Here's why Penguins can three-peat: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin
The Pittsburgh Penguins have several reasons to believe a three-peat as Stanley Cup champions is possible, but it starts with these two: centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
No other NHL team has foundation blocks to match Malkin's and Crosby's ability and pedigree.
“These guys are special players,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said after the team beat the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on Sunday to capture the franchise's fifth Cup. “They’re both elite in their own way.”
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Crosby turns 30 this summer and Malkin turns 31. Neither player is showing signs of diminishing returns. Crosby averaged 1.19 points per game in the regular season and 1.13 in the postseason, while Malkin was at 1.16 and 1.12.
Key goal scorer Phil Kessel also turns 30 early next season. Cup-clinching goal scorer Patric Hornqvist is 30. But playoff hero Jake Guntzel and Olli Maatta are 22 and goalie Matt Murray is 23. Justin Schultz, Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust are both 25. Brian Dumoulin is 26.
The Penguins do have seven unrestricted free agents, and one of them, critical role player, Matt Cullen is expected to retire. He’s 40.
Nick Bonino, the team’s No. 3 center and a significant contributor, could also get an offer he can’t refuse on the free agent market place. The Penguins may not have the cap space to give Bonino what he could earn on the open market.
One of the hardest decisions will be what to do with Chris Kunitz who is 37. He showed his value in the playoffs, scoring in double overtime to beat the Ottawa Senators in Game 7.
He is a popular heart-and-soul player, but would he be willing to take less than the $4 million he earned last season to stay with the Penguins?
Defensemen Ron Hainsey and Trevor Daley are also unrestricted free agents. Daley finally found a place where he is appreciated and that could weigh in his decision whether to stay.
Hainsey, 36, was the dependable player the Penguins needed him to be. Now the Penguins must decide whether they need his roster spot for younger players.
As a general rule, teams that win a championship don’t necessarily want to bring back exactly the same roster. It is desirable to make a few changes to freshen up the roster with players who still hunger for a championship.
Top prospect Daniel Sprong, a winger, may challenge for a roster spot next season.
Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford is arguably the most aggressive trader in the game today and would likely be able to find a role player to replace Bonino if he moves on. He has proven himself adept at trading for defenseman if he doesn’t re-sign Hainsey or Daley. The Penguins still have former first-round pick Derrick Pouliot in their system waiting to crack the lineup.
Rutherford will trade goalie Marc-Andre Fleury this offseason, freeing up $5.75 million in cap space and giving Fleury a chance to play elsewhere.
According to CapFriendly.com, Rutherford has just under $13 million to sign nine players to complete his roster. There’s still a chance the salary cap will rise slightly.
But with that $13 million, he must re-sign restricted free agents Sheary, Dumoulin and Schultz, and then decide what to do with his unrestricted free agents. Regaining the Fleury money could help significantly, if the Pens want to sign Bonino, Kunitz and Daley.
The biggest reason for optimism about a three-peat may come from the fact that the Penguins were able to repeat without Kris Letang who missing the entire playoffs with an injury and is among the league’s top two-way defenders. He will be back serving as the engine of the Penguins’ offensive attack next season.
Sullivan said the team’s strong bond is one of the team’s competitive advantages. Rutherford will be careful not to disrupt the chemistry.
“You look at our group, and everything we’ve been through,” Crosby said. “We have a lot of guys who care about their own games, but also for the guys around them.”
