{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/yL1mIzwy.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Erik Karlsson discusses why the Pittsburgh Penguins struggles on the power play during the 2023-24 season.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/yL1mIzwy-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/yL1mIzwy.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/yL1mIzwy.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/yL1mIzwy-PleLi0gz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 182, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 385670, "filesize": 3374621, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/yL1mIzwy-TPyFHjSz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 272, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 553531, "filesize": 4843404, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/yL1mIzwy-j3UGax3n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 724, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1289696, "filesize": 11284847, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/yL1mIzwy-KwtrUhfG.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 114445, "filesize": 1001401 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/yL1mIzwy-hoWDbBur.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 362, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 530515, "filesize": 4642011, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/yL1mIzwy-TcGp53GP.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 544, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 844632, "filesize": 7390534, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are officially in offseason mode as the NHL playoffs begin. With another postseason missed, finding positives or recognizing individual performances is hard. Still, some players put together impressive campaigns. So, let's look at how the Penguins graded in the 2023-24 season. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "A: Sidney Crosby, Marcus Pettersson, Bryan Rust, Michael Bunting", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Penguins are dangerously close to the days without Sidney Crosby, but this past season gave no indication his game is slowing down. Historical markers, comparisons, and accolades filled Crosby's season while he almost single-handedly dragged the Penguins to the postseason. The big question now is whether or not Crosby and the Penguins can hammer out a contract extension over the summer. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Marcus Pettersson and Bryan Rust also quietly had career years. Pettersson solidified himself as the best defensive player on the team and formed a solid pairing with Erik Karlsson. Rust set a new career high in goals, scoring 28 in just 62 games, and helped soften the blow of losing Jake Guentzel. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Michael Bunting softened the blow even more. Bunting was an excellent addition to a dejected Penguins team, putting up 19 points over 21 games after arriving at the trade deadline. The Pens must be ecstatic about seeing Bunting alongside Evgeni Malkin and Crosby over a full season. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "B: Evgeni Malkin, Drew O'Connor, Lars Eller, Alex Nedeljkovic", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Malkin headlines this group: the aging star had a respectable year at 37. He posted 27 goals and 67 points and played all 82 games. He's lost a step, but he's still an impressive second-line center. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Drew O'Connor had a breakout season at age 25, and it looks like he can be one of several young players ready to take the next step. He netted 16 goals and 33 points while seeing time throughout the lineup and playing consistent penalty-killing minutes. He's a 20-goal candidate in 2024-25. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "C: Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Jeff Carter, Tristan Jarry, P.O. Joseph, Valtteri Puustinen", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The big two on defense headline the middle of the pack. Letang is more understandably on this list after Kyle Dubas revealed he played the entirety of the season with a nagging injury. He collected 51 points over 82 games and played solid defense, but it was clear how little was left in the tank as the Pens battled for a playoff spot. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "His superstar counterpart in Karlsson, similarly had an up-and-down season. Sky-high expectations plagued his season, so a 56-point effort feels like a huge letdown. The real failure of his season, however, is the power play's abysmal performance. Brought to the team almost exclusively to revive the team with the man advantage, his presence did nothing to improve their special teams. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sometimes, okay is good, and that's the case for PO Joseph and Valtteri Puustinen. Puustinen made it clear he is a full-time NHL player, much like O'Connor did this season. With 20 points in 52 games, he's become a viable middle-six winger for the Penguins to count on next year. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "For Joseph, his end-of-season performance is a huge building block for the young defender. The beginning of this campaign was difficult and inconsistent for him, and he was sometimes watching from the stands. He ended up on the top pairing, playing the role Ryan Graves was designed to fill. It's unclear if he earned a top-four defensive role for next year or if he is on his way out of town, but he certainly salvaged what was nearly a career-devailing season. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Shoutout to Jeff Carter. In his final season in the NHL, he managed 11 goals and the second-highest faceoff-winning percentage in the league. His final goal was a special and memorable moment. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "F: Emil Bemstrom, Ryan Graves, Rickard Rakell, Reilly Smith, Matt Nieto, Noel Acciari, Jansen Harkins, Jesse Puljujarvi ", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Simply put, a large faction of Pittsburgh's lineup underperformed. Newcomers like Graves, Emil Bemstrom, and Reilly Smith never looked like fits and failed to make any true impact. Veterans like Matt Nieto and Noel Acciari couldn't stay healthy or help this team make a playoff push, which is why both were brought in. Players like Zohorna and Harkins are not NHL players, but they still saw 30+ games of NHL action. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The only player on this list who could rebound next season is Rickard Rakell. The dropoff from 28 to 15 goals this season is deeply concerning, but this season felt more like an anomaly than a sign of things to come. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jesse Puljujarvi only played in 22 games, but they were unimpressive. He scored three times, playing primarily on the fourth line. He is signed on the cheap for next season so that he may fare better with a full offseason with the team. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Overall, this season was a disappointment for the Penguins. They had some standout performances and made a strong effort in the last month of the season, but it didn't make up for a campaign filled with underachieving and failing to meet expectations. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Defenseman to Join Sweden at World Championship" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Looking For Multiple Bounce Back Performances" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Report: Veteran Forward Never Wanted to Join Penguins" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Former Penguins Forward Makes Hurricanes Championship Favorite" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Referee Injured During Penguins Game Returns for Playoffs" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube", "Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins" ] } } ] }

Penguins 2023-24 Season Grades