Assessing the Penguins’ Concerns: Malkin’s Future and Faceoff Woes

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached a pivotal point in the season, providing a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses. With 60 games behind them, they are a team with no secrets left to uncover. They have shown what they excel at, where they falter, and what they need to address both in the immediate future and beyond.

As the Penguins navigate this crucial stretch, several pressing issues have emerged, each warranting a closer look. Let’s delve into these concerns, assigning a rating from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies minimal worry and 5 indicates a significant issue.

First up is the absence of Sidney Crosby, a factor that has undeniably impacted the Penguins. Crosby, still regarded as one of the elite players in the league, is not just the team’s best player but also its top faceoff specialist. His absence has left the Penguins struggling in the faceoff circle, with results that could hardly be described as favorable. However, my concern level here stands at just 2. While losing faceoffs isn’t ideal, it’s essential to remember that faceoff performance is often more about context than sheer numbers. Winning more faceoffs could be beneficial, but how a team performs immediately after the draw is often more telling.

Looking at the top faceoff teams in the NHL, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, it’s clear that success in this area does not always correlate with overall team performance. Conversely, teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite their struggles in faceoffs, are thriving. When Crosby returns, the Penguins can expect improvement in this area, but it’s crucial not to make hasty trades simply to bolster faceoff statistics.

The other significant storyline swirling around the Penguins is the future of Evgeni Malkin, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Reports indicate that Malkin and General Manager Kyle Dubas met recently, yet a contract extension remains elusive. Initially, there was speculation about Malkin possibly retiring, but his strong play alongside the Penguins’ unexpected success has changed the conversation. As for my concern level regarding Malkin’s contract situation, I would place it at a 3.

Dubas has a lot on his plate as the trade deadline approaches, and securing a new deal for Malkin may not be his top priority at the moment. It’s also reasonable for the Penguins to wait and see how the remainder of the season unfolds. Malkin’s performance has been impressive, but with his age and ongoing injuries, the Penguins must make prudent decisions about the future. Despite my belief that extending Malkin is a no-brainer given his chemistry with players like Egor Chinakhov and his reasonable salary expectations, the longer negotiations drag on, the more questions arise.

As the Penguins face a demanding March schedule, they will contend with a series of challenging opponents, many of whom are playoff contenders. They kicked off the month with a commendable victory over the Vegas Golden Knights but followed it up with a tough outing in Boston where they failed to convert scoring opportunities. My concern level for the upcoming schedule is a 4.

The combination of tough opponents and a congested game schedule, particularly with multiple back-to-backs, poses a significant challenge for a team that, while integrating younger players, relies heavily on veteran leadership. The silver lining is that the Penguins have established a comfortable gap between themselves and the non-playoff teams. With the Columbus Blue Jackets likely to falter and the Washington Capitals possibly selling off assets, the Penguins need to maintain a .500 record to secure their playoff position. They have the capability to achieve this, but the tests ahead will be formidable.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.