Could the Penguins Be Sneaky Good?

I was casting about for ideas for an article this morning about our favorite hockey team when I began focusing on our mind-boggling forward depth. By my unofficial count, no fewer than 23 forwards could legitimately lay claim to a roster spot.

The long list of hopefuls includes the kiddie quartet of Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty (pictured), along with second-go-‘rounder Filip Hållander, Habs’ cast-off Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and veteran Robby Fabbri, presently working on a PTO.

Exactly how we’d make room for them is anyone’s guess, although POHO/GM Kyle Dubas indicated he’d go to any length to ensure that deserving youth is served. It’s conceivable that any or all could earn a roster spot before all is said and done.

As I was compiling the list in my head, a second thought occurred to me.

Could the Penguins be sneaky good this season?

Up till now, I’ve held fast to the notion that we’d more or less lather-rinse-repeat last season’s mushy middle 80-point performance, while betting on the under. However, when you factor in the potential impact of the kids, along with possible resurgent seasons from Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha and analytics darling Tommy Novak, we may just boast one of the deeper and more talented collection of forwards in the league.

Then I peer at the far side of the blue line and my illusions (delusions?) of grandeur, to say nothing of a playoff berth, come crashing down to earth like the Kecksburg UFO.

It isn’t for a lack of candidates. Again by my reckoning, a dozen defensemen could compete for a roster spot. However, in this case, quantity doesn’t necessarily equal quality. Not by a long shot.

The port side is particularly worrisome. New coach Dan Muse may have no other choice than to rely heavily on former first-round pick Owen Pickering, still developing, and previous washout Ryan Graves, all the while hoping praying that at least one of a trio of free-agent adds, Parker Wotherspoon, Alexander Alexeyev and Caleb Jones emerge.

If not, depth defender Ryan Shea could once again be pressed into full-time duty. An uninspiring thought to say the least.

Although the right side is well-stocked with established veterans Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba, not to mention hopefuls Harrison Brunicke and Jack St. Ivany, there are still no guarantees of defensive solidarity.

It doesn’t help that circumstances and contractual status will likely force the team to ride the lesser of our four top goalies, while Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov backstop the Baby Pens.

Of course, there’s always hope that Muse and his staff, which includes former defensemen Todd Nelson and Mike Stothers, can instill enough structure to mitigate the group’s collective shortcomings. A tall task, indeed, for a first-time NHL head coach.

However, there are strong indications from his past that Muse will make in-game adjustments to fit the situation, rather than sticking to a preferred style or overarching “philosophy.” Which, again, could be a boon to performance. Who knows, perhaps even reducing the metronomic flood of odd-man breaks against that plagued the club under the previous regime.

Back to my original question. Could the Penguins be sneaky good?

Provided enough kids make the team to re-energize the forward mix and Muse figures out how to successfully insulate his defense and goalies?

Yes.