The Pittsburgh Penguins are more likely to win the best odds at the first overall pick than they are of winning a spot in the 2026 Playoffs. But since it's September and optimism's in the air because fall's around the corner and we're less than a few weeks from training camp, let's talk about why the Pens can make the postseason.
For one, they still got one of the best players in hockey. Even at 38, Sidney Crosby's still gonna put up 90-plus points. The Pens also have a good supporting cast that includes Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson.
I mean, yeah, they're at advanced ages for the most part, but that's not what I'd call a bad core. And if they win early, then why split them up? Really, there's no reason to.
Pittsburgh Penguins don't look like a strong team but there's a reason to believe
They also have enough talent in the middle and lower six and defensive pairings to play with an edge. Connor Clifton's one of the NHL's most notorious hitters, and Matt Dumba's an underrated but solid pickup.
I've always been a fan of Connor Dewar, and he can be a textbook lower liner with his physical nature. Kevin Hayes is just two seasons removed from a 54-point season, and I wouldn't sleep on Anthony Mantha, who looked like a winner in Calgary before an injury ended his 2024-25 campaign.
Rutger McGroarty could be one of three top prospects jumping to full time, and Philip Tomasino's a player with sheer potential. If you go down the list, I've named about 12 players I'm really, really optimistic about heading into 2025-26.
Are they the best group in the league? Not by a long shot, but good enough to contend for a second or even a first wild card spot? Hey, it wouldn't surprise me if the Pens snuck in there.
One major hurdle the Penguins must jump
Yeah, who in the world's gonna be the starting goaltender? Hockey-Reference has just one player listed with the big club, and that's Tristan Jarry. But, Arturs Silovs could be a sleeper here, and I still won't count out seeing Joel Blomqvist in the net.
Still, all three names have potential, even Jarry, but someone's gotta want to win that starting netminder job and run with it. Right now, there's no candidate for the Pens net I'd be willing to go to bat for.
And if that's still the case when the season's underway, it could be their kryptonite this year. So, overall, the core's still there and intact, and there's just enough down the middle for this team to make a run. But they need to make something happen in the crease if they plan on earning a trip to the playoffs.