Penguins Collapse: What Went Wrong?

Like most of you out there in Penguins Nation, I’m still trying to digest what happened to our team. How did a season that began with such promise end up in the crapper? As recently as February 18, the Pens were in first place in the Metropolitan Division. Then it all turned to…well…poop.

What went wrong?

I’ll try to address some of what I see in a reasonably coherent manner,
starting with our general manager and coach.

Jim Rutherford

While I don’t hold GMJR as accountable as others might, he doesn’t get
a free pass, either. It’s the general manager’s job bring in and develop
players that give his team the best chance to succeed. Obviously, he fell
short.

First, a little frame work. Following our Cup triumph in 2017, there was a noticeable dip in Rutherford’s performance (remember Matt Hunwick and Greg McKegg?) culminating in the disastrous Derick Brassard deal.

While I fully understand JR’s reasoning…he was trying to recreate the
HBK dynamic after allowing Nick Bonino
to walk…the trade cost us dearly.

At the time, the two-time defending champs were rambling through the 2017-18 homestretch on a 14-3-1 run and humming on all cylinders.

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