The Next Era in Pittsburgh Penguins hockey begins. The rebuild or retool is in full swing. The speed of the rebuild depends on what Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas ultimately wants out of this season. The Penguins are a team that if Dubas decides to win now could make a run at a wild card. The Penguins right now are constructed not to bottom out. Dubas could also ship out talented veterans and the Penguins could fall into the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes. The worst possible scenario for the Penguins is to fall short of playoffs but not bottom out.
Dan Muse takes over as Head Coach replacing Mike Sullivan. Sullivan won 2 Stanley Cups and had the most wins of any coach in Penguins history. While the trio with over 20 years of service and 3 Stanley Cups Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang remain on the team 2 rookie teenagers Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke will be on the opening night roster.
The Penguins forward group is certainly playoff caliber. The Immortal Sidney Crosby has shown no signs of slowing down. Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin is not what he once was but is still effective. Crosby’s wingers Rickard Rackell and Bryan Rust, who will miss the 1st 2 weeks with injury, give the Penguins an elite 1st line. Malkin’s 2nd line wingers will be mix and match but definitely better than what he’s had to work with the last few seasons. 2nd year winger Ville Koivunen has top 6 talent and shows flashes of brilliance. Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau are huge men. Gritty and skilled Rutger McGroarty places in the middle six when he returns from injury. The 3rd line is all ultra skilled youngsters getting a chance to prove themselves. #1 pick Ben Kindel centers Philip Tomasino and Tommy Novak who both came over from Nashville last season. The 4th line will be filled by Connor Dewar, Noel Accairi and Blake Lizotte. Accairi and Lizotte are holding spots until rookies Tristan Broz, Filip Hallander or Avery Hayes are deemed ready. All 3 appear ready now. Nuclear threat / enforcer Boko Imama will be the minors until he needs to be deployed.
The Penguins blueline is not playoff worthy. Veteran Kris Letang remains on the Penguins back end. Hall of Famer Erik Karlsson looks to regain at least some of his NorrisTrophy magic. Newcomers Parker Wotherspoon and Caleb Jones have been underwhelming in camp. Also new to the Penguins, veterans Matt Dumba and Connor Clifton have looked good in camp. It remains to be seen where they fit in the lineup. Holdover Ryan Shea is nothing more than a bottom 6. The real prize on the blueline is rookie Harrison Brunicke. He has been the best Penguin defensemen in 2 straight training camps. He will get to start the season on the opening night roster.
The Penguin organization’s best goaltender Sergei Murashov will start the season in the minors. He is definitely capable of starting in the NHL right now. The organization wants him to get more professional seasoning. The next best goaltender is Marc- Andre Fleury. Just kidding although he did shine in his 1 period retirement exhibition. Penguins fans will have to start another season on the goaltending roller coaster. Tristan Jarry will once again be the Penguins starting netminder. No one denies Jarry’s talent level. Everyone questions his compete level. Jarry’s ability or lack thereof to give up the 1st goal on the 1st shot is remarkable. Jarry’s leash will be short. Arturs Silovs is more than an adequate backup. Something Jarry has not had in years.
The Penguins have a very good powerplay. Dan Muse is known for coaching penalty kill. How quickly the young kids progress and of better than average goaltending i.e. a Murashov callup should have the Penguins sniffing the playoffs. Where Rust, Rackell and Karlsson are after the trade deadline will ultimately decide where the Penguins end up. Penguin fans are playoffs or compete bust not the alternative.
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