Fansided

NHL playoffs: 5 reasons the Penguins won’t repeat

By Adam Stocker

Mar 19, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) moves the puck against the Florida Panthers during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) moves the puck against the Florida Panthers during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – FEBRUARY 19: Kris Letang
PITTSBURGH, PA – FEBRUARY 19: Kris Letang /

3. Injuries to the blueline

The Pittsburgh Penguins defensive core is littered with injuries. The most notable injury is to star defenseman Kris Letang. Letang is out for the rest of the season with a herniated disk in his neck that required surgery. The injury prone defenseman is by far the Penguins best defenseman when he is on the ice. Unfortunately for the Penguins, they will have to wait until next season to see him play again. Letang averaged 25:31 in ice time this season, those minutes will be difficult to replace for Pittsburgh. The majority of Letang’s minutes come against opposing teams’ top lines. By having to play a lesser defenseman  Without Letang, the Penguins will have to find another player to anchor one of the power play units.

Letang averaged 25:31 in ice time this season, those minutes will be difficult to replace for Pittsburgh. The majority of Letang’s minutes come against opposing teams’ top lines. By having to play a lesser defenseman go against other teams’ top scorers, they are more likely to give up a goal. The loss of Letang is a trickle down effect. To replace Letang every other defenseman moves up one spot on the depth chart. Without Letang, the Penguins will have to find another player to anchor one of the power play units. Letang is one of the best offensive defenseman in the league and his loss reduces the effectiveness of the Penguins’ power play.

The loss of Letang is just the start of the injury problems that Pittsburgh is dealing with in their defense core. Defenseman Olli Maatta had surgery in February but has yet to return to the team. Trevor Daley underwent knee surgery at the end of February and has yet to return to the Pittsburgh lineup.

The Penguins may get Maatta and Daley back soon. The Finnish defenseman has begun skating with the team in practice but has been wearing a non-contact jersey. Daley has been a full participant in Pittsburgh’s practices lately and is hoping to return before the end of the regular season. If Pittsburgh gets both Maatta and Daley back their defensive unit with have improved depth. However, Maatta and Daley may not be at full speed when they return to the lineup. Both players have missed over 20 games and will take some time to adjust to the speed of playoff hockey.