from Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
One of Kyle Dubas’ first big decisions as Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations is what to do with the franchise’s goaltending situation.
Specifically, with regard to free agent starter Tristan Jarry.
Jarry’s checkered history of ill-timed injuries and postseason slumps have left Penguins fans wanting more from the goalie position. And with career backup Casey DeSmith the organization’s only other option, the fanbase seems eager for Dubas to turn the page on the Jarry era in the crease.
But, for who? What goalie is worth signing at a big-ticket free agent price? Will any of them be worthy of a similar price tag to what Jarry may get?
It’s a strange market for goaltending this season. It’s not a great summer to be a seller or a buyer when it comes to free agent goalies attempting to bait big contracts or prospective teams hoping to spend shrewdly in order to better themselves between the pipes.
from Shelly Anderson of Pittsburgh Hockey Now,
Now is the time to see if Sidney Crosby still has it. That probably doesnt mean what you think it does.
Theres little question that the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, who turns 36 this summer, is still a force in the NHL on the ice. And it was suggested in this space that the team was right in deciding to keep its core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang together.
Rather, the question becomes whether Crosby, the other core players and the Penguins on the whole are still a big draw for players around the NHL who might be targeted by management for now, management essentially means one man named Kyle Dubas.
Dubas, hired last week as the Penguins president of hockey operations, said he will pull double duty as interim general manager at least through the next several weeks that cover the draft and the initial frenzy of free agency.
Theres little question that any player selected by the Penguins in the draft will be thrilled simply because its a ticket to the NHL, but its a long shot that any newly drafted player will have an impact in the next season or two. And with a prospect cupboard that is not very deep, more immediate help will have to mostly come from outside the franchise.
Namely, free agents who might be pursued by the Penguins. Or trade targets, including those who have a clause in their contract that gives them at least some control over what team they can be shipped to.
continued
Lol- Dubas likes forwards not goalies.
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