Pittsburgh Penguins 2015-16 Season Primer

Looking at the Pittsburgh Penguins heading into this season – outlook, potential lines, roster, top prospects, draft history, stats and season schedule.

Total Cap Hit: $69,392,916
Total Salary: $71,143,750
Cap Space: $2,007,084

Source: General Fanager

In: Matt Cullen, LW/C (FA – Nas), Adam Clendening, D (T – Van), Nick Bonino, C/LW (T – Van), Eric Fehr, C/W (FA – Wsh), Will O’Neill, D (FA – Wpg), Sergei Plotnikov, LW/RW (FA-Europe), Kael Mouillierat, C (FA – NYI), Kevin Porter, W/C (FA – Det), Conor Sheary, LW (FA-Minors), Steve Oleksy, D (FA – Wsh), David Warsofsky, D (FA – Bos), Phil Kessel, RW (T – Tor), Tim Erixon, D (T – Tor), Tyler Biggs, RW/C (T – Tor), Niclas Andersen, D (FA)

Out: Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, LW/RW (FA – NJ), Christian Ehrhoff, D (FA – LA), Brandon Sutter, C (T – Van), Daniel Winnik, W/C (FA – Tor), Scott Harrington, D (T – Tor), Kasperi Kapanen, RW/LW (T – Tor), Nick Spaling, C/LW (T – Tor), Thomas Greiss, G (FA – NYI), Taylor Chorney, D (FA – Wsh), Blake Comeau, RW/LW (FA – Col), Steve Downie, RW/LW (FA – Ari), Paul Martin, D (FA – SJ), Jayson Megna, W/C (FA – NYR), Andrew Ebbett, C/LW (FA-Europe)

Source: Sports Forecaster

Offseason Changes:

After another early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins have to be concerned that they are throwing away the prime years of superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. With rumors of the club being for sale, the Penguins went through a dramatic roster transition this summer, with significant free agent departures and additions, as well as a pair of major trades.

GM Jim Rutherford allowed veteran defensemen Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff, forwards Daniel Winnik, Steve Downie, Blake Comeau and goaltender Thomas Greiss to sign elsewhere. They added free agents Matt Cullen, Eric Fehr and 25-year-old KHLer Sergei Plotnikov, but the most impactful changes were the deals with Toronto for sniper Phil Kessel and moving center Brandon Sutter to Vancouver for Nick Bonino and defenseman Adam Clendening.

The Kessel acquisition cost the Penguins forward Nick Spaling, future prospects Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington and two high draft picks, but provides Crosby with a legitimate scoring threat that can take advantage his top end playmaking ability. Sutter was slated to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season and the acquisition of Bonino gives Rutherford a player with a lower salary and more term.

Head coach Mike Johnston was somewhat successful in improving Pittsburgh as a puck possession club and reduced the dependence on the individual scoring prowess of Crosby and Malkin, but had to deal with numerous injuries to many of the club’s key players.

Outlook for the 2015-16 Season:

The Penguins are looking to move back into the top echelon of the Eastern Conference and hope that the addition of Kessel will help pump up an offense that finished 19th in the league in goals scored.

Crosby finished in the top five with 84 points, while Malkin averaged over a point-per-game but faded late in the season due to a lower body injury. New additions Bonino, Fehr and Matt Cullen give Pittsburgh firepower, size and experience up the middle.

Kessel will play on the top line with Crosby, allowing Patric Hornqvist to play with Malkin. Ex-Edmonton Oiler David Perron, veterans Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis will be in the top 6 mix, but concerns about Kunitz’s declining skills and the health of Dupuis after missing most of the season with a blood clot issue could give former first rounder Beau Bennett or Plotnikov an opportunity to move into a scoring role.

Health and inexperience are the two greatest concerns for the Penguins blueline. All-Star defenseman Kris Letang appeared fully recovered from a 2014 stroke and was having a Norris Trophy caliber season (11 goals, 43 assists in 69 games), but missed the last two weeks of the regular season and playoffs with concussion issues.

Sophomore Olli Maatta missed spent most of the year on injured reserve after a cancerous growth was found on his thyroid gland and undergoing a second major shoulder surgery.

With the departure of Martin and Ehrhoff, Pittsburgh is heavily dependent on 2012 top pick Derrick Pouliot being ready for prime time and newly acquired Ian Cole playing as well as he did after being acquired from St Louis at the trade deadline. Veteran Ben Lovejoy, journeyman Tim Erixon, Brian Dumoulin and Clendening will battle for a spot on the bottom pairing. The 41-year-old Sergei Gonchar was extended an invitation to training camp.

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury put up excellent numbers last season (2.32 GAA, 34-20-9 record, .920 save percentage in 64 games) and signed a four-year, $23 Million contract extension. The former first overall pick is expected to handle the bulk of the workload, with minor-leaguer Jeff Zatkoff replacing Greiss as the Pens backup.

Pittsburgh’s core (Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel and Fleury) are in their late twenties or have just turned 30, which gives the club a window of 3 to 4 years to win another championship before that group is too old or hampered physically to compete at such a high level.

Trending Up:

It is nowhere but up for Kessel after leaving the Toronto pressure cooker. The winger trained this summer with former Penguin Gary Roberts and being paired with Crosby could elevate his goal totals over 40. Hornqvist came in the trade for James Neal and scored 25 goals in his first season with Pittsburgh, giving the club a triggerman on their top two lines.

Trending Down:

Scuderi was one of the better shot-blocking blueliners in the NHL and a key contributor to the Penguins Cup win in 2009 and the Los Angeles Kings championship in 2012, but wear and tear have taken their toll on the 35-year-old. Malkin is only 29 and has played more than 70 games once in the last six seasons.

Trade Deadline Outlook:

The Penguins have just over $2 Million in available cap space at the start of the season. Rutherford may need to open up more room to add a quality defenseman, but that could make Pittsburgh a very dangerous team in the post-season. Perron could be a possible trade chip if Bennett/Plotnikov prove to be viable top six options.

Playoff Chances: Bubble

Prediction: 5^th in Metro

Written by Michael Augello, who can be found on twitter @MikeInBuffalo

Penguins: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects  | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

Potential line combinations, defensive pairings, and goalies.

David Perron – Sidney Crosby – Phil Kessel
Sergei Plotnikov – Evgeni Malkin – Patric Hornqvist
Chris Kunitz – Nick Bonino – Pascal Dupuis
Beau Bennett – Matt Cullen – Oskar Sundqvist
Scott Wilson – Eric Fehr

Olli Maatta – Kristopher Letang
Derrick Pouliot – Ben Lovejoy
Rob Scuderi – Ian Cole
Brian Dumoulin

Marc-Andre Fleury
Jeff Zatkoff

Penguins: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects  | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

Some top Pittsburgh Penguins prospect lists heading into the season.

* Different sites have different guidelines for who is a ‘prospect.’ Dobber Prospects bases their rankings on future fantasy value.

1. Matt Murray: Goalie – 6’4” / 178 lbs – Murray had a huge breakout performance in his rookie season in the AHL, leading the league in goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.941) and shutouts (12) in 40 games for an absolutely incredible season. Murray won the rookie of the year and goalie of the year awards. The Penguins lost backup Thomas Greiss and have decided to replace him internally. Murray has proven capable and has nothing left to prove in the AHL, but may need to continue seeing regular starts. It will be a training camp duel between Murray and Jeff Zatkoff.

2. Daniel Sprong: Right Wing – 6’0” / 180 lbs – Sprong burst onto the prospect scene in his rookie season in the Q, putting up 30 goals and point per game for Charlottetown. In his draft year he raised the bar scoring 88 points in 68 games, and had seven goals in ten playoff games. His game has begun to draw comparisons to Daniel Alfredsson during the rookie camp this past summer. Sprong has top six potential and is the most offensively gifted prospect in their system. Another year in junior is in his future.

3. Sergei Plotnikov: Left Wing – 6’2” / 205 lbs – The Penguins have been searching for a Russian winger to ride shotgun with Evgeni Malkin and believe they have found their man in Plotnikov. Coming from the KHL where he scored 15 goals and 36 points in 56 games, he has size, plays with grit and can finish in close. Skating may be a problem and he may need some time to adjust to the NHL, but playing on a line with Malkin could translate to immediate success. Plotnikov also played for Russia in the past two World Championships.

4. Brian Dumoulin: Defence – 6’4” / 207 lbs – After a few cups of coffee in the NHL, Dumoulin now at 24 years old, has a career total of 14 NHL games of experience to his credit. The former Boston College star also has the better part of two AHL seasons of development under his belt. He played a regular shift in all five of the Pens playoff games, averaging 14:06 minutes of ice time and did not look out of place.  Pittsburgh lost Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff in the off season and acquired no replacement, giving Dumoulin an opportunity to win a roster spot.

5. Oskar Sundqvist: Centre – 6’3” / 209 lbs – The 19 year old has spent the past two seasons playing pro against older men in Sweden. He will make the transition to North America this year and projects as a bottom six, depth forward that can play physically and is responsible defensively. With Eric Fehr out until November there could be a chance for Sundqvist to start the season in the NHL.

A look at the Pittsburgh Penguins drafting from 2010 to 2015.

Penguins: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects  | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

Pittsburgh Penguins 2014-15 player stats.

Penguins: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects  | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

A look at the Pittsburgh Penguins 2015-16 schedule.

Penguins: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects  | Draft History | Stats | Schedule