Yeah, Sullivan is a much bigger issue than Dubas is.
Nooooo, that cant be. Every time there is a thread on the pens I see so many "LOL Kyle Dumbass" posts that the Penguins problems must've started with him.
Not really sure what people want the Pens to do. They're circling the drain. If they make moves to try and be competitive, people whine about how they're hurting their future, and just need to get on with a rebuild. If they accept the reality, and stand pat, people are mad they're not competing enough. They tried to make moves last year, and a team badly in need of a new outlook failed to get to the playoffs. The best thing they could do is junk their entire coaching staff, but IMO their coach has more power in that organization than their GM, franchise legends, anyone in the org. And ownership wants it that way, and likes it that way.
It's a shame that the twilight years of some excellent, competitive players are going to be thrown away, likely playing with some cap dumps from around the league, like Hayes. It would hurt to see Crosby on a new team, but him and Karlsson demanding out would be a nice reality check to a complacent ownership group
The Pens made a bunch of moves last summer, while the Caps didn't. The Caps then traded a bunch of guys during the season, only to bass-ackwards their way into a playoff spot. The Pens got Bunting at the deadline, and whatever Kevin Hayes is these days.
Wouldn't say the Pens aren't trying, but what was the great move to make now?
As far as the roster moves go, this pretty much nails it.
The Caps this summer are analogous to the Pens last summer. They added a mercurial, boom bust "star" on huge money, a complimentary winger, and a defenseman of questionable quality. But their team is not wasting away under the same coaching staff that's been there for a decade, so I'm sure PLD, Mangiapanne and Chychrun will fare better than Karlsson, Reilly Smith and Graves did. To say nothing of the cap situation that gives the Caps the freedom to make moves after they also added talent last summer.