The Penguins staggered to a 1-4-1 finish during the final week of the 2014-15 regular season, sneaking into the playoffs by beating the NHL’s worst team, Buffalo, in Game No. 82.
Their postseason stay was predictably brief, however, as the New York Rangers needed just five games to jettison them into the offseason.
While being without three of their top four defensemen obviously played a role in their late-season miseries, general manager Jim Rutherford concluded it wasn’t simply injuries and bad luck that fueled their flame-out during the stretch drive and playoffs.
Consequently, he spent much of the summer rebuilding his roster, and his moves — particularly the addition of high-scoring winger Phil Kessel — should have a positive impact.
Still, the Penguins enter their season-opener in Dallas tonight with more than a few lingering questions and concerns. Their defense corps is less accomplished and experienced than it was a year ago, for example, and their power play remains perplexing.
However, the Penguins, whose nucleus of talent rivals any in the game, believe they can contend for the Metropolitan Division championships and be a force in the 2016 playoffs.
They have 82 games to prove it. Or, if need be, to qualify for the postseason.
A look at the personnel with which they will enter the season:
Dave Molinari believes Evgeni Malkin has the talent to dominate this season. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
CENTERS
The Penguins have had one of the NHL’s finest stables of centers since Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal showed up in 2006, a year after Sidney Crosby arrived.
Staal was traded to Carolina in 2012 and Brandon Sutter, who was brought in to replace him, was dealt to Vancouver a few months ago, but Crosby and Malkin continue to provide an unequaled 1-2 punch.
This season, they will be backed up by two, and possibly three, newcomers. Nick Bonino was acquired in the Sutter trade, and will center the third line, while free agent Matt Cullen will be in the middle of the fourth.
The third, Eric Fehr, could play any forward position when he gets medical clearance to play, although the Penguins list him as a center.
CENTERS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Height | Weight | Skinny |
| 13 | Nick Bonino | 6-1 | 196 | Solid two-way game; reputation for playing well when stakes are high. |
| 87 | Sidney Crosby | 5-11 | 200 | Finally will have chance to feed pucks to elite goal-scorer. |
| 7 | Matt Cullen | 6-1 | 200 | He's 38, but can be effective in blue-collar role because of skating, hockey sense. |
| 16 | Eric Fehr | 6-4 | 212 | Will bolster bottom-six when he recovers from elbow surgery. |
| 71 | Evgeni Malkin | 6-4 | 195 | Has talent to dominate if teams focus defensive efforts on Crosby's line. |
WINGERS
Rutherford entered the offseason intent on upgrading his bottom-six forwards and, by most accounts, succeeded.
He did it, in part, by bringing in new wingers for the first two lines, bumping guys who had been working there down the depth chart.
Although the third line took a hit when Pascal Dupuis was sidelined by an undisclosed injury this week, second-round draft choice Daniel Sprong has looked NHL-ready; Beau Bennett had a strong (and injury-free) preseason, and potential fourth-liner Bobby Farnham plays with a vigor few can match.
Russian winger Sergei Plotnikov, a free agent, seems to fit nicely on Malkin’s left side, but the marquee addition is Kessel, who will play alongside Crosby and should be good for 40 goals. At least.
Kessel has been a good fit, on and off the ice, so far, and if he does find his comfort zone here, he could make things unpleasant for a lot of opponents.
WINGERS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Height | Weight | Skinny |
| 19 | Beau Bennett | 6-2 | 195 | If he can avoid injury — a huge if — this could be the year he proves his value. |
| 9 | Pascal Dupuis | 6-1 | 205 | Staying healthy has become much more of a challenge than seems fair. |
| 24 | Bobby Farnham | 5-10 | 188 | If nothing else, he should contribute boundless energy. |
| 72 | Patric Hornqvist | 5-11 | 189 | Fearless around opponents' nets, and has goals to prove it. |
| 81 | Phil Kessel | 6-0 | 202 | Proven goal-scorer who has the best center — and circumstances — of his career. |
| 14 | Chris Kunitz | 6-0 | 195 | Seems to have held onto his spot on the No. 1 line, at least for now. |
| 57 | David Perron | 6-0 | 200 | Must rebound from awful second half to secure a prominent place. |
| 61 | Sergei Plotnikov | 6-2 | 202 | Looks as if he can make smooth transition to North American game. |
| 41 | Daniel Sprong | 6-0 | 180 | The rare 18-year-old who could be a top-six forward on some NHL teams. |
Could Kris Letang be a Norris Trophy contender this season? (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
DEFENSEMEN
For years, the Penguins’ bounty of promising young defensemen was one of the organization’s greatest strengths.
Not anymore.
There was considerable turnover on their blue line during the offseason — Paul Martin, Christian Ehrhoff and Taylor Chorney left via free agency, and Scott Harrington was traded — and the defense enters this season as the Penguins’ biggest area of uncertainty, if not concern.
That Derrick Pouliot had a lackluster training camp and will open the season in the American Hockey League further weakens a unit that is, at best, largely unproven.
Having cornerstones Kris Letang and Olli Maatta play close to 82 games would be a huge plus, but it won’t be a surprise if Rutherford uses his surplus of NHL-caliber forwards to bring in reinforcements or an upgrade.
DEFENSEMEN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Height | Weight | Skinny |
| 2 | Adam Clendening | 6-0 | 190 | Moves the puck well, but modest size could be issue. |
| 28 | Ian Cole | 6-1 | 219 | A pleasant surprise when acquired who must show he can handle top-four duties. |
| 8 | Brian Dumoulin | 6-4 | 207 | Doesn't do much to stand out, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. |
| 44 | Tim Erixon | 6-2 | 200 | Should add badly needed organizational depth. |
| 58 | Kris Letang | 6-0 | 201 | Could be Norris Trophy contender if he stays healthy. |
| 12 | Ben Lovejoy | 6-1 | 206 | Can be effective when given a reasonable workload. |
| 3 | Olli Maatta | 6-2 | 206 | With no detours to the hospital, he's speeding down road toward excellence. |
| 4 | Rob Scuderi | 6-1 | 212 | Top-four days might be over, but can contribute good penalty-killing, decision-making. |
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury had an infectious smile long before the Penguins drafted him in 2003.
And he’s had plenty of reason to use it during the past few years.
Fleury’s performance in the playoffs was frequently — and justifiably — criticized for much of his career, but he has been outstanding the past couple of springs, elevating his game in conjunction with the stakes.
If the Penguins find themselves competing for a championship in 2016, chances are good Fleury will be one of the main reasons.
GOALIES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Height | Weight | Skinny |
| 29 | Marc-Andre Fleury | 6-2 | 180 | It took a while, but he's matured into one of the league's best |
| 37 | Jeff Zatkoff | 6-2 | 179 | Will be looking to earn his next contract, whether here or elsewhere. |
Dave Molinari: dmolinari@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MolinariPG.
First Published: October 8, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
