Why Penguins Fans Can't Miss This Season: Crosby, Youth, and Malkin's Farewell
The Penguins rebuild has some fans not looking forward to the 2025/26 season, but now The Athletic have given some reasons why this could be a great campaign.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons, and with the team clearly moving towards a rebuild, there's been some pessimism among the fanbase around the impending 2025/26 campaign.
However, there are many reasons for fans to tune in this season, and while it may not result in a Stanley Cup Playoffs run, there's some intriguing storylines to keep an eye on.
Crosby Still Elite While a Talented Young Core Emerges
Perhaps the most intriguing reason to watch this season is the youth, with Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen both providing a spark in their 8 games played with the team last year.
Now, both are expected to be in the top-six, with McGroarty alongside Crosby and Koivunen alongside Evgeni Malkin, with no better situation for a young winger to learn as the enter the stages of their full-time career in the National Hockey League.
On top of that, players like Harrison Brunicke, Joel Blomqvist and others will be pushing their way into the team, giving Penguins fans a glimpse into what is expected to be a very bright future.
Is This the Last Ride for Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh?
The other thing to watch is perhaps the final season for former No. 2 overall pick Evgeni Malkin, who has spent two decades in Pittsburgh, becoming a staple of this franchise alongside captain Sidney Crosby, as the two combined to lead this team to three Stanley Cup wins.
While his future has not officially been confirmed by the player or the team, the expectation around the league is that whether or not Malkin departs the NHL in the summer of 2026, he will depart the Penguins.
Therefore, this season is the perfect opportunity for fans to bid farewell to a franchise icon, and with a long rebuild coming, they may not see players at the level of Crosby/Malkin for a few years now.
Ultimately, there's some great reasons for Penguins fans to be excited about the future, and with their veteran stars still around as they help the youth emerge, this could be a fun year, even if the team isn't competing for a Stanley Cup.
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