Penguins Midseason Grades: Several F's at Midway Point
In the first half of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have coasted on the backs of their best players.
PITTSBURGH— After an overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Pittsburgh Penguins are now in the second half of the 2023-24 season. It’s been an up and down year for the Penguins so far. Between overhauling the roster, injuries, and scoring slumps, it’s impressive that the team is on pace for 92 points and within reach of a playoff spot. How does the team grade at the halfway point?
Grade: A
Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Marcus Pettersson, Alex Nedeljkovic
The top of this list shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. The offensive load is being carried by the duo of Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, and both could sniff the 100 point mark.
On defense, Marcus Pettersson's game has evolved and he's proven himself to be a top four defender who can play with any partner. And in goal, Alex Nedeljkovic has re-found his game and posted a record of 8-3-2 in 15 appearances.
Grade: B
Tristan Jarry, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Drew O'Connor, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust
The Penguins' best players have mostly been their best players in 2023-24. Malkin, Rust, and Letang are continuing to play at a high level. Newcomer Erik Karlsson has performed as expected on offense and is even chipping in more on the defensive side of the puck as well. Starting goaltender Tristan Jarry has hit some stumbling blocks in the first year of his long-term deal, but overall he's been a top-15 goalie in the league. His newly formed duo with Nedeljkovic is proving to be one of the better ones in the NHL.
The only surprise on this list is youngster Drew O'Connor. The 25-year-old is already having a breakout year in every offensive category, and he's finding success playing on Malkin's wing when given the chance. On pace for 10 goals and 30+ points, O'Connor is finally reaching the potential the Penguins envisioned for him when they signed him out of college.
Grade: C-
Lars Eller, John Ludvig, Valtteri Puustinen, Rickard Rakell, Chad Ruhwedel, Reilly Smith
Highlighting this underachieving group are three veteran forwards: Lars Eller, Rickard Rakell, and Reilly Smith. Eller has been exactly as advertised, with 13 points in 41 games. He's been fine as a third line center, but hasn't made the difference when it counts.
Rakell started the season in a terrible way, going goalless over the first month of the season and then missing time due to injury. Upon his return, he's looked like the forward the Penguins extended to a multi-year deal, but has major ground to cover to make up for his poor start.
The biggest disappointment of the bunch is Smith. Seen as a sneaky, but impressive trade acquisition this past offseason, Smith's failed to be a true impact player with the Pens. He's on pace for a 40-point campaign, but he's gone radio silent over the last few weeks and is now out for an undisclosed amount of time with an injury.
Grade: F
Noel Acciari, Jeff Carter, Ryan Graves, Jansen Harkins, P.O. Joseph, Matt Nieto, Radim Zohorna
The biggest group is the one you want the least amount of folks in, but the Penguins have far too many players not contributing enough. Unfortunately, the list starts with three off-season signings by Kyle Dubas. All of Noel Acciari, Matt Nieto, and Ryan Graves have been massive disappointments in their first half seasons in Pittsburgh. Graves is the one that really hits hard as he's signed for five more seasons at a sizable cap hit.
The other noticeable member of this bunch is young defender P.O. Joseph. He's been an up-and-coming player for a few seasons now, but he's still unable to make that jump and stick at the NHL level. He's been a healthy scratch frequently, and while his speed and vision with the puck are impressive, he just can't hold his own in the defensive end against tougher opponents.
Looking forward to the second half of the season, the Pens need more from the lower half of their lineup. They've been carried by the 5-on-5 play of their top two lines, but it won't be enough to carry them to any meaningful success. Crosby, Guentzel, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson should all continue their impressive play in the second half, but it only guarantees another early summer without more production throughout the lineup.
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