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The definitive NHL podcast network with expert analysis and insider perspectives.
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Spring Cleaning – Seattle Kraken The Seattle Kraken entered the 2025-26 season with modest expectations and once again fell short of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite an encouraging start and stretches of strong play, extended losing streaks, inconsistent offense, and limited development from several young forwards kept Seattle stuck in the middle of the Western Conference. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the front-office transition from Ron Francis to Jason Botterill, the organization’s revolving door behind the bench, and why the Kraken may still be several years away from becoming a true contender. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Kraken are eliminated from playoff contention on April 11 after missing the postseason for the fourth time in their first five NHL seasons. Seattle’s only playoff appearance remains its surprising second-year run to Game 7 of the second round. [00:00:25] Lane Lambert completes his first season behind the Seattle bench after replacing Dan Bylsma. The Kraken entered the year hoping offseason additions could provide more stability and help the club move closer to a Wild Card position. [00:00:45] Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren, and Frederik Gaudreau were among the veterans added to strengthen the roster, although Marchment was later traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. [00:01:00] Seattle begins the season with an encouraging 11-5-5 record. The goaltending tandem of Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord also performs better than expected and gives the team a chance to compete early. [00:01:20] The positive start quickly disappears during a damaging 1-9-1 stretch between mid-November and mid-December. Although Seattle responds with an 8-0-2 run, the club never finds lasting consistency. [00:01:40] The Kraken suffer at least three consecutive regulation losses on six separate occasions. Those repeated slides prevent the team from building momentum or remaining firmly involved in the playoff race. [00:02:00] Scoring remains one of Seattle’s biggest weaknesses. The Kraken finish among the NHL’s lowest-scoring teams and fail to receive the expected growth from several important forwards. [00:02:20] Jared McCann has not replicated the 40-goal season he produced in 2022-23. Matty Beniers appears to have settled into the range of a 50-point player rather than developing into a dominant first-line center. [00:02:40] Shane Wright also continues to fall short of expectations attached to his high draft position. His limited progress becomes another major concern for an organization that needs its young players to drive the next stage of growth. [00:03:00] The conversation turns to Seattle’s leadership transition. Ron Francis, the franchise’s original general manager, is departing after previously moving into the role of team president. [00:03:20] Jason Botterill now assumes complete control of hockey operations. Neil questions the organization’s direction and notes that Botterill’s previous tenure as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres produced mixed results. [00:03:45] Seattle’s constant coaching changes also come under scrutiny. The franchise has moved from Dave Hakstol to Dan Bylsma and now Lane Lambert, yet no coach has been able to create sustained success. [00:04:10] The Kraken’s lone breakthrough came during their second season, when they defeated the defending champion Colorado Avalanche before pushing the Dallas Stars to seven games in the second round. [00:04:30] Botterill enters the 2026 NHL Draft with eight selections, including two first-round picks. Seattle owns its original selection and the pick acquired from Tampa Bay in the Oliver Bjorkstrand trade. [00:04:50] The Kraken also hold multiple selections in the fourth and seventh rounds, giving the organization additional opportunities to strengthen a prospect system that must produce more impact players. [00:05:10] Seattle projects to have approximately $4.3 million in cap space. That provides some flexibility, but likely not enough to completely reshape the roster through free agency. [00:05:30] Unrestricted free agents include Jaden Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen, trade-deadline acquisition Bobby McMann, and original Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. [00:05:55] Vic does not expect Seattle to be significantly better next season. The Kraken may not be a bottom-tier team, but the roster currently appears trapped between rebuilding and legitimate playoff contention. [00:06:20] Neil believes Seattle will remain around the Wild Card conversation, but major offseason work is required to move the organization higher in the standings. [00:06:40] The episode concludes with uncertainty surrounding the Kraken’s immediate future. With a new decision-maker, another head coach, limited scoring, and several unresolved roster questions, Seattle must establish a clear organizational direction before it can become a consistent playoff team.
Spring Cleaning – Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning remain one of the NHL’s model organizations, but another first-round playoff exit raises serious questions about whether their championship window is beginning to close. After finishing second in the Atlantic Division, Tampa Bay lost a tightly contested seven-game series to the Montreal Canadiens, marking a fourth consecutive opening-round elimination. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the Lightning’s regular-season excellence, postseason scoring problems, major injury challenges, and the difficult decisions awaiting General Manager Julien BriseBois. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Lightning finish second in the Atlantic Division before losing to Montreal in seven games during the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It becomes Tampa Bay’s fourth straight first-round defeat since reaching the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. [00:00:30] Despite the playoff disappointment, Neil emphasizes the extraordinary consistency of the organization. Since winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup in 2021, the Lightning have averaged more than 102 standings points per season. [00:01:00] Jon Cooper continues to get strong results regardless of injuries or roster limitations. Even when key players are unavailable, Cooper consistently finds combinations that allow Tampa Bay to remain competitive. [00:01:30] Nikita Kucherov delivers another elite regular season, recording his fourth consecutive 100-point campaign and the sixth of his career. His production keeps Tampa Bay among the NHL’s most dangerous offensive teams. [00:01:50] Jake Guentzel reaches the 30-goal mark for the sixth time in his career while setting a personal best with 88 points. Brandon Hagel also produces a career season with 36 goals and a plus-34 rating. [00:02:10] Defenseman Darren Raddysh provides one of the season’s biggest surprises, finishing with 22 goals, 48 assists, and 70 points while posting a plus-21 rating. His breakout season positions him for a significant contract as an unrestricted free agent. [00:02:30] Brayden Point experiences a major decline in goal production. After previously scoring 51, 46, and 42 goals, he finishes with only 18 while missing 19 games due to injury. [00:02:50] Injuries become a defining part of Tampa Bay’s season, with the club losing 339 man-games. Victor Hedman appears in only 33 games because of injuries and a leave of absence to focus on his mental health. [00:03:10] Ryan McDonagh, Emil Lilleberg, and Erik Cernak also miss significant time, often leaving the Lightning without multiple regular defensemen simultaneously. [00:03:30] Neil believes Cooper deserves serious consideration for his first Jack Adams Award. He compares Cooper’s candidacy with Dan Muse in Pittsburgh and Lindy Ruff in Buffalo. [00:04:00] While the regular-season product remains excellent, the Lightning’s postseason results reveal a troubling trend. Tampa Bay has now failed to advance beyond the first round in four consecutive seasons. [00:04:25] Tampa Bay scores only 15 goals during its seven-game series against Montreal. Because nearly every game remains within one goal, a single additional offensive play could have changed the outcome. [00:04:45] Brandon Hagel leads the Lightning with six playoff goals, but the rest of the offense struggles. Jake Guentzel and Dominic James finish with two goals each, while Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov score only once apiece. [00:05:05] Kucherov’s postseason production becomes a major concern. Despite his regular-season brilliance, he has scored only two goals across his last 22 playoff games over four seasons. [00:05:30] Corey Perry and Nick Paul also fail to provide the secondary scoring Tampa Bay needs. Neil believes the Lightning occasionally become too focused on making the perfect play instead of creating simpler scoring opportunities. [00:05:50] Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš delivers an outstanding performance in Game 7, helping the Canadiens survive despite Tampa Bay controlling much of the play. [00:06:15] Andrei Vasilevskiy forces the deciding game with a 1-0 shutout in Game 6, although he faces only nine shots. In Game 7, Alex Newhook scores the series-winning goal on a puck that caroms off Vasilevskiy after being played from behind the net. [00:06:45] Attention shifts to Julien BriseBois and the offseason ahead. Tampa Bay owns six selections in the 2026 NHL Draft but does not have a first-round pick after trading it to Seattle in the Oliver Bjorkstrand deal. [00:07:10] The Lightning also lack a fourth-round selection and enter the offseason slightly above the projected salary cap before the July 1 reset. [00:07:30] Unrestricted free agents include Oliver Bjorkstrand, Corey Perry, Mitchell Chaffee, Scott Sabourin, Darren Raddysh, and Declan Carlile. The Lightning have no restricted free agents requiring new contracts. [00:07:50] Several members of the core remain signed through the 2029-30 season, including Guentzel, Point, Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, Cernak, and J.J. Moser. [00:08:10] Nikita Kucherov becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency after the following season. With Kucherov, Point, and Vasilevskiy currently carrying team-high salaries of $9.5 million, BriseBois may soon need to open the vault to retain his superstar. [00:08:35] The Lightning are also becoming one of the NHL’s older teams. Neil believes their win-now window remains open, but the organization must acknowledge that its championship core cannot remain at the top forever. [00:09:00] Tampa Bay’s limited draft capital and consistently low draft position have weakened the prospect pipeline. That makes it difficult to replace aging veterans with inexpensive young players. [00:09:30] Neil concludes that free agency may be Tampa Bay’s most realistic path for supplementing the roster in the immediate future. Until the Lightning rebuild their collection of draft picks and prospects, BriseBois must continue using creative trades and veteran signings to keep the team among the NHL’s contenders.
Spring Cleaning – St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues entered the 2025-26 season expecting to build on their surprising late-season surge under Jim Montgomery, but instead fell well short of a playoff berth. Offensive regression, inconsistent goaltending, and prolonged losing streaks prevented the Blues from challenging for a Wild Card position. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine what went wrong, the transition from Doug Armstrong to Alex Steen in the front office, and how St. Louis can use an impressive collection of draft picks to begin its next chapter. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Blues are eliminated from playoff contention on April 11 after entering the season with realistic hopes of earning a Wild Card berth. Following their strong finish in 2024-25 under Jim Montgomery, expectations were considerably higher than the previous year. [00:00:30] St. Louis never finds sustained consistency. Losing streaks of 1-6-2 and 1-8-1 derail the season, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the schedule and making it difficult to recover in a competitive Western Conference. [00:00:50] Offensive production falls well below expectations. The Blues fail to produce a single 25-goal scorer, while injuries contribute to declines from Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, leaving the offense without a consistent finishing touch. [00:01:10] Goaltending also becomes a concern. Jordan Binnington struggles throughout much of the season, forcing Jim Montgomery to rely more heavily on Joel Hofer down the stretch as St. Louis searches for answers in net. [00:01:30] Neil explains that the Blues never truly challenged the Utah Mammoth for the final playoff position despite preseason expectations that the two clubs would battle throughout the year. Instead, Utah clearly separated itself while St. Louis remained near the bottom of the standings. [00:01:45] Attention turns to the future as Alex Steen prepares to officially replace longtime General Manager Doug Armstrong on July 1. After spending two years preparing for the role, Steen now inherits responsibility for reshaping the franchise. [00:02:00] The Blues possess one of the strongest collections of draft assets in the league, entering the 2026 NHL Draft with 12 selections, including three first-round picks and three third-round picks acquired through previous trades. [00:02:30] Although St. Louis lacks a second-round selection, the organization also owns multiple fourth- and fifth-round picks, giving Alex Steen significant flexibility to either build through the draft or pursue trades. [00:02:45] Salary-cap flexibility remains limited, with the Blues projected to have only about $1.84 million in available space before the July 1 reset. That leaves little room for major free-agent additions. [00:03:00] Oscar Sundqvist headlines the unrestricted free agent class, while restricted free agents Jonathan Berggren, Matt Kessel, and Dylan Holloway become much higher priorities for the organization. [00:03:20] Neil points to Holloway as one of the club's most important offseason decisions after arriving via offer sheet. While another offer sheet remains possible in theory, Neil believes St. Louis will make retaining the young forward a top priority. [00:03:40] Looking at the roster from a broader perspective, Neil questions whether the Blues are close enough to contend or whether a more significant rebuild is necessary. He believes simply making minor adjustments may not be enough to return to the playoffs. [00:04:00] Jordan Binnington becomes one potential trade candidate. Neil wonders whether another organization would be interested in acquiring the Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, whose international success may still make him attractive despite an inconsistent NHL season. [00:04:30] Alex Steen now faces difficult decisions about which veterans remain part of the organization's future. Moving established players could accelerate the transition to a younger core while creating additional salary-cap flexibility. [00:04:50] Despite holding a wealth of draft picks, Neil cautions against trading too many of them away. Those selections represent one of the franchise's greatest long-term assets and must be used wisely to strengthen the organization. [00:05:00] The episode concludes with Neil emphasizing that modern NHL general managers must treat draft picks as both future players and valuable trade currency. For Alex Steen, successfully balancing those two approaches will determine how quickly the St. Louis Blues can return to playoff contention.
Spring Cleaning – San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks took one of the NHL's biggest steps forward during the 2025-26 season, narrowly missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs after exceeding nearly every preseason expectation. Fueled by the emergence of superstar Macklin Celebrini and a growing collection of young talent, the Sharks became one of the league's most exciting offensive teams. Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down San Jose's rapid progress, the defensive issues that still need attention, and why General Manager Mike Grier may have one of the brightest futures in the NHL. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Sharks are eliminated on April 13 after making an unexpected push toward the playoffs. Neil and Vic revisit their preseason expectations, when both believed San Jose was still another year away from serious contention despite an active offseason by General Manager Mike Grier. [00:00:35] Macklin Celebrini emerges as the driving force behind the Sharks' remarkable improvement. The young superstar explodes from 63 points as a rookie to 115 points in his second NHL season while improving his plus-minus from minus-31 to plus-eight. [00:01:00] Will Smith continues his development with 58 points despite playing fewer games than the previous season. Michael Misa also shows tremendous promise, while Kiefer Sherwood earns a five-year contract extension after arriving from Vancouver. [00:01:20] Veterans Tyler Toffoli, William Eklund, and Alexander Wennberg provide stability alongside the Sharks' young core, helping San Jose become a far more competitive team throughout the season. [00:01:45] Neil admits no one could have predicted Celebrini's meteoric rise, which included becoming an important contributor for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics. His development dramatically accelerates San Jose's rebuild. [00:02:00] Additional young forwards Pavel Regenda, Igor Chernyshov, and Michael Misa each contribute offensively, giving the Sharks an even deeper pipeline of emerging talent expected to improve in the coming years. [00:02:20] Team-wide improvements are significant. San Jose finishes 34 points better in the standings, improves its goal differential from minus-105 to minus-41, and scores 41 more goals than it did the previous season. [00:02:50] While the offense flourishes, major defensive concerns remain. The Sharks improve their power play to the middle of the NHL rankings, but the goals-against average and penalty kill remain among the league's weakest. [00:03:20] Neil credits the offensive explosion almost entirely to Celebrini's impact while emphasizing that Ryan Warsofsky's next challenge is transforming the Sharks into a stronger defensive hockey club. [00:03:45] Looking ahead, Mike Grier enters the 2026 NHL Draft with eight selections, including two first-round picks—one acquired from Edmonton in the Jake Walman trade—and two fourth-round selections accumulated through previous deals. [00:04:30] The discussion reviews the complicated series of trades that reshaped San Jose's draft capital, illustrating how Grier has continued collecting assets while rebuilding the organization. [00:05:00] The Sharks project to have minimal cap space before the July 1 reset, largely because they absorbed Carey Price's contract from Montreal to help reach the NHL salary floor while acquiring additional assets in return. [00:05:30] Neil explains why rebuilding teams often take on long-term contracts from other organizations, using available cap space to collect draft picks and prospects while remaining compliant with league salary requirements. [00:06:00] Logan Couture's retirement, Marc-Edouard Vlasic's buyout, Martin Jones' buyout, and retained salary from the Erik Karlsson and Tomáš Hertl trades continue to affect San Jose's salary structure, though much of that financial picture improves after July 1. [00:06:45] A large portion of the Sharks' defense enters free agency. Ryan Reaves, Pavel Regenda, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Mario Ferraro, and Vincent Desharnais headline the unrestricted free agent class, making defense Mike Grier's top offseason priority. [00:07:20] Restricted free agents Colin Graf, Philipp Kurashev, Zack Ostapchuk, and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin also require new contracts. Neil expects Mukhamadullin to continue developing into an important piece of San Jose's blue line. [00:07:50] Neil also looks ahead to the following offseason, when Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith become restricted free agents. Celebrini is expected to command a franchise-changing contract, with Smith likely following shortly afterward. [00:08:10] Comparing the pair to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton, Neil believes Celebrini and Smith represent the foundation of San Jose's next era. With elite young talent already in place, the Sharks now turn their focus toward building a defense capable of supporting what could become one of the NHL's most dynamic teams.
Spring Cleaning – Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers made a surprising return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and reaching the postseason for the first time since the 2020 bubble. After defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, Philadelphia was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine Rick Tocchet’s impact, the late-season surge that changed the Flyers’ trajectory, and the offseason decisions facing Danny Brière and Keith Jones as the organization attempts to build on a major step forward. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Flyers complete a surprise playoff run after finishing third in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia defeats Pittsburgh in the opening round before Carolina ends the season with a four-game sweep. [00:00:40] Neil and Vic revisit the modest expectations surrounding the Flyers entering the season. While few predicted a playoff berth, Neil believed Philadelphia could remain in the Wild Card race if Rick Tocchet could get the roster to overachieve. [00:01:20] The Flyers’ young foundation already included Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, Jamie Drysdale, and Cam York. Veterans Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim provided leadership, while Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Dan Vladař were added during the offseason. [00:02:00] Tocchet receives significant credit for producing immediate results. Zegras finds new life after leaving Anaheim, while Vladař stabilizes a goaltending position that has troubled the Flyers for years. [00:02:40] Owen Tippett’s injury after the first round becomes a major loss against Carolina. Neil reflects on how Tippett developed into an important return from the trade that sent longtime captain Claude Giroux to Florida. [00:03:15] On February 26, the Flyers sit four games above .500 and eight points outside the final Wild Card position. Philadelphia responds with an 18-6-1 finish, including multiple five-game winning streaks, to force its way into the playoffs. [00:04:00] The late-season surge reveals a clear identity. The Flyers become difficult to play against in every zone, applying pressure on the forecheck, maintaining tighter defensive gaps, and fully embracing Tocchet’s demanding system. [00:04:30] Neil compares the team’s style to the traditional Philadelphia identity of physical, relentless hockey. Opponents once again understand that playing the Flyers will require a difficult, exhausting night. [00:05:00] Philadelphia’s first-round victory over Pittsburgh becomes a defining achievement. The Flyers eliminate a Penguins team led by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson before running into a deeper and more experienced Carolina club. [00:05:30] Dan Vladař emerges as the clear number-one goaltender, with Samuel Ersson serving as the backup. Ivan Fedotov is traded to Columbus before the season, ending another uncertain chapter in Philadelphia’s ongoing search for stability in net. [00:06:00] Rasmus Ristolainen misses much of the first half while recovering from triceps surgery. The Flyers also receive a major late-season boost from Porter Martone, who produces 10 points in his first nine NHL games. [00:06:30] Despite the team’s progress, the power play remains the NHL’s worst for another season. The relationship between Tocchet and Matvei Michkov also becomes a concern after the young forward is scratched twice during the playoffs. [00:07:00] Neil questions how Philadelphia handled Michkov’s arrival, arguing that the organization presented him as a franchise savior before he had earned that status. Both John Tortorella and Tocchet have since challenged his defensive play and willingness to follow the team’s structure. [00:08:00] Michkov remains one year away from restricted free agency. Neil believes the Flyers are unlikely to trade him immediately, but his future could become uncertain if his relationship with the coaching staff does not improve before his next contract. [00:08:30] Philadelphia still lacks a true game-breaking scorer and goes a second consecutive season without a 30-goal player. However, the organization’s prospect pipeline includes Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Jett Luchanko, and Oliver Bonk. [00:09:00] The Flyers enter the 2026 NHL Draft with only five selections and no picks in the fourth or fifth rounds. They project to have more than $7 million in cap space before the July 1 reset. [00:09:30] Unrestricted free agents include Carl Grundström, Rodrigo Ābols, Luke Glendening, and Noah Juulsen. Restricted free agents include Zegras, Grebenkin, Drysdale, Emil Andrae, and Ersson. [00:10:00] Neil identifies Zegras and Drysdale as the two most important players to re-sign. The organization must also continue adding young talent through the draft and determine which depth veterans still fit Tocchet’s system. [00:10:30] With available cap space and a suddenly more attractive competitive environment, Neil expects the Flyers to pursue at least one meaningful free agent who can improve the current roster without compromising the long-term plan. [00:11:00] The episode concludes with optimism surrounding Philadelphia’s direction. The Flyers now possess a defined identity, a respected head coach, a reliable starting goaltender, and an improving young core that has made the franchise an appealing destination once again.
Spring Cleaning – Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2025-26 season with low expectations, an unproven head coach, and widespread speculation that the franchise might finally begin dismantling its aging core. Instead, rookie head coach Dan Muse engineered one of the NHL’s biggest surprises, guiding Pittsburgh to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division before a first-round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Neil Smith and Vic Morren revisit how badly they underestimated the Penguins, the remarkable resurgence of Erik Karlsson, and the difficult offseason decisions now facing General Manager Kyle Dubas. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Penguins finish second in the Metropolitan Division before being eliminated by Philadelphia in the opening round. Neil and Vic revisit the extremely low expectations surrounding Pittsburgh entering the season under first-year head coach Dan Muse. [00:00:40] Questions existed about whether Sidney Crosby would remain with the team through the trade deadline, whether Erik Karlsson would be dealt, and whether the collection of veteran depth additions could keep Pittsburgh competitive. [00:01:00] Dan Muse exceeds every expectation and quickly gets the roster to buy into his system. Pittsburgh becomes a more difficult, responsible, and consistent team than it had been the previous season. [00:01:20] Erik Karlsson’s transformation becomes one of Muse’s greatest accomplishments. After a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, Karlsson plays responsibly at both ends of the ice and reestablishes himself as a major contributor. [00:01:45] Neil and Vic admit they completely misjudged the Penguins during their preseason analysis. Muse becomes a Jack Adams Award finalist after leading a team expected to miss the playoffs to one of the strongest records in the Metropolitan Division. [00:02:00] Pittsburgh improves dramatically on offense, increasing its goal total from 243 to 293. The club’s goal differential rises by 75 goals, moving from minus-50 to plus-25. [00:02:20] The Penguins receive scoring throughout the lineup, with 12 players reaching double digits in goals and five surpassing 20. Anthony Mantha delivers a career-best season after signing a one-year contract. [00:02:45] Yegor Chinakhov scores 21 goals after arriving from Columbus, while Justin Brazeau, Connor Dewar, Tommy Novak, and Noel Acciari all contribute career-best or near-career-best production. [00:03:00] Karlsson improves from 53 points and a minus-24 rating to 66 points and a plus-eight. Rookie Ben Kindel also makes an immediate impact with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games. [00:03:30] The coaching comparison becomes impossible to ignore. Mike Sullivan leaves Pittsburgh for the New York Rangers, while Muse departs the Rangers’ staff and immediately delivers a far more successful season with the Penguins. [00:04:00] Pittsburgh also makes major defensive progress. Its goals-against average drops from 3.46 to 3.09, supported by improved structure and a productive overhaul in goal. [00:04:20] The trade sending Tristan Jarry to Edmonton for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak becomes one of the season’s most successful moves. Pittsburgh escapes Jarry’s long-term contract while adding a more dependable starting goaltender. [00:04:45] Kulak is later moved to Colorado for Samuel Girard, giving the Penguins another useful defenseman. Artūrs Šilovs also provides reliable goaltending depth behind Skinner. [00:05:30] Neil explains why the season felt almost like a championship for Pittsburgh when compared to the expectations entering the year. Nearly every major move worked, and several veterans delivered unexpected career seasons. [00:06:00] The offseason presents a complicated challenge for Kyle Dubas. Pittsburgh enters the 2026 NHL Draft with five selections, including two second-round picks, but no choices in the fourth, fifth, or seventh rounds. [00:06:30] The Penguins project to have approximately $10.2 million in salary-cap space before the July 1 reset. Their unrestricted free agents include Evgeni Malkin, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Connor Clifton, Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov, and Stuart Skinner. [00:07:00] Restricted free agents Yegor Chinakhov and Artūrs Šilovs also need new contracts. Neil expects a busy summer with the possibility of significant turnover if Dubas cannot retain several of the players who helped drive this year’s success. [00:07:20] Malkin wants to return, and Crosby has publicly expressed support for keeping his longtime teammate. Mantha’s career year creates a more difficult decision because another team may offer him a larger contract in free agency. [00:08:00] The Penguins’ unique challenge is that they are still building around one of the NHL’s oldest cores. Malkin turns 40, Crosby turns 39, Kris Letang is already 39, Erik Karlsson turns 36, and Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are also well into their 30s. [00:08:40] Neil and Vic compare Pittsburgh’s position to the previous season’s Washington Capitals. Washington received career years from multiple veterans before injuries and regression caused the team to miss the playoffs one year later. [00:09:00] The Penguins could face the same danger if their older stars decline and the supporting players cannot repeat their career seasons. Pittsburgh must continue adding younger talent rather than assuming this year’s formula will work again. [00:09:30] Dan Muse receives enormous credit for creating belief, accountability, and structure throughout the lineup. His ability to get the players to buy into his approach becomes the defining reason behind Pittsburgh’s unexpected success. [00:10:00] The episode concludes with Neil and Vic admitting their preseason prediction was completely wrong. The Penguins earn an A-plus for the season, but sustaining that success will require a smart, aggressive, and carefully managed offseason.