Who will be flanking Evgeni Malkin this season?
Welcome to the third edition of Pensburgh’s series figuring out the ideal Penguins lineup through reader vote. We’re putting up the depth chart, one spot at a time, toso that you can let us know which player you believe will be the best fit.
After voting to keep Drew O’Connor on Sidney Crosby’s left wing, you voted to slot in Bryan Rust on his right. That leaves us with the following projected lineup so far:
Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
LW2 - Evgeni Malkin - RW2
LW3 - C3 - RW3
LW4 - C4 - RW4
Depth forward
LD1 / Erik Karlsson
LD2 / Kris Letang
LD3 / RD3
Depth defender
Goalie1
Goalie2
Now it’s time to take a closer look at who will be skating on Malkin’s left when the puck drops in October.
Of all available left wingers excepting O’Connor, Michael Bunting spent the most minutes on Malkin’s line last season. He and Malkin looked like a good match down the stretch last season, as Bunting added some physicality at the netfront on Malkin’s line that helped the Penguins’ second-line anchor put up eight goals and 14 points in the final 11 games of the season.
Newly-signed free agent Anthony Beauvillier could also be a candidate to play on the second line. He skated for three teams last seasons as a pair of trades bounced him from Vancouver to Chicago to Nashville, so the Penguins have reason to hope he’ll be able to rebound from his career-low five-goal, 17-point campaign while playing for a single team. In past seasons with the New York Islanders, Beauvillier shone on Mat Barzal’s wing, so Pittsburgh could hope to help rejuvenate his production with a stint on the first or second line.
If O’Connor gets bumped up to the first line, Rickard Rakell will be a prime option to flank Malkin on the second, especially given his past experience at left wing. Rakell’s production has peaked in the past when slotted in alongside Crosby, but the Penguins could decide to continue working on this pair’s chemistry this season.
Blake Lizotte is a long shot at left wing on the second line, given that he has primarily spent his career at the center and that he was likely brought to Pittsburgh to serve as a bottom-six forward. But the Penguins could decide to try him out at the position after the left-handed center played on the wing for the first time in his NHL career with the Kings last season. Lizotte stood out in Los Angeles because of his effort on the forecheck, which has historically been key to boosting Malkin’s line.
Who would you slot in on Malkin’s left wing for the start of the 2024-25 season?
