Penguins 2023-24 Projections: Keys and Worst Case Scenario
What the Pittsburgh Penguins need to do to exceed early projections and predictions.
With the arrival of the 2023-24 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to exceed the expectations set upon them.
If you ask The Hockey News’ Kevin, the Penguins are projected to finish fourth in the Metropolitan Division.
A new season is ready to get underway and here are some of the biggest factors for success in the new year.
Projected Metro Finish
1- Carolina Hurricanes
2- New York Rangers
3- New Jersey Devils
4- Pittsburgh Penguins
5- New York Islanders
6- Washington Capitals
7- Columbus Blue Jackets
8- Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Last year: 40-31-11, Fifth in Metropolitan Division (Missed playoffs)
2023-24 projection: Fourth in Metropolitan
Keys to Season
1 – Tristan Jarry returning to form
One of the biggest gambles taken by the Penguins this offseason was handing a five-year extension to starting goalie Tristan Jarry.
While no one is doubting the kind of skill Jarry has between the pipes, plenty of questions have been asked about his health.
If Jarry can stay healthy and maintain consistency in net, then there is no reason why he couldn’t backstop the Penguins into the postseason.
2 – The Erik Karlsson Effect
It was arguably the biggest move of the offseason across the NHL, the Penguins adding Erik Karlsson to their blue line in a massive three-team trade.
Adding Karlsson has been one of the most divisive moves this offseason, but the team believes the upsides will far outweigh whatever downsides may follow.
It’s unlikely that Karlsson matches his 101-points campaign from last season, but anything north of 75 will be the best offensive production the Penguins franchise has seen since the 1990s.
3 – A much improved bottom six
One of the biggest drawbacks of the 2022-23 Penguins was the third and fourth lines unable to do anything on the ice.
The group couldn’t score, they could barely play defense, and they left most games up to the top six to handle.
This time around, the Penguins have a far superior depth group of forwards that should do wonders for the Penguins as a whole.
Most likely scenario
For the Penguins, the outcome of the year most likely to happen is that the core puts together another great season, Karlsson does his thing on the back end, Jarry finds some footing and the team reaches the postseason, but that’s about it.
The Penguins are definitely a playoff team, but without seeing any real game action, they don’t have the pizzazz to go on that one last run.
They are a hungry and hopeful group, however, that could very well find themselves on a Cinderella run if they make the dance.
Worst-case scenario
Normally, injuries follow the Penguins around like a shadow, and for the most part, last season felt different.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin played in all 82 games and were the two best players on the roster.
If those two get hurt, thing could quickly get ugly in Pittsburgh; even uglier if Jarry falls back into his pattern from last year.
The Penguins are a much better team than they were in 2022-23, but if the key guys struggle to stay healthy, it won’t matter; they need the core to be healthy and performing.
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