Welcome to the Rebuild: Penguins Fragile and Dejected, Get a Ray of Hope

The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t have it Thursday. They didn’t have it Tuesday and certainly not in the third period on Sunday before, either.

It’s been a brutal week. Reality landed on the Penguins like a ton of bricks, as their small four-game winning streak didn’t get them any closer to the playoffs; the Florida Panthers were able to control them when it mattered Sunday, and it surely seems like their collective heart broke in subsequent blowout losses to Tampa Bay and Buffalo.

To Buffalo?!

Much like Dante Hicks, they’re not even supposed to be here today (if you don’t get the reference, you’ll have to Google).

Of course, the pair of fresh-faced prospects who arrive today can’t wait to be here. It will be an anticipated resumption of Rutger McGroarty’s NHL career and a moment that Ville Koivunen will never forget when he makes his NHL debut, but the boys are stepping into a rough situation.

How much can their energy help? Will the grizzled veterans who have hoisted Stanley Cups change their focus to protect and shepherd those who represent the next chapter? The next eight games represent nothing less than a turning point in the organization’s history.

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The Penguins had higher hopes this season, even as they sputtered and imploded through most of the campaign. In a fitting microcosm of the season, the Penguins’ first few minutes against Tampa Bay were solid, and then a bewildering series of breakdowns wounded their confidence, and lifeless play followed.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Connor Dewar with a head shake Thursday night.

If there was a category for mistakes on NaturalStatTrick called “What the?!,” the Penguins would undoubtedly lead the league. Probably by a wide margin.

The Penguins’ competitive spirit lasted a mere 27 seconds Thursday. Defensive breakdowns yielded a two-on-one, in which Buffalo center Tage Thompson buried the shot behind goalie Tristan Jarry. It was essentially a backbreaker for a team that coach Mike Sullivan candidly called vulnerable

Read More: Penguins Room: Crosby in No Mood to Enjoy Record; Rust Delivers Colorful Takes

The Penguins coach didn’t necessarily refute Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s postgame question about whether the Penguins were struggling to find motivation. Instead, he was more specific and precise.

It’s not a lack of motivation, but it’s entirely a lack of confidence born of a disheartening situation. And it’s all crumbling from there.

“I don’t know if (losing motivation) is the case. I think the guys are going into the game with the right intentions. We understand the circumstance we’re in. It’s not an easy circumstance, and I’m stating the obvious when I say that. None of us wanna be here, in the situation we’re in, but we are,” said coach Mike Sullivan. “And so, it’s our responsibility to one another to bring our best every night. And that’s what we’re trying to do.

“When it doesn’t go the right way, I think we’re a little bit vulnerable from a confidence standpoint. And so when it goes the wrong way, especially early in a game, that’s one of our particular challenges in the circumstances that we’re in–we’ve got to find a way to do a better job with our pushback and just making sure that one goal against doesn’t turn into three.”

The Penguins have now lost two straight games while being outscored 13-4. If not for a couple of garbage-time goals, that figure would be 13-2.

When things have gone wrong, they’ve multiplied to catastrophic collapse.

Not even Sidney Crosby’s record-setting goal could light the wick Thursday. Crosby scored, thus notching his 80th point this season and guaranteeing an unprecedented 20th consecutive point-per-game season. Wayne Gretzky only did it 19 times. Crosby’s goal closed the Penguins deficit to only 2-1 in the first period, but it wasn’t long before they imploded…again.

“As I said to you guys after the last game, this team has competed extremely hard down the stretch. And we’ve won a bunch of games because of it,” said Sullivan. “We’ve hit a little bump in the road here. We’ve got to find a way to pull ourselves together and get ready for the next one. You know, it’s not an easy circumstance.”

When Buffalo’s Jiri Kulich scored early in the second period, the Penguins absolutely fell apart. Buffalo scored five times in the second period as the Penguins’ defensive zone coverage was more befitting a free skate at the local muni.

Thursday night in the locker room, it was bleak. There was no longer anything to play for, and the players dragged their hearts out the door like a full hockey bag in tow, except their hearts were heavier.

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It was the right time for general manager Kyle Dubas to make the call. It was time to officially turn the page on the current team, both for the fans’ sake and the organization’s health.

The team was done. Now, the new beginning is tangible. It’s something to play for.

Will the team rally around the prospects and show them the way? Can the Penguins collectively put forth their best game in order to pass along the pride and culture of being a Penguin, which is the very reason Dubas has maintained a veteran presence?

Things are not well with the Penguins. They’re trying, but they’re also defeated. Defenseman Kris Letang moped off the ice after his first shift, which included allowing a goal. Crosby disgustedly went to the bench after his second shift and slammed the door with a full swing, the metal gate closed with such force it still echoed through a full arena.

The players aren’t showing up to go through the motions, though Sullivan stopped the morning skate on Tuesday in Tampa to accuse his team of doing just that.

They’re trying.

“It shouldn’t be hard. We have guys in here playing for all sorts of reasons. Number one, everyone should be proud. Obviously, we’re proud people, and we’re proud hockey players, and we expect better,” said winger Bryan Rust. “And getting embarrassed in games like this, I mean it makes everyone feel horrible. And I think nobody wants to feel that way. Every one of us plays hard, but obviously, for the last couple of games, it just hasn’t been there.”

And now the Penguins are responsible for showing the way to a pair of early 20-somethings.

The bright side is that the prospects very well could improve the lineup immediately.

Arguably, seven of the Penguins’ 18 skaters on Thursday were borderline NHL players or those fighting to be in the top league. The roster also includes a few “should be” AHL players. Others, such as Kevin Hayes and Danton Heinen, are journeymen.

Too many of the Penguins’ players are probably borderline NHLers and don’t figure to be in the league much longer. Add the lack of talent to the already mistake-prone players, remove a chance at achieving the ultimate goal, and sprinkle in some shattered confidence, and it’s a terrible situation.

That’s probably why Dubas finally made the call and brought up a pair of prospects with just eight games to go. The rebuild is still heavy on draft picks and light on young players, so the situation very well might not improve much next season.

But McGroarty and Koivunen represent a ray of hope in a moment when things are darkest.

There are more on the way, too. Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz, and Harrison Brunicke should be in the NHL soon, too. It would be absolutely foolhardy to expect the young players to turn the team around. Fans should be cautioned that the players aren’t going to magically begin their careers as All-Stars; Disney music will not begin to play behind a montage of growth that takes only days.

The Penguins are taking their lumps, and so will the youngsters. Part of the process will be rewarding the young players with more ice time when they perform well and taking some away when they don’t.

Now, the locker room of players, which was looking at each other in confusion, determined to play well but trying to do so through hopelessness and dejection, has a fresh start, both young and old.

Welcome to the rebuild.