The Penguins have had a great season up to this point. They’ve managed scrape together a 10-2 month of December. Even with all the injuries there has always been the promise of a return for those players. Last night may have changed the script. Jake Guentzel underwent successful surgery today on his shoulder and will miss 4-6 months.
.@penguins winger Jake Guentzel is expected to miss four to six months after shoulder surgery following a crash into the boards during the team’s 5-2 win over the @Senators on Monday.https://t.co/PrchH3lIbE
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2019
There is no next man up. He is by far their best winger. He’s their smartest winger, he has the best scoring touch, and whatever line he’s on is the best one. The discussion of playing Guentzel with Crosby or Malkin would have been a nice one to have considering the option now. At least you knew whoever got Guentzel would continue to light it up offensively. Now? Crosby will more than likely get Letang and perhaps Malkin gets to keep Rust, but there is nothing within the organization that will make up for this injury.
Injuries are a part of the game, but sometimes teams are hit so hard it seems ludicrous. Such is the case for the Penguins this year. They don’t have a ton of years left being contenders and this year had the look of them returning to that class of team. Something has to give and for all the criticism I levy towards Rutherford his willingness to make a deal isn’t one of them. He will do something. There is a zero percent chance he sits on his hands with the way the team has played without Crosby.
Off the top of my head somebody like Tyler Toffoli makes sense. Depending how desperate they are Ilya Kovalchuk is still sitting out there. Nikita Gusev has a 2.79 points per 60 and an expected goals for percentage of 48.40, which is drastic improvement from where it was the first few weeks of the season. Trading Taylor Hall away is a good sign the Devils are going to have to revamp things again. Did you know Brandon Saad is from Pittsburgh? Kyle Palmieri and Chris Kreider are pending UFA’s. What is Conor Sheary up to? #JagrWatch2020? There aren’t going to be a ton of options that seem palatable when you combine their on-ice contributions and the cost to acquire. The Penguins are in a really tough spot.
To acquire anything of quality the Penguins are going to have to give up top prospects and first round pick(s). If there is going to be a realistic push to save the season players like Calen Addison, Nathan Legare, and Sam Poulin may never wear a Penguins uniform. That’s OK. A first round pick? Who cares?
In a season full of injuries this one is probably the one the team can’t just play their way through given the player and the timeframe he will be missing.
Trade watch is on and something is definitely going to happen.
Thanks for reading!