Fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins want change, and even if they reach the playoffs, those changes are still on the horizon.

PITTSBURGH -- The season continues to trend downhill for the Pittsburgh Penguins and with their chance at the postseason slipping away, a lot of questions are being asked.

Sure, many of those questions revolve around the front office, ownership, and team, but there are some asking if the Penguins even deserve a spot in the playoffs.

It’s fair to say that missing the postseason for the first time in nearly 20 years would be a wake-up call, but a team is always better off when they have more meaningful games to play.

For the 2022-23 Penguins, making the postseason would be a win/win situation; fans want to see meaningful change, but also want the best for the core group of players.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are having phenomenal seasons, but general manager Ron Hextall has done next to nothing to give them the help they need.

Chants of ‘fire Hextall’ have been heard multiple times at PPG Paints Arena, and for good reason.

As of right now, the Penguins are not a team built for the playoffs, they don’t have the depth that can push them over the edge and make a deep run.

If the core can carry this shell of a team into the postseason, it’s likely another first-round exit is in order.

That would mark the fifth consecutive season the Penguins failed to win a playoff series and should mark the end for Hextall as Penguins’ GM.

With any luck, the new face in the front office will see the flaws created by Hextall and carry out those sweeping changes needed to improve the team in the final years of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang.

Those same changes happen even if the Penguins miss the playoffs, so why not play a few extra games?

If the Penguins make it in and shock the world by winning a round, well then clearly something went right and they’ve broken through for the first time since 2018.

Anything is possible in the playoffs, if the Penguins reach the second round, that means they’ve knocked off either the Boston Bruins or whoever takes the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.

There’s also the in-game experience; there is legitimately nothing like playoff hockey.

No matter how good or bad the team is, there’s always something special about being at a playoff hockey game, especially in Pittsburgh where the dial is turned up to 11.

What real fan doesn’t want to see their team win? Regardless of team skill or what part of the season, no fan should watch a game wanting to see their team lose.

Let’s also not undersell how important the streak is; 16 straight postseason appearances is already the longest active streak in North American sports.

If you can extend that by one more year, then build a better team with a new GM the following year, suddenly there isn’t just the 17^th season.

The streak could easily extend to 18, 19, and even a coveted 20^th year under Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and whoever takes over up top.

The Penguins have what it takes to make the playoffs, and if everything goes right, they can win a round or two.

It won’t be easy and the road continues to get more difficult, but the Penguins are better off making the postseason.

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