Team: 2021-22 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 4, 2021

Published: Sep. 4, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Playoffs are likely, but it's possible they miss for the first time in like what feels like forever. In 2019-20 many thought they were done and they were going to miss. They stayed at the top of the Metro for most of the season. This past season many thought they weren't making it in the East Division. They started off slow, but they made their way to 1st in the East by the end of the season. Yes they have failed miserably in the post season in the past 3 years, but they have made the playoffs without too much difficultly. If we compare them to the Caps (the team that is in the most similar position) Crosby, Malkin, and Carter are all older than Backstrom, Kuzy, and Eller. But the better overall skill is leaning towards Pittsburgh. They have younger wingers like Guentzel, Rust and Kapanen compared to Ovi, Oshie, and Wilson. Defensively Carlsson is probably slightly better than Letang and less injury prone. Orlov and Dumo are close, but I give the edge to Orlov. Marino is probably better than Schutlz despite a lacklustre sophomore year. (I expect Marino to be more on par with his rookie season) Matheson is probably better than Kempny. Pettersson is probably better than what the Caps have rn at bottom LD. Jensen/TVR are better than Freidman/Rudwedel. Jarry and DeSmith both had better numbers than Samsonv and Vanacek.
If you look at the lineup you'll see I put Kapanen with Carter on the third line and Evan Rodrigues with Malkin. I expect the Malkin line to be playing less minutes and the Carter line to be playing more. Kapanen has played with Carter this past season. I also think Radmin Zohorna will make the starting lineup on Carter's line. In only 8 games he put up 4 points in a bottom 6 role.