Fansided

5 moves the Pittsburgh Penguins can make to get back to the playoffs

By Hunter Hodies

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 07: Members of the Pittsburgh Penguins acknowledge the crowd after a 2-1 overtime lose to the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on May 7, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 07: Members of the Pittsburgh Penguins acknowledge the crowd after a 2-1 overtime lose to the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on May 7, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Penguins will likely make the playoffs next season but in order to make sure that they do, they need to do a couple things during the offseason.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ reign came to an end this past May when they fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in six games.

It was such a close series that could’ve gone either way, but in the end, Washington got past its nemesis and the rest was history. Pittsburgh has a lot of the pieces needed to get back to the playoffs next year and to contend again. The Penguins are also looking to get deeper as a team. Let’s take a look at what Pittsburgh can do this offseason to make the playoffs for the 13th straight season.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 03: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Tom Kuhnhackl (34) spins and shoots the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins center Riley Sheahan (15) sets up in front of Washington Capitals Goalie Braden Holtby (70) and Washington Capitals Defenseman John Carlson (74) defends during the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round in the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 3, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 03: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Tom Kuhnhackl (34) spins and shoots the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins center Riley Sheahan (15) sets up in front of Washington Capitals Goalie Braden Holtby (70) and Washington Capitals Defenseman John Carlson (74) defends during the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round in the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 3, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Improve the fourth line

Pittsburgh wasn’t as deep going into this year’s playoffs, and it showed when Evgeni Malkin went down with an injury. When he did, the Penguins almost became a one-line team because Derick Brassard was struggling with an injury in the playoffs. It affected his game and he wasn’t able to be himself centering the second line. The fourth line became a black hole after that when Carter Rowney and Tom Kuhnhackl made up 2/3 of the line and it didn’t produce anything offensively.

When Malkin came back and Riley Sheahan was able to come back down, it still didn’t do anything. Zach Aston-Reese struggled a bit and then got hurt and Kuhnhackl was still not providing any scoring. For the season, Kuhnhackl tallied two goals and eight points in 69 games and no playoff points in 12 games. That’s just not nearly good enough and he likely won’t be back next year. He’s a restricted free agent but if the Penguins choose not to qualify him, he will be a UFA.

Riley Sheahan coming back would be great to improve the fourth line as he found his game again. He and Aston-Reese in a full season for Pittsburgh should pay huge dividends. With an acquisition by trade or free agency to upgrade the last spot, it’ll go a long way for the Penguins being deeper.

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