This is where the Penguins depth will be tested.
With Rickard Rakell being chosen for the right wing slot on the second line next to Evgeni Malkin, that wraps up the Penguins top-six in our 2024-25 roster projection. For the most part, the top-six in our projections is pretty straight forward and looks very similar to what the lines looked like at the end of last season.
Here’s a look at where our roster stands with the first two lines complete. Reminder, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were penciled in by us beforehand since they were two of the givens on where they will be in the lineup.
Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
LW3 - C3 - RW3
LW4 - C4 - RW4
Depth forward
LD1 / Erik Karlsson
LD2 / Kris Letang
LD3 / RD3
Depth defender
Goalie 1
Goalie 2
Now we enter the bottom-six of the Penguins forward lineup and this is where the dept of the roster will be tested more than any other. There are more than a few depth forwards at Mike Sullivan’s disposal, the question is whether or not there is enough talent to make a productive bottom-six and take pressure off the big guns to do all the heavy lifting once again.
Removing the already selected wingers from the equation, that leaves only Anthony Beauvillier and Matt Nieto as left wingers currently on the roster. When healthy last season, Nieto was a fourth liner and there doesn’t seem to be much appetite to promote him unless they are in dire need.
That leaves just Beauvillier and the jury is completely out on him at the moment until we see more when training camp opens in September and we get a better idea of what the Penguins have for the newly signed winger. He is only a season removed from putting up 18 goals in 40 points, but last season only managed 17 points in 60 games played for three different teams.
Another option the Penguins could explore for this left wing position on the third line is moving one of the available right wingers to that side. Currently the available options for this type of move are Kevin Hayes, Valtteri Puustinen, and Jesse Puljujarvi. Hayes has a better offensive track record than the other two, but they may prefer keeping Hayes on his chosen side or even at center.
Perhaps the answer to this lineup spot resides somewhere else in the Penguins organization and will be up for grabs come training camp where a dark horse could steal the spot. It’s well documented that the Penguins prospect pool is shallow, but it has certainly been improving over the last two years. One name we are already familiar with is Jonathan Gruden who just signed a new two-year deal with the Penguins after playing in 13 games last season.
One final option is going outside the organization and brining in a new face either via trade or dipping into the remaining free agent pool. Picking are slim if you want to go the free agent rout at this point and a trade might be the better option if you are willing to part with some assets to get a move done.
