This season, Kyle Dubas had a straightforward plan for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their bottom six forwards would provide defensive solidity, and they would rely on their top six forwards for attack. As part of this plan, the team signed veteran forwards like Lars Eller and Noel Acciari, making them the oldest squad in the NHL with an average age of 30.8 years.
Dubas held a meeting with the local media representing the Penguins on Wednesday to discuss the team’s situation and to provide some insight into his likely plans for the deadline and the upcoming campaign.
We need to get younger, which is one of our problems, according to Dubas. “We have signed a number of guys in their 30s.”
Although Dubas started implementing this strategy a while back, some of his actions this season indicate that the Penguins have evidently needed to move in this new path for some time.
This move toward younger players was originally suggested by Valtteri Puustinen’s rise and the increased opportunities he was given (9 points in 23 games).
Since then, Matthew Phillips (25) was taken off waivers by the Washington Capitals, while winger Jesse Puljujarvi (25) inked a two-year deal in an effort to resume his career after hip surgery in the off-season.
With only a handful of elite talents at their disposal, the transition to a younger club may take some time to materialize. Dubas remained dedicated to helping the Penguins win another title while minimizing the “pain” along the way, but it now seems like younger players will have to carry the team’s future.
