Are the Penguins Stanley Cup contenders? Mailbag, Part 2
Welcome to Part 2 of the August Pittsburgh Penguins mailbag. And by the way, thanks for all of the questions on Twitter. They were spectacular, as always.
Away we go.
What is the single biggest obstacle standing between this team and a Cup right now? — @drewsamuto
I could make a list if you’d like.
- The Eastern Conference is frighteningly good, maybe like never before.
- Can Crosby and Malkin stay healthy again? And can they avoid fatigue? They both looked exhausted at the end of last season.
- Is Tristan Jarry capable of guiding a team on a deep playoff run?
- Is the bottom six good enough?
- Is there any depth on the blue line after the top four?
I think the Penguins will be better this season. So long as Jarry is healthy and effective, I think they’re a playoff team for sure. They also could have the potential to be something more. But there are plenty of obstacles or questions.
As a non-Penguins fan I’m just confused. Karlsson is 33, has four years left at $11.5 million (the Penguins are paying $10 million), and is unlikely to repeat what happened last year. Is this really the missing piece to get Crosby another championship? — @RumpoPlays
Well, to be sure, it’s something of a gamble when you’re paying someone that much money. And true. Karlsson isn’t a kid.
But he is a Hall of Famer, and those guys aren’t easy to land. What he did last season might not be easily repeated, but then, he’s going to be surrounded by considerably more talent this season. The Penguins needed a jolt, and he’ll give them one. Now they’ll have Karlsson or Kris Letang on the ice almost all of the time. For a team built to win by scoring, that’s no small detail.
They’re more of a threat with Karlsson than without him. Thus, it was a good trade, especially when considering all of the dead weight Kyle Dubas dispatched.
Considering the last 20 years of Penguins hockey, how do you think the next 20 years of Penguins hockey will fare? — @GSnyder5
Well, matching the past 20 years would be quite a feat. So, I wouldn’t bet on it.
That said, I think Dubas is going to do great, great things in Pittsburgh. And Fenway Sports Group is going to spend lots of money. In previous eras of Penguins hockey, when things weren’t so good, money was always an issue. I don’t think it will be now. I foresee this being a good competitive organization for a very long time.
Hearing Letang and Karlson on the PP at same time, but doesn’t it make way more sense to put Geno on the point with Karlson and have Letang sub for Karlson at times and running 2nd unit? Any chance Letang would accept? — @DunnTahnPGH
Karlsson is going to run the power play. Of this, I have no doubt. Given that Jake Guentzel will miss the first few games of the season, I think you’ll see Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell and Letang on the top power play when camp begins. Who plays where? I’m not sure.
Eat’n park grilled stickies vs King’s frownie brownie — @MikeJdiVittorio
I enjoy both very much, but I can’t go against grilled stickies. I have always found Eat ‘n Park vastly superior to King’s in general, though King’s does have good ice cream.
• Where does Jaromir Jagr rank on all-time list of NHL’s greatest players?
• FAV Patrick Swayze movie?
• What’s your FAV ice cream?
• Underrated road team city to visit?
— @JChergi
When the person asking questions grew up in your neighborhood, they get to ask four questions. New rule.
• Jagr is easily in the top 10. I have him behind Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Crosby. After that? It’s him or Alex Ovechkin at No. 5. You could go either way, but prime Jagr was the better player. And remember, prime Jagr — 1997 to 2000 — didn’t have Lemieux and honestly didn’t have much talent to play with.
• I adore “Point Break.” But I’d probably have to go “Road House.” Both are in my personal top 10. “Road House” just hits different. It’s a movie that just gets me.
• Chocolate chip cookie dough.
• Raleigh. Great town. It showcases all of the good things about the south without any of the bad things about the south.
Thanks to five Stanley Cups and a series of generational, Hall of Fame players, a good chunk of Penguins history is widely celebrated. Is there a forgotten or underappreciated era of Penguins hockey? — @achiappazzi_
Not really. The Penguins did have some decent teams in the ’70s and we never really talk about them. Before my time and I don’t think any of them were legitimate Cup contenders, though I know someone who was going to games back then will disagree with me.
I will say, the Jagr generation of the late ’90s was fun. That team had no money and no defensemen. And yet, they won the division in 1998 and won a playoff series in 1999 and 2000. It was peak Jagr, which was enough reason to watch.
If you were NHL commissioner, what would you do to promote the game better in the US? What players would you promote? What changes would you make? — @NikkySyxx
Always a good question, Tiff. Many, myself included, like to ridicule the NHL for not promoting the game and its stars better. And yet, I don’t know how many good ideas we really have in this regard.
Continuing to promote offense is a good thing. I thought Colorado was a godsend for the league when it won the Cup in 2022 because it was such a beautiful team to watch. Speed. Offense. That’s what fans want.
That said, a problem remains. The great game of hockey is truly to be appreciated by watching games in person. And ticket prices are just so outrageous. People don’t fall in love with hockey until they see it in person. It’s a real problem for the league.
Hope a travel question this close to your travel guide is OK. Last year you recommended the amazing La Dolce Vita when going to Ft Lauderdale. This year we are going to Vegas (baby). I know it’s Vegas and everything, but what’s the one place that has the Yohe seal of approval? — @RobRob024
Yes. Hit the Golden Steer Steakhouse. It’s just off the strip. There’s nothing fancy about it, but it’s absolutely sensational. To be clear, Sinatra used to eat there all the time, so that should tell you something. I’ve dined there with Mark Madden. Mr. Friday Afternoon, Glen Gilbernetti. The ol’ 29er. When I’m there with a lady friend, it’s the place to go. Trust me and thank me later.
What’s your favorite movie genre? Have a favorite director? In honor of Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan doesn’t miss!! Cheers, always appreciated your work. — @DonnyD43
This will sound lame, but I’m such a sucker for sports movies. Even bad ones. It doesn’t matter. If they’re on, I’ll watch. I was just watching “For Love of the Game” the other day. There isn’t anything redeeming about one character in that movie, and yet I intently watched every second. Of my top 25 favorite movies, at least 10 are of the sports variety, with “Slap Shot” leading the way.
What’s a hobby you have that no one would guess? 1000 piece puzzle guy? Call of Duty? Mountain biker? Make custom furniture? — @PenguinsJesus
You know, this question is bringing to light the very real reality that I need a hobby something fierce. If anyone has any ideas, please pass them along. I mean, I love to travel, but I do most of that for work. I like video games but I’m too old to actually play them all the time. I like fantasy football and sports gambling, but those are more vices than hobbies. Help wanted, please.
AFC north predictions and Steelers offensive MVP — @FF_PNut
- Bengals: 13-4
- Steelers: 11-6
- Ravens: 11-6
- Browns: 7-10
I have mixed feelings on the Steelers. Honestly, I think they might be really good and they’re very much under the radar. Plus, their schedule is so soft. Other than potentially at CB and ILB, they don’t have many weaknesses, so long as Kenny Pickett doesn’t stink. They have some serious weapons offensively and, if T.J. Watt stays healthy, history says they’ll win more than they lose.
That said, that hot streak they went on late last season was against some seriously bad teams. So, it’s pretty difficult for me to get a feel for them. I’m saying 10 or 11 wins, but we’ll be optimistic and go with 11 and a wild-card spot. Steelers at Jaguars in the wild-card round feels about right.
Hope everyone’s summer is going well. I’m taking a couple of weeks of downtime (unless Dubas trades for another Hall of Famer or something), but you’ll hear from me before Labor Day.
Stay safe out there. And remember, it’s only 36 days until training camp and 55 days until the puck drops between Sid and Connor Bedard.
