Entering the apparent twilight of his career, does Sidney Crosby still have what it takes to lift an older Penguins' roster to the playoffs?
Two postseason misses lead to lowered expectations for “aged” Penguins
PITTSBURGH, PA -- -The Penguins enter the 2024–25 season with renewed optimism under the leadership of GM Kyle Dubas, who took the helm after the team's first playoff miss in 17 years. The offseason saw significant roster changes, highlighted by the trade of Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes.
There won't be any contract distractions for Sidney Crosby entering his 20th NHL season. The center could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season, but signed a two-year contract Sept. 16. Crosby had 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) in 82 games last season to lead the Penguins. He ranks 10th in NHL history with 1,596 points (592 goals, 1,004 assists) and has shown no signs of slowing down. Taking a team-friendly contract ($8.7 million average annual value) also gives the Penguins flexibility under the NHL salary cap for when needed to add to the roster. "I think winning is the most important thing to me, and I think [taking a discount is] understanding the dynamic and how it works and trying to give the team the best possible chance to be successful," Crosby said after signing. "Ultimately, you've got to go out there and do your best and do your job. I think I'm more focused on that than the number, I guess."
A team with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang finishing 30th in the NHL on the power play (15.3 percent) was far from expected and was one of the reasons the Penguins didn't make the playoffs. Crosby led them with 10 power-play goals and Malkin had six, but no one else had more than five.
Pittsburgh lost forwards Reilly Smith (traded to New York Rangers) and Jeff Carter (retired), but acquired Kevin Hayes and Rutger McGroarty, and signed Blake Lizotte during the offseason. Hayes and Lizotte each played at least 60 NHL games last season, and McGroarty is a highly regarded prospect. Add Valtteri Puustinen, who played 52 games with Pittsburgh last season, and there will be competition for the final forward spots. On defense, Owen Pickering could challenge for a spot out of camp. The 20-year-old had 46 points (seven goals, 39 assists) in 59 games with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League last season.
McGroarty, who was acquired in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets on Aug. 22 for forward Brayden Yager, finished second in scoring at the University of Michigan last season with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 36 games, and had nine points (five goals, four assists) in seven games as captain for the United States at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship to help them win the gold medal. The 20-year-old is almost a lock to make the opening night roster; where he starts in the lineup is another question.
The primary goal for this season is to return to playoff contention. While the team is in a transitional phase, the presence of experienced leaders combined with promising young talent positions the Penguins as a potential wildcard contender in the Eastern Conference.
Several young players are poised to make an impact this season:
- Ville Koivunen (RW): Acquired in the Guentzel trade, Koivunen impressed in the AHL with 21 goals and 34 assists in 62 games. He made his NHL debut in March 2025 and recorded his first point shortly after.
- Joel Blomqvist (G): The 22-year-old goaltender had a standout AHL season with a 2.16 GAA and .921 SV%. With Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic under contract, Blomqvist may start the season in the AHL but could be called up if the NHL goaltending struggles.
- Owen Pickering (D): The 20-year-old defenseman is expected to continue his development in the AHL, with the potential to join the NHL squad in the near future.
- Vasily Ponomarev (C): Acquired alongside Koivunen, Ponomarev has shown promise in the AHL and could contribute to the Penguins' forward depth this season.
Season OutlookWhile the Penguins are in a rebuilding phase, they possess the talent and leadership to remain competitive. The blend of experienced players and promising prospects provides a solid foundation for the season. If the younger players can contribute effectively, Pittsburgh has a strong chance to secure a playoff spot and continue its legacy of success.[/font]
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2:27 - Rutger McGroarty (1) Assisted by: Bryan Rust & Matt Grzelcyk
14:16 - Johnny Brodzinski (1) Assisted By: None 
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2:46 - Moritz Seider (1) Assisted by: Andrew Copp & Marco Kasper (PP)
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