THN Penguins Predictions: Which participant is poised for a bounceback season?

With a brand new season simply across the nook, the Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for yet one more coaching camp.

However this time round – in contrast to in seasons previous – 2024-25 could possibly be filled with surprises.

View the original article to see embedded media.

As such, we’ll break down some storylines to anticipate this season and offer you some daring – and a few not-so-bold – predictions for the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

Subsequent up: Which Penguins’ participant is most poised for a bounceback season?

Kelsey’s Prediction

To begin with, I believe there are a number of gamers on this roster who’re poised for bounceback seasons. Erik Karlsson, Kevin Hayes, and Matt Grzelcyk come to thoughts.

I am going to argue all day that Karlsson wasn’t even unhealthy in any respect final season, however I believe he is about to have a monster yr. I believe Hayes might be enjoying impressed hockey this yr and that youthful, quicker legs round him ought to assist his scoring contact re-emerge.

And I believe Grzelcyk’s course of continues to be there – and that he could possibly be a greater anchor for Letang than Graves is – he simply had a large number of a season in Boston final yr and wanted a change of surroundings.

However I wish to talk about a participant that some Penguins’ followers appear to have a brief reminiscence about. And that man is Rickard Rakell.

Rakell set expectations excessive after his 2022-23 marketing campaign, when he put up 28 targets and 60 factors over a full season. However an especially gradual begin – he did not have more goals than goaltender Tristan Jarry until Dec. 27 – and a nagging shoulder damage broke his 2023-24 season, and he completed with solely 15 targets and 37 factors in 70 video games.

However there have been some positives that got here out of final season, too. For one, after Dec. 18 – following his month-long IR stint – he scored at a 23-goal, 51-point tempo, which is extra resemblant of his earlier season. This was additionally regardless of his shoulder damage, which probably hindered his taking pictures capacity.

Related: THN Penguins’ Predictions: What Will the Final 23-Man Roster Look Like?

It is also value noting that Rakell’s sport improved in different sides: He emerged as one of many group’s greatest defensive forwards – if not the best – and he was second solely to defensive-minded fourth-liner Noel Acciari in hits by Penguins’ forwards. And in line with Moneypuck, he was additionally, analytically, the fourth-best Penguins’ ahead with not less than 1,000 minutes of ice time final season.

Even when Rakell is not scoring, he is placing in some good work. He is nonetheless an awesome forechecker, he creates area utilizing his smarts and physicality, and he is defensively accountable. Mix all these issues with the wholesome, goal-scoring sniper Penguins’ followers too quickly forgot about? You have bought your self a fairly full participant.

And – severely – let’s not overlook the pure talent and rocket of a shot this man has. There is a purpose he is a two-time 30-goal scorer and a five-time 20-goal scorer:

He discovered chemistry with Evgeni Malkin and Michael Bunting on the finish of final season, and we’ve all seen the issues he can do alongside Sidney Crosby. Realistically – if he is wholesome – I predict a 26-goal, 57-point marketing campaign. However I would not be shocked within the slightest if he surpasses 30 for the primary time in his Penguins’ profession and his third time general.

Many people have given up on Rakell, however I’m not one in all them. Even when his contract ages poorly in these ultimate seasons, I nonetheless suppose he has one or two good seasons left.

Ryan’s Prediction

In 2022-23, Erik Karlsson, then with the San Jose Sharks, received the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s greatest defenseman. En path to his third win, he grew to become solely the sixth defender to register 100 factors in a single season.

But, one way or the other, Karlsson was dealt to the Penguins inside two months of accepting the award in final summer season’s greatest blockbuster and attainable heist of the last decade.

However after 82 video games in a Penguins sweater, the jury continues to be out on who received the commerce as a result of the Sharks ended up with the primary general choose (by design), and Pittsburgh missed the playoffs by three factors (not a part of the plan).

In the meantime, Karlsson grew, concurrently, into one of the vital favored and disliked skaters within the lineup. Not solely did his level manufacturing drop by 46 factors, however he additionally went from 5 power-play targets to simply two and 27 factors on the person benefit to 17.

One of the vital puzzling points of the entire scenario is how Karlsson went from a bottom-feeder to a playoff contender and one way or the other regressed.

Related: The Most Absurd Predictions for the Penguins’ 2024-2025 Season

Because the Penguins’ highest-paid participant at $10 million for the subsequent three seasons, Karlsson ought to reward the fanbase with not less than a point-per-game tempo. Apart from his 2022-23 marketing campaign, this can be a feat he hasn’t completed since 2015-16 when he was with the Ottawa Senators and picked up 82 factors in 82 video games.

The statistics point out that he hasn’t come near often assembly that manufacturing stage in nearly a decade, however on a fading Sharks group, he scored 101 factors and nonetheless completed the season minus-26.

In fact, there are purple flags all over the place, however Karlsson is a three-time Norris Trophy winner. Defenders with extra wins? Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey, and Nicklas Lidstrom. Hockey legends.

Nevertheless, these 4 have one other factor in widespread: they received the Stanley Cup. At $10 million a yr, the Penguins want extra from Karlsson, and at 34, he is nonetheless bought time to cement his legacy by main Pittsburgh to the playoffs and to a championship.

There is not any denying that the talents are there. The execution additionally should not be an issue. Now that his former head coach David Quinn is again behind the bench as an assistant, it is time for Karlsson to shake off these first-year blues and get again to the 80-point participant he is able to being or danger turning into the Jonathan Huberdeau of the Jap Convention.

Bollen ligger på din plan Karlsson.

Related: Predictions for Each Penguins’ Player in 2024-25