Top 5 Players that have been disappointing so far this season
Letang, Pettersson, Beauvillier, Bunting, Grzelcyk have all been letdowns for the Penguins so far this season.
The Penguins season has been off to a rocky start as they are now 3-4-1 after the latest shootout loss to the Calgary Flames. They are not getting help from certain people in the lineup and we are going to go over who those players are.
First Up: Kris Letang
We are going to start with franchise legend, certain Hall of Famer, part of the core three, defenseman Kris Letang. Letang is one of those that you never really think of to give criticism because he has been here for so long and has been a cornerstone fot the team.
But to begin the year, he has been abysmal. He constantly looks lost on the ice and does not know what to do with himself. He is always out of position and the puck is like lava to him.
Can thank Kris Letang for that fourth GA. Blindly chipped the puck right outside the blue line and directly at a couple of Hurricanes. Didn't even bother to try and make a play -- or even look to see if he had one.
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) October 19, 2024
Second Up: Marcus Pettersson
Marcus Pettersson has also not been very good on the blue-line. His contract is up after this season and it seems to be getting in his head.
Like Letang, he is also lost on the ice and he is one of the only defenseman that the Penguins have, that actually plays defense. That has not nearly been the case this year.
The penguins with Marcus Pettersson on the ice this year (all strengths)
— ChelPenguins (@ChelPenguins) October 21, 2024
• Opponent controls 50% of shot attempts
• Out-scored 14-9
• Opponent controls 50% of scoring chances
It’s been a very average-below average start for MP28. The penguins really, really need him. pic.twitter.com/1GBulFGtzy
Third Up: Anthony Beauvillier
Beauvillier for the most part has been the left winger on the Crosby line and it has not worked out as well as the Penguins have hoped.
Beauvillier has 2 goals on the year and they came in the second game of the year against the Detroit Red Wings and he has not done much since. He is super speedy but does not really do much else. Former Penguins Reporter Danny Shirey agrees.
Anthony Beauvillier is very similar to Ryan Poehling in the sense that his feet are always moving and stick-handling quickly, but not a whole lot is actually happening.
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) October 20, 2024
Fourth Up: Michael Bunting
Michael Bunting is one of those real gritty players that you love having on your team. But for him, he has really struggled this year. So much so, he was healthy scratched against the Winnipeg Jets.
He was back in the lineup against the Calgary Flames but still did not do a whole lot for the team. So far in seven games, he only has one assist and that is not going to cut it.
Bunting needs to step it up and not be a disappoint for the team anymore.
did michael bunting play hockey at all this summer or
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 23, 2024
Finally: Matt Grzelcyk
Grzelcyk has been quite the letdown for the Penguins this year. First off, he is old and was healthy scratched quite often for the Bruins last season.
He is not the same player that he used to be and is constantly getting caught pinching up when he does not need to be. He needs to find a way to turn it around before it gets worse and he starts getting scratched again.
It appears Matt Grzelcyk, the guy who got healthy scratched like thirty times by Boston, is having some trouble defending with Erik Karlsson
— Dan Hopper (@DanHoppOPS) October 23, 2024
These players for the team, all need to find a way to find the next level to their game and step up, before the Penguins get too far out of a playoff spot by the new year.
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