A road map for the Penguins’ important off-season

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty ImagesWith the curtain going up on the playoffs and the Penguins having their season ended, a lull is bound to set in leading up to the important moments that will happen in the next few weeks and months. Here’s a good starting point to keep in mind as the process begins.

Step 1: Hire new leadership

It goes without saying but nothing can happen until the Penguins install their new hockey operations department. Every other step is contingent on getting the new management team in place. As of a few days ago, Step 1 would have been to fire the GM, so this is already underway as it needed to be.

There is no huge rush at this point in mid-April, but in the days and weeks…