The Penguins have had a rough start to the 2024 season as they have started out with an abysmal 3-7-1 record and sit at the very bottom of the Metropolitan Division. There are a lot of things to discuss when it comes to why their record is what it is and some positives.
The Bottom Six is Scoring but the Top Six is Struggling
The Penguins are getting goals from players like Valtteri Pusstinen and Noel Acciari, while the top six forwards are struggling. Yes the injury to Bryan Rust who usually plays in the top six does not help at all, but usually the top six is the half of the lineup that handles most of the scoring.
It was not until recently when Rickard Rakell scored twice in the recent home game against the Minnesota Wild, but outside of him and Malkin, the Penguins are not getting much top six scoring.
Kris Letang Has Not Played Well at All and He Needs to Figure it out
There is something seriously wrong with Letang this season and I am seriously unsure what it could possibly be. He is always out of position and looks lost on the ice. He is always allowing cross-ice passes and being on the ice for some bad goals against.
It could be the fact that Coach Sullivan's system is stale, but what everyone is thinking is that it is his age that is catching up to him. He is 37 years old and is still going strong with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin but he does not look like himself at all on the ice.
I’m not even mad watching this team, it’s honestly just sad. Seeing Sidney Crosby give zero effort, Kris Letang not looking like himself, and Mike Sullivan scrambling the lines each shift to hope for the best just hits hard. Real hard.
— ChelPenguins (@ChelPenguins) October 27, 2024
Even Rutger McGroarty would not save this team
When the Penguins traded top prospect Brayden Yager for Rutger McGroarty over the offseason, fans jumped for joy. They finally got a top prospect that was ready to help the team now and into the future.
McGroarty made the roster but struggled in his few games played and was sent to the AHL to play for the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins. He has struggled there too and has 1 point in 5 games with them. Even he would not save this penguins team, even if he was put on the top line with Crosby.
Rutger McGroarty picks up his first career pro point, an assist, firing a shot on Marcus Hogberg that was tipped in by Ville Koivunen 1:10 into the 1st period.#WBSPens buzzing to start the game tonight in Bridgeport. @InsideAHLHockey pic.twitter.com/SyPJVTD1Kw
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) October 30, 2024
Tristan Jarry's future as a Penguin is Finished
There is no saving Tristan Jarry as he is currently in the AHL and trying to play some games there to find his mojo again. He is still giving up goals there and does not look much better than he did in the NHL.
There is no future for him in Pittsburgh and if he ever does get the callback, he needs to be scratched every game moving forward.