Mailbag: Penguins' Struggles and Blues' Decisions
NHL.com's Dan Rosen addresses weekly inquiries
By Dan Rosen
@drosennhl (https://www.x.com/drosennhl) NHL.com Senior Writer
November 26, 2025
The NHL.com weekly Over the Boards mailbag is bustling this season. Each week, senior writer Dan Rosen sifts through your questions on X and selects a few for answers.
To join future mailbags, send your questions to @drosennhl (https://x.com/drosennhl) on X, using the hashtag #OvertheBoards (https://x.com/hashtag/OvertheBoards?src=hashtag_click).
Are the Penguins regressing to the mean, or is this a challenging season for Kyle Dubas, balancing contention and future planning?
The Penguins seem to be regressing to the mean, aligning more closely with expectations but perhaps in a slightly better position than initial offseason predictions. They started October on a hot streak, but underlying metrics suggested they weren't as strong as their 8-2-2 record indicated. They led in wins, points (18), and points percentage (.750), ranked fourth in goals per game (3.67), and third in goals against per game (2.42). However, they allowed 30.7 shots per game (27th overall). Their possession at 5-on-5 was only 45.5 percent (27th), and their shooting percentage was 10.2 percent, which was impressive but not unusually high and could have been sustained. The rest of their performance was not.
November brought a stark contrast. Despite a 2-4-3 record, the Penguins' performance suggests they aren't as poor as their numbers indicate. They're struggling to score, with a 2.22 goals per game average this month, a significant drop from October. Their defense is arguably improving, with a 2.89 goals per game average. Possession at 5-on-5 is now 52.0 percent, and they're allowing fewer shots on goal (25.3 per game), down from October. However, their 5-on-5 production has declined, with only 11 goals in nine games and a 5.5 percent shooting percentage.
The Penguins' offense is better than November's performance but not as strong as October's. If they can maintain an average performance from both months and focus on solid defense, they'll remain competitive in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, this might not be enough to navigate the challenge of balancing immediate contention and long-term planning. Questions about the futures of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will likely resurface later in the season. It's difficult to envision trades for these players unless they request them. Malkin's re-signing seems likely unless he plans to leave.
Dubas' task, as during the offseason, is to navigate the delicate balance between the big three.
Where do the Blues go from here? Doug Armstrong stated the retooling was complete, but this doesn't seem accurate. Could they trade a prominent player?
The St. Louis Blues are underperforming this season, both as a team and individually, which casts doubt on the credibility of their strong finish last season. Their execution appears off, with everything feeling challenging and unseamless. This contrasts with their seamless performance during the post-4 Nations run to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
Given their strong finish last season and minimal changes this year, there's a belief they can rediscover their seamless execution, which led to 3.81 goals per game in the 26 games following the 4 Nations. They initially seemed to be approaching this level with three straight wins, albeit with two overtime losses, before losing to the New York Rangers on Monday. After the loss, coach Jim Montgomery noted a lack of intensity and connectedness in their play.
The Blues' offense has struggled, scoring fewer than two goals in five straight games, impacting their confidence. The next 15 games will be crucial, as they approach the holiday break. If the offense shows consistent improvement, further retooling attempts may be avoided. However, if not, trading players like Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Kyrou could become more likely.
Should Detroit waive John Gibson? Sebastian Cossa might be ready.
Waiving Gibson is not the solution yet. It might eventually become necessary, or someone else could be waived to promote Cossa to Detroit from Grand Rapids, where he's performing well in the American Hockey League, despite a small sample size due to an injury. Cossa has a 5-1-0 record, 1.67 GAA, and .940 save percentage. He's building on last season's success, when he was 21-15-5 with a 2.45 GAA and .911 save percentage in 41 games.
Gibson, however, should have more time to prove his worth in Detroit. His slow start with a 4-6-1 record, 3.46 GAA, and .870 save percentage in 12 games includes some impressive performances, like a 33-save game in a 1-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and a 31-save game in a 2-1 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Given that the Red Wings acquired Gibson as a potential No. 1 goalie, sending Petr Mrazek and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks, they won't give up on him after a dozen games, especially to elevate Cossa, who has limited NHL experience. Cossa's NHL debut was a relief appearance last season.
Why doesn't the NHL play on Thanksgiving and Christmas, like the NFL and NBA?
The NHL schedules 15 games on Wednesday, allowing Americans to enjoy Thanksgiving with NHL hockey on multiple screens. This is a holiday tradition I support. There are also 15 games on Friday, including the 2025 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown between the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. The NHL offers a total of 45 games over the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday weekend, ensuring a busy schedule. While there are no games on Thursday, the entire weekend can be centered around NHL hockey.
Regarding Christmas, the NHL provides a valuable break for league staff, players, and officials, allowing them to recharge after a demanding season. It also offers a schedule break for analysis and reflection. The NHL's Winter Classic, part of a Florida celebration this season, and the Olympic roster announcements, add excitement around the holidays.
Would you choose an NHL city to celebrate Thanksgiving? Why?
This year, I'd celebrate at home in New Jersey, close to the Prudential Center, Madison Square Garden, and UBS Arena. The New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders have home games on Wednesday, the Islanders on Friday, the New York Rangers play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, and the Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. It's a hockey feast right in my backyard.
