Sidney Crosby is under contract for two more years at his traditional cap hit of just $8.7 million. But that’s about the only good news for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. They now return home from their four-game road trip across Western Canada with just one point from a possible eight to show for their efforts.

Three years after their last playoff appearance, the Penguins are now 3-6-1 after 10 games. They lead the NHL with 42 goals allowed and are tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the most shots allowed per game at 35.

Pittsburgh was also outscored 18-9 on the road against Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver – after starter Tristan Jarry was sent off the road trip following a shaky start to the season.

Jarry hasn’t seen an NHL game since October 16 and is now in the AHL on a conditioning assignment. And while 22-year-old rookie Joel Blomqvist has looked impressive with 3.7 goals saved above expectations in his first five NHL games, he’s not getting much help from the skaters up front. him.

It’s not too often you see a losing goaltender named third star in a 4-0 loss. But that was the case for Blomqvist Friday night in Edmonton, after he became the first goalie to see 50 shots in the NHL this season. With just four starts and five appearances, Blomqvist is already sixth in shots faced this year. This isn’t really an optimal way to bring a young goaltender to the best hockey league.

Blomqvist had the day off during Pittsburgh’s 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday, with Alex Nedeljkovic handling goaltending duties. In a back-to-back game against a Canucks team that was coming off three days of rest, Pittsburgh did well to build a 2-0 lead while Vancouver got off to a sluggish start. But once Elias Pettersson ignited the crowd at Rogers Arena with his first of the year, it sparked a four-goal second-period explosion that ended the Penguins for the night.

“There were just some issues where we were on the wrong side of the puck and couldn’t cover the more dangerous areas on the ice, in front of the net,” Rickard Rakell said after the match. “Giving up so many easy chances to score. I mean, there were obviously some tough rebounds for us, but I mean, we have to prevent that. It was just, like, one after one after one. We have to find a way to install, reboot.

The primary assists on two of Vancouver’s four goals came from players who were formerly part of the Pittsburgh organization.

Teddy Blueger was drafted by the Penguins in the second round in 2012, but didn’t make his NHL debut with the team until 2019. On Saturday, he fed Kiefer Sherwood to knot the game at 2-2 just 43 seconds after Pettersson got the Canucks. on the dashboard.

Daniel Sprong was drafted when Jim Rutherford was Pittsburgh’s general manager in 2015. Midway through the middle period, he passed Erik Karlsson along the boards in the neutral zone before serving Arshdeep Bains for his first career goal in the NHL, which would also hold up. as the winner of the game.

It’s been almost three years since the Canucks cleaned up their organization, following a 4-1 home loss to the Penguins on Hockey Night in Canada. After this December 4, 2021 game, the 8-15-2 Canucks fired general manager Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green.

Days later, Rutherford became president of hockey operations and interim general manager – less than a year after resigning as Pittsburgh’s general manager. His hires in Vancouver include several former members of the Penguins, including general manager Patrik Allvin and head coach Rick Tocchet.

Working in tandem, the trio turned the tide on a franchise that had been floundering for nearly a decade. And after recording a fourth straight victory Saturday against the Penguins, the Canucks are now 4-1-2 to start the year, with a points percentage that ranks them second in the Pacific Division.

As Kyle Dubas and Mike Sullivan look to get the Penguins back on track, seeing former members of the organization succeed in their new market must feel like rubbing salt in an open wound for both the members of the organization only for the fans.

But there are only 10 games left. As Nedeljkovic said on Saturday evening, there is still time to reverse course. Look no further than the 2023-24 Edmonton Oilers for a reminder that it can be done.

“We have to find a way to nip it in the bud right now,” Nedeljkovic said. “Regroup and expect a good, strong effort at home on Tuesday.”