Kristopher LETANG – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Team Preview

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:00:52 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 02: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after scoring a goal during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils on April 2, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

Even though they only lost two of their last 10 games, the Penguins still finished with just 88 points (38-32-12), which left them three points behind the Washington Capitals for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins ranked 12th with 51.4 percent of shot attempts and 14th with 51.2 percent of expected goals during five-on-five play. Pittsburgh scored just 5.52 goals per 60 minutes on the power play which ranked 30th and was inconceivable given the talent that they had available. Sure, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson are getting older, but they have all had massive power play success in their careers, so to see it fall apart so completely was tough. The Penguins ranked ninth with 6.75 goals against per 60 minutes while shorthanded. Considering that the Penguins were that close to making the playoffs, the abysmal power play can take a lot of the blame for that result.

WHAT’S CHANGED? After one season in Pittsburgh, the Penguins dealt winger Reilly Smith to the Rangers and watched Jeff Carter skate into retirement. The Penguins traded for Kevin Hayes from St.Louis, and Cody Glass from Nashville, while Blake Lizotte from Los Angeles and Anthony Beauvillier from Nashville were signed as free agents. Defencemen Matt Grzelcyk, from Boston, and Sebastian Aho, from the Islanders, were also inked as free agents. This was not an offseason of dramatic change, like acquiring Erik Karlsson last year, so while the Penguins were making moves, they were more about depth additions than anything else.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? If the Penguins are going to pay Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson big money, then they might as well reach the playoffs. They have fallen just short in back-to-back seasons after making the playoffs for 16 straight seasons. With Crosby continuing to play at a very high level, it is a waste for the Penguins to struggle either to be just good enough to get in or, worse, just good enough to finish outside the playoffs. If the Penguins are going to get over the hump, they will need production from the supporting cast – Michael Bunting, Anthony Beauvillier, Kevin Hayes, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust – and they could use a big sea- son from Karlsson, who it seemed had a hard time adjusting to the Penguins in his first season with the team.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? There is certainly a world in which the Penguins embark on a proper rebuild and move out their veteran players, but if Crosby is not inclined to leave and the other veteran stars don’t want to go, the worst-case scenario is for the Penguins to do what they have done the past two seasons and just miss the playoffs. If they get in, then that is an accomplishment, but if they are not going to get into the playoffs, then they might as well be really bad, so that they have a chance to draft elite talent. The way it’s been going recently, the Penguins do not have enough prospect quality to pick up the pieces when their aging stars are finished.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: There are not a ton of young Penguins players that are in position to have break- out seasons, but Valtteri Puustinen showed some potential last season, contributing 20 points in 52 games. He has been productive in two-plus AHL seasons and in Finland before that, so in Pittsburgh it is going to be about the opportunity. If he finds a spot in the top six, along with some second unit power play time, Puustinen is capable of providing the secondary offense that the Penguins sorely need.

Forwards

Sidney Crosby

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	36	54	90	1.13

Sidney Crosby has never finished a season below a point-per-game average, and 2023-24 was no different. Seemingly immune to Father Time’s grasp, Crosby posted one more point than he did in 2022-23 while once again playing in all 82 games. When the Penguins struggled last season, it was Crosby who lifted the team up and stole points to keep their playoff hopes alive. Even with the loss of his star winger Jake Guentzel, Crosby continued to make the most of his minutes and dominated puck possession and expected goal metrics. His puck possession share was plus six percent relative to teammates and his expected goal share was plus six percent relative to teammates. While Crosby doesn’t have the same speed burst he did in his youth, his cerebral game has only gotten more threatening with time and he’s a master of controlling the pace of play and threading no-look, tape-to-tape passes between defenders. Crosby continually evolves his game to account for both opponent and his own age. Crosby was in the 100th percentile of even-strength shot-assists last season. The question for the upcoming year is how much the loss of Guentzel affects him long term and what kind of balance he strikes without him. Crosby regressed defensively last year, a result of the volatile Penguins backline and a bit of Crosby pressing to create offense as much as possible. There were long stretches of time in 2023-24 where Crosby was the Penguins entire offense.

Evgeni Malkin

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	26	42	68	0.92

For the second year in a row, Evgeni Malkin also played in a full 82 games for the Penguins. The result was 27 goals and 40 assists and a 26-point reduction from his previous year’s total. Malkin’s speed and movement have declined due to multiple lower body injuries, but he proved he’s still a tour de force with his size and shooting ability. The biggest issue last year was a lack of line identity. He never gelled with Reilly Smith, and that partnership negatively affected both players. It wasn’t until the arrival of Michael Bunting at the trade deadline that Malkin found chemistry with a fellow linemate. The transient nature of his wingers and their poor play reduced his assist totals, and the putrid Penguins power-play further affected his point totals. If that Bunting partnership continues, Malkin should continue to reap the benefit of a linemate that can retrieve loose pucks and create space while driving the net. Despite the lack of power-play production, Malkin’s even-strength goal total was good for the 82nd percentile of NHL forwards. It was also Malkin’s best defensive season of the last five years. While he wasn’t among the league leaders defensively, great leaps were taken in his work in the defensive zone. Overall, expect Malkin to return to a higher points total if he can find some consistency with his linemates.

Bryan Rust

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
65	31	26	57	0.88

Injuries caused Rust to miss 20 games in the regular season, but he was a productive member of the team across both of the top lines when he was healthy and in the lineup. A jack of all trades forward, Rust can contribute in a variety of fashions. He was in the 96th percentile of NHL forwards in even-strength scoring chance generation and the 94th percentile for defensive zone exists with possession. Rust is at his best when he can dictate the first step in the offensive zone by carry-in. He drives to the net with effectiveness and has a quick shot that he can release from a variety of compromising situations. Rusts’ game is such that he can easily slide in with both Crosby or Malkin in the top six and can adapt to his center accordingly. That change-ability within his game makes him a vital asset to the Penguins top six forward group. His 28 goals last season were a career high. In the absence of Guentzel, Rust will be called upon again to continue his goal scoring prowess, as the Penguins look to replace the production of one of their best wingers. Keep an eye on Rust’s carry-in metrics, his best seasons usually come when he’s doing a lot of carrying the mail himself. Expect Mike Sullivan to continue to deploy him in a variety of lines and fashions. He has been a consistent scorer and at almost a point a game last season, similar results should be achievable with opportunity on the first line and power play.

Michael Bunting

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	24	35	59	0.72

Michael Bunting was the prime centerpiece of the trade that sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. This ultimately resurrected Bunting’s season, as he was not a great systematic mix with the high-flying Hurricanes offense. Bunting’s style, more predicated on a north-south forechecking game, meshed extremely well with Mike Sullivan’s system. Moreover, Bunting found instant chemistry with Evgeni Malkin and the two of them found immediate and sustained success after the trade. The expectation is that this new partnership will continue directly into next season, setting Bunting up to get back over the 20-goal plateau. Bunting is a space creator; he was in the 87th percentile of NHL forwards regarding his forecheck involvement. He ended his first run with the Penguins with 19 points in 21 games. Where Bunting struggled to establish himself in rush opportunities with the Hurricanes, he seemed to thrive in the slower-pace overload system of the Penguins, which enabled him to be active in front of the net and in the battle areas of the boards. He also outshot his traditional pace during his short time in Pittsburgh. While the Guentzel loss was hard for Penguins fans to swallow, there is some hope gained from Bunting’s presence and immediate chemistry with Malkin. With new assistant coach David Quinn set to run the power-play for Pittsburgh, it will be interesting to see if Bunting has a role on the top unit as a net-front presence. He could threaten his career best totals in this environment.

Drew O’Connor

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	24	20	44	0.54

Last year was Drew O’Connor’s first full year as an NHL winger and he set high water marks in goals (16) and assists (17). The expectation for this year is that O’Connor will have an opportunity within the Penguins top six forward group, likely alongside Sidney Crosby, to fill the absence of Jake Guentzel. Newly acquired prospect Rutger McGroarty may provide some competition but O’Connor should own the inside track. He showcased some developing skill with the puck last year in addition to a stronger speed burst that enabled him to find new scoring opportunities. O’Connor’s skating speed, tracked via NHL biometric data, put him in the 94th percentile of NHL forwards. Overall, O’Connor has an unassuming offensive skill set without any one truly standout area. He’s a presence in the battle areas of the ice, a willing participant defensively, and he was in the 88th percentile of NHL forwards regarding forecheck involvement. The ask on O’Connor offensively will be much greater than 16 goals if he is affixed to Crosby’s wing. The majority of the early portion of the season saw O’Connor floating between the second and third lines without much consistency in his role. Continuing to develop a quick-thinking approach to offense and quick reaction time will be paramount to finding success on the top line. A competent penalty-killer, O’Connor played an aggressive, physical approach on the penalty-kill that saw him garner a good amount of shorthanded scoring chances.

Rickard Rakell

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	19	24	43	0.55

The Pittsburgh Penguins struggled to find consistent goal scoring throughout their lineup last year, and Rickard Rakell was a big reason why. Spending time almost exclusively between the top two lines over a 70-game span only netted Rakell 15 goals and 37 points, well below expectation given his quality of teammates and environment. Traditionally speaking, if Rakell isn’t scoring, you can rely on him to produce a high number of supporting play peripherals that usually speak to his off-puck value. This year, those also regressed, and his forechecking, puck retrievals, and shot-assists were all in the middle-third of NHL forwards from a percentile perspective. Like Malkin, Rakell’s best work seemed to come post-deadline upon the addition of Michael Bunting. It stands to reason that we might see the same debut for the Penguins second line this year, putting Rakell in less of a position to have to manage retrievals and forechecking and focus on scoring more goals. Rakell finished 2023-24 ninth among Penguin forwards in expected-goal generation, a testament to how cold he was through the first several months of the year. If Rakell is going to be a permanent fixture within the Penguins top six, more offensive output regarding shots, chances and shot-supporting assists will be a requirement. Ideally, Rakell can get back to finding some open space and use his effective wrist shot to put chances on net. Be careful drafting for a big comeback. In the last four seasons, his 60 points in 2022-23 was the outlier and a 15 goal, 40–45-point effort may be more in line with recent seasons.

Valtteri Puustinen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	18	24	42	0.54

Puustinen graduated to the NHL this season, making the leap after two full years of AHL service. Puustinen, a shifty winger with an electric wrist shot, finished his rookie campaign with five goals and 15 assists in 50 games played. Primarily playing on the third line along defensive specialists, Puustinen was one of the only pure shooting threats in the Penguins bottom-six forward group. After some time bouncing back and forth between the third and fourth lines, Puustinen received a promotion and played some impactful minutes alongside Evgeni Malkin, where he seemed to develop some spark from time to time. Although the sample size was limited to 50 games, Puustinen ended the year with the 4th best expected-goals for share of any forward on the roster. Additionally, the Penguins defensive returns were 14% better with Puustinen on the ice as they were with him off the ice. Some of that can certainly be attributed to the defensive nature of some of his linemates, but on an individual level, Puustinen showcased the desire to be involved defensively, while simultaneously not giving up his penchant for wanting to carry the puck into the zone and shoot off the rush. He ended up in the eighth percentile of NHL forwards with regards to his finishing, highlighted by a shooting percentage of 5.6 percent after firing regularly above 10 percent in Wilkes-Barre. It is reasonable to expect that he sees that total increase next year given the volatility of his shot and his offensive toolbox. The question will be where he fits in the line-up with the veteran offseason acquisitions of Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier and Blake Lizzotte to fill out the lower half of the forward units.

Kevin Hayes

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	18	24	42	0.58

Hayes arrived in Pittsburgh via trade from St. Louis in the offseason that brought the veteran center back to the familiar landscape of the Metropolitan division. Hayes spent one year in St. Louis, and it was one that saw him struggle to find a defined role within the forward group. Hayes’ struggles were so extensive that he was moved off of the center position, a home here he had a team best 57 percent win percentage, to have a test run of time on the wing in an attempt to find him a fit for him. He enters Mike Sullivan’s system as the presumptive third line center, a position the Penguins have struggled to find a caretaker for since the departure of Nick Bonino. Hayes’ struggles can be summed up in a variety of ways, but most notably his 29 points in 79 games is his lowest output since his rookie season of 2014-15. Hayes is still an adequate passer and although his totals were reduced last season as he struggled in St. Louis, he is usually in the upper half of the league regarding in-zone shot assists. He’s still an adequate defensive player as evidenced by his even-strength defensive wins above replacement being in the 75th percentile of league forwards. Overall, it will be intriguing to see how Hayes slots in with the Penguins and how his style meshes with Sullivan’s desire to play up-tempo, high-forechecking hockey.

Anthony Beauvillier

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
76	9	16	25	0.33

Beauvillier is hoping to keep an unpacked suitcase in 2024-25. In 2023-24, he appeared for Vancouver, Chicago, and Nashville. As a result, he struggled to find an identity after bouncing around from team to team. Requirements and systems changed rapidly, and it ultimately affected the results. Beauvillier played 60 games across three teams and ended the year with five goals and 12 assists. While the end results were not pleasant, the process behind them was actually quite sound. Beauvillier finished the season in the 90th-plus percentile in even-strength shot rates, rush shot rates, shots from high-danger passes. His finishing totals, however, put him in the second percentile of NHL forwards. Through his journey, he played at all three forward positions, including center, a versatility that will certainly come in handy for the Penguins. Ultimately, Beauvillier’s up-tempo game and despite to be involved in the forecheck (83rd percentile last year) should slot nicely into the Penguins overall structure. The question is whether or not last year’s shooting percentage was an aberration or not. The Penguins bottom-six forward group has struggled to find an identity and reliable presence to press the play offensively. Beauvillier certainly has the skill set to fill that role if he can re-center his game and find some long-term chemistry in Pittsburgh.

DEFENCE

Erik Karlsson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	18	56	74	0.90

It’s difficult to call Erik Karlsson’s first season in Pittsburgh a disappointment. He finished in the 100th percentile among NHL defensemen in even-strength scoring chance assists and shot contributions and was in the 99th percentile for defensemen in rush shot opportunities. That aside, his point total went from 101 in his final season with the Sharks to 56 in his first season with the Penguins. That drastic reduction hit fairly hard given the lofty expectations set for him. The Penguins offense generated expected-goals at a rate that was 26 percent higher when Karlsson was on the ice versus when he was not, a testament to his impact in carrying the puck up ice and contributing to shot totals. However, the Penguins were mostly a mess defensively and Karlsson was a contributor to that in his own way. The Penguins power-play was inexcusably bad all season long, ultimately dampening Karlsson’s point totals. With a new mind behind the helm of the man-advantage in David Quinn, the hope is that the Penguins power-play at least returns to a league average function, giving Karlsson the opportunity to expand his point totals. While not the quarterback of the top unit, the Penguins have made Karlsson the focal point of the zone entry process with the man-advantage. Overall, expect more of Karlsson controlling the rush and pressing the play up ice. The hope is the Penguins can provide him with a more stable environment moving forward and a rebound in points to among the league leaders. 100 points is not realistic but can push 70 or more if the power play shows signs of life.

Kris Letang

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	8	39	47	0.57

Kris Letang played in all 82 games for the Penguins for the first time in a long time, despite his age and wear and tear. He finished with the highest even-strength point rate of any defenseman on the team, but also regressed significantly on the defensive side. From a defensive Wins Above Replacement perspective, Letang was five percent worse in 2023-24 than he was in the previous year. One element here worth mentioning is that the Letang and Ryan Graves pairing held some disastrous results and seemed like an oil-and-water mixture from the beginning of the year. This caused a bit of shuffling between Graves and Marcus Pettersson to find the right balance in the Penguins top two pairings, but that never came, and the environment remained fairly volatile for the Penguins netminders. Letang’s peripheral statistics in terms of supporting the play are still very strong, albeit a notch down from what his peak was several years ago. He was in the 90th percentile among NHL defensemen in defensive zone exits and had one of his strongest seasons ever in defensive zone puck retrieval success rate, where he landed in the 97th percentile among defensemen. Letang was also hampered by the lack of a functional power-play. Overall, the hope is that Letang can maintain his offensive numbers while cutting down on some of the turnovers and defensive miscues.

Marcus Pettersson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	2	21	23	0.31

Pettersson has become “Mr. Reliable” for the Penguins defensive unit. An unassuming figure on the blueline, Pettersson handles most of the cleanup from having a mobile, offense-first partner on the backend alongside him. His Wins Above Replacement totals from an even-strength perspective put him in the 80th percentile of NHL defenders. Pettersson faced more volatile situations last year than any in his career, ultimately being repeatedly tested on zone entries with the help of only a forward alongside him, if that. The result knocked him back a tier defensively and saw his usually strong metrics around zone entry denials drop to the 42nd percentile of NHL defensemen. The Penguins limited expected-goals with Pettersson on the ice only two percent better than when he was off the ice, another reduction in his year over year value defensively. Despite these drops, Pettersson’s best attribute remains his strong gap control, penchant for making safe, sound plays with the puck, and being able to take a hit and make a play. The hope is that the Penguins have a much cleaner approach defensively that makes Pettersson’s life a bit easier as a result. As he enters the final year of a five-year contract, it’s fair to wonder if his name doesn’t appear in several trade conversations as Kyle Dubas looks to pivot the team mid-flight. The nature of Pettersson’s defense-first approach while still showing competency with the puck on his stick is the definition of a modern-day shutdown defenseman that will certainly be a commodity on the trade block.

Ryan Graves

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	3	13	16	0.22

There’s no question Ryan Graves’ first year in Pittsburgh was nothing short of a disappointment. He came to the Penguins with a six-year contract commitment, with an AAV of $4.5 million a season. Graves results did not deliver close to that value. His strength is carrying the puck up ice, activating offensively, and contributing to shot totals. The inherent problem in that is he’s now being paired with one of Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang, and both of those defensemen are likely headed to the Hall of Fame for their notorious puck handling abilities. The space to create simply wasn’t there and Graves, never known for his physicality or defensive prowess, was suddenly asked to employ both. He could not find that balance successfully and his ice time dwindled considerably as the year went on. Graves even-strength defensive metrics put him in the 31st percentile of NHL defenders, a far cry from where the Penguins need him operating given his presence within their top four defense corps. Graves was in the 10th percentile of NHL defensemen regarding his ability to exit the zone with possession, showing that even his bread-and-butter proved to be a problem. General Manager Kyle Dubas was very direct in calling out Graves at the end of the year, it will be interesting to see how he responds.

GOAL

Tristan Jarry

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
49	23	21	5	3	0.906	2.82

If the 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins were the picture of mediocrity, starter Tristan Jarry was the face of the franchise. That’s not necessarily a knock on the veteran starter, who held down the fort during a season of lackluster play from an aging roster in front of him. But in a division of teams littered with inconsistency, Jarry was just good enough to keep his team in the conversation - and not quite stellar enough to push them that extra little inch into the postseason.

That’s not necessarily his fault, but he’ll likely spend the next few years watching his leash grow increasingly shorter. Prospect Joel Blomqvist of Finland had a stellar breakout year in North America and seems poised to hit the NHL within the next season or two. That leaves very little room for error for Jarry or his tandem partner, Alex Nedeljkovic. Both goaltenders were fine last year, but any regression could open the door for Blomqvist to get his first extended taste of NHL action - and with a handful of other quality goaltending prospects waiting in the wings in Pittsburgh, every game is an audition for everyone in the blue paint.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 20:41:10 +0000

Review: For the first time, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin played a full 82 games in the same year and the Penguins’ other star forward, Jake Guentzel, appeared in 78 contests. You’d think that’d be a recipe for success, but instead Pittsburgh finished with a 40-31-11 record, narrowly missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The supporting cast just wasn’t good enough. Other than their main three forwards and Rickard Rakell, who had 28 goals and 60 points, no member of the Penguins reached the 50-point milestone, resulting in the squad finishing 16th in goals per game (3.18). Pittsburgh likely would have still squeaked into the postseason had Tristan Jarry enjoyed a repeat of his 2021-22 success, but after recording a 2.42 GAA and .919 save percentage in 58 contests during that campaign, he dropped to a 2.90 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 47 starts in 2022-23. Pittsburgh also lacked an appealing alternative as Casey DeSmith posted a 3.17 GAA and .905 save percentage in 38 contests. The Penguins consequently wasted a season at a time when they’re running out of opportunities to make a Stanley Cup run in the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era.

What’s Changed? Pittsburgh made a huge splash by acquiring Erik Karlsson in exchange primarily for draft picks, though the Penguins also moved Mikael Granlund, Jeff Petry and DeSmith in the process for cap purposes. Outside of that, Pittsburgh signed Alex Nedeljkovic to serve as their new backup goaltender and lured free agent defenseman Ryan Graves with a six-year, $27 million deal.

What would success look like? Getting back to the playoffs will likely involve a strong year out of Karlsson. Expecting him to get 25 goals and 101 points like he did with the Sharks in 2022-23 is overly optimistic, but a 60–70-point showing is obtainable. Between Karlsson and Letang, the Penguins should also be able to deploy two strong power-play units after finishing in the middle of the pack with a 21.7% power-play conversion rate last year. Combine that with even a modest rebound from Jarry and the Penguins would have the makings of a strong team.

What could go wrong? That’s provided that Karlsson stays healthy, which is far from certain given his lengthy injury history. Then of course there’s the fact that Crosby and Letang are 36 while Malkin is 37. How much longer can that trio really lead the charge in Pittsburgh? On top of that, Malkin being healthy has been a rarity, so even if he remains effective, expecting anything close to a repeat of his 2022-23 82-game showing would be surprising. Any significant injury to Crosby or Malkin might also push Jeff Carter into a second-line role, which is not a job the 38-year-old is still suited for based on his 29-point showing last season.

Top Breakout Candidate: With the Penguins going all-in on the present, they lack significant breakout candidates. That said, if the Penguins run into injury troubles, which is certainly plausible given the team’s age, Samuel Poulin will be one to watch as a forward who might step in and turn heads, though after missing most of 2022-23 to focus on his mental health, he’s expected to start the campaign in the AHL.

Forwards

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby showed little sign of slowing as he finished his 18^th season, every one of which has come above a point per game. Crosby still possesses the vision and playmaking of an elite puck distributor. His 1.6 assist per hour of even-strength hockey was tops on the Penguins. Per All Three Zones, he was in the 99^th percentile of NHL forwards with regards to high-danger passes and in-zone shot assists. While his defense took a step back from what we’ve become accustomed to, the Penguins found themselves in a lot of situations that required shootout-style approaches to the game. While the Penguins power-play had periods of frustration, Crosby is ultimately still the straw that stirs the drink on the man-advantage. Crosby still elevates every linemate he plays with based on his ability to draw attention to himself and dish no-look, last minute passes to the tape of his teammates. Crosby exhibited the same ability to hound and steal the puck as he has throughout his career last season. Expect more of the same this season and at least one more sensational moment that comes via a ridiculous backhand goal.

Evgeni Malkin

Repeated lower-body injuries may have robbed Evgeni Malkin of some of his explosive gallop through the neutral zone, but they haven’t stopped him from being one of the most consistent offensive threats in the league. In 2021-22, Malkin played in every single game and went over a point per game for the season. Like his counterpart in Crosby, most of Malkin’s game has been immune to Father Time. Last year was different for Malkin in that he shot less and passed more. Per the All Three Zones project, Malkin was in the 97^th percentile of NHL forwards for primary shot assists and only in the 64^th percentile for individual shot rates. Malkin’s defensive performance last season was once again not his strongest point, but it was more in line with team average than in prior years. Overall, Malkin still has the desire to take a game over. He is relentless in attack, difficult to move off the puck, and willing to take risks to elevate the play of himself and his teammates. If his increase in passing the puck holds through this year, he could achieve 800 career assists. Overall, Malkin will be the central focus of the second line and may get the boost of playing with Erik Karlsson on the blueline this season.

Jake Guentzel

The son of a great coach, Guentzel is coming off another year where he consistently exhibited a high hockey IQ and stayed a step ahead of most of his peers in terms of his offensive approach. Guentzel is a rare combination of elite playmaker and finisher as evidenced by his results in the All Three Zones project. Guentzel was in the 98^th percentile for in-zone shot rates and in the 91^st percentile for in-zone shot assists at even-strength. He is difficult to mark in tight spaces and uses open spaces to his advantage. The Penguins power-play has an expected-goal generation rate that is 2.63 goals per higher when Guentzel is on the ice versus when he is not. His defensive impacts have been notoriously low and bottomed out last year, but are offset by the number of chances, shots, and opportunities he creates at the other end of the ice. The Penguins routinely control the flow of the play and dominate possession when Guentzel makes an appearance. An offseason injury forced him to undergo surgery on his ankle that will cause him to miss at least a portion of the Penguins first few weeks. Overall, the Penguins will be looking at him to generate scoring chances across his entire line when he returns to the lineup.

Rickard Rakell

Rakell’s first full season with the Penguins saw him float around the top six but primarily find a home affixed to the side of Sidney Crosby. Rakell spent a lot of time in battle areas of the ice creating space for his linemates. He also garnered a lot of second and third opportunities and assisted greatly with increasing the shot volume of his line. Per the All Three Zones project, he was in the 97^th percentile of NHL forwards with regard to his impact on in-zone shots. His 28 goals last season were the most he’s scored since the 2017-18 season. He found himself as a regular on the Penguins top power-play unit, especially as a viable net-front option. While no slouch defensively, this hasn’t been his hallmark and he has not killed penalties so far for head coach Mike Sullivan. He has the utility to be able to play alongside either of the top two center options in Pittsburgh due to his straightforward approach and ability to get to the difficult areas. The expectation is that he’ll be back on the top line alongside Crosby again this season, serving in a role that can both grind pucks out and forecheck effectively.

Bryan Rust

Bryan Rust’s 2021-22 season was one that saw him struggle in a variety of offensive buckets. Certainly, his finishing ability was a part of that, but he also suffered a regression in other areas of puck support ability. Rusts’ best seasons have come when he’s carrying the puck and generating opportunities off of the rush, an area where he took a step back again last season. His rush offense put him in the 46^th percentile of NHL forwards per the All Three Zones project. All of these regressions saw Rust score almost a half a point per game less than the previous season and his lowest goal total since 2018-19. The good news is that he’ll have another crack inside the top six for Pittsburgh this season and potentially some power-play time as well. Rust being in the top six means he’ll also get one of Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang to aid him offensively, a duo that will certainly help Rust out from an opportunity perspective. He has strong shot totals to build off of and will have a new landscape of linemates as well.

Reilly Smith

Reilly Smith makes his way to Pittsburgh via a trade with Las Vegas that was the first official move of the new general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins Kyle Dubas. Smith was remarkably consistent from start to finish last season, netting 26 goals and 56 points in 78 games and following that up with 14 points in 22 playoff games. Smith’s biggest strengths last season were driving to high danger scoring areas and supporting the play via transition both out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone. Smith is extremely comfortable with the puck on his stick, makes sound decisions with it in transition, and should have no issue playing anywhere within Pittsburgh’s top-six forward group as a result. Early expectations are that he will make his debut flanking Evgeni Malkin, giving him a world class center to feed pucks towards in transition. Smith played on the power-play and penalty kill last season and was effective in both roles, but truly made his way on the penalty kill side, where his presence resulted in the Golden Knights having an expected goals against rate that was over one whole goal less with him on the ice. Smith will certainly get a lot of minutes in the Pittsburgh top six with a lot of talent surrounding him, His simple, north-to-south approach should be a fine addition to that group.

Lars Eller

Lars Eller is another fresh face in the Pittsburgh bottom-six as a part of Kyle Dubas’ reclamation project for that portion of his roster. Eller’s offensive skills have taken a hit as he’s aged, but his defensive impacts are still strong, and the Penguins will be hoping he can help patch up what was an otherwise porous bottom-six forward group. The data from the All Three Zones project paints Eller as a player that still maintains an above-average ability to distribute the puck and I believe we see that on video as well. Eller’s In Zone Shot Assists and High-Danger Shot Assists were both in the 73^rd percentile of NHL forwards. An injury-shortened season two years ago saw his defensive impacts bottom out, but outside of that anomaly, he’s been reliably consistent in his ability to keep the opposition in check. Eller had the second highest rate of shots off of the forecheck and cycle at even-strength. He also boasted strong numbers in the bucket of assisting his defense with exiting the defensive zone, a testament to the attention he pays to that side of the ice. The Penguins won’t be asking him for any miracles as much as they need steady, consistent play that doesn’t end up in the defensive zone for the majority of the time.

Noel Accari

Noel Acciari has been acquired again by Kyle Dubas, this time with the Pittsburgh Penguins on a new three-year contract that will pay him an average of two million dollars per year. Acciari does all of the things well that you’d come to expect from a bottom-six forward. He plays with energy, hits a lot, blocks a lot of shots, and other momentum stealing skillsets. Acciari will likely play a role on the penalty-kill in Pittsburgh as well, an area that needs a rebuild after inconsistent struggles last year and a lack of a sense of urgency. Acciari, like the other players Dubas’ has brought in for the bottom six, boasts strong defensive returns and keeps the puck out of the defensive zone altogether. He is more of a puck retriever than a puck carrier but doesn’t handle the puck in an uncomfortable fashion. His pace and north-to-south approach put him in positions to generate a lot of takeaways for his team. Expect Acciari to feature for Mike Sullivan as a true utility forward that can fill in gaps up and down the lineup without causing great drop off.

Matt Nieto

Matt Nieto arrives to Pittsburgh from free agency on a new two-year contract as a part of a re-built bottom-six forward group in that is one of the reasons the Penguins were on the outside looking in last year. Nieto spent time mixed between San Jose and Colorado, but in both locations, he was a strong defensive forward and took great care of the puck. Nieto plays strong in wall battles and comes away with pucks that elongate possession. His defensive impacts were good for the 91^st percentile of NHL forwards and that is felt even more on the penalty kill where he reduced Colorado’s expected goal against rates by over two goals per hour upon arriving there. Nieto is a 200-foot player that should provide a huge boost to a Penguins bottom-six that needed to be deployed in a careful and particular fashion last year. From a possession and expected goals perspective, Nieto had an uncharacteristically rough go from the perspective of controlling the play. As a member of the Sharks, he had the fourth highest rate of shots off of the forecheck and cycle per the All Three Zones project. Pittsburgh will be hoping he can replicate those results and continue his defensive impacts in their bottom six for the upcoming season.

Defense

Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson is coming off of a Norris Trophy winning season that produced offensive results the likes of which we have not seen in some time. He crossed the 100-point threshold in remarkable fashion and exhibited a high level of manipulation with the puck on his stick, devastating opposing skaters and goaltenders alike. In All Three Zones data, Karlsson found himself in the 100^th percentile for primary assists, scoring chance assists, neutral zone shot assists, shot contributions, and defensive finishing, all at even-strength. Karlsson’s defensive impacts are notoriously poor as he’s deployed and functions as more of a “fourth forward” than a defenseman. This isn’t to say that Karlsson is inept defensively. He’s just more unavailable defensively. He has recoverability and gap control to be effective, he’s just usually off pinching somewhere or attempting to kick-start breakouts. Karlsson’s deployment in Pittsburgh should differ drastically from his deployment in San Jose as he’ll be sharing minutes with Letang. This should lessen the burden on Karlsson and give him one of Crosby or Malkin to play with on the forward side, giving him another generational talent to work with there. A repeat of 100+ points may be a big ask, but Pittsburgh can certainly provide the environment for him to make an honest attempt at it.

Kris Letang

Kris Letang is coming off a tumultuous year health-wise that ultimately ended with him receiving a Masterson Trophy for his battle against another stroke and his return to the lineup in the face of those challenges. This year, Letang will once again be a leader of both the team and the defensive group, albeit with a lot of fresh and notorious faces surrounding him. Letang’s previous legacy partner in Brian Dumoulin has moved on as the magic between them had clearly expired. Letang is still an offensive-minded defenseman who supports the play offensively among the league’s best defensemen. This is evidenced by his offensive impacts falling in the 90^th percentile of NHL defensemen last season. On the flip side, Letang struggled defensively and his decision making around joining in on offense was not as sound as previous seasons. This year, he will have a new partner in one of Ryan Graves or Marcus Pettersson and that should afford him an ability to act more innately on his instincts. Letang’s role on the power-play is now a question mark with the arrival of Erik Karlsson. Overall, despite age making its impact on his results, Letang is still an above-average offensive talent that can bolster a power-play and is still elite at retrieving pucks successfully in his defensive zone.

Marcus Pettersson

Marcus Pettersson was a calming influence on the Penguins blueline last season and posted strong defensive returns that by and large flew under the radar. Pettersson’s competence defensively coupled with his ability to calmly and effectively handle and shoot the puck put his projected WAR value for the season in the 91^st percentile of NHL defensemen. That is top line quality results and impressive given Pettersson’s unassuming nature on the ice. A strong skater with sound understanding of the game, Pettersson uses a long reach and gap control to manage zone entries well. Per the All Three Zones project, his success rate on zone exits put him in the 70^th percentile among defensemen, a trait you do not usually see among defensive-minded players. Pettersson showcased a lot of ability in distributing the puck last season as he reached a career high of 28 assists. His even-strength primary assist rate was in the 98^th percentile of NHL defensemen. He led the Penguins in blocks and had the second lowest expected goals against rate on the team. The assumption is that Pettersson may draw the assignment to play with Erik Karlsson, which will certainly be a test of his ability to maintain the defensive blueline and keep strong on-ice results in his own end.

Ryan Graves

Ryan Graves arrives in Pittsburgh via free agency, the first of two big moves from Kyle Dubas to revamp his defensive unit. Graves is a steady, consistent performance that typically showcases his best results defensively, although last year that was a different story. Graves is not a physical defenseman by any means but can handle the puck and use his stick to break up chances effectively. He traditionally has a low number of hits and last season per the All Three Zones project he was the definition of league average regarding his ability to exit the defensive zone with possession and retrieve the puck successfully. Graves is an active shooter that routinely pinches deep to garner high-quality scoring chances. His puck distribution isn’t his strong suit, and he was in the 8^th percentile among defensemen with regard to his ability to set up scoring chances with passes. Graves will likely be tasked with playing alongside Kris Letang and while that will certainly come with an increase of quality of competition, it should also lower the burden on him offensively. Overall, expect Graves to participate in every zone, support transition well, and provide a safe presence to the top six of the Penguins defensive group.

Goaltender

Tristan Jarry

The Pittsburgh Penguins finally did it – during the 2022-23 season, the perennial playoff team fell out of contention and missed the postseason for the first time since 2006, with starter Tristan Jarry’s “good enough” performance not quite hitting that milestone for the first time since he took over as the team’s number one. He wasn’t actively bad, but the aging core Pittsburgh trotted out combined with some ill-timed injuries and some surprisingly strong performances in the Metro out of Long Island and New Jersey to push both Pennsylvania teams onto the golf course a little early this year.

Jarry does an effective job bouncing back every time he puts up a year of slightly underwhelming numbers, and he’s never truly dropped into actively bad territory – which is good news for Penguins fans who hope the team will be able to retool and return to contention this year. But curiously enough, Jarry will have to head out into the crease this year as the far more reliable option – because he has a reclamation project in Alex Nejedlkovic joining him as his new tandem partner following Casey DeSmith’s departure.

Projected starts: 55-60

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – NHL Player Profiles

Jesse Marshall – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 21:12:57 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 10: Pittsburgh Penguins Left Wing Jake Guentzel (59) skates during the third period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 10, 2022 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby opted for surgery in September of 2021 in order to address a nagging wrist injury that had been bothering him over the course of several years. He did not make his season debut until October 30^th and went into the Covid-19 protocol immediately after, delaying his full return until mid-November. Having to play a bit of catchup with timing and conditioning post-surgery, Crosby scored just four goals through his first 18 games and was off to a bit of a slower start than usual. What followed was a tear of 27 goals in 53 games and a 1.35 points per game pace to end the season. Crosby has never finished a year below a point-per-game average, and it does not look like that’s going to change anytime soon. With the return of some of his familiar counterparts and a clean bill of health to his name, Crosby looks to get back to usual ways of \manipulating the pace of the game to create passing lanes that enable him to use his otherworldly vision and puck distribution abilities to his advantage. His connection with Jake Guentzel continues to evolve into a dynamic offensive partnership that enhances the work of both players regardless of the third wheel. While his game has evolved over time, Crosby is as lethal with the puck on his stuck as he has ever been. Head coach Mike Sullivan will continue to lean on the Crosby unit for his most difficult matchups and he aims to continue to be the main distributor of the top power-play unit. Crosby’s work in the boards and net front area with his low center of gravity and puck control abilities remain hallmarks of his game, while his backhand shot and pass from his flat blade continue to be as lethal as ever.

Jake Guentzel

It was a season of shaking narratives for Jake Guentzel. He showed he can perform without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, registering 10 points in 12 games to carry the Penguins in their absence. He also proved he can still get it done in the playoffs, registering 10 points in seven playoff games after a string of difficult performances in years prior. It was Guentzel’s second time cracking the 40-goal plateau and his first season over a point per game average. An elaborate offensive toolbox is becoming the hallmark of Guentzel’s game. He boasts an underrated shot with a deceptive release, high-quality puck distribution ability and understanding of the game that enabled him to hit a career-high 44 assists last season, and most notably a ghost-like ability to remain unmarked in the offensive zone. Guentzel has become the encyclopedia example of “Hockey IQ” as he exploits the smallest areas of time and space to his advantage. Guentzel’s shot-quality generation rates were 2^nd on the team behind Sidney Crosby. His 1.30 goals per 60 minutes at even-strength lead all Penguins last year. His consistency in finding the scoresheet was remarkable as he registered points in 20 of 21 games through December and January of 2021-22. Guentzel will look to build off this career year and will be granted every opportunity to do so alongside Sidney Crosby on the top line and power-play unit for the Penguins. A dynamic offensive talent, Guentzel’s toolbox seemingly gets deeper year after year. A bit of added muscle and weight was a boost to his game last year and should continue to pay dividends moving forward.

Bryan Rust

Bryan Rust has become one of the most dynamic offensive threats in the Penguins forward group and was rewarded for that in the offseason with a six-year deal worth a total of $30.75 million dollars. Deployed in any manner of situation at even-strength, Rust eclipsed the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season and his 58 points in the regular season was a career high. A utility-like presence in the top-six, the coaching staff has deployed Rust alongside both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for extended periods of time depending on the perceived need of the respective centers at any given moment. Rust continues to exhibit a high level of competency around carrying the puck into the offensive zone with possession and using that to generate shots and high-quality passing attempts to his teammates. A menace around the net-front area, Rust can be found in all the traditional goal-scoring areas. While he does not boast any one overwhelming skill offensively, his hockey sense combined with his quickness and nose for the net make him a menace in the offensive zone. His shot has developed a quick release with pinpoint accuracy. Rust repeatedly shows the ability to hit the net from awkward and compromised positions and had a high number of deflections from around the mouth of the net last year. Rust will look to establish a bit more in the way of consistency in the coming season. For instance, he registered 21 points in 10 games in January of 2022, but only 3 points in 13 games in April of 2022. His shooting percentage varied wildly over the course of the year, and he suffered some missed time due to injury. Overall, Rust has proven to be a valuable presence anywhere he appears within the top two lines.

Evgeni Malkin

Evgeni Malkin will look to take advantage of a clean bill of health going into this season as he was sidelined until January of 2022 as he recovered from summer knee surgery. He ended the year over a point per game in the regular season and rounded out at a goals-per-60 rate that was 2^nd on the team to Jake Guentzel. While his contract negotiation came down to the wire, Malkin re-signed a four-year, $24.4 million dollar contract extension to round out the return of the Penguins core for additional runs at a Stanley Cup. Malkin’s shot remains a high-powered howitzer and he continues to be a high-level puck distributor with quality puck distribution capabilities to his linemates. Power remains the essence of his game and despite his knee injuries he is still a strong skater with great lateral mobility despite some of his injuries. Malkin’s ability to carry the puck in the zone successfully has taken a hit in recent years and his bullish approach with the puck on his stick may require revisiting at his age. Service time has been another concern for Malkin. He enters this season with his knee surgery behind him and a full summer of a traditional training schedule. Malkin has made it very clear that when he is in the lineup, he is a force to be reckoned with at even-strength and on the power-play. It would not be unreasonable to expect a renaissance-like season from him if he can remain healthy. It is a safe bet to assume he will remain the de-facto quarterback on the Penguins top power-play unit.

Rickard Rakell

Arriving via trade in March of 2022 from the Ducks for Zach Aston-Reese, a 2^nd round draft pick, and goaltending prospect Calle Clang, Rickard Rakell played 19 games for the Penguins in the regular season finishing with 13 points and a variety of roles played throughout the lineup. When all is said and done, the expectation is that Rakell will appear somewhere within the Penguins top-six forward group this season, either alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. This sets Rakell up to have a year of career-highs in multiple offensive categories. Rakell’s time with Crosby last year proved to be most fruitful. Rakell played a wrecking-ball role in the vein of a Chris Kunitz on the top line, opening space in the tough areas of the ice for Crosby and Jake Guentzel to work their magic offensively. Regardless of what center he appears with; Rakell has shown a willingness to retrieve pucks and take advantage of the open space that can come with playing alongside one of Crosby or Malkin. Rakell also showed a penchant for individual scoring chance creation in his own right, showcasing some high-level stickhandling and puck-carrying capabilities in his time with the Penguins. Fresh off signing a new six-year, $30 million dollar contract, Rakell figures to be a fixture within the top two lines and second power-play unit of the Penguins. It would not be unreasonable to see his goal-scoring ability receive a significant bump this season given the change in his environment. While he may play a puck support and retrieval role, he will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his heavy wrist-shot playing alongside two playmaking centers.

Jason Zucker

Jason Zucker has simply not been able to stay in the Penguins lineup for any considerable period. He missed half of the regular season in 2021-22 and when he was in the lineup it was a story of being unable to convert prime scoring chances. Zucker finds himself in the right place at the right times and boasts some good numbers regarding zone entries and his ability to distribute the puck on the fly but has not been able to maintain any ability to deposit his chances in his time with the Penguins. Zucker is a strong skater with a great ability to angle away time and space and force the opposing breakout into bad decisions. His ability to retrieve pucks and gain the zone have been strong, but he has lacked an ability to effectively distribute the puck in the offensive zone and has struggled to get it into the hands of his teammates. His shot is strong, and his one-timer may be the hallmark of his offensive abilities. More than anything, Zucker needs to stay in the lineup and establish some level of consistency in his performances. His shooting percentage suffered immensely last year, and it is reasonable to expect that will change if he can remain a volume shooter. Zucker will be afforded the opportunity to crack the Penguins top-six forward group again this year this season. Remaining in the lineup will be the biggest focal point for Zucker as he has proven he is an extremely capable player that fits into the Mike Sullivan system despite his lack of availability. The scoring chances will be available to aid an increase to his finishing ability.

Danton Heinen

Danton Heinen is not a household name by any means, but he did a lot with a little ice time last year and controlled the game at even-strength for the Penguins. Heinen’s 57% share over the raw scoring chances while he was on the ice at even-strength put him top five among Penguin forwards in that regard. A volume shooter, Heinen’s approach to play was simple but effective for his first year in Pittsburgh. Heinen put up solid performances through all three zones in his debut year with Pittsburgh. His defensive play was sound, he boasted quality returns in moving the puck up ice and into the offensive zone of attack, and he ended the season on the cusp of the 20-goal mark with 18 total in all situations. Heinen returns to Pittsburgh on a one-year, $1.1 million dollar deal that reportedly saw him take less money in the face of more lucrative offers to remain with the Penguins. Heinen did not find the scoresheet with a lot of consistency last season and went through a few dry patches, but his utility in driving play, controlling most of the scoring chances in the game, and playing sound defensive hockey make up for any lapses he experiences in the scoring department. Heinen is a safe bet to repeat or hurdle last season’s performance given his environment and will continue to be used in a Swiss army knife fashion by Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff. That utility often includes appearances in the top-six forward group where he experiences success alongside Evgeni Malkin in particular.

Kasperi Kapanen

A great summation of Kasperi Kapanen’s dismal 2021-22 campaign is the fact that he scored two more points than he did the prior season in 39 more games. Kapanen took a step back across the board and struggled to find the back of the net with any level of consistency. While he gained the offensive zone with possession on a frequent enough of a basis, these were often fruitless ventures that saw him miss the net on poorly selected shots, bypass opportunities passing opportunities, or simply lose possession of the puck for a turnover. It was not just that Kapanen struggled to score, it is that the peripheral statistics of play-driving and controlling the game at even-strength were also unkind to him. There was a brief reunion between Kapanen and Evgeni Malkin once the latter returned the lineup from knee surgery, but the sparks never flew from a chemistry perspective and Kapanen ended up sliding down the lineup as his goal-scoring droughts grew more and more frequent. The expectation is that Kapanen will play more of a support role outside of the top six forward group this season and that may net him a level of competition and deployment that enables him to control the play more than he did last year. A better grasp of the even-strength game would net him a greater total of scoring opportunities to work his way out of his slump. Kapanen was brought back on a two-year contract at a $3.2 million average per year. He will need to out-pace his performance in 2021-22 in order to make his cap value worth it.

Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter’s initial impact for the Penguins upon arriving via trade from Los Angeles was stout and promising. Carter looked like a player renewed and that momentum carried over into the start of 2021-22. In the absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Carter stormed out of the gate as the top line center and general manager Ron Hextall responded with a two-year contract extension worth a total of $6.25 million dollars. Carter’s performance took a precipitous turn downhill from that point forward. Carter spent much of his even-strength ice time hemmed in the defensive zone. There was a struggle to consistently create offense and elongate shift time spent in the offensive zone. While Carter’s skating is not what it once was, it also is not a detriment to his game. He still possesses a tricky shot that is deceptive, hard, and difficult to track. Carter remains a difficult element to manage in front of the net and in the battle areas of the ice. He did not play a major role transitioning the puck out of the defensive zone or into the offensive zone. At his peak, Carter is a strong element on the cycle that can still take advantage of shooting opportunities in a variety of locations of the ice. The issue remains that his ability to control the play at even-strength has diminished in a significant fashion. Carter heads into the 2022-23 season at 38 years old. While he will not need to serve in the elevated role required of him last year due to injury, there’s hope that he can level his performance with mitigated minutes and sensical deployments.

DEFENSE

Kris Letang

It was a renaissance year for Kris Letang on the blueline for the Penguins. He set career highs in assists with 58 and total points with 68. He finished seventh in Norris Trophy voting in his 16^th year in the National Hockey League. Letang managed his highest ice time averages since the 2018-19 season and showcased his high levels of conditioning by playing over 25 minutes per night on average. Letang shot the puck a lot more than usual last year and landed among the top ten defensemen in the league with regards to gross shot volume, seemingly sacrificing power for accuracy in his shots to achieve that result. Despite the difficult nature of his deployments, Letang was able to control shot-attempts and raw scoring chances with a high level of regularity. A priority for management in the offseason, Letang signed a six-year contract worth a total of $36.6 million dollars that will likely round out his career as a member of the Penguins. Expect Letang to continue to be used in high leverage situations with a great deal of confidence from the coaching staff. He orchestrates most of the movement up ice on the breakout of the power-play. Letang’s skating is still the backbone of his game, and it enables him to take risks offensively and provide positive impacts to the teams’ offensive outputs as a result of that mobility and chance-taking. Letang’s defensive work in transition is not what it was once, but he maintains an aggressive gap in one-on-one situations. Letang shows no signs of slowing down and his training regimen has enabled him to play 78 games last season despite his big minutes.

Jeff Petry

Jeff Petry makes his way to Pittsburgh via a trade that sent defenseman Mike Matheson and a fourth-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for Petry and forward Ryan Poehling. The Penguins wanted to get bigger and more physical on the blueline and they accomplish that in Petry without having to sacrifice anything in the way of offense. Landscape wise, it is going to be a much different environment for Petry. He will likely feature in similar role at even-strength, playing a puck carrying role on the second defensive pairing. While he does not produce the same type of elite play-driving offensive results he once did, he is still extremely competent with the puck on his stick and is a boost to the teams’ offensive goals. He will have an opportunity to work steadily alongside Evgeni Malkin’s unit, giving him a high-quality offensive-minded center to work with. A potential partnership between Petry and Marcus Pettersson would give Petry a steady, defensive-minded partner to enable him to focus on offensive outputs and carrying the puck on the breakout. Petry is coming off a year where his goal-scoring and offensive performance took a hit. A new landscape should bring about a return to success offensively. He still has a powerful, accurate shot that he uses with a high level of regularity and will sneak low into the offensive zone to put it to use. Petry is still a strong skater that can defend forwards off the rush with a great deal of success. The Penguins will look for him to use his size to provide a stern presence in the home plate area of the net.

Brian Dumoulin

Brian Dumoulin will be returning to the lineup having suffered an MCL injury in the playoffs. That is a notable mention because Dumoulin has suffered a variety of lower body injuries over the course of the last several years that have seemingly impacted his mobility and ability to keep a strong gap in defensive coverage. Dumoulin’s hallmark, a strong style of skating with great individual defensive coverage in the neutral and defensive zones, has taken a hit over time and attrition has made its mark in his game. For the first time last season, Dumoulin was removed from Kris Letang’s side on the Penguins top defensive pairing. While that may not be a true harbinger of things to come, it is a testament to the theory that something seemed a bit off with the Penguins defensive guru last season. Dumoulin will look to enter the year healthy and shake some of the nagging problems that have bothered him over the course of the last few years. At his best, he is still a wet blanket over the other team’s best offensive forwards. His patient and reliable approach to defense enables his more offensively gifted counterparts to take chances and risks in the offensive zone. Dumoulin is not afraid to use the body, but physicality has never been the backbone of his defensive game. His strong skating and pivot-ability in transition, combined with his long reach and active stick, make him a difficult player to move past for transitioning forwards. Those will be the elements Dumoulin looks to recapture as last year was an inconsistent performance from in him protecting his own blueline.

Marcus Pettersson

Marcus Pettersson is becoming the Penguins even-strength defensive specialist. While his game lacks a lot of flash and offensive utility, Pettersson produces great returns in preventing defensive zone entries from opposing forwards and can competently move the puck into the hands of safety. His strong skating and heads-up approach to the game in the defensive and neutral zones gave him the ability to control the game at even-strength last season. Pettersson controlled over 54 percent of the quality shots taken while he was on the ice at even-strength. His offensive skills have never been the focal point of his game, but he is a competent passer who can handle and distribute the puck adequately enough to find himself in the assist column on a regular basis. Pettersson’s hallmarks are a strong defensive gap that he uses to keep opposing forwards in front of him. He is a strong transition skater and can manage quick changes from offense to defense in a hurry without losing himself in the fray of the game. He has a good shot that is accurate and well-placed albeit used infrequently. Pettersson took on an elevated role in the post-season from an ice time perspective and that may be a harbinger of things to come with Jeff Petry in the fold alongside him. While lacking the pizzaz of some of his counterparts, Pettersson brings a unique and necessary defensive-minded focus to the Penguins defensive core that is more well-known for its ability to join the rush and play offense.

GOALTENDING

Tristan Jarry

Every year, it seems like there’s a tertiary storyline floating around the NHL theorizing that this season will be the final season of Pittsburgh’s Crosby-Malkin window. But while they certainly don’t have Vezina-caliber goaltending at the helm under now-established starter Tristan Jarry, the Surrey, BC native certainly doesn’t get enough credit for what he does for the team.

Jarry has quietly racked up six years in net for the Penguins now, logging his heaviest workload yet this past year and performing perfectly up to expectations in the process. He quieted concerns that he was following the Matt Murray decline timeline by bouncing back soundly from his mediocre 2020-21 season, posting a .919 save percentage and logging quality starts in over 62 percent of his games. The biggest contributor to his return to form was his consistency; while he had been sitting well above average in his quality start percentage the year prior as well, Jarry eliminated the stretches of poor performances by seeming to clean up his ability to get rattled by bad goals. He posted one fewer game with a sub-.850 save percentage than he had recorded the year prior, despite playing in nearly twenty more games – and while a closer look at his overall numbers from the last few seasons reveals that he never fell out of the top half of performers in the league, he shot back into the top ten with the outcomes he posted last year in particular. Now, he’ll get a chance to show that he can repeat that success for the Penguins this year, which could be one of the last years that Casey DeSmith backs him up before the team potentially takes a look at what a younger option like Joel Blomqvist to be his number two.

Projected starts: 55-60

Dis-Pens-Ed – Pittsburgh Penguins 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:43:00 +0000

REVIEW-STATE OF PLAY - After two straight Stanley Cup championships, the Penguins followed up with their third straight 100-point season but bowed out in the second round. They remain a perennial threat with two of the best centerman in hockey in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who finished fourth and tenth in scoring. They were joined by Phil Kessel tying for seventh giving the Penguins three top ten scorers. The Penguins topped 100 points with a torrid final half of the season for the third straight season under Mike Sullivan. They were 28-11-3, fourth in the league and the best offense with 161 goals in the final 41 games. Helped by a franchise record setting power play, converting on 27.6% of opportunities, second only to Toronto, eclipsing mark from 1995-96, on a team featuring Lemieux and Jagr.

DEFENSIVE EXPOSURE - The playoffs exposed some concerns on defense and Matt Murray returned to earth last season, his first as the undisputed starter, in a difficult season punctuated by personal tragedy (the death of his father) and injury (concussion). His spot was covered by two rookie goaltenders in his absence in 23-year-old Tristan Jarry, (23-14-16, 2.77 GAA, 0.908 SV%) who could probably use more time in the AHL. 26-year-old Casey DeSmith may be more likely to enter the season as backup appearing solid in 14 games (14-11-6-4, 2.40 GAA, 0.921 SV%) and two seasons in the AHL. A battle to watch in training camp.

Their defense was exposed against both Philadelphia and in their loss to eventual cup winners Washington. The allowed more than four goals in six of the 12 contests, losing five of those games. Their only off-season move of any significance was to sign Jack Johnson to a five-year contract at $3.25 million AAV. 31-year-old Johnson is looking to revive his career which stalled in Columbus, seeing time as a healthy scratch down the stretch last season. They also moved out salary cap in shipping out Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick in a trade but still have precious little room for more moves. Do not count out crafty GM Rutherford from doing something more, since his only other significant signing was veteran and Penguin alumni Matt Cullen for a depth role.

Sidney Crosby

BIG GUNS SPREAD OUT - Upfront they keep their big guns on separate lines with net front beast Patric Hornqvist and speedy Carl Hagelin lining up with Malkin. Crosby and Jake Guentzel work largely as a tandem, with Bryan Rust or departed Sheary last season, but look for 21-year-old Daniel Sprong to get a good look on the wing there.

Phil Kessel was tried with Malkin often early in the season but was lined up most frequently with Derick Brassard, acquired at the trade deadline, and an assortment of wingers by the end of the year. Brassard struggled with injury according to GM Rutherford and will be interesting what a full season can bring for the tandem. His ice time dropped by over three minutes a game going from Ottawa to Pittsburgh and will not see a lot of power play time. Kessel has been mentioned in trade rumours again this summer and would bring a nice package and perhaps the answer they are looking for on the back end.

Not a lot of change upfront, but they remain one of the most impressive forward groups in the NHL. While the lines are defined coach will put the superstars out together in key situations. They benefitted from a healthy season from Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, both of whom had more than their share of health issues over the years.

Crosby is still in the argument as the best player in the game. His monster playoff last year (12-9-12-21) spoke volumes about what he is still capable of. While he is your captain your goal is always the cup.

The defense is the area of concern, assuming Matt Murray returns to form after an off season, but is fairly set heading into the season. They have five defenders signed up for the next three seasons, and four for the next four seasons. Letang, Jamie Oleksiak, Brian Dumoulin, Olli Maatta, and Johnson with Justin Schultz signed for two more. The Penguins have always been one of the best teams in the league for developing prospect who play as regulars on the NHL club, which is remarkable given how few high draft picks, or indeed draft picks, they have had over the years. The establishment of Dumoulin and Maatta as NHL regulars and reliable contributors was an important development for the organization and allowing them to stay competitive. Maatta was finally healthy last season after a few health scares in his career.

The defense is led by the inimitable Kris Letang, both an offensive force, and solid defender. When healthy one of the most dynamic defenseman in the league. An intuitive connection to Crosby and Malkin and always deadly when the three of them are on the ice. He has bravely fought serious injury and come back time and again.

OUTLOOK - Fourth in goals per game, 20^th in goals against, 23^rd in save percentage are all indicators of a team that is reliant on elite level offense to convert a loss to victory. The offense will remain, but can the young defense take another step forward and provide solid play? Will Rutherford make moves, if not in the pre-season then at the deadline? A good season from Matt Murray and they will be a threat for the championship regardless.