Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 5 predictions for next season

Everyone is waiting for the return of the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. However, if the season doesn’t return, then fear not because here are our 5 big predictions for next year.

You don’t have to own a crystal ball to know that there will be a lot of changes for the Pittsburgh Penguins next season. But allow us to throw on our crystal ball anyway, our general manager hat, and grab our Jim Rutherford Fiji water, and let’s get to predicting some significant changes for next season.

#5: The points champion won’t be Crosby or Malkin

You have to go back to before the lockout season in 2004/05 to find anyone other than Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin that won the points total for the season. That’s 15 years of sheer domination from two different future hall of fame players. However, by the end of the 2020/21 season, the Penguins will have a new points leader to drool over.

If the current season sheds any light on how next year will go, you could somewhat see Bryan Rust or Jared McCann take the lead. If Rust keeps the momentum going, he won’t be far behind the traditional two, but McCann is a long shot. For prediction purposes, though, neither of these two will win the points total in 2020/21.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 5 predictions for next season.

Coming off a disappointing year from an injury standpoint, the always electric Jake Guentzel will take home the points win. Before this season, his total kept rising each year, and even though he was out a lot this season, he still managed 43 points in 39 games. Regardless of who he is playing next too, he will be a danger to send it home and set up two of the best Penguins of all time.

#4: The cycle starts over with youth domination

The year was 2003, and the Pittsburgh Penguins needed a reboot. That summer, they drafted legendary Marc-Andre Fleury and started a new cycle in the Pens dynasty. From there, the next decade was molded by Malkin, Crosby, Letang, and Staal. That influx of baby Penguins turned the team from the Lemieux and Jagr years into something new and promising.

Jordan Staal and Fleury have since left, and the likes of Kris Letang, Sid, and Geno are all in there early to mid-30s. Slowly the inevitable will happen, and decline will set in. Fortunately for the Penguins, they have a steady flow of youth coming up, and next season will see a slow take over start to take place from within the Pens locker room.

If next year repeats itself as far as production, the leader in the youth take over will be John Marino. He’s almost guaranteed himself Rookie of the Year honors this season and only getting better. From there, you will find a pretty significant gap inexperience, but just as Marino surprised us all, so will a few others over the next 12 months of hockey.

What’s funny enough is that by the end of all of this, Marino might be the lesser of the bunch as some future star power is making its way to the top. The previous transition of power saw 5 new faces take over in about 5 years. This coming season could see 2 or 3 prospects, including Marino, make a change in the Penguins organization.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 5 predictions for next season.

Samuel Poulin is all the rage these days and, personally, don’t see him needing a year in the AHL to ready himself after tearing up the Q again this season. Coming up right behind Marino is the 20-year-old Pierre-Olivier Joseph. POJ needs to thicken up, but at 6’2, he will be a force. An up and down defense makes for a perfect chance to make the jump and prove his worth next season.

#3: The Penguins dominate the state of Pennsylvania

If you go all the way back to the beginning, the history books aren’t too kind when it comes to Pens v Flyers. Pittsburgh’s all-time record in this rivalry is 105 wins – 148 loses – 30 ties – 9 OTLs. There was also that horrific stretch around the 1970s and 1980s, if not longer, where the Penguins couldn’t find a win even if they tried. Sadly, that’s not the only bad stretch in history, either.

Looking over the calendar year of 2019 into 2020 and you’ll find that the Pens lost more than they won against the Flyers. The matchup itself hasn’t always been the most confidence driven affair, either making it a must-win for the promised future. Enter the 2020 season and look out for a Penguin’s domination over their hated turnpike rivals.

To no surprise, the schedule isn’t out yet, but we already know that the Penguins and Flyers will face off twice in Pittsburgh and twice in Philly. The distance between the two cities in 6 hours, but after the season is over, they will be separated by much more. The upcoming season will be a banner year for the Pens (more to come), and it will all start by there success from within the division.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 5 predictions for next season.

Yes, it may seem bold and even jinxy, but that’s what bold predictions are all about. I predict that the Penguins will take charge not only in the division but within the state showing complete domination in all 4 games. The stars will come out in force for these games setting the tone for the entire 2020/21 campaign and paving the way for a future one-sided affair in this series of games.

#2: The Pens trade Murray and Jarry becomes the new franchise goalie

Google the most talked about Penguins stories or, better yet, Twitter trends. What you’ll find is a daily, almost ever-constant conversation about Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry. It doesn’t help that even the General Manager and head coach have been quoted about this trending saga. By the start of the 2020 season, however, that conversation will be no more.

The fan base is honestly, really torn over this argument as some stay loyal while others look to the future. The truth is, can you even go wrong with either of these two netminders?  Neither goalie has an encroaching timeline as they are both young with plenty of time left.

But, with potentially more trade-ability, Matt Murray will be shown the exit door on a trade to either Colorado or Chicago. With that happening, it will put all the pressure on Tristan Jarry to show up night after night.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had had a substantial amount of netminder consistency over the years (I.E., Tom Barrasso, Marc-Andre Fleury, and even the before mentioned Matt Murray). If the 2020/21 season proves anything, it will be that Tristan Jarry is the new franchise goalie moving forward. He is the underdog that came in and dethroned a 2-time Stanley Cup champ. Who doesn’t like that story?

Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 5 predictions for next season.

Behind Jarry will also look substantial yet young. Down in the AHL, the Penguins have two more goalies that seem poised and ready to take the helm as the backup pipe protector. Casey DeSmith will be the natural will in, but looming not far behind will be the young Emil Larmi. Larmi will most likely be tending in the AHL, but between these three, the future looks solid with Jarry leading the way.