With one-half of their next front office duo settled, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organizational focus now turns toward hiring a new general manager. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli notes the field of candidates could expand if Dubas is given input into the hiring process, naming current Columbus analytical consultant Cam Lawrence as a possibility.
Lawrence, also the Chief Financial Officer at nutritional retail company GNC, was also previously involved with the Florida Panthers’ analytics and scouting department from 2015 to 2021. In that time, his input helped Florida acquire undervalued players such as Jonathan Marchessault, Carter Verhaeghe, and Reilly Smith. If hired, it would make Pittsburgh one of the most analytically proficient front offices in the league. Seravalli notes Pittsburgh did interview Lawrence earlier in their search process.
- In his introductory press conference today, new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas offered some insight into an updated timeline for their general manager search. Dubas said he plans to handle the beginning of this offseason, including the draft and free agency, as the interim general manager, meaning a new hire for the position is no longer imminent. Any move will likely come later in the offseason after the team’s roster situation for 2023-24 is settled.
- No choice is bigger for Pittsburgh this offseason than what to do in the crease. Capable but injury-prone starter Tristan Jarry is slated for unrestricted free agency on July 1, and Dubas says he plans on meeting with Jarry and Penguins goalie coach Andy Chiodo before making a decision on whether to retain him. It doesn’t seem the team is willing to pay above market value to have him back, with Dubas saying the team “will be doing a very thorough evaluation of Tristan and review where he stands in the marketplace.”
The Jarry situation is the toughest conundrum I might have ever seen for a team.
When healthy he’s good. And unlike toothpick based Matt Murray, Jarry is athletic and seems like he should stay healthy.
BUT…the inconsistency is too consistent now to ignore. The ONLY way to bring Jarry back is if he’s willing to take a 1 or 2 year deal. The ONLY way Jarry would do that is if he gets to market and finds out no other team is willing to make a long term bet on him either and he circles back to the Pens.
BUT, the Pens can’t wait that long and risk their chair being empty when the music stops.
Make a lowball offer now. If he accepts, great. If not, (he won’t) trade his rights for anything and move on.
Make a trade for a Swayman or Vejmelka.
Or sign a couple of Adin Hill types and use a cheap platoon and cross your fingers.
Draft the best goaltender in this year’s draft, if possible.
If nothing else materializes that will upgrade or stabilize the goaltending, there is one last desperate play they could consider. Take a draft pick to eat a bad contract (Matt Murray, for example or Markstrom, if CGY eats half the AAV) and hope they rebound.