It was Tom Hanks in his signature role as Forrest Gump who famously uttered, “Life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna’ get.”
And so it is with our Pittsburgh Penguins, vintage 2025-26.
Honestly, I haven’t a clue as to how we’re going to perform this season. I thought for a time we might be sneaky good, perhaps even laying claim to a wild-card spot thanks to our forward depth.
However, now that the season-opening roster has been set? I’m not feeling as confident. In fact, I find myself trending toward the dark side when it comes to our place in the standings.
My biggest concern?
Goaltending
I just don’t trust that Tristan Jarry has what it takes to get ‘er done between the pipes. The little I saw of him in preseason reinforces the notion that he looks slow and old beyond his 29 years. Whatever underlying physical ailment he may have (rumored to be his hips) seems to have taken a toll.
My greatest fear? We’re going to experience a replay of last season, when Jarry bottomed out early and took the team down with him. I don’t know if Arturs Silovs, assuming the backup role from our beloved “Ned,” Alex Nedeljkovic, will be enough to compensate, let alone take over as the starter if circumstances or performance dictate.
Indeed, by the time Joel Blomqvist is ready to come off IR, or Kyle Dubas says, “To heck with it,” and summons wunderkind Sergei Murashov from the Baby Pens, it may be too late to salvage the season.
Defense
Only slightly less alarming to me is the state of our defense. I applaud Dubas for being willing to waive Ryan Graves and assign him to the Baby Pens. While I genuinely feel for Ryan, things just weren’t getting any better for the big guy and something needed to be done.
However, that bit of positive news is tempered by the fact that Owen Pickering wasn’t able to secure a spot on the problematic left side of our defense, where there was (and still is) a glaring void and need. I realize he’s young (only 21), has only recently stopping growing into a rangy 6’5″ frame and still has some developing to do. It just doesn’t bode well for player or team that he wasn’t ready, especially given the golden opportunity placed in front of him.
For now, it appears Caleb Jones, a 4A tweener who’s spent a good chunk of the past two seasons in the AHL (and press boxes), is being force-fed into the rotation in Pickering’s stead. Perhaps as a partner for 19-year-old phenom Harrison Brunicke.
That’s a concern, especially since Brunicke, promising as he is, isn’t all that solid in his own zone.
On a more upbeat note, Erik Karlsson is showing flashes of his former Norris Trophy self. Parker Wotherspoon may not be a future star, but he’s produced solid metrics and seems to have a firm grasp of his role, which is basically to cover his partner’s fanny. I’m reminded that during his 101-point season in ’22-23, EK65 was paired with the likes of no frills stay-at-homers Mario Ferraro and Jaycob Megna.
I confess, I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw of Ryan Shea in preseason. Maybe I just caught his good moments, but he looked faster, more confident and assertive. If those improvements hold up, he may very well serve as an effective partner and stabilizer for an aging Kris Letang.
I don’t mind veterans Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba as depth options. Perhaps one or the other will usurp Jones’ slot and add some much-needed physicality to the mix.
Forwards
At first blush, the forward group appears to be talented and deep. Based on their glowing preseason performances, Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell appear primed to repeat their strong ’24-25 campaigns. Rookie Ville Koivunen oozes confidence, poise and skill. Look for Bryan Rust and Rutger McGroarty to provide a (big) boost when they come off IR.
With twin buzz-saws Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte serving as anchors, I like the look of our fourth line.
The middle-six?
This is where I start worrying anew.
While Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau were intriguing (not to mention physically imposing) additions, I fear they may add to the revolving door of linemates who haven’t worked out with Evgeni Malkin, especially if Mantha is slow to bounce back from ACL surgery. Putting a damper on what could be Geno’s final black-and-gold go-‘round.
I really don’t have any idea what to expect from 18-year-old Ben Kindel, or his projected wingers Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino, who’ve endured their share of ups-and-downs during their comparatively brief careers.
I like the fact that Tomasino seemed to wade into traffic during the preseason. To my eye, he’s shifty and dangerous down low, perhaps a nice fit for Kindel. Can’t say the same for Novak, skilled and a darling of the analytics sect but the very definition of a perimeter player.
Hopefully, it won’t be too long before late cuts Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes return from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Coaching
Oddly enough, the one area I’m not overly concerned about is coaching. Just a hunch, but I think rookie skipper Dan Muse and his staff will do just fine. I just don’t know if the team he’s guiding is built to succeed, at least as currently constructed.
In addition to the trade deadline, now less than 48 hours away, there’s a weightier…
Every once in a while life prevents me from doing a full recap of a…
I was reading some articles about the Penguins’ possible approach to the looming trade deadline…
When the Golden Knights got the jump on our Penguins this afternoon at PPG Paints…
I have a confession to make. I didn’t watch today’s nationally televised matinee matchup with…
I just read that hockey insider Jeff Marek has proposed a trade involving our Penguins…
View Comments
Hey all,
A last little bit about Ryan Graves.
Corey Pronman and Harman Dayal of "The Athletic" did a nice running feature on some of the more prominent players who hit the waiver wire recently. One of the featured players was Graves.
They delved into his career, which was generally positive pre-Penguins. In '19-20, he partnered with Cale Makar in Colorado and led the NHL with a plus-40. According to the article, it wasn't all Makar's doing...Graves had solid inputs as well.
Same thing after he moved on to New Jersey, where he partnered first with Dougie Hamilton and then ex-Pen John Marino in '22-23, when he was plus-34, again with solid contributions.
Then...pfft...his effectiveness just vanished once he arrived here. Although his metrics weren't horrible his first season with the Pens, he just never looked comfortable or in-step. It only got worse last season.
There was some thought that he simply didn't take to Mike Sullivan's system, which is designed to give his players lots of options. Maybe too many in Ryan's case. However, from the sounds of it, Graves played no better in training camp and the preseason under Muse.
Feel for the guy, and really hope he lands on his feet eventually.
While we're talking waivers, a guy I've always been intrigued with is Sammy Blais, who was recently waived by the Canadiens. Very aggressive forward who hits like a freight train and actually flashed some offensive skill as recently as '22-23 with Blues (nine goals, 20 points in 31 games). He also won a Cup with the Blues in '19.
Blais spent last season with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL and was a driving force behind their Calder Cup triumph along with current Pen Arturs Silovs. Pronman/Dayal likened him to the AHL version of Tom Wilson (Blais had 77 penalty minutes along with 19 points in 23 playoff games).
Always would like to have taken a flyer on him (and still would). Even if he's pretty much an AHLer at this stage.
Rick