The Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs this season but there were still some big developments to be had from an organizational standpoint.
The Pittsburgh Penguins 2024-25 season is officially in the books, and it resulted in a third consecutive non-playoff season and their worst finish since the 2005-06 season. Obviously, that is not good enough. But even in what turned out to be a disappointing season in the standings there were some positive developments for both the long-term and short-term outlooks.
Let’s talk about some of them.
1. Real prospects with real potential
This, for me, is the biggest development here, because it is what the Penguins have needed for a couple of years now. They not only have some youth in the organization, they have some youth in the organization with some serious potential.
They also had a chance to get a glimpse of it late in the season.
The biggest development remains the play of Ville Koivunen. After being the top rookie in the AHL during the regular season, he made an immediate impact in the NHL with seven points in eight games while also having the look of a top-line player.
Rutger McGroarty consistently improved all season and, like Koivunen, was playing outstanding hockey in his late-season call-up before an injury cut his season short.
Both players should be fixtures in the top-six next season, and might even be potential Calder Trophy candidates (or at least in the discussion; I am not sure anybody is going to match the hype of Ivan Demidov going into next season) if they can capitalize on the opportunity to play next to Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
They obviously need a lot more around them, and they still need to keep progressing and develop, but going into next season with two potential top-six wingers with long-term upside is a nice little headstart on the rebuilding process.
Then there is goalie Sergei Murashov and the first impression he made in the organization this season.
In terms of upside, this guy might be at the top of the list.
Goaltending has been the Penguins’ biggest Achilles heel for years now, and it is the one position that can quickly change a team’s floor and ceiling.
Between Koivunen, McGroarty and Murashov those are now three high-level prospects that are knocking on the door, which is three more than they had at this time a year ago.
2. Rickard Rakell
Rakell’s career year was a significant development simply because it gives the Penguins options going into the summer and the next couple of years.
If they want to revisit trade options for him this summer, he should be one of the more attractive options available and should have some serious value.
A 35-goal, 70-point player only counting $5 million against the salary cap? In a year where the cap is set to rise significantly and dramatically drive up the cost of even mid-level free agents? If a team were to sign a player with that level of production this offseason they are paying way more than $5 million for it.
If they do not get the trade offers they want for him, they know they still have a top-line winger that plays well next to Crosby and could still have several more productive years remaining in his career.
I know this was a career-year, but it’s not that far off from what he did with the Penguins in his first year-and-a-half with the team. He has played three-and-a-half seasons in Pittsburgh, and he has been outstanding for the overwhelming majority of that time. He is in his 30s, but it’s still his early 30s. I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine him scoring 25-30 goals over the next couple of seasons. If that’s with the Penguins, that’s great. If another team seems that and wants to make a big off, that’s also great.
3. Sidney Crosby is not slowing down
Okay, maybe he has slowed down a little bit from the player he was at his peak. But it is not much, and he is still one of the best players in hockey even going into his age 38 season. He just posted his third consecutive 90-point season after the age of 35, and on any given night still looks like the best player on the ice no matter who the Penguins are playing. The man is a force, and he still clearly has a couple of high-level years remaining. Whether the Penguins can turn that into another playoff appearance for him remains to be seen, but his presence is still going to be important.
The only reason this development is not higher is the simple fact it probably is not a huge surprise. It should be expected.
4. The needs have exposed themselves
Not all developments are positive, and there were plenty on the opposite side of the spectrum this season to highlight what the Penguins still need.
While the top-six as presently constructed is still very good, and could be excellent next season with Koivunen and McGroarty taking on bigger roles, their forward depth at the NHL level is not good enough when it comes to the bottom half of the lineup.
The defense stinks as currently constructed and needs a lot of work.
Like, it’s really bad. From both a personnel and structure standpoint.
Erik Karlsson can still score and produce offensively, but his defensive game has been a liability. Given his contract I would imagine he is very high on the trade list this offseason.
Kris Letang, as painful as it is to say this, might now be a problem. He did not have a good season and started to look his age perhaps more than any of the other core players. They have some prospects on the blue line, but that has to be a big organizational focus long-term.
I also think it is important to know that there is at least some sort of direction with where the Penguins see themselves. Almost every move going back to the Jake Guentzel trade has been with the big picture in mind. I would imagine that continues into the offseason.