The Pittsburgh Penguins are eager to make the most of their remaining years with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, as both stars are approaching the final stages of their careers. After failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the past two seasons, Pittsburgh aims to quickly revamp their roster.
Last summer, the Penguins made a significant push in NHL Free Agency, signing Ryan Graves, Lars Eller, and Tristan Jarry to strengthen their lineup. However, these moves didn’t yield the desired results, and the team missed the playoffs again in 2024. This summer, the Penguins opted for a more cautious approach in the open market.
While they added depth to their roster, the overall improvement may be modest. It will be difficult to assess their progress until the 2024-25 season begins. The Penguins will need key players to step up, and two veterans could prove crucial in the upcoming season.
Ryan Graves, who joined the Penguins on a six-year contract last summer, had high expectations as a top-four defenseman. However, his first season in Pittsburgh was challenging. Graves experienced a drop in offensive production, tallying only three goals and 14 points in 70 games. His analytics reflected this decline, with a -6.3 Offensive Goals Above Replacement (OGAR) for the 2023-24 season, a significant 14-goal decrease from the previous year.
On the defensive side, Graves performed well, ranking as one of Pittsburgh’s top defenders. He had the second-lowest Goals Against Per 60 Minutes (2.73) behind Erik Karlsson and the highest On-Ice Save Percentage (.914) among Penguins defensemen. If Graves can improve offensively, even to a replacement level, he could make a positive impact and help the Penguins in their playoff push.
Rickard Rakell, who joined the Penguins in the 2021-22 season, had a strong performance in his first full year with the team, scoring 28 goals and 60 points in the 2022-23 season. However, his output declined in 2023-24, with 15 goals and 37 points over 70 games and reduced ice time, averaging just 16.5 minutes per game.
Despite these struggles, Rakell’s analytical metrics were impressive. He posted an Offensive Goals Above Replacement (OGAR) of 10.4 and ranked fourth in both Goals For Percentage (58.65) and Goals For Per 60 Minutes (3.87). With Jake Guentzel being traded midseason, Rakell has the opportunity to step up as a key middle-six winger.
Rakell’s past performance suggests he has the potential to play a pivotal role in the Penguins’ efforts to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025.