{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/0UP686DX.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby share an agent, does that create a road to the Pittsburgh Penguins?", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/0UP686DX-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0UP686DX.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0UP686DX.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0UP686DX-PleLi0gz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 278916, "filesize": 2266194, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0UP686DX-TPyFHjSz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 382698, "filesize": 3109429, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0UP686DX-j3UGax3n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1224320, "filesize": 9947601, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0UP686DX-KwtrUhfG.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 114202, "filesize": 927895 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0UP686DX-hoWDbBur.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 390938, "filesize": 3176375, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0UP686DX-TcGp53GP.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 683825, "filesize": 5556083, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Pittsburgh Penguins are flying into the 2023-24 season with a number of new faces, but not many of them are new to the NHL." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Despite there not being much fresh blood in the Penguins’ lineup, there is still plenty of room for a few players to make a name for themselves." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The upcoming 2023-24 season will be an important one for the team, and these few assets could play a big role as breakout producers or role players." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Drew O’Connor", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Still awaiting a resolution for a new contract, Drew O’Connor finally logged some regular time with the NHL club during the 2022-23 season." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "O’Connor appeared in 46 games during last season and recorded 11 total points; those numbers aren’t staggering, but he isn’t the type of player that brings a threat of scoring." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "That could change heading into this new year, however, if O’Connor is a regular in the lineup from opening night, he’ll have far more opportunities to find the back of the net." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "He’ll likely still be playing a bottom-six forward role, but O’Connor will be more familiar with his surroundings and abilities and should be able to produce on both ends of the ice." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "O’Connor has a bright future in the NHL as a depth forward, and the 2023-24 season will be a perfect time to show what he’s made of." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Alex Nylander", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The skill is there, but can Alex Nylander gain and maintain a spot in the NHL? The competition will be there, but if he can take full grasp of his opportunities, this will be a make or break season for him." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "In nine games at the NHL level last year, Nylander picked up a goal and an assist, but got high praise from his teammates and coaches." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It was Nylander’s first sniff of NHL ice since the 2020 bubble playoffs, but it didn’t seem like he missed a single beat." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "With a new one-year contract signed, Nylander has another season to find consistency in the NHL and be one of the more underrated producers with the Penguins." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The added competition with other depth signings should bring the best out in Nylander and give him a real chance to play above the bottom-six group." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Noel Acciari, Lars Eller, Matt Nieto", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Clumping the three newest and most prominent depth forwards into one only makes sense for this list." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Penguins are excited about what each of Noel Acciari, Lars Eller, and Matt Nieto can bring defensively, but they don’t necessarily qualify for a ‘breakout’ label." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "What they will do, however, is add a ton of help to the bottom-six from a defensive standpoint." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "All over the age of 30, but ready for the new challenge on a Penguins team looking to get back into the race for the Stanley Cup." } }, { "id": "j3yyart5-h6by6pw5", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "playlist.megaphone.fm", "source": "https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=STRAB9547035523", "embed": "https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=STRAB9547035523", "caption": "", "height": "200", "width": "100%" } }, { "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": "The Penguins Are One of the Most Improved Teams in NHL" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Drew O'Connor Is Pivotal for the Penguins" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Current Penguins That Could Crack 2026 Olympic Rosters" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Does Jason Spezza Play a Role in Bringing Erik Karlsson to the Penguins?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Erik Karlsson Opens up About Trade Talks With Penguins" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube", "Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins" ] } } ] }

Penguins Breakout Candidates for 2023-24