Crosby and the Kids: How the Next Generation Fits Beside a Living Legend

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been resisting it, but with the clear need for a rebuild incoming, Kyle Dubas is now officially pushing the team in that direction, with many expecting him to move some key veterans this off-season.

That hasn't happened as of yet, and it's only a matter of time as the team transition into the next era of the franchise, but with legends like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, it makes things a difficult transition for the team, the front office and the fans.

Perhaps the biggest issue is the fact that the team still have veterans like Letang, Karlson, Rakell, Malkin, Crosby and Rust leading the way, all players who could contribute to a winning team, but with little depth around them and a need for talented players of the future, it's not an easy task for new Head Coach Dan Muse.

However, the rookie Head Coach was brought in to lead the team into their rebuild and out the other side of it, but with so many talented veterans on this team, it makes things tricky for the young Head Coach, who already has plenty to deal with as a first time coach in the NHL.

On top of that, Evgeni Malkin is likely to get a farewell from Pittsburgh this season, meaning that the team may want to push for a Wild Card spot while bringing in the youth and potentially pushing their chips in for the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes.

Right now, the team have some young players ready to make an impact, but with the likes of Evgeni Malkin wanting to push for a Stanley Cup Playoffs spot, it makes the job difficult for Kyle Dubas, Muse and the franchise that are trying to push things in a new direction.

Ultimately, the Penguins need to balance the youth and their legends like Crosby and Malkin, and while some young players fit well into this scheme, others will require trades at the top level to find their way onto the roster, making it a very tough season for the front office as they look to bring in the future alongside captain Sidney Crosby.