Madden Monday: You don’t know why the Penguins left Brandon Tanev unprotected? Mark Madden has answers.

Are you struggling to grasp the Penguins’ strategy for the expansion draft?

Yeah me too.

Over the weekend, NHL teams had to submit their protected lists for Wednesday’s expansion draft. Among those left unprotected in Pittsburgh were forwards Brandon Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese. Meanwhile, Jeff Carter was protected.

Why?

I don’t despise Carter. He far exceeded my expectations following his acquisition from the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 13 goals and adding three assists for the remainder of the Penguins’ regular season and the playoffs.

I just don’t know why the Penguins front office is concerned that the Seattle Kraken take on a 36-year-old with a year left on his contract, who could retire instead of restarting his career with a team. expansion.

Carter’s success in Pittsburgh has often been attributed to his transition from a struggling Kings team to the Penguins at playoff time. So why would the Kraken believe they would be equally motivated to join an expansion team?

Unless their approach is to take Carter for just a few months until they can get him out on the draft pick deadline like the Kings did.

Frankly, I would have been willing to take that risk. Especially if that meant protecting Tanev or Aston-Reese.

Maybe the Penguins know that Kraken GM – and former Penguins Hall of Fame member – Ron Francis has a soft spot for Carter and certainly would have chosen him. Other than that, I would have kicked Carter and held back Tanev or Aston-Reese.

More precisely Tanev. I think Aston-Reese is more replaceable than Tanev. But on this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, TribLIVE’s Mark Madden and 105.9 The X join me in discussing why the Pens may have a different philosophy on the 29-year-old winger.

“I think the Penguins want to reveal Brandon Tanev’s contract and hope he or (Jason) Zucker gets caught by the Kraken,” Madden said.

That’s a fair point, especially in Zucker’s case. He’s a $ 5.5 million hit over the next two seasons and has disappointed in Pittsburgh. Tanev earns $ 3.5 million until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Keep in mind, however, that Tanev’s contract was drafted by former general manager Jim Rutherford. Not current CEO Ron Hextall. It’s a point Madden says we can’t ignore.

“Rutherford signed Tanev. Hextall didn’t. Hextall clearly doesn’t find Tanev as useful, especially at this price and in this term, ”Madden continued.

The point is, if the Penguins lose Tanev, how will they replace him? And at what cost? How much will they really save between losing Tanev and potentially finding another player who skates and hits with the frequency and tenacity he does?

Madden agrees with my concerns but offers this counter.

“He’s listed at 6 feet, 180 (pounds),” Madden said. “The reality is he’s probably smaller than that. And because of that, his frenetic playstyle is compromised by being quite injured. He missed 25 of 56 games last year. While I’m not in love with the idea of ​​the Penguins losing Tanev, I can understand why he’s exposed to the Kraken.

That said, Madden predicts that it will be Aston-Reese who end up in Seattle. In our podcast, Madden explains why. We also explain why Zucker and defenseman Marcus Pettersson could be black candidates for Seattle and the subject of Montreal goalkeeper Carey Price being exposed.

Plus, we’re talking about Evgeni Malkin, the Steelers, and the bizarre Pirates-Mets series at PNC Park last weekend.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss players the Penguins protected – and didn’t protect – from the Extension Draft