Penguins Early Offensive Analysis

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Kuljit Parmar

Coming off a fantastic offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins reassembly of its roster, especially the blue line this past summer, it is a dream as to what GM Ron Hextall has pulled off in such an abbreviated period.

Let’s take a look at some of the projected lines, and give everyone a glimpse of what to expect as we get closer to the winter.

The top-line for the Penguins provides a big boost to Sidney Crosby, who is aging like fine wine. 

With Jake Guentzel on the left-wing, who will continue to be an articulated forward with high goal-scoring abilities, it will allow Crosby to be the distributor once more as he sets up plays like Magic Johnson on ice.

Rickard Rakell will play right-wing on the top-line, alongside Sid the Kid and Jake Guentzel. Rakell, acquired last season from Anaheim, shall provide added support in point production that will balance out the system designed to navigate the Penguins new tough minded approach. 

This line-up provides ample amount of skill, which will have the given amount of chemistry the trio may have worked on at best to date to get a better understanding of each other’s style of gameplay. 

Most importantly, the special teams play should improve with Rakell for a full season.

The second unit is quite strong and will give veteran forward Geno Malkin enough to work within the system. Re-signing forward Bryan Rust, who will play right-wing on the second line, was a brilliant move for depth and a conscious move for the future aspect of the team.

Jason Zucker will play on the left-wing on the second line with Malkin and Rust, where he will bring a tremendous skating ability, and a veteran experience to compliment both forwards he will play with.

Then there is the bottom-six of forwards we want to keep you informed about.

The bottom-six lineup having super veteran forward Jeff Carter, who has had a decorated career, will lead the way for the Penguins’ bottom half. 

Along with Kasperi Kapanen, who will be looking to rejuvenate his career and bounce back from his troubled woes, hopefully getting the support from the fans and the Yinzer-Crazy family. He will be playing on the right-wing for the top line of the bottom-six.

Brock Mcginn will be playing on the left-wing with Carter and Kapanen. He will be looking to produce more than he has in previous seasons. 

To cap off on the last lineup of the projected team’s formation.

Which is the fourth line of the team put together based upon a consistent level of competitiveness, should be the right amount of talent to kill penalties and drive the opposing team’s formation nuts.

Ryan Poehling is in an unfamiliar environment, along with Nate Archibald, and both are looking to rebound from unsuccessful careers, mostly due to poor chemistry from the previous teams’ part. It will give both players to move according to the game and pick up the slack that will deliver to the doorstep of the net and provide new opportunities to play on the third or the second line as well.

With Teddy Blueger playing at center, who is a phenomenal skater to say the least and has that offensive awareness, it will give the team that added speed and grit for the trio of forwards.

To rate this kind of offensive unit, one will have to say it will work quite well from start to finish, and function regularly without any negative occurrences from any of the players.

Thus, my Yinzer’s, bring on the season.