Is Pascal Dupuis’ Time With Pittsburgh Over? Potential Impacts Of His Injury And Trade Targets
Pascal Dupuis will be out for at least six months due to a blood clot in his lung. He has been a Pittsburgh Penguins since the 2007-2008 season and is beloved in the city of Pittsburgh.
Through the first sixteen games of the season Dupuis has eleven points (6 G – 5 A) which places him sixth on the team in scoring.
This season Pascal Dupuis had been playing with star center Evgeni Malkin and recently he was reunited with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz.
Dec 19, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Pascal Dupuis (9) and center Sidney Crosby (middle) celebrate a goal by left wing Chris Kunitz (right) against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Before the season started Dupuis had signed a contract extension for four more years in Pittsburgh. Frankly, there were many questions why former GM Ray Shero signed him to such a deal. He was coming off of an ACL tear that force Pascal Dupuis to miss more than half of last season.
At age 34 (at the time) it was unsure that he would fully recover and be the same player he was before the tear. Early indications this season were fantastic and Dupuis looked rejuvenated. Until tragedy struck today, when it was announced that he would be forced to miss at least six months.
After missing six months of play with a team that has many new players on it, it might not be the best idea to have Pascal Dupuis return for the playoffs (if recovers quickly enough).
Potential Solutions
Now the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a tough spot. It had already been reported that they were looking to trade for another top six forward and now they lose one of their own. The obvious solution would be to call up a forward to replace him from Wilkes/Barre, which will most likely happen.
But still the Penguins top six will be short two legitimate scoring forwards. Two interesting options would be to see if Beau Bennett can adapt his game and play with Crosby or Malkin in the top six. In other words Pascal Dupuis’ medical catastrophe might force Bennett to have his long awaited breakout season.
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Another unique option would be to find some way to get Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh. From the start of preseason I thought Kapanen deserved a roster spot and this injury might be enough of a push to get him that spot.
I am positive with Pascal Dupuis’ injury there will be trade rumors flying up everywhere and two interesting targets could be Mason Raymond or Evander Kane. Both are skilled players who would thrive in Pittsburgh’s top six next to Crosby/Malkin.
Pascal Dupuis Finished Playing Hockey?
Pascal Dupuis is still under contract for the foreseeable future and most likely will make a full and speedy recovery, but is that enough? What analysts and fans often forget is that NHL players are people as well. Most have families and care about their future.
If Dupuis decides that he does not want to continue playing hockey, there is nothing the Penguins can do to bring him back. He has made more than enough money in his career and will not struggle finding a job in the industry if he decides to retire.
The point is that Pascal Dupuis is 35 years old and values his family very much.
Pascal Dupuis: “Hockey is definitely second in my life right now. I just have to be healthy for my family."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 19, 2014
At his age it is a very real possibility that after suffering many serious injuries in past seasons and now having to endure treatment to remove a blood clot, he might decide to hang up his skates.
Sep 19, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tomas Vokoun (92) looks for the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
It is very sad for any avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan (or really any fan of hockey) to fathom that we have seen Pascal Dupuis on the ice for the last time.
For example, look at a player like Tomas Vokoun. He also had to deal with the treatment of a blood clot and successfully returned. However, he played in just two games that season for the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins and hung up his skates.
Vokoun had offers over the last offseason to play again but he was mentally done playing hockey at the age of 37.
Pascal Dupuis situation is not the same but very similar and I personally really want him to make a courageous return, I just do not know if we will see one.