With Erik Karlsson added to the group, the Pittsburgh Penguins have unlimited potential with a man advantage.
With Erik Karlsson added to the group, the Pittsburgh Penguins have unlimited potential with a man advantage.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins added Erik Karlson to their lineup, questions were raised right away about who would take priority on the top power play unit.
The Penguins’ power play has been quarterbacked by Kris Letang since he broke through as an elite offensive threat, but what would his role be with another high-level scorer?
According to head coach Mike Sullivan, the two future Hall of Famers will share the top power play unit, at least to start the season.
If things go off the rails early, things will change, but that is at least how Sullivan sees the season starting for the power play.
Karlsson and Letang on the same unit should be enough of a headache for opposing teams, but then you add the forwards and it’s a whole new story.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are two obvious options; they’ve always led the Penguins power play from a forward’s perspective and that won’t change any time soon.
Jake Guentzel will be injured to start the season, but once he returns, he should slot right into his normal role as the net front presence.
When healthy, the Penguins are throwing five elite level talents over the boards on the man advantage.
Even without Guentzel, options like Byran Rust or Rickard Rakell should be great pieces.
With seemingly unlimited potential, how high can the Penguins power play rise?
The Penguins finished last season with a 21.72% success rate; 14th in the NHL and not up to snuff with where they should be.
Adding a name like Karlsson will certainly help the cause, and should definitely push the Penguins far past 21%.
They probably won’t push Edmonton Oilers’ type numbers from last year, which was a record setting 32.36%, but they should be hovering around the top five if not three in the NHL.
Normally every year, the Penguins should have one of the best power plays in the league, but with Karlsson added to the fold, it really should happen this season.
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