34-36-12 80 points (7th Atlantic, 13th conference, tied 24th overall)
2.95 GF/GP, 18th; 3.50 GA/GP, 29th
25.8 PP%, 6th; 77.6 PK%, 18th
Key losses: Coach Mike Sullivan, G Alex Nedeljkovic
Key additions: Coach Dan Muse, F Anthony Mantha, F Filip Hallander, D Matt Dumba, G Arturs Silovs
Expected lineup:
Rutger McGroarty - Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin – Rickard Rakell
Tommy Novak - Kevin Hayes – Philip Tomasino
Ville Koivunen– Filip Hallander – Justin Brazeau
Kris Letang – Ryan Graves
Erik Karlsson – Owen Pickering
Mathew Dumba – Parker Witherspoon
Tristan Jarry
Arturs Silovs
Joel Blomqvist
PP1: Malkin – Crosby – Rakell- Karlsson - Rust
PP2: Mantha – McGroarty – Tomasino – Koivunen - Letang
5x5:
Pittsburgh’s goal production declined 11 goals year over year. That, however, doesn’t tell the full story. The Penguins’ power play might have been the best aspect of their team last season, their even-strength output, not so much.
Defensively, the team was a wreck in all situations. Tristan Jarry was so bad, he ended up back in the minors. Alex Nedeljkovic did his best to stem the tide, though he too was not fully up to the task. Pittsburgh brought in two new blueliners and Arturs Silovs to try and remediate this weakness.
The names up front are well-known, led by Sidney Crosby, who doesn’t age, and Evgeni Malkin, who has. Bryan Rust is still very effective while Rickard Rakell had a career-best campaign. Anthony Mantha, new to Pittsburgh, is a veteran, as is Kevin Hayes and Danton Heinen. Several of those names could be elsewhere next season as the Penguins start their transition and youth movement.
Heading up that youth movement will be Rutger McGroarty, who came over from Winning for Brayden Yager. Right behind or next to McGroarty is Ville Koivunen, who had an impressive eight-game trial last season with the Penguins. Phillip Tomasino is a four-year vet but just 24 while Filip Hallander returns after two years in the Swedish Hockey League, though has played just three games with the Penguins.
The blue line is also largely made up of veterans, though this is an area where youth may be inserted, especially if trades are also made. Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson run the defense. Ryan Graves has taken a few steps backwards as has Mathew Dumba. Owen Pickering could develop into a shutdown defenseman while Parker Witherspoon could get a chance at a full-time role after coming over from Boston. Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea have a chance t slot in for Graves or Dumba.
PP
Pittsburgh’s power play benefits from the presence of Crosby, bold statement, I know, whose wouldn’t. He led the team with 12 power play goals and 15 helpers, followed in goals by Rakell, who had nine. Malkin still can be dangerous while Muse will have to decide if Karlsson, whose prowess 5-on-4 has declined or Letang should man the point on the first unit. After a poor 2023-24 campaign, this unit was dangerous throughout the season.
McGroarty and Koivunen could get a look on the second unit. Mantha was good on the PP in 2017-18 and 2018-19 but has fallen off since then. He may get an initial chance, replaced by Kevin Hayes or Tommy Novak if he struggles. The loser of the battle for the point on the first unit with quarterback this grouping. David Quinn, who ran the power play is now in New York, so a slightly tweaked system may also be implemented.
The penalty kill took a massive step backwards, dropping from 11th in league at 80.7 per cent to 77.6 and 18th overall. A new system manned by different personnel will probably be in place this season, as Muse puts his stamp on the team. Your goalie is your best penalty killer and that certainly was not the case last season
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.