CRANBERRY TWP (93.7 The Fan) – Brian Burke and Ron Hextall paid for their roles in the Pens not making the playoffs with their jobs, it wasn't lost on the Pens players as they cleaned out their lockers Saturday that they share some responsibility.
"It's not a great feeling because we all feel responsible, it's not just them," said forward Rickard Rakell. "It's a team effort in here and we couldn't get it done."
It was the first losing season and first non-playoff season since 2006 for this franchise. Several of the trades did not produce as hoped. While they were able to keep Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin, other free agent moves didn't work.
"Change is inevitable at times," said forward Jake Guentzel. "It's a tough business we are in and that's part of it. Obviously, they've meant a lot to me in my career."
For a player like Guentzel, he has another year left on his contract to get to know the new general manager and learn the direction the organization is headed. For several others, they enter free agency not knowing the new GM and what that person might think of them.
"It's always uneasy, feel so disappointed," said defenseman Brian Dumoulin, an unrestricted free agent who says he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. "Those are the guys that brought this group together, so they believed in it. At that point, we let them down. It's tough because they can't play the games for us. It's really disappointing, I loved seeing those guys. I would see Burke a lot and he's a guy I will keep in touch with."
There is time before free agency begins in July. Forward Jason Zucker is coming off near career-highs in his first full healthy season with the Pens. He says he also wants to stay, but what are the plans of the next management team?
Head coach Mike Sullivan said Tristan Jarry is a top-tier goalie in this league and will continue to be. The 27-year-old is unsigned for next season.
"It's tough with what happened with Ron, Brian and Chris," Jarry said. "It's tough for the free agents. You don't have really anyone to talk to right now."
Sid for life
The Fenway Sports Group said they want to see Sidney Crosby remain a Penguin for life, never to play in another jersey. The 35-year-old is signed for two more seasons, Letang for five more and Malkin for three more. Does Crosby feel the same way, has anything changed for him?
"I would love to," Crosby said Saturday of finishing his career in Pittsburgh. "That's the case since Day 1. I was drafted here and have great memories and got to play with two teammates specifically for a really long time."
"I'd love that to be the case."
