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NHL Analyst Reveals the Pittsburgh Penguins' Best and Worst Case Scenarios for 2025-26
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey News
NHL analyst Adam Gretz revealed the three best and worst-case scenarios for the Penguins during the 2025-26 season, stretching from playoffs to no lottery pick.
There continues to be some discourse amongst fans and media about whether the Pittsburgh Penguins have initiated a full rebuild. On paper, the 2025-26 roster still contains far too many gifted players to fully tank.
With Sidney Crosby still playing this well, Evgeni Malkin flashing here and there, and Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell chipping in, it's possible they're not quite awful enough to initiate a serious Gavin McKenna lottery push.
Young wingers such as Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty also possess exciting skills, though roster growing pains will not be avoided.
Even by those names, though, these Penguins have not made it to the playoffs in three years. Despite good front-line talent, weaknesses on defense and inconsistent goaltending have prevented them from rising above mediocrity.
That might well happen yet again. Their best possible scenario, according to NHL analyst Adam Gretz, is having close wild-card contention built upon good play from Crosby, sleeper runs from youngsters, and steady goaltending from Tristan Jarry or Arturs Silovs.
"The Penguins' highest ceiling on the ice (and worst-case for rebuild): Compete for a wild-card spot."
- Adam Gretz
- Adam Gretz
That would get them no better than a mid-round pick, though this would be a less-than-ideal scenario for a roster that desperately needs franchise foundation talent.
The Most Realistic Scenario is Missing the Playoffs, But Playing Good Hockey While Competing for a Lottery Pick
The more realistic scenario might be a watchable season of competitive hockey that culminates in a lottery. Recent history demonstrates that it's possible for teams beyond the top three to take No. 1 picks.
With good fortune, Pittsburgh can hit it big and give itself the blue-chip player it currently lacks in its system.
The worst scenario, according to Gretz? A horrible season in which the team barely competes among the league's worst, while also getting shut out of the top prize in the draft. That would both hurt and be counterproductive.
In the end, it might come down more to how they play than to only thinking about a lottery chance. Playing good hockey and keeping themselves in contention for McKenna might be their optimum balance.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 25 | 88 ANSWERS NHL Analyst Reveals the Pittsburgh Penguins' Best and Worst Case Scenarios for 2025-26 Will the Penguins make the playoffs this season? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 63.6 % |
| No | 32 | 36.4 % |
| List of polls | ||