I know Penguins fans under the age of 30 really aren't educated on what a rebuild is. Nor are Steelers fans, who are actively looking up the word "rebuild" in the dictionary as we speak.
And you Pirates fans...uh, yeah, cheers to year six! (I'm dead inside.)
A handful of Penguins fans initially reacting to last night's Michael Bunting trade (which you can read up on HERE) were acting as if the world was ending.
Idont understand this trade at all
— ShawnNPgh (@ShawnN_pgh24) March 6, 2025
Okay, then let me explain it very simply: When you are rebuilding, you try to receive MORE assets in return for LESS assets.
In this case, we traded away Michael Bunting, whom is out indefinitely thanks to getting his appendix removed, had four points in his last 16 games, was a power play merchant who couldn't do anything 5v5, and paid rent to the penalty box daily.
In return, the Penguins received two good things: a placeholder and a flyer. Those are Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak, respectively.
A Placeholder in a Rebuild
Come, little one, let me now explain to you what a placeholder is.
When a team is rebuilding, you still need players to actually play in your games. In a lesser move, the Penguins traded away Vincent Desharnais, meaning they are now left with one less defenseman.
Luke Schenn is a defenseman. Understanding a little more?
Schenn's cheap contract and veteran status are for a two-fold purpose: have an actual player on the ice and allow young defenseman to learn from a longtime NHLer. Additionally, Schenn can be traded again for more assets. This is the way of a rebuild.
Schenn will not be a part of the next Pittsburgh Stanley Cup. Neither was Michael Bunting. If you really thought the Penguins would win a Cup this year or next when they acquired Bunting, I'm sorry. I don't know how to coddle people with unreasonable expectations.
Bunting, like Schenn now, was a placeholder. Now, let's look at the second part of the deal.
The Flyer
No, not the Philadelphia Flyer. Get that Ron Hextall garbage out of here.
Tommy Novak is what you call a potential contributor. Novak has two years left on his deal at a smaller cap hit than Bunting in one year left. He is also younger and more adept at scoring than Michael Bunting.
In fact, Novak was almost point-per-game a few years ago. The only thing Bunting was anything-per-game in is penalties taken.
When you take flyers, the most important thing to do with them is put them in a position to succeed. Above is a video of he and now Penguin, Philip Tomasino combining to win a hockey game.
Am I saying Novak will win a championship with the Penguins? No, but he is the type of player you acquire to get to that end.
You have to give to get. Kyle Dubas didn't even give much to get a good bit in this trade.
Breathe, Pittsburgh
I know you don't like rebuilds, and I know most of you don't know what a rebuild looks like, but you have to understand that's where the Penguins are right now.
Kyle Dubas isn't sabotaging our franchise. Ron Hextall already did that and left Dubas to pick up the trash he left behind.
Quiet your minds. Stop meeting every single minutiae with hostility.
You might not enjoy things now, but these are means to an end. Complain all you want, but do so and forfeit your rights to celebrate when the time comes.