JFresh, one of the NHL's most viewed analytical social media accounts, projects the Pittsburgh Penguins to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The Pittsburgh Penguins finished the 2023-24 season with a 38-32-12 record and 88 points, missing the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season by three points.
Gone are Jake Guentzel and Reilly Smith, and in their place are Matt Grzelcyk, Anthony Beauvillier, and Blake Lizotte.
Today, JFresh, one of social media's most sought-after hockey accounts with some of the game's best analytical player cards, projected the Penguins to be even worse in 2024-25.
Now, a one-point drop from 88 to a projected 87 isn't that drastic, but with a handful of Eastern Conference teams significantly improving in the offseason, Pittsburgh is set to drop down a few spots in the overall standings.
Unsurprisingly, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes are still near the top of the Metropolitan Divison. Still, the New Jersey Devils could be the one to take the crown in the upcoming season.
For those who don't know, JFresh, who works for EPRinkside, provides in-depth player cards when someone signs or gets traded, garnering over 100,000 times with each post.
One of his latest cards was on newly signed Sebastian Aho:
So, Penguins fans, what do you think about the early projections? Are the black and gold in trouble, or are other teams' improvement estimates premature?
Let us know in the comments.