3. The Metropolitan Division
The Pittsburgh Penguins play in an incredibly tough division right now.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are at best the third-best team in the Metropolitan Division. The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are both better on paper.
Then, there is the New York Rangers. In all honesty, the Penguins would have to prove that they are a better team than them as well which might not be likely.
At this point, you can probably be more confident in Pittsburgh than the rest of the division but that puts them in fourth place. When you’re the oldest of the bunch with the weakest goaltending, you’re behind.
To even reach the Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins would for sure have to outlast the Devils, Rangers, and Hurricanes which just doesn’t feel likely.
Even if they did pull off a miracle, one of the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, or Edmonton Oilers will be waiting for them in the Stanley Cup Final. It just isn’t happening for the Penguins this year.