Pittsburgh Penguins’ Early Season Standouts – Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins

Hockey is back in full swing and the Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a great 3-4-0 start to the season. General manager Kyle Dubas has been busy during the offseason trying to put the Penguins in the best possible position to get back to the playoffs. So far, Pittsburgh is doing well and there are a few key players to thank for that.

Penguins Difference Makers

Evgeni Malkin is having a great start to the season. In the first seven games, he has collected 11 points and scored many goals. On October 16, he scored his 500th goal in a 6–5 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Statistically, this is his best start to an NHL season. It’s no secret that she’s not young yet, and it looks like she’s getting used to this fact. His passes are very sharp and his decision-making skills are sound.

Malkin has been the Penguins’ best player to start the season. He plays efficiently and doesn’t try to stand out with the puck. He understands that he is not the player he once was and his game has matured accordingly. His partners also have a big impact on his early success.

Rickard Rakell looks like he’s getting back to his old self. Last season he scored 15 goals in 70 games but in 2022-23 he scored 28 goals in 82 games. This season he has scored three goals in seven games and it seems that his speed is back. After a long training season, he seems to be hitting back and his forecheck was solid. If he can stay healthy, Pittsburgh will want him to get back to at least 20 goals this season.

Defender Erik Karlsson has also had a good start to the season. He plays well in his position and his offensive game has been good. He skates very well and shoots the puck high. In 2022-23, he had the best season of his career, recording 101 points with the San Jose Sharks. Last season he played in 82 games with the Penguins and recorded 56 points. It took him a lot of time last season to settle in and learn the new system, but it’s starting to look like he’s found his game.

Deep scoring was a major concern for Pittsburgh heading into this season. In the last two campaigns, they haven’t had much help in the bottom six, and to get back to the play-offs this season, that has to change.

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In the summer, Dubas found Kevin Hayes in St. Louis Blues hoping that the change of location will jump start his production. Through the first seven games, Hayes has scored three goals. Lars Eller and Jesse Puljujarvi have also been involved in the bottom six with Eller scoring four goals and adding two assists and Puljujarvi with one goal and four assists so far. The depth has been increasing, and Pittsburgh is getting scoring from spots on the roster outside of the top two lines. This must continue throughout the season for the team to have long-term success.

Penguins Need to Stay Constant

It’s obviously too early in the season to make any serious predictions. However, it is safe for Penguins fans to be cautiously optimistic. The team looks to be on the right track and if they can stay consistent throughout the season they could find themselves in playoff contention come spring.