Elite Defender Needs To Step Up on Penguins Power Play
The Pittsburgh Penguins are still looking for someone to step up on the power play and Erik Karlsson is the perfect candidate.
While it’s still the early stages of the 2023-24 season, there are some clear dark spots appearing around the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Through nine games of the season, the Penguins sit in dead last in the Eastern Conference forcing a huge uphill battle for the next few weeks.
One area of concern in particular has been the lack of success on the power play, a group that had extremely high expectations.
Heading into their most recent contest against the Anaheim Ducks, the Penguins had only scored twice on the man advantage in 20 opportunities.
Thankfully, they picked up two more against the Ducks to improve their status, but things could still use some shaping up.
Erik Karlsson stated a little big ago that he feels someone needs to step up on the power play unit and take charge.
The first power play unit carries, Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, and currently Reilly Smith.
Of those players, it should be Karlsson that takes charge and steps up as the quarterback of the power play.
Karlsson is one of the most skilled offensive defenseman in the NHL and has a knack for making impossible passes look easy.
Aside from that one interception that cost the Penguins the game against the Ducks, Karlsson is the perfect choice to take charge.
Not only is Karlsson a phenomenal play maker, he’s the highest paid player on the team and deserves a chance to prove his worth.
He’s looked better than expected on the defensive side of the puck, but everyone is waiting to see what kind of offense he can really bring to the Penguins.
Sure, Crosby and Malkin are the franchise icons, but Karlsson can easily be considered a piece of the ‘core’ in no time.
The Penguins can’t keep waiting around for their special teams to wake up, either; if they had a solid power play through the first nine games, they probably aren’t in the position they’re in now.
This is the perfect time for Karlsson to step up and become that leader, too; the Penguins are in San Jose to take on his former team in the Sharks.
Karlsson wants to create some new memories in San Jose, and a few power play points might be a perfect answer.
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