With the Penguins again having their season end in game 82 for the third straight season, most people would point to all the negatives and say that there were not many if any positives to the season.
But that is strictly not true, the Penguins had a few positives that are worth looking back at even if they are now gonna have to watch the playoffs from home.
Rickard Rakell's bounceback season
Last season, Rakell had a year that was worth forgetting. Last season he had 15 goals and 22 assists in 70 games. That is not usually like him, but this season he really bounced back.
In 81 games this season, he had 35 goals and 35 assists and that is quite the bounceback as he nearly doubled his point total in 11 more games. He really found a second gear and was back to himself and it seriously showed.
Before the kids were called up, Rakell was the left wing on Sidney Crosby's line and really thrived there. He really showed his potential. He might be a trade candidate for the Penguins this offseason, but if the Penguins choose to keep him, it would not be a bad idea.
Career-high matched!
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 7, 2025
Rickard Rakell nets No. 34 on the year 👏 pic.twitter.com/1tR29Zhuap
Ville Koivunen's first few NHL games
It was no secret that Koivunen was one of Wilkes-Barre Scranton's best forwards all year long, and he was rewarded with a callup to the Penguins late in the season. And Koivunen made that callup count.
He tallied 7 assists in 8 games and did have his first NHL goal last night against the Capitals, but it was overturned after a review because the kid pushed the puck in with his hand. It was very unfortunate, but the kid belongs.
He always knows where to be, knows how to make smart plays with the puck, and is such a good passer and playmaker. When he was put on Crosby's wing, he really took off and should start there next season.
After a two-point night, Ville Koivunen has seven points through his first eight career games, which includes a five-game point streak.
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) April 18, 2025
Koivunen's seven points are the most by a Penguin in his first eight games since Jake Guentzel's seven in 2016-17. pic.twitter.com/PV0oRfJP9W
The Penguins Powerplay
Every season it seems like the Penguins powerplay is insanely hard to watch and should rank towards the bottom of the league in efficiency.
But the numbers do not lie. The Penguins converted at a 25.8% rate and finished 6th in the league on the powerplay which is actually really impressive. The Penguins should be thanking David Quinn for that as that was one of his prominent roles as an Assistant Coach.
Most times during the season on the powerplay, the passing looked super crisp, and they were looking to shoot the puck immediately, they need to continue to do that as seasons go on and if they want to make the playoffs again sometime soon.