Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 07: Phil Kessel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against 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) *** Local Caption ***
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 07: Phil Kessel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against 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) *** Local Caption *** /

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

The defending champions are defending no more. After two consecutive Stanley Cups, the Pittsburgh Penguins were dethroned this past season and now the refocus themselves onto setting their sights on a sixth Stanley Cup.

Last season the Pittsburgh Penguins finished 10th in the league with 100 points, and won their ninth straight playoff series before being dethroned by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in the second round.

Why they could win

How can the Penguins win the Stanley Cup? They’re the Penguins, thats how. They just seem to find a way to get it done no matter what. The roster may have taken some turns for the worse, but don’t let that fool you, this team will never not be a threat.

Let’s start down the middle. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. So two generational talents, that’s pretty good. Follow that up with whoever you want and you are fine, but Derrick Brassard works as well.

Having elite centers is great but it means nothing if you don’t have anybody on the wing to support them. Pittsburgh has that in spades with guys like Phil Kessel, Patric Hornqvist and Jake Guentzel. Even depth guys like Rust, Sprong and Simon could have impact seasons on the bottom six.

Pittsburgh defense also gets some flack, but there plenty of talent there. When Letang is at his best he is a game changer, and Brian Dumoulin is consistently able to hold the fort in his own end. Justin Schultz can always slide in on the top pairing as well if need be, and looks better and better each year.

Why they won’t win

The Penguins did not have a good offseason; in fact it was pretty pedestrian and really out of character.

Signing Jack Johnson of all people for five years was not the solution to the defense depth issue in Pittsburgh. He’s fallen off cliff in recent years, and has shown no sign of recovering what he was anytime soon. Bringing back Matt Cullen one more year also isn’t helping on the wings. None of the signings they made made the team any better.

The biggest question mark this season for the Penguins is Matt Murray. Yes he was the starting goalie for the Penguins back to back Stanley Cups, but last year was concerningly bad. His glove hand is an easy weakness to pinpoint, and the Capitals beat him with it again and again in their second round series. If the Penguins are going to go deep in the postseason, Murray needs to refine his consistency and become the goalie he was hyped to be.

Conclusion

Of course the Penguins are Stanley Cup contenders. As long as Crosby and Malkin still wear that uniform, they are not going away. The Penguins are deep on offense and defense, but the issues on the team are prevalent and will be exploited against them. The Penguins definitely make the playoffs.

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