NHL Power Rankings: Previewing the Flyers’ Metropolitan positon

Pittsburgh Penguins

Head Coach- Mike Sullivan (fourth season)

Key Returning Players- Sidney Crosby(C), Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Matt Murray

2018 Outlook

Justin: The Penguins have had a remarkable run under head coach Mike Sullivan, winning back to back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, and then coming up just bit short in their bid for a third consecutive championship, something no team has accomplished in the salary cap era. Sullivan is one of the top coaches in the game, and under his tutelage, the Penguins will once again be a playoff team and should be able to make another run at the conference finals.

The health of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang has been an issue in the past, but the Penguins do have depth in younger players like Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary. Matt Murray will need to rebound from a disappointing year in net. If he regains his championship winning form, this team becomes as dangerous as ever.

Bottom Line: The Penguins are a team that was built to win under GM Jim Rutherford. They basically have the same group that won two Stanley Cups, so if health holds up, they’ll be a contender once again.

Prediction: Second in the Metropolitan Division, 100 pts

Anthony: The Pittsburgh Penguins remain mostly unchanged. Kris Letang is healthy, but the offense would do fine without him anyway. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, it’s easy to see them taking the top spot in the Division especially with the big coaching change in Washington.

Bottom line: It’s the Penguins, not much can derail them as long as Crosby is producing.

Prediction: First in the Metropolitan Division, 103 pts