to resume his career right where it left off.

Notable Players Hitting Free Agency

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Paul Martin: Pittsburgh's No. 2 defenceman, Martin can do a little bit of everything. He's versatile enough to play on both special teams and on either the right or left side of a pairing, and he's both a solid puck-mover and a reasonable shutdown option. Even at age 34 he'll be in demand this summer.

Christian Ehrhoff: The Pens' No. 3 defenceman has a similar skill set to Martin in some ways, though he generally isn't quite as highly regarded defensively, and he's had some bigger offensive years. He'd been remarkably durable over much of his NHL career but played just 49 games this past season. He turns 33 early in July.

Others: F Craig Adams, F Blake Comeau, F Steve Downie, F Maxim Lapierre, F Daniel Winnik, D Taylor Chorney, G Thomas Greiss

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Top Free-Agent Targets

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Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Penguins have some cap space, but it could disappear in a hurry. The team has just under $59.0 million committed next season and needs to re-sign some restricted free agents and add forward depth. With the money that's left, the team could use a goal-scoring winger and a veteran defenceman; both additions may not be possible.

1. Christian Ehrhoff/Paul Martin: The Pens have a lot of young defencemen on the way but would be well-advised to hang on to one of their veterans as a safety net/insurance.

2. Jeff Petry: If Pittsburgh wants to go a little younger on the blue line and/or finds that the contract demands of Ehrhoff and Martin are excessive, they might turn to Petry. The 27-year-old is durable and adds a range of skills to the blue line; he'd be a solid mentor to a younger partner or might fit as a puck-mover with a more one-dimensional veteran.

2. Michael Ryder: Assuming the Penguins have to go bargain-shopping for help on the wing, they could do worse than Ryder. The veteran winger saw his goal totals plummet this year but has a long history as a triggerman and might be a cheap addition who fills an important role.

Best Options in the NHL Draft

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The Penguins are going to be desperately short on draft picks this year, which is unfortunate given that the 2015 draft is one of the deepest in recent memory. Of Pittsburgh's picks in the first four rounds, only its second-round selection still belongs to it; the other three were shipped out for immediate help. Which players might be available in the No. 45 range?

Filip Ahl: The 6'3", 211-pound Ahl plays a two-way game and posted reasonable numbers as a rookie forward in Sweden's top league. He doesn't have a massive offensive ceiling, but he'd be a great buy in the second round, offering a little bit of everything. His father, Boo Ahl, is a former player and coach in Sweden.

Ryan Pilon: With a lot of good young defencemen on the way, the Penguins may opt to take a forward with their top pick this year, but if not Pilon would be a solid choice. The 6'2", 205-pound defender has good bloodlines (his uncle is tough-as-nails ex-New York Islander Rich Pilon, who played 600-plus games in the show) and managed 52 points in 68 WHL games this season.

Daniel Vladar: A massive Czech goaltender, Vladar would be a risky selection, particularly given Pittsburgh's lack of picks, but his ceiling is exceptional. The 6'5" goalie posted ridiculous numbers in junior in the Czech Republic and is one of the few players of note at his position in this year's draft.

Players Who Should Be Put on the Trading Block

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Rob Scuderi: The Penguins should never have brought Scuderi back. It's not that the defenceman isn't useful, but these days he's a penalty-killing specialist and a third-pairing option at even strength. At age 36, he isn't going to get any better than he is now, and his $3.375 million cap hit is a luxury that Pittsburgh really can't afford for someone playing the minutes he is.

Nick Spaling: Spaling is a little like Scuderi in that the primary reason he's on this list is his contract. He's a useful jack-of-all-trades forward, but at a $2.2 million cap hit the Pens can probably fill his slot in the lineup more efficiently.

Top Trade Targets

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1. Draft picks: Pittsburgh's "win now" approach both this year and in previous campaigns is understandable, but the system has paid a price for it. The Penguins had no first-round pick in 2013, no second- or third-round pick in 2014 and have traded fully half of their picks in the first four rounds for 2015 and 2016 (they have a second-rounder in 2015 and first-, third- and fourth-rounders in 2016). Dumping a contract or two for picks to restock the system would be wise.

2. Nail Yakupov: Given the Pens' salary-cap constraints they don't seem a team likely to add much in the way of high-priced help, but the 2012 No. 1 pick is a player who might interest them. Yakupov made some major strides in the second half of 2014-15 and had good chemistry with David Perron prior to Perron's trade to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh also has the young defence prospects necessary to make such a play.

3. Phil Kessel: It would be a Hail Mary play, and the Penguins might not have the (disposable) pieces or the cap space to make it work, but the idea of sticking an elite finisher with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin has to be awfully appealing.

Prospects Most Likely to Debut in 2015-16

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1. Brian Dumoulin: A well-rounded defenceman who got into some games this year, Dumoulin seems a likely candidate to make the jump full time in 2015-16, particularly with several potential vacancies opening up on the blue line.

2. Kasperi Kapanen: The Penguins' top prospect now that Derrick Pouliot has made the jump, Kapanen might be ready as early as next season. He had an impressive training camp last fall and has been good early in the AHL playoffs. If he's ready he'd provide the kind of cheap offence the Penguins could use on the wings.

3. Scott Wilson: The 23-year-old Wilson got into some NHL action as a rookie professional this past season and should be able to challenge for a full-time spot on the big club next year, particularly if the Penguins decide to let a bunch of their depth forward free agents walk. He has the kind of two-way abilities that will allow him to compete in any role.

4. Matt Murray: Murray had a brilliant sophomore season in the AHL, posting a ludicrous 0.941 save percentage and winning the No. 1 job away from previous Penguins backup Jeff Zatkoff. Thomas Greiss is bound for free agency, and while Pittsburgh might opt to give Murray more development time in the minors, he just might win the No. 2 job on the big club.

5. Bryan Rust: Fast, smart and versatile, Rust is another forward who could benefit in a big way if the Penguins decide to open up some spots for youth on their NHL roster.