Pittsburgh Penguins: Not the Threat They Once Were

For the past two seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins have dominated the NHL. Has their reign come to an end?

The NHL is an extremely difficult league to play in, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are an excellent example of why. Or is it that they used to be an example of why?

Since the organization’s coaching change in late 2015 to Mike Sullivan, they became an entirely different team. They were fast and strong. The Penguins took control of play. And most importantly, they began winning games.

Of course, that season ended in a Stanley Cup. As previously mentioned, though, this is a tough league to play in, and winning once is difficult enough…but twice? That shows how deep the team’s core truly was.

However, over the offseason, the Penguins made some serious changes. This included losing some key players, especially to free agency. With their lack of cap space, it was inevitable that they wouldn’t be able to re-sign certain players. But how much has losing those players affected them? Let’s break it down by player.

Nick Bonino

The 2017 Stanley Cup Final was a hard-fought series between the Penguins and the Nashville Predators. And in an ironic twist, Nashville is exactly where Bonino ended up.

In 80 regular season games played for the Penguins last season, he scored 18 goals and added 19 assists for 37 points. However, where he truly shined was on their power play. He had six goals and five assists on the man-advantage.

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One of the main reasons the Penguins were lethal was because of their power play. They can be sure that Bonino’s impact will be missed. And with Greg McKegg currently as their third line center, the Penguins don’t have that third line that can take advantage of lesser competition. The third line in question was a huge part of their 2015-16 Stanley Cup run.

Chris Kunitz

The 38-year-old left winger spent nine seasons with the Penguins, including some of his prime years. However, once he entered the free agency, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed him to a one-year deal worth $2 million.

There’s no question that last season wasn’t Kunitz’s best, as he went down considerably in goals. He went from 17 goals in 2015-2016 to nine in 2016-2017. However, there’s more to Kunitz’s worth.

He’s a durable player, having played in 161 postseason games (including his time with Anaheim). Kunitz played all 20 playoff games with the Penguins last season, and his two goals and nine assists prove that he is still capable of producing when necessary.

Having veteran leadership such as Kunitz’ is important. It’s something every championship team needs to be made up of, and losing it takes away something important from the roster.

Trevor Daley

Daley was only with the Penguins for two seasons, but he was a solid defenseman for them. He had just enough offensive ability to fit nicely on the team.

At 33, Daley could also be considered a veteran, especially considering how long he’s been in the league. He’s a consistent and steady defenseman, and his leadership is yet another piece the Penguins can be sure they will miss.

They may not recognize it now, but at a later point in the season, they will need his defense to keep them consistent. And it might matter most in the playoffs.

Marc-Andre Fleury

The 32-year-old veteran goaltender was a part of the Penguins’ organization since 2003-2004 when he had only played in 21 games. Over the next few season, he became their starter, and it was a role he filled well.

The 2016 Playoffs proved to be difficult for Fleury due to a concussion sustained in late March, which ended his season. Backup goaltender Matt Murray played in the majority of those postseason games and led his team to the Cup.

In 2017, with Murray injured in the warmups of game one against the Blue Jackets, Fleury took the starting position once again. That was how it would remain, en route to a 4-1 series victory.

The team stuck with Fleury through the second round against the Washington Capitals. His shutout of the Caps in game seven (2-0) was further reason to keep him in net.

However, in a 5-1 loss in game three against Ottawa, the Penguins then decided to stick with Murray the rest of the way. The 2017 Stanley Cup Championship was truly a combined effort of both goaltenders.

While it’s true that Fleury would never have regained his starting position in Pittsburgh, his leadership and skill made him an excellent backup option. It’s pivotal for teams to have a solid backup for when their starters need a break and in case of injury.

Next: 3 Burning Questions For The Penguins

With all the depth this team lost in the offseason, they will definitely look different. And with all the improvements of other teams, the competition will look better. Don’t be surprised if the Penguins aren’t the threat everyone is used to them being.