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 this season. The Penguins are a team that could now make a run at a wild card if Dubas decides to win. The penguins are now built up not to be out. Dubas was also able to ship talented veterans and the Penguins were able to fall into the Gavin McKenna Sweepstakes. The worst possible scenario for the Penguins is to fall short of the playoffs, but not at the bottom.
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 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 isn’t 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 certainly better than what he had to work with in recent 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 slots into the Mid-six as he returns from injury. The 3rd line is all ultra-skilled young people who are given the opportunity to prove themselves. #1 Pick Ben Kindel Centers Philip Tomasino and Tommy Novak who both came from Nashville last season. The 4th line is filled by Connor Dewar, Noel Accairi and Blake Lizotte. Accairi and Lizotte will hold spots until rookies Tristan Bro, Filip Hallander or Avery Hayes are deemed ready. All 3 seem ready now. Nuclear threat/enforcer Boko Imama will be the minors until he is required to be deployed.
The Penguins Blueline is not playoff worthy. Veteran Kris Letang remains on the Penguins’ back end. Hall of Famer Erik Karlsson appears to be getting at least some of his Norristophy Magic back. 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 defenseman in 2 consecutive training camps. He will 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 certainly capable of starting in the NHL now. The organization wants him to receive more professional herbs. The next best goaltender is Marc-Andre Fleury. Just kidding, although he did shine in his 1 -term retirement exhibition. Penguins fans will have to ride the goaltending rollercoaster for another season. Tristan Jarry will once again be the Penguins starting netminder. No one denies Jarry’s talent level. Everyone is questioning their level of competition. Jarry’s ability or lack thereof to give up the first target on the first shot is remarkable. Jarry’s leash will be short. Arturs Silovs is more than an adequate backup. Something Jarry hasn’t had in years.
The Penguins have a very good power play. Dan Muse is known for coaching fines. How quickly the youngsters progress and better than average goaltending, i.e. a Murashov callup, should have the Penguins sniffing out the play-offs. Where Rustl, Rackell and Karlsson are after the trade deadline will ultimately decide where the Penguins end up. Penguin fans are playoff or compete bust, not the alternative.
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