The Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs last season, but their postseason stay was short and they faded badly down the stretch. However, it must be remembered that their defence was decimated by injuries, so a healthy Penguins team could be considered better than last year’s fringe playoff team.

It starts up front, where the duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain a fearsome 1-2 combo down the middle, even if Crosby is coming off a down season and Malkin has had trouble staying healthy. They have some decent complementary wingers, as David Perron, Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz all have shown some touch around the net, but the Penguins raised the bar this summer when they acquired Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kessel is coming off a poor season, but is one of the game’s elite goal-scorers and joining the game’s premier offensive centre, Crosby, does present tantalizing possibilities.

Last season’s blueline injuries should be in the rearview, as Kris Letang and Olli Maatta are healthy. Derrick Pouliot is a promising prospect and Ian Cole is probably a little underrated. If veterans Ben Lovejoy and Rob Scuderi aren’t up to the job, Pittsburgh has several defencemen (including Tim Erixon, Adam Clendening and Brian Dumoulin) that have minor-league experience and are ready to challenge for NHL playing time.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has a less-than-sterling playoff reputation, though he’s been better in the last two postseasons and has been a better-than-average starter. He’s also durable, starting more than 60 games in each of the past six full campaigns.

Pittsburgh may need to upgrade on defence if they are going to be serious about a Stanley Cup run, but the talent they have in place does set them up to think seriously about that possibility.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

June 11: Winger Pascal Dupuis cleared to return after recovering from blood clots

July 1: Penguins bolster offence acquiring Phil Kessel from Maple Leafs

September 2: Penguins’ owners looking for record $750 million for team

 

2015-16 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

*Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lines

LW C RW
Pascal Dupuis Sidney Crosby Phil Kessel*
Sergei Plotnikov* Evgeni Malkin Patric Hornqvist
Chris Kunitz Nick Bonino* David Perron
Scott Wilson Matt Cullen Beau Bennett
  Eric Fehr* Bryan Rust

Fighting For Jobs: RW Bobby Farnham, LW Tom Sestito (PTO), LW Conor Sheary, C Oskar Sundqvist

 

Projected Pairs

LD RD
Olli Maatta Kris Letang
Derrick Pouliot Ian Cole
Rob Scuderi Ben Lovejoy
Brian Dumoulin  

Fighting For Jobs: D Adam Clendening*, D Tim Erixon*, D Sergei Gonchar (PTO)

 

Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Marc-Andre Fleury Jeff Zatkoff Matt Murray

Off-season Departures: C Brandon Sutter, D Paul Martin, D Christian Ehrhoff, RW Steve Downie, LW Blake Comeau, C Nick Spaling, G Thomas Greiss

Source: Jonathan Bombulie/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Will Phil Kessel find a fit next to Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin?

2. How will Pascal Dupuis, 36, rebound after nearly a full year off?

3. Does 41-year-old tryout Sergei Gonchar have anything left in the tank?

 

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

LW Sergei Plotnikov (Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, KHL): Pens are in 'now' mode - he adds skill, smarts and fits in nicely with this group on an ELC as an older player.

Long-Term Prospect

RW Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown, QMJHL): All the skills to be a top flight NHL player. Needs time to find consistency.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

Three-Year Breakdown (League Rank)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 123 (2nd)* 109 (6th) 98 (15th)
Goals For 3.4 (1st) 3.0 (5th) 2.7 (19th)
Goals Against 2.5 (12th) 2.5 (10th) 2.5 (T-10th)
Power Play 25% (2nd) 23% (T-1st) 19% (T-8th)
Penalty Killing 80% (25th) 85% (5th) 85% (3rd)
SAT% Possession 49.0% (18th) 48.7% (21st) 52.8% (5th)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $70.5M/$71.4M

By getting the Maple Leafs to retain some of Phil Kessel’s salary, the Penguins managed to stay under the salary cap and this estimate includes Eric Fehr’s $2.0-million which could find its way onto LTIR early in the season. It’s a little tight for making moves, but manageable.

 

PARTING SHOT