For the first time in the Sidney Crosby era the Pittsburgh Penguins are predicted not to make the playoffs. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have played together nineteen seasons. They have won three Stanley Cups. They made the playoffs their first seventeen years playing together but they have missed the past two seasons. They missed by only two points last season. If the Penguins want to make the playoffs this season they need to improve in a few key areas. They needed to improve their dismal powerplay. Their powerplay was filled with four Hall of Famers, the Big Three and Erik Karlsson yet finished thirtieth in the league. 
The Penguins also need to improve their record in overtime and shootouts. Pittsburgh needs more consistent goaltending from Tristan Jarry. They also need to replace Jake Guentzel’s scoring. Former NHL Head Coach David Quinn was brought in to coach the powerplay. Guentzel’s production will hopefully be filled by committee. Jarry will either play to his potential or be replaced by capable backup Alex Nedeljkovic.
Forwards- Sidney Crosby while already on hockey’s Mt Rushmore is still a top five center in the NHL. Bryan Rust is Crosby’s trusted right wing. He’s the only Penguin besides the Big Three who played on last two Cup teams of 2016 and 2017. Drew O’Connor came into his own last season on Crosby’s left side after Guentzel was traded. Malkin is the second line center. While Geno is not near his Hall of Fame prime, he still shows flashes. Malkin puts up good numbers for a second line center. Critics harp on Malkin’s age but his play is sufficient for his contract. Malkin’s right winger Rickard Rakell has not lived up to his contract. Rakell is not a great fit on Malkin’s line but it’s the only spot for him. The pesky Michael Bunting is a perfect fit on Malkin’s line. Straight line players bring out the best in Malkin as opposed to floaters like Rakell. The bottom two lines look to provide more physicality than the Penguins have had in a long time. The also should score a few goals. The Penguins have had an embarrassing lack of scoring in their bottom six since the Cup teams. The third line center Lars Eller is a prototypical checking center. He can also provide some offense. Left Wing Jesse Puljujarvi finally looks healthy. He may finally live up to his pedigree after an impressive camp. Rutger McGroarty also had an impressive camp. The highly touted prospect who came over from Winnipeg will start the season in Pittsburgh. The Penguins 4th line will consist of large men. Kevin Hayes, Noel Accairi and Cody Glass are big and capable of chipping in a few goals. Anthony Beauvillier and Valtteri Puustinen are extra forwards who have speed and decent hands. Prospects Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen will start in the AHL but could see time with the NHL club before the holidays.
Defensemen- Kris Letang was having one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career until the last six weeks of the season when he played the worst hockey of his career. Erik Karlsson was okay, but definitely not what the Penguins hoped for when the traded for the reigning Norris Trophy winner with a ten-million-dollar contract. Marcus Pettersson is the Penguins best defensive defensemen. After the Penguins top three defensemen there more questions than answers. Ryan Graves was awful last year and has looked just as bad in camp. Graves has a huge contract but may not be one of the ten best defensemen in the organization. Matt Grzelcyk was acquired over the summer. Grzelcyk needs to play better they he did last year in Boston. Jack St. Ivany will start the season in the top six. He was impressive at the end of last season. He gave the Penguins some much needed grit on the blueline. Ryan Shea also played well at the end of last season. Shea was steady but not as impactful as St. Ivany. Sebastian Aho will provide depth after an underwhelming camp. Harrison Brunicke had the best camp of any defensemen but is only eighteen. He was sent back to his junior team. Owen Pickering also looked good in camp but will start the season in Wilkes Barre.
Goaltending – Tristan Jarry is a two-time All-Star who lost his job at the end of last season to journeyman Alex Nedeljkovic. Ned starts the campaign on the IR so Jarry has a few weeks to prove he’s the Penguins franchise goalie again. The Penguin organization has good depth in net.  Joel Blomqvist will start the season backing up Jarry.
Sharks goalie Aaron Dell stops a shot by Sidney Crosby (87) – Photo by Jack Lima
Outlook – The Penguins have a tough October. Their first three games are against the Rangers, Red Wings and Leafs. They also have their Western Canada trip before Halloween. A good start is essential for this team which has faded due to age the last few seasons. A better powerplay, consistent goaltending and tertiary scoring are also needed if the Penguins are going to make the playoffs in a very mediocre Metropolitan Division. It would hard for Penguins Czar/GM Kyle Dubas to keep two- time Cup winner Head Coach Mike Sullivan after another disappointing season.
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