Quickly after, heart Lars Eller was shipped to the Washington Capitals for a 3rd and fifth-round choose within the 2027 NHL Draft.
What precisely is plaguing the Penguins this season? For starters, it would not assist that they’re the fourth oldest workforce within the league with a mean age of 28.6, and the workforce’s core options three 35-plus gamers in Crosby (37), Evgeni Malkin (38) and Kris Letang (37). Previous the workforce age, nonetheless, they’re struggling in a handful of key areas.
Defensive struggles
Pittsburgh is at present permitting the second-most objectives towards per sport, with a whopping 3.83 common, and the third-most pictures towards with 32.7. Additionally they have the second-worst objective differential with a -22 mark.
Analytically, in line with MoneyPuck, they’re additionally the second worst in 5v5 anticipated objectives towards and 5v5 objectives towards above anticipated. All this factors to clear defensive points that aren’t helped out by poor goaltending.
Failed by goaltending
After a poor begin to the season, presumed starter Tristan Jarry was loaned to Pittsburgh’s AHL workforce to seek out his sport. In three begins, Jarry posted a .836 save proportion and 5.47 objectives towards common. Backup Joel Blomqvist fared higher, with a .904 save proportion, however was not too long ago pulled within the Dallas sport after permitting three objectives on eight pictures. With Jarry again from his AHL stint, Blomqvist was despatched to the AHL.
Lastly, Alex Nedeljkovic, who has performed in probably the most video games for the Penguins this season, has additionally had a poor displaying. In eight whole video games, he has only a .884 save proportion.
Based on MoneyPuck, the Penguins goaltending has been on the backside of the league, ranked thirtieth in 5v5 anticipated save proportion on unblocked pictures and 5v5 save proportion above anticipated.
Offense is the silver lining?
Apparently sufficient, Pittsburgh’s offense might be what’s protecting them from being the worst workforce within the league. Though their objectives for per sport is barely twenty first within the league, they’re averaging the fifth-most pictures within the league with 31.5 per sport. Their high line of Crosby, Malkin and Rickard Rakell can be producing; Crosby has 17 factors in 18 video games, Malkin 18 in 18 and Rakell 11 in 18.
The Penguins’ 5v5 anticipated objectives for can be on the high of the league, suggesting that whereas their energy play stays center of the pack at simply over 18 %, their 5v5 offense is to not be of concern. With their 5v5 high-danger probabilities per 60 at third within the league, the primary query offensively for Pittsburgh is whether or not or not they will flip these offensive probabilities into extra objectives.
Total, the consensus appears to be that the Penguins are probably not playoff contenders for the 2024-25 season. Whereas it is robust to arrange a rebuild when you have got all-time greats like Crosby and Malkin, they could be higher off promoting excessive on a few of their property and trying a fast retool to get their stars another shot at a Stanley Cup.
