The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a dominant force in the NHL since the beginning of the century. However, as time goes on, every dynasty eventually comes to an end. The question now is when will the Penguins themselves face that reality?
Currently, the Penguins are fourth in the wild-card standings, trailing the Philadelphia Flyers by five points for the last automatic spot in the Metro Division. With 36 games left in the season, it may not seem like a significant gap, but in the NHL’s current standings system, where three-point games are common, it becomes a mountain to climb.
Despite their current position, there are signs that the Penguins might not be as bad as their standing suggests. They have three games in hand on the team holding the last wild-card spot, the Detroit Red Wings, and four games in hand on the Flyers. While it’s not guaranteed that they will win all those games, there is still a chance for them to climb out of their current predicament.
Furthermore, the Penguins remain one of the best even-strength teams in the league. They excel in both attempts-share and expected goals-share, and their goaltending has been solid. However, their power play and performance in 3-on-3 situations have been lacking, costing them valuable points.
This puts the Penguins in a tricky position. When they traded for Erik Karlsson, it was a clear signal that they were going all-in to maximize this season. However, being buried in the wild-card race isn’t the ideal position to start trading away draft picks and prospects. The Penguins must balance their desire to win now with the reality that their core players are aging and their future success is uncertain.
There are two options for the Penguins: go all-in this year by acquiring a second-pairing defenseman and a third-line center, or accept the inevitable and begin a rebuild. However, a soft rebuild isn’t possible for the Penguins. In a few years, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will be approaching 40 and likely no longer the players they once were. Starting a rebuild at that point would be challenging, and the Penguins risk falling into a prolonged period of mediocrity.
Blowing up the team completely is also not an option, as long as Crosby and Karlsson are still on the roster. No one wants to see Crosby leading a team of unknown players while they focus on draft picks and future prospects. The fans would not stand for it.
Given the circumstances, it seems likely that the Penguins will continue to push for a playoff spot this season. If they can turn their luck around and go on a hot streak, they might still have a chance to make a deep postseason run. However, the Penguins’ management must carefully consider their options and make strategic moves to improve the team without sacrificing their future assets.
In the end, no one wants to admit that the end is near for a dominant team like the Pittsburgh Penguins. But eventually, every dynasty fades away, and it’s up to the team to determine how they navigate the inevitable transition.
