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3 Penguin Players who are On The Bubble from Day 1

By Marc Penner

Life is Hard. Life as a Professional Athlete is Hard as well. Yes, they get paid Millions of Dollars to play a kid’s game. However, they live in a “What Have You Done for Me Lately” world. It’s called a dog-eat-dog world. If you show a slight sign of weakness, you can be replaced in a heart beat. Injured, you are replaced before the next game. In a slump, you slide down the Depth Chart. If you have a difference of opinion or a “Run-In” with the coach, you enter the “Dog-House”, or worse, as one of the Black Aces (Players who practice with the team and by themselves, hoping for a chance to play).I don’t have any Ill-Will regarding theses players. In fact, I wish them nothing but success as a Penguin, because then the Penguins will be a better overall team. However, Facts are Facts.Here are 3 Penguin Players on the “Bubble” already from Day 1.Jason Zucker #16 – F (UFA in 2023-2024 $5,500,000./yr)We like Zucker’s overall game. I love his grit and scoring ability. It’s just that he is always injured. Zucker hasn’t played in 81 games since the 2018-19 season with Minny. He has played in 45 games, 15,38,and 41 games respectively, over that last four seasons. I’m not holding out much hope for this year as well. It looks like another 30+ game year from #16. Ouch.Limited ice time equals limited production. And with a $5.5 Million price tag, scoring 12 points 18, and 17 points in his time with the penguins over that last three seasons, is just simply not good enough. Especially with the Penguins already hitting the Cap Ceiling. This money could be used in many other areas.#16 will be under the microscope from Day 1, as he will be a Free Agent after this year. Any sign of weakness and he will be traded “up to” or “at” the NHL Trade Deadline. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Life is Hard. Life as a Professional Athlete is Hard as well. Yes, they get paid Millions of Dollars to play a kid’s game. However, they live in a “What Have You Done for Me Lately” world. It’s called a dog-eat-dog world. If you show a slight sign of weakness, you can be replaced in a heart beat. Injured, you are replaced before the next game. In a slump, you slide down the Depth Chart. If you have a difference of opinion or a “Run-In” with the coach, you enter the “Dog-House”, or worse, as one of the Black Aces (Players who practice with the team and by themselves, hoping for a chance to play).I don’t have any Ill-Will regarding theses players. In fact, I wish them nothing but success as a Penguin, because then the Penguins will be a better overall team. However, Facts are Facts.Here are 3 Penguin Players on the “Bubble” already from Day 1.Jason Zucker #16 – F (UFA in 2023-2024 $5,500,000./yr)We like Zucker’s overall game. I love his grit and scoring ability. It’s just that he is always injured. Zucker hasn’t played in 81 games since the 2018-19 season with Minny. He has played in 45 games, 15,38,and 41 games respectively, over that last four seasons. I’m not holding out much hope for this year as well. It looks like another 30+ game year from #16. Ouch.Limited ice time equals limited production. And with a $5.5 Million price tag, scoring 12 points 18, and 17 points in his time with the penguins over that last three seasons, is just simply not good enough. Especially with the Penguins already hitting the Cap Ceiling. This money could be used in many other areas.#16 will be under the microscope from Day 1, as he will be a Free Agent after this year. Any sign of weakness and he will be traded “up to” or “at” the NHL Trade Deadline. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Life is Hard. Life as a Professional Athlete is Hard as well.  Yes, they get paid Millions of Dollars to play a kid’s game.  However, they live in a “What Have You Done for Me Lately” world.  It’s called a dog-eat-dog world.  If you show a slight sign of weakness, you can be replaced in a heart beat.  Injured, you are replaced before the next game. In a slump, you slide down the Depth Chart.  If you have a difference of opinion or a “Run-In” with the coach, you enter the “Dog-House”, or worse, as one of the Black Aces (Players who practice with the team and by themselves, hoping for a chance to play).

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I don’t have any Ill-Will regarding theses players.  In fact, I wish them nothing but success as a Penguin, because then the Penguins will be a better overall team.  However, Facts are Facts.

Here are 3 Penguin Players on the “Bubble” already from Day 1.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Jason Zucker #16 – F  (UFA in 2023-2024  $5,500,000./yr)

We like Zucker’s overall game.  I love his grit and scoring ability.  It’s just that he is always injured.  Zucker hasn’t played in 81 games since the 2018-19 season with Minny.  He has played in 45 games,15, 38, and 41 games respectively, over that last four seasons.  I’m not holding out much hope for this year as well.  It looks like another 30+ game year from #16.  Ouch.

Limited ice time equals limited production.  And with a $5.5 Million price tag, scoring 12 points 18, and 17 points in his time with the Penguins over that last three seasons, is just simply not good enough.  Especially with the Penguins already hitting the Cap Ceiling.  This money could be used in many other areas.

#16 will be under the microscope from Day 1, as he will be a Free Agent after this year.  Any sign of weakness and he will be traded “up to” or “at” the NHL Trade Deadline.

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Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins /

Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Kasperi Kapanen #42 – F  (UFA in 2024-2025  $3,200,000./yr)

We can see glimpses of brilliance from Kapanen.  There are games in which shows us how he can be an All-World Player.  There are other games when he shows us that the AHL might be his next destination.  Kapanen has played with every player on the Penguins Line-up, however, he just does not seem to fit in.  I haven’t put my finger on it.  I’m not sure if it is his style of play or the coach asking him to play a certain way, which is not in his DNA.  Either way, I think we, even he, must agree, that he’s gotta play much better than he did last year.

That said #42 has scored 44 points, 36, 30, and 32 points over his last four seasons.  Maybe this is what he is.

I cannot believe the Penguins Re-Signed him until 2024-25.  Management must really believe in his skillset.

#42 will be under the microscope from Day 1.  Any sign of weakness and he will be traded “up to” or “at” the NHL Trade Deadline.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Casey DeSmith #1 – G  (UFA in 2024-2025  $1,800,000./yr)

So, Casey DeSmith #1 has been a Good News / Bad News story during his four years with the Penguins.

The Good News, DeSmith was drafted by the Penguins to solve their goalie issues.  The Bad News, DeSmith could not unanimously take over the starting job.

The Bad News, he started off last season real slow, looked bad during some losses and was nearly shipped out of Pittsburgh in October and November 2021.  The Good News, he found his game in 2022.

The Bad News came when Penguins #1 goalie, Jarry #35, was injured, a week before the NHL Playoffs were to begin.  The Good News, DeSmith #1, was asked to take the team deep into their Playoff run.

The Bad News, he got injured in Double Overtime of Game 1, Double Overtime, and was lost for the entire 2022 NHL Playoffs.  The Good News, the Penguins Re-Signed him until 2024-25.

#1 will be under the microscope from Day 1.  He is the back-up to goaltender Jarry #35.  The Good News, We Like DeSmith #1.  The Bad News, he has yet to prove he can lead a team or take a team deep.  Any sign of weakness and he will be traded “up to” or “at” the NHL Trade Deadline.

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The Facts are the Facts, and the reality is, these three players are who they are.  History does state, show, and prove their stats or game play as fact.

I’m not sure what philosophy Penguin Management is working under, but “Rose Colored Glasses” is not the color of the real world.

Again, I wish nothing but success for these 3 Penguin Players.  As mentioned earlier, their success means the Penguins potentially will have more success as well.  I’m all in for that.

Quote of the Day:

Definition:

Rose-colored glasses or rose-tinted glasses may refer to: Optimism, the tendency to see things in a positive light Rosy retrospection, the tendency to view past events in a positive (often unrealistic) light.

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