What do the Penguins need to ask Santa for so the rest of their season can be a success?
Every NHL team has a wish list.
And for the Pittsburgh Penguins, their wish list has gotten a whole lot more interesting over the last month.
After appearing dead in the water for the first two months of the season, the Penguins have willed themselves right back into the thick of the playoff race. And with the holiday season upon us, there are several gifts they should be asking Santa for.
Here are five gifts the Penguins need from Santa this holiday season.
1. A clear direction for the franchise
The Penguins have had a roller coaster of a season so far, to say the least. During the first two months, they looked like a bottom-five team in the league. Over the last month, they've looked like a legitimate playoff contender.
GM and POHO Kyle Dubas seemed to have clear intentions of attempting a rebuild on-the-fly going into this season, and that's largely still true. But the Penguins can very well play their way more toward one direction or the other: Will they try to contend for a Stanley Cup as early as next season, or will they be more worried about what the team will look like without Sidney Crosby in 2030?
Consistency from this team in one direction or the other doesn't sound like too much to ask for regardless, though... right?
2. Marcus Pettersson's good health
Pettersson - the team's top left defenseman and best defensive defenseman - has been out since Dec. 14 with a lower-body injury and is currently week-to-week on injured reserve. The pending unrestricted free agent is not only looking to earn a relatively lucrative payday this summer, he's also a key part of the Penguins' defensive corps in the present.
It's imperative for Pettersson to get healthy as soon as possible for the Penguins - both to ensure that their recent winning stretch is more sustainable and to ensure that his trade value remains high. Pettersson is the team's most tradeable asset with value, and there are several teams across the league in need of blue line help.
In order to successfully execute a rebuild on-the-fly, the Penguins need to stockpile as many valuable assets as they can in the near-term without sacrificing the team's near-term future too much.
3. Sidney Crosby earning his point-per-game seasons record
To date, Crosby has already solidified himself as one of the greatest to ever lace up the skates. And although he is in or sniffing the top-10 all-time in several major statistical categories, he has yet to hold a significant NHL record all to himself.
That can change this season if he finishes 2024-25 at or above point-per-game, which would give him 20 consecutive seasons at point-per-game and break Wayne Gretzky's prior record of 19.
Not only would this record be the perfect indicative measure of Crosby's longevity and consistent greatness, it would also help solidify his legacy by finishing at the top of a major all-time list.
It also wouldn't be such a bad thing for the Penguins if their captain continues to produce at his customary rate.
4. More Philip Tomasinos
Tomasino, 23, had one point in 11 games in Nashville before his trade to the Penguins on Nov. 25.
Since then? He has four goals and five points in 12 games. The Penguins' 9-3-1 stretch coincided with the arrival of Tomasino, a former first-round pick and young forward who needed a change of scenery and a fresh start.
The Penguins could use more of these low-risk, high-reward types. The more youth with upside that they can inject into their lineup, the better off they will be - especially if the acquisition cost is a mid-round draft pick several years down the road that will likely turn into nothing of consequence.
5. One more Cup run for the core
This team may not be primed for a true Cup run this season. They are still missing several key pieces, they have struggled against their own division, and they still need to work toward getting younger and building for the future.
But crazier things have happened.
They have improved in some major areas of weakness in comparison to last season - areas such as the power play and overtime - and their team defense is starting to look better. They have also beaten some of the league's best and hottest teams within the last month during their winning stretch.
The Penguins would certainly be quite the underdog if they made the playoffs this season. But, counting out Sidney Crosby is never wise.
