The Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly ready for the season, but there are still some lingering questions.

New president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas put in a ton of work to transform the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Despite huge upgrades to the lineup and a few changes to the front office, there are still a few questions that linger about what kind of 2023-24 season the Penguins will have.

Can the Core Still Perform?

After missing the playoffs for the first time since Sidney Crosby’s rookie season, there is no doubt he, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will be hungry to win again.

While the drive and motivation will be there, many still want to question if they have what it takes what it takes to win.

The core did all they could to push the Penguins in the right direction last year, but were held back by way too many underperformers.

Dubas addressed those needs for the team by revamping the bottom six and nabbing Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.

A new level of offense was added to the defense, but Crosby, Malkin, and Letang will still need to perform over the top for the Penguins.

Can Tristan Jarry be Trusted?

The biggest gamble taken by the Penguins this summer has to be giving goalie Tristan Jarry a five-year contract extension.

When the offseason started, it seemed as if Jarry would be finding a new home in the NHL and the Penguins would look for an upgrade.

As free agency opened, however, Dubas and the Penguins showed their trust by forking over $5.375 million annually to Jarry.

Where the real trust is shown towards Jarry, however, isn’t the dollar amount; it’s the fact that a new head of the front office joined the fray and he was given more than just a one or two-year deal.

Dubas replaced Ron Hextall and had every right to add Jarry to the lineup overhaul, but he stood pat on the two-time all-star.

Only time will tell how the contract plays out, but there is certainly a real trust and belief that Jarry is the guy for the Penguins.

How Long Will Jake Guentzel Be Out?

It won’t be fun starting the season without Jake Guentzel, but the team is hopeful it won’t be for long.

Dubas doesn’t have any plans of placing Guentzel on long-term injured reserve, which should be reassuring, but there is still uncertainty.

When the initial announcement was made, it was stated that Guentzel would be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

Exactly 12 weeks from that moment would have Guentzel being checked after missing the first seven games of the season.

Dubas later said he hopes Guentzel is only out for the first five; sure the two numbers are close enough, but does that mean he’ll be ready to play?

The initial statement said he would be re-evaluated, not guaranteeing an imminent return.

It’s hard to pin down, but it is at least certain Guentzel won’t be around to start the season.

The Penguins need to win often, but ideally need a hot start as to not fall behind in the standings, and not having Guentzel makes things a lot harder.

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