Predicting when every NHL team will win its next Stanley Cup

Pittsburgh Penguins

Can Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins win a fourth title together?

Absolutely.

Crosby still has more than a handful of seasons left to skate as one of the league’s top three players, and Evgeni Malkin hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down either. While Phil Kessel may not be in the picture for the team’s next Stanley Cup championship, there are others that will come up through the ranks to contribute.

With the subtraction of forward Connor Sheary, Jake Guentzel’s role automatically increases but he’ll also blossom and embrace his promotion on offense over the course of the next three seasons. As for Kessel, Pittsburgh is better off trading the forward to receive some other assets on offense and potentially on the team’s blue line to help get back for the Final. Keep in mind that Kessel’s contract is set to expire after 2022.

Adding Jack Johnson was an underrated free-agent signing this past offseason by general manager Jimmy Rutherford. The 31-year-old still has plenty left to offer as a top-three defenseman, and the new culture and star-caliber skaters that will surround him, will only benefit his play and point production. The Pens will appreciate him most during his first three years with the team, and when they also add some youth on the blue line in order to take pressure off him and Kris Letang.

Matt Murray was spoiled when he first manned the pipes for the Steel City, but he no longer has Marc-Andre Fleury to back him up when things go south for the two-time Stanley Cup champion. But don’t worry Pittsburgh, if Murry struggles at times, there’s always Casey DeSmith or Tristan Jarry who have shown promise.

Pittsburgh wins its last Cup during the Crosby-Malkin era in 2022.