Penguins Playoff Chances Spark Bold Prediction from NHL Insider
Photo credit: Sportsnet
NHL insider Sonny Sachdeva of Sportsnet revealed that the Penguins' playoff odds closer to the deadline will determine whether the team will go into a full rebuild.
Following three consecutive years of mediocrity, premature summers, lineup manipulation, and consistent backsliding, the pressure's on in Pittsburgh.
Optimism arrives from the new head coach himself, Dan Muse. A newcomer to the bench for the Penguins, Muse represents change at the very minimum, and the fan base would cherish his new voice, turning the franchise into a contender once more.
It's been a quiet summer at the roster level. The Penguins finished last year 18th in goals-per-game (2.95), but Kyle Dubas resisted taking significant swings, aiming for a multi-year rebuild.
The riskiest bet was a one-year flier on winger Anthony Mantha, a bet that would pay big dividends if it worked.
In net, the narrative gets juicier. Pittsburgh picked up 24-year-old Arturs Silovs during the summer, and he comes with a real opportunity to compete for the No. 1 spot against Tristan Jarry.
Newly-Acquired Arturs Silovs Could Determine Whether the Penguins Challenge for a Playoff Spot
Goaltending stability has been a concern for a while, and Silovs might prove the surprise X-factor this year.
The big picture, though, is clear: can the Penguins end their postseason drought, or is it time to finally close the book on their glory years? Four years ago, they were yet a 100-point team felled mainly by first-round exits.
Since then, they've fallen from contenders to have-beens and last-place finishers last season after disposing of core vets.
NHL insider Sonny Sachdeva believes that this year will determine if Dubas and company continue riding with the Crosby crew or go all-in on a rebuild.
"Should they challenge for a spot higher up in the standings early, and look like they have a realistic shot at a wild-card spot, maybe the Penguins brass stay the course. But should they come out of the gates stumbling and put up another campaign like last year, there's a good chance the franchise cuts its losses and leans even further into a full-tilt rebuild."
- Sonny Sachdeva
- Sonny Sachdeva
Whether they exhibit spunk and seek a wild-card berth remains to be seen, so patience until then will be needed. Otherwise, Pittsburgh's next era through a full-fledged rebuild will come sooner than later.
Either way, the next few months will determine how the Penguins fare and what path they take.
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