The Pittsburgh Penguins still have an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup, but it's a slim chance.

PITTSBURGH – When Kyle Dubas signed on to become the president and general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he took on a near impossible task. Dubas is focused on building a Penguins team that can vie for a Stanley Cup in the final years of the core, while building a young group of players that can carry the team in the future.

While that is a normal plan of action for any general manager, the Penguins have high expectations as guys like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang close out their careers. Can the Penguins bring one more championship to the City of Pittsburgh before they hang up the skates?

According to the Athletic, the Penguins have next to no shot of winning the Stanley Cup in the next five years. Sean McIndoe tabulated each NHL team’s chances of reaching the mountain top over the next five years and only two teams ranked below the Penguins.

The San Jose Sharks (3%) and Washington Capitals (4%) were ranked at the bottom of the barrel, but the Penguins filed in right with them at 5%.

“If they can make the playoffs this year, I wouldn’t want my team to face Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson and friends,” McIndoe writes. “But they may not even make it this year, and it’s hard to see them being much better next year.”

The Penguins are currently seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a 21-17-6 record and more than a few wins out of reaching a wild card spot. Thankfully, the Penguins have a few games in hand on most of the teams in the Eastern Conference, all they need to do is find some success with that advantage.

Moneypuck.com currently gives the Penguins 47.1% of reaching the postseason this year. The team is confident in their abilities and the 2023-24 season could truly be the final real chance for the core.

“…this window is closing like a guillotine.”

The odds aren’t in their favor, but if things can go their way at just the right time, the Penguins could be a dangerous force down the stretch.

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