The Penguins’ slow start has put a few names under the microscope, and three veterans stand out as the easiest answers if Pittsburgh wants to shake things up.
Andrei Kuzmenko, Declan Carlile, and Justin Brazeau all look like players who should not be in the lineup on a regular basis. With the roster crowded and younger players struggling to break through, the Penguins have a clear logjam on their hands.
If Kyle Dubas is aiming to sort out the future by moving pieces before the NHL trade deadline, this start could fit that plan. If not, then the early moves have not worked out the way Pittsburgh hoped.
Kuzmenko was supposed to help fill the role left by Anthony Mantha, but that idea has gone nowhere. After tragedy struck him before the season even began, his production has only slipped further. In 11 games, he has one assist, and his signing in free agency has become a bust.
Carlile has been the most troubling case of the bunch. The Penguins were hoping he could grow into a solid top pairing defensive defenseman, but he has not come close to that.
Recent games have featured too many bad chances against at key moments, and right now he looks unplayable. Pittsburgh would be better off sitting him for a while or moving on entirely.
Brazeau is back from injury, but his place on the roster still does not make much sense. He opened last season well, then fell out of favor, and the situation has only gotten murkier since his return. The veteran winger is eating minutes and blocking a spot that should belong to a younger skater.
At this point, it comes down to what the Penguins are really trying to do. If the goal is to pile up losses, the current setup is working.
If the goal is to win, then Pittsburgh has a serious problem on its hands. The roster congestion is hard to ignore, and without meaningful changes, the Penguins should not expect many wins to follow.
In Other News...
Sidney Crosby Sounds Off As Penguins Problems Keep Getting Worse
The Penguins skid kept rolling in Boston, where a 6-2 loss to the Bruins marked their fourth straight defeat and left Sidney Crosby talking about the kind of details that usually decide games long before the scoreboard gets out of hand. Pittsburgh has been too inconsistent to find any rhythm, and Crosby pointed to the need for better puck control and a stronger effort in the battles that turn possession into chances.
Rich Clune said the Bruins did a good job disrupting Pittsburgh through the neutral zone, which only added to the feeling that the Penguins were chasing the game instead of dictating it. For a team trying to steady itself, the frustration is not just the results but the repeated pattern behind them, and Crosbys comments made clear the margin for error is getting thinner by the night. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Fans Just Got A Telling Hint About Declan Carlile
After Wednesdays practice, Dan Muse made it clear Declan Carlile is not just filling a temporary spot, he has a place in the conversation as the Penguins sort through their blue line. Muses comments came in the middle of a day that also featured a veteran being taken out of the lineup, which only added to the sense that Pittsburghs roster picture is still very much in motion as the team works through early-season decisions.
For a Penguins club trying to balance experience, depth and flexibility, Carliles status is one of the more interesting subplots to watch. The wider league has also been buzzing with roster maneuvering, from trade talks elsewhere that stalled over contract considerations to waiver moves aimed at creating cap room, but Pittsburghs immediate focus is closer to home. Muses stance suggests Carlile has earned more than a passing look, even if the next step for the defense remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Face A Bigger Problem Than Just One More Loss
The Penguins head into a home date with the Bruins carrying more than the usual weight of another loss, because the slide is starting to show up in the places that usually keep a team afloat. Their standing has been slipping along with the results, and the power play has become a growing concern after a recent game in which the advantage never translated into momentum. Before the California road trip begins, this is the kind of stretch that can make a team look up at the standings and realize the problem is bigger than one bad night.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has offered only a mixed backdrop, which does little to ease the pressure on the NHL club as it tries to steady itself. The bigger issue is not just that the Penguins are losing ground, but that the details inside the losses are starting to repeat, from special teams inefficiency to missed chances when the game is there to be grabbed. Against Boston, they will get another chance to reset, though the margin for error is getting thinner by the day. [Read more 🡒]