Team: 2022-23 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 25, 2022

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

23 BOLD Pittsburgh Penguins Predictions for 2023

Yes these are bold picks for the black and gold but that’s kinda the point… and I’ll be happy if I land just 3…

1. Sidney Crosby hits 40 goals, is top-3 in the league in even-strength points, and is a finalist for the MVP (Hart trophy).

2. Rickard Rakell hits 30 goals.

3. The Penguins have six 20-goal scorers.

4. Tristan Jarry receives a 6x$5.25M extension ($31.5M) after posting a GAA under 2.50 and a SV% over .920 this season.

5. Jason Zucker stays healthy enough to hit 55 points while hitting everything that moves.

6. The Pens finish with a top-5 "combined special teams" percentage (ex. 87% pk + 25% pp = 112% special teams %).

7. Ty Smith finally gets his opportunity with the NHL squad when Marcus Pettersson breaks his hand in a fight sticking up for POJ, who was just concussed by Jacob Trouba. He subsequently turns out to be a complete and abject failure.

8. The Penguins keep their 1st round pick but move their 2nd along with Kasperi Kapanen (and other assets) in a deadline deal for a scoring winger.

9. Geno still scores at a point-per-game pace but fails to score over 25 goals.

10. Brock McGinn sets a new career-high in goals.

11. The only line brawl of the year occurs when Geno is hit in open ice by Tampa's Corey Perry.

12. Jake Guentzel scores 50 goals but 11 are empty netters.

13. Mark Friedman's best game this year is against the Flyers. He has the Gordie Howe hat trick (fight, goal, assist) then gets ejected and fined for his "aggressive actions" against Travis Konecny.

14. The Penguins end up with the #2 spot in the division and face the New York Rangers yet again. This time the Penguins prevail in double overtime in game 6 at MSG. Jason Zucker scores the game-winner and waves goodbye to the Rangers fans.

15. The Penguins are sadly eliminated in the second round by the young and quick New Jersey Devils but take them to 7 games.

16. Jake Guentzel leads the Pens in Playoff points with 18 (10 G, 8 A).

17. The Pens make a trade at the 2023 draft, sending POJ out for a young forward of similar status and a pick.

18. The Penguins make six selections in the 2023 draft but only two in the top-150 picks. They select a goalie (again) with one of those two selections because Hextall loves his goalies.

19. Zucker, Blueger, Heinen, and Dumoulin all leave via Free Agency. (Bonus prediction-Zucker goes back to MIN)

20. After Jeff Carter retires after the 2022-2023 season, the Penguins are indeed active in Free Agency as they sign Jonathan Toews to be the new #3C (1x$3.5M) and LW Michael Bunting (6x$5.5M).

21. In the Calendar year 2023, Ron Hextall acquires 3 more players that he has former ties to.

22. Samuel Poulin is the #4C on opening night for the 2023-2024 season.

23. Around Christmas of 2023, Jake Guentzel signs a 8x$7.375M ($59M) extention.


HAPPY 2023 EVERYONE!!!

Comment down below your thoughts or crazy predictions!!!