Former Penguins To Watch in Second Round of NHL Playoffs

The Pittsburgh Penguins will see a number of former friends continue playing as the NHL postseason hits the second round.

The first round of the NHL Playoffs went on without the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time since 2006 and it was one of the best rounds of hockey in recent memory.

With eight teams remaining and the second round set to get underway, there are still a fair amount of former Penguins vying for the Stanley Cup.

Of the eight teams remaining, the Dallas Stars are the only team to not feature a former Penguin.

The Florida Panthers have two-time Cup champion Patric Hornqvist, but he’s been on long-term injured reserve since early December.

Jared McCann, Justin Schultz, Daniel Sprong, Brandon Tanev, Jamie Oleksiak

In somehow not the biggest upset of the first round, the Seattle Kraken knocked off the defending champions in a seven game series, and lost their offensive leader along the way.

Former Penguins Jared McCann led the Kraken in points with 70 (40G-30A) in the regular season, but was taken out of Game 4 after a late hit from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.

The rest of the Kraken rallied together and former Penguins had their fingerprints all over the series win.

Justin Schultz turned back the clock and picked up five points; Daniel Sprong and Brandon Tanev play a huge role in one of the most productive fourth lines in hockey each with a goal and an assist.

Jamie Oleksiak also recorded a goal and an assist in the opening round, and is set to battle against his other former team in the Stars.

Cody Ceci, Nick Bjugstad

Sure, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard led the way for the Edmonton Oilers in their opening round win, but a pair of former Penguins helped where they could.

Cody Ceci picked up an assist while averaging well over 20 minutes of ice per game.

Nick Bjugstad was one of the hottest commodities around the NHL trade deadline, and he’s already helping out with the Oilers’ depth; he scored a pair of goals in the six-game series.

The Los Angeles Kings weren’t an easy out, but the Oilers advance to Round Two and remain one of the favorites to win the whole thing.

Teddy Blueger, Phil Kessel

There may be a pair of former Penguins on the Vegas Golden Knights, but they weren’t utilized very much against the Winnipeg Jets.

The Golden Knights made quick work of the Jets by taking the series in five games, but Phil Kessel and Teddy Blueger combined for two points.

Both of those points were assists from Kessel who only played in four of the five games and Blueger was a healthy scratch all series.

It’s hard cracking the lineup in Vegas; they’re playing with a roster that goes well past the salary cap limit and there just isn’t room for everyone.

Game 5 against the Jets was Kessel’s first game missed since Halloween of 2009.

Matt Murray, Sam Lafferty, Zach Aston-Reese

For the first time since 2004, the Toronto Maple Leafs won a playoff series and advanced to the second round.

They did so also with next to no help from former Penguins, despite having a two-time Cup winning goalie in Matt Murray, and depth options in Sam Laffery and Zach Aston-Reese.

Murray looked at his move to Toronto as a chance to get his career back on track, but more injuries forced him to miss the start of the postseason.

Lafferty and Aston-Reese both played in the first five games before being healthy scratched ahead of the deciding Game 6.

The two combined for two points with Lafferty assisting on an Aston-Reese goal in Game 2.

Jordan Staal, Stefan Noesen

The Carolina Hurricanes found a way past the New York Islanders despite not having multiple key forwards and some questions in net.

As for former Penguins on the Hurricanes, Jordan Staal and Stefan Noesen continue to be important cogs of their machine.

Staal has been the captain for five seasons and continues to be one of the best leaders in hockey; he’s recorded a pair of assists so far this postseason.

Meanwhile, Noesen has been one of the Hurricanes’ best forwards in a low-scoring first round against the New York Islanders.

Noesen put up four points (2G-2A) in the six game series including the game winning goal in Game 1.

John Marino

In 2012, the New Jersey Devils lost in the Stanley Cup Final; they’ve only made it to the postseason one time since then.

The Devils were one of the most unexpected teams in the 2022-23 season, yet it still seemed like an upset when they defeated the New York Rangers in seven games.

Former Penguins defender John Marino was one of the Devils’ best players all series, too.

Not by showing up as an offensive defenseman, but leading the team in time on ice, with 22:57 per game, and not turning into a liability.

Marino also set up a huge goal in Game 7 that arguably sealed the series for the Devils.

Dancing his way through multiple Rangers before keeping the play alive and quickly finding Tomas Tatar.

Penguins fans don’t have the benefit of watching their favorite team in the postseason, but as the second round commences, there are plenty of Pittsburgh finger prints all over the place.

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