Pittsburgh Penguins
Age may have finally caught up to a team which has been dominant for so long
The longest playoff streak in North American sports ended this year as the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from playoff contention, ending their streak of 16 straight postseason appearances. The Penguins were the league's last team to be eliminated, after a squandered opportunity as they were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in a must-win game, opening the window for the NY Islanders to climb right in.
The franchise will likely see many new faces next season, as the rebuild has already begun within the front office. Team President Brian Burke, GM Ron Hextall, and Assistant GM Chris Pryor were all relieved of their duties a day after the Penguins' season ended.
As one of the league's oldest teams, the new front office will have decisions to make on some of the older core players of this team. Jason Zucker (31), Brian Dumoulin (31), and Tristan Jarry (27) are all unrestricted free agents looking for new contracts. While all have been prominent contributors over the years, is it time for the organization to replace them with young blood or continue to push as the careers of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang wind down?
After a down season, Jarry will be an intriguing decision for the franchise to make. Despite his below-average season, finding goaltenders on the free-agent market isn’t so easy, as organizations rarely let top-tier net-minders walk away.
Owen Pickering, 19, D, 1st round (21) 2022, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
61 Games Played, 9 Goals, 26 Assists, 45 Points
The 2022 draft marked the first time in three seasons the Penguins held a first-round draft pick, ultimately selecting Owen Pickering 21st overall. One of the top offensive-minded defensemen available in 2022, Pickering bettered his draft-year production by 12 points this season and improved his plus/minus from a -29 to -5. Named captain in Swift Current, Pickering appeared with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of the AHL following the Broncos' failure to reach the WHL playoffs. He fell flat in the scoring category during his AHL stint and will likely return to Swift Current for another year of junior hockey.
TY Smith 23, D, 1st Round (17) 2018, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL)
39 Games Played, 7 Goals, 17 Assists
A career that began so promising has recently sputtered out of control for Ty Smith. In his rookie campaign with the NJ Devils, Smith amassed 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) in only 48 games. Heading into his second season much was expected of the former first-round pick as he failed to meet expectations. Following a season of only 20 points (five goals, 15 assists), the Devils shipped Smith off to Pittsburgh as the pivotal piece seeing John Marino heading to the Garden State. Despite the Penguins' injury woes among defensemen towards the end of the season, Smith was still unable to crack the NHL roster. This off-season will be a pivotal one in determining Smith’s NHL future.
Filip Hållander, 22, C/LW, 2nd Round (58) 2018, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL)
43 Games Played, 11 Goals, 22 Assists, 33 Points
Despite missing nearly 30 games in the AHL, Filip Hållander was still among the team's top performers this season. Coming off a 28 performance last season, Hållander was on pace for 50+ points before a scary injury derailed his great start. In the final minutes of a January showdown with the Charlotte Checkers, in a game he already scored a goal, Hållander crashed into the boards after getting tangled up with an opponent. Teammates and opponents immediately signaled to the bench for a trainer, noticing the need for immediate medical attention. Hållander was stretchered off the ice and transported to the hospital, where he remained overnight. He was released the following day but missed nearly a month, only to return the final two months of the season. In those 17 games, the Penguins would only be victorious four times, with Hållander totaling eight points. He is expected to start the season in the AHL once again, potentially earning a call-up at some point.
Samuel Poulin, 22, LW/RW, 1st Round (21) 2019, Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL)
15 Games Played, 4 Goals, 0 Assists, 4 Points
As the Penguins struggled with injuries right off the bat this season, Samuel Poulin earned the call to make his NHL debut just a few games into the season. Following a three-game stint in the NHL, where he registered his first career NHL point, Poulin was returned to Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Poulin played the next ten games in the AHL before it was announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the team to work on his mental health. Poulin returned to his home in Quebec, where he remained for three months before his come back to hockey -participating in the team's final two games of the regular season. A former first-round pick, Poulin plays a two-way game. He projects to be a bottom-6 forward, but there are questions about how far he can make it in the NHL.
Isaac Belliveau, 20, D, 5th Round (154) 2021, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
55 Games Played, 11 Goals, 35 Assists, 46 Points
In a 2021 draft year where many players struggled due to the lack of ice time caused by the COVID pandemic, Isaac Belliveau saw his stock drop significantly as he labored throughout the season. Falling to the fifth round, Belliveau returned to Gatineau, where his game began to return, totaling 38 points in the 2021-22 season before a career-high 46 this past season. As his offensive game has improved, it seems to have taken a toll on his defensive play. Belliveau is struggling in his own end more than ever, which seems a bit masked due to the great season Gatineau had as a team. If he could find a way to even outplay on both sides of the ice, he could soon be looking at a chance to make the big club due to its lack of defensive depth.
With very few high picks over the past few seasons, the Penguins were the fourth oldest team in the NHL this season, with an average age of just under 28.
With not much to work within the system and a lack of youth within the current team, the Pens have very little to rely on as far as leading the organization into the future.
With just one roster player under 24 years old, P.O. Joseph is the only member of the current team who could potentially stick around long-term. Playing mostly bottom-pairing minutes, Joseph had a reliable season on the Pens' blue line, finishing with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists). He’s not a player the franchise can build around, but can be a salary-controlled role player for years to come.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, 23