Penguins Roster Analysis: Some Forwards Sizzle, Others Fizzle

The Pittsburgh Penguins have gotten excellent offensive production from their top line, particularly Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, through the first 46 games of 2023-24.

Conversely, they haven’t gotten as much as they want — or need — from the third and fourth units.

And the No. 2 line? Sometimes awesome, sometimes absent.

If the Penguins are to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs, they likely must have the No. 1 line maintain its output, while getting more — and more often — from the other three.

Here’s a look at the 20 forwards who have appeared in Penguins games in 2023-24:

Acciari, Noel — A prototype fourth-line center. He has major offensive limitations — Acciari has three goals and one assist in 38 games — but is strong on faceoffs, kills penalties well, has a team-high 80 hits and has been credited with 57 blocked shots, almost twice as many as any other Penguins forward. (Lars Eller is second with 29.)

Carter, Jeff — After bordering on being a liability through the early weeks of the season, Carter has gotten his game back in synch and has regained his place as a positive influence on the ice, as well as in the locker room.

Crosby, Sidney — What he’s done through the first three-plus months of the season defies not only description, but belief. For a 36-year-old to be, arguably, the best 200-foot player in the game and a legitimate candidate for the Hart Trophy is mind-bending.

Eller, Lars — He’s been everything the Penguins could hope for in a third-line center. Solid at both ends of the ice, good on faceoffs, a quality penalty-killer.

Gruden, Jonathan — Gruden is serviceable when the Penguins need someone to fill in on the bottom-six. However, he’s not a threat to crack the NHL lineup on a regular basis.

Guentzel, Jake — He’s poised to take a serious run at a 40-goal season — Guentzel has 22 so far — and is in the process of making himself a lot of money, whether it comes from the Pittsburgh Penguins or another club after his contract is up this summer.

Harkins, Jansen — He’ll never be a difference-maker, but Harkins can contribute on the bottom-six. Oh, and he’s a good guy to call on when you’re in a shootout that goes to the 12th round.

Hinostroza, Vinnie — A nice player to have in the organization if there are injuries or multiple slumps. but he’ll be hard-pressed to get a steady shift in the NHL.

Johnstone, Marc — He got no points and made no meaningful impression in his lone game here.

Koppanen, Joona — See Johnstone, Marc, but make it over three games.

Malkin, Evgeni — Perhaps he embodies the up-and-down nature of the 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins more than any other individual. There have been times when Malkin has been downright brilliant, but more than a few others when he’s looked every bit of his 37 years.

Nieto, Matt — He hasn’t played since Nov. 30 because of an injury, but in the 22 games for which he dressed, Nieto was a good penalty-killer and generally capable bottom-six winger.

Nylander, Alex — Despite getting multiple auditions in the NHL, Nylander never has done anything to suggest he should hold down a long-term spot at this level. That includes the five games in which he’s appeared for the Penguins, during which he did not record a point, this season.

O’Connor, Drew — The most pleasant surprise of 2023-24 for the Penguins. He’s still very much a work-in-progress, but has developed into a good forechecker and penalty-killer, and is beginning to show something of a scoring touch. There’s no question his trajectory is going in the right direction; just how high he can lift his game remains to be seen.

Puustinen, Valtteri — Puustinen played his way out of the top-six as the break neared, but wouldn’t have been placed in such a prominent position if not for injuries and slumps by wingers above him on the depth chart. If he expects to become a regular at this level, he’ll have to score more than one goal every 21 games, which is his pace this season.

Rakell, Rickard — Probably the biggest — and most perplexing — disappointment among Penguins forwards this season. He’s only 30 and has become a reliable goal-scorer (he had 28 last season), but did not get one in his first 19 games. Then, after scoring five times in eight games, has lapsed into another slump, being shut out in his past seven games. He’s played his way out of the top-six, although that will change if/when his touch returns.

Rust, Bryan — Rust has become a reliable 20-goal man, so he hardly is devoid of talent, but his intangibles are even more impressive. He’s a ferocious competitor and has proven capable of being effective on any of the top three lines.

Smith, Reilly — Smith seemed to have an instant chemistry with Evgeni Malkin, and got six goals in their first 10 games together. He quickly cooled off, though, and scored just two in the 30 games that followed. Smith missed the final six games before the break because of injury, but the Pittsburgh Penguins will need him to play the strong two-way game of which he is capable when he returns.

White, Colin — He’s a bit miscast as a top-six winger, as he was used leading up to the break, but White is versatile enough to play up and down the lineup (within reason) and at all three forward positions. A great depth piece to have after he earned a contract on a professional tryout deal in the fall.

Zohorna, Radim — Zohorna never has become the impact player he seemingly had the potential to become when he came to North America. It’s hard to see him as someone who will do much more than commute between PPG Paints Arena and Wilkes-Barre until his contract expires this summer.

Part 1: Evaluating the defensemen and goalies