There's nothing going on in August for any of the 32 teams whose players are looking to get their last couple of weeks off in before training camp begins. But for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there's rumors about a new potential buyer emerging, plus, as usual, potential trades on the docket.
Why trades? Because the Pens are supposed to be a shell of the team that was in the late 2000s and 2010s. Once one of the most stable organizations in hockey, the Pens are more than a team in transition, even if staples like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are still around.
But if we don't see good results quickly, and I mean quickly, don't expect general manager Kyle Dubas to waste much time reshaping the Penguins and trading away established talent like Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson, and Bryan Rust well before we have a chance to talk about the 2026 Olympics.
Noise is already surrounding the Penguins and the offseason hasn't even ended
The Pens aren't the only team in a flux right now, with organizations like the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks also expected to land themselves in a quagmire with the state they're in. But it's rarely a good sign when we've just entered late August, trying to get in the last few days of the meteorlogical summer, and we're already looking less-than optimistic.
So, what's the game plan here? Take the 2025-26 season off and focus on the Steelers until January, then prime for the Olympics? Nah, I'd rather make the best out of a bad situation if chaos ensues early.
Fire sale? Okay, fine, I get it. Neither Rust, Karlsson, nor Rakell are saving the situation, something they've all spent the last two seasons proving. Why even try this, right? Hey, I wouldn't.
What's the next best thing? Send them off early and add to an already-brewing prospects pool. Preferably with talent that'll be in the NHL before we know it, or will at least get a trial of games.
Penguins are in a bad situation, but chaos isn't universally a bad thing
Ever hear the phrase, "embrace chaos?" That's what I want to see in Pittsburgh this season. Just embrace the chaos if and when it ensues so this team's not looking at a long playoff drought.
Do they need a full-on rebuild? Even with an early fire sale, I'm saying no. If Dubas gets young players ready to make an early leap. Instead, it could be enjoyable, albeit painful, to watch early on, but we should see faster results.
So, if you're reading about potential buyers who could change the landscape in a way or trades, know that it doesn't need to come with doom and gloom. There could be a lot of good coming from this chaos, even if things don't look so sharp now.
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