The Penguins collected their stuff and head into the offseason on Friday. It was locker room clean out day and for the third consecutive season it was in April because they failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It should come as no surprise Sidney Crosby was front and center to answer questions about the team and where they go from here.

Wrapping up the 2024.25 season.

Inside Scoop: Penguins Locker Clean-Out Day https://t.co/mPxjW3ZOV1

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 18, 2025

Sidney Crosby on how he would assess the 2024.25 season, which ended with the Penguins falling short of their goal to make the postseason ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dl9AjMMuyK

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) April 18, 2025

I don’t disagree. They did throw away a lot of games. That’s the hallmark of a team not good enough to make the playoffs. Sid can’t and won’t talk about a lack of talent and the need to collect more necessary players to make a proper push. I do think Sid understood when he signed his extension that this was a likely outcome this year. He’s a tremendous leader and I do think there’s some runway to turn things around if his bosses have a good summer.

Summer might not be beginning for Crosby just yet

Sidney Crosby, on his health and what he told Team Canada GM Kyle Dubas about playing in the World Championship ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7L1lqkbaR5

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) April 18, 2025

If he thinks it will be good for him I say go for it. He knows his body better than anybody else. If he’s looking for that playoff itch this might help scratch it, at least somewhat.

Erik Karlsson had the following to say:

“I think it's been a tough year for everyone. Obviously haven't gone the way that we expected it to or wanted it to. Personally, I think it's been lots of ups and downs, too volatile than you would have liked, would have liked to have kept a little bit more consistency throughout the season. I missed all of our training camp and struggled early on with my body, but it started to feel better as the year went along, and it feels great now. So, it's unfortunate that it didn't go the way that we were all hoping for. I think we have a good team in here. I enjoyed all of the guys in here, on a personal level. It's been a pleasure, and I had a lot of fun, even though it has not been fun.”

Karlsson could potentially be one of the players moved over this offseason. Teams have more cap room and with only two years left on his deal retaining salary isn’t going to be something the team cannot navigate. For me, it all depends on what Dubas’ big plan is. If they are actually looking to compete next year I’m not sure they are in a position to trade Karlsson away. Kris Letang isn’t the same player anymore. He, like Malkin, has shown some of the aging curve that Crosby continues to defy. The team would need a really clear succession plan to move on from their best right side defenseman.

Rickard Rakell had a great bounce back campaign after an injury riddled 2023-24 season. He had this to say about his future

“Yeah, I think already at the trade deadline I said I wanted to stay, I want to be part of this team,” Rakell said. “I want to be part of it, being back in the playoffs and trying to win something here. I love my teammates here and yeah, I really want to stay.”

I think he will be on the opening night roster. The vibe I am getting is Dubas is going to be powering through a retool. I also think depending on where Rakell’s shooting percentage lands this upcoming season it could potentially be a lost opportunity to cash out on a contract many thought would be tough to move before this past season began. I like Rakell as a player. The goals will need to keep pouring in for the decision to keep him be valid.

Tristan Jarry had a crappy season. Here’s what he had to say
 

“Obviously, it was a tough start for me. I never envisioned it to be that way. I thought I came to camp and I was in really good shape and I started really well [in camp]. And then obviously the start of the season didn’t go the way that I wanted. It ended with me going on a conditioning stint. I thought I played well in Wilkes, going down on that conditioning stint. And then coming back, I thought I was able to string a couple games together but it was never anything too concrete. So that’s on me. And I thought I could have been better for that. And just going on waivers, it was something upsetting for me. It wasn’t something that I ever expected when I signed my contract. And it was something that obviously happened and then I had to build from it. I had to grow and I had to be a better goalie. So I think going down to Wilkes, playing those games after being on waivers, I had a couple games where I let them down but coming towards the end I thought I was finding my game. I thought I was starting to play better. I thought I was starting to feel like myself. And then coming back here, I thought the same thing. I thought I played pretty well. The team was playing really well at that point, too. So I think I finished the year a lot better than it started.”

Yeah, that’s all fine and well, but he’s a major reason why the team struggled this year. He’s paid like he is to perform and he hasn’t. He decided to start playing better at the end of the season which flew in the face of what actually needed to happen. He will play bad when you need him to play good and he will play good when you need him to play bad. He is the most frustrating Penguins player of recent memory. I can’t imagine his contract is palatable to other teams. I don’t think they will start him in the minors. Brace yourselves for another year of Jarry being on the team.

Mike Sullivan’s intentions are to continue coaching the Penguins. Until something tangible happens I would be preparing for that to be the case regardless of what your own personal opinions are of that happening

Mike Sullivan: “My intentions are to be the head coach moving forward.”

That was in regards to his plans moving forward

— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) April 18, 2025

Here’s what he said on a rebuild vs a retool

#LetsGoPens Mike Sullivan on his discussions with POHO and GM Kyle Dubas about the Washington Capitals' rebuild on-the-fly effort and whether it's something the Penguins can look to as a model:@TheHockeyNews #NHL #THN pic.twitter.com/Xnlad0aWx1

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) April 16, 2025

I think it is evident that they are trying to copy Washington. Otherwise, both Rakell and Grzcelyk would have been moved at the deadline.

I don’t know the legality of such things, but if another team wanted to offer up a 1st round pick for Mike Sullivan that would be a scenario I would jump on. I don’t know if they still allow such things, though.

One of the bright spots at the end of the year was Ville Koivunen. Here’s what he had to say:

Ville Koivunen had seven points through his first eight career @NHL games, which included a five-game point streak.

Koivunen's seven points are the most by a Penguin in his first eight games since Jake Guentzel's seven in 2016-17. pic.twitter.com/htbBoBgAOy

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 18, 2025

There was enough pointless winning at the end of the Penguins season so drop them away from a better draft pick. One of the few positives in such a situation was finding out Ville Koivunen will be a likely top six player for the Penguins in 2025-26. He was great. He now gets to head into the offseason with clarity and an true understanding of what the NHL is and what he is going to be training for this offseason. I think he is going to have a really good rookie season. If he does it will make the victories at the end of this year more palatable. Tracking Koivunen’s play in the AHL playoffs is one of the more notable Penguins related items this spring.

Evgeni Malkin did not speak to the media and Kris Letang is recovering from his heart surgery. These are two voices we’ve grown accustomed to hearing from over the years who were absent this time around. Evgeni Malkin has one-year left on his deal and it will be spent playing for the Penguins. It very well could be his final year in the NHL. If they are serious about a retool I think finding someone to play center and moving Malkin to the wing would maximize what he will be able to give in his year 39 season.

So that’s clean out day. We’ll have the playoffs both NHL and AHL to provide distractions until we get closer to the draft and the offseason action everybody is waiting for.

Thanks for reading!

Join the Discussion: » 22 Comments » Post New Comment

» Thoughts on Kyle Dubas' thoughts

» Penguins too eager for their own good down the stretch

» Kris Letang has surgery + draft order updates

» One more to go

» Celebrating Ray Shero's contributions to the Pittsburgh Penguins