Pittsburgh Penguins Must Decide Veteran Defenseman's Future

The Pittsburgh Penguins are officially out of playoff contention, their third straight season without making the playoffs.

After 16 straight seasons of making the playoffs, the fall from greatness has been steep, and the 2024-25 season could be their worst to date.

At 31-35-12 and a mere 74 points in 78 games, the Penguins are headed toward their first below .500 season since Sidney Crosby's rookie year of 2005-06.

In the final years of the Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang era, the team still hasn't discovered the spark to give their aging core one final push at the Stanley Cup.

Goaltending and defensive inconsistency have been problems for the Penguins all season. Neither Tristan Jarry nor Alex Nedeljkovic could provide stable play in goal, and the defense too often couldn't contain opposing offenses.

One of the biggest question marks to come is Erik Karlsson. As much offense and Norris Trophy resume as he possesses, Karlsson has not played in the playoffs since 2019 and has now gone six straight years without making it.

At the age of 34, his play has become increasingly erratic, and his role in the Penguins' system always seemed out of place.

Although still capable of flashes of brilliance, Karlsson's inconsistency and massive contract make him a tricky piece to build around.

General Manager Kyle Dubas may have little option but to seek a trade for Karlsson this offseason, both to create cap space and to refuel the roster for Crosby's waning years.

Whatever the situation, one thing is certain: if the Penguins are to become contenders again, drastic changes are on the horizon.