The Pittsburgh Penguins are experiencing a disappointing season for several reasons.
Their power play has been ineffective, yielding more jokes than actual goals.
Key veterans such as Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Ryan Graves have underperformed, failing to meet the team’s expectations and needs.
Additionally, the majority of their bottom-six forwards have struggled to contribute offensively, often being noticed only for their penalty-taking tendencies.
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ inconsistency can’t be solely attributed to the aforementioned factors.
Predictably, there’s widespread speculation, both on macro issues like the composition of power-play units and micro ones such as individual player decisions on the ice. This speculation has turned into a regional pastime of assigning blame for the Penguins’ predicament.
However, if any finger-pointing occurs within the team, players insist that it’s directed at themselves rather than their teammates, emphasizing accountability over scapegoating.
“To reach this level, you need a certain level of self-awareness,” stated right winger Bryan Rust during Monday’s practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “Understanding your contributions, recognizing if you’re performing well… When things aren’t going our way, I believe most players, especially in this room, would look at themselves in the mirror before casting blame elsewhere.”
Rust emphasized that he hasn’t observed any signs of teammates searching for or singling out scapegoats within the group. “No, absolutely not,” he affirmed.
Currently, the Penguins sit at 53 points, placing them seventh in the Metropolitan Division and twelfth in the Eastern Conference. They trail by nine points for the Metro’s third playoff spot and by seven for the final wild-card position in the East.
Despite viewing themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders at the season’s outset, the Penguins haven’t met expectations. While signs of a faltering season are evident, players stress their unity remains intact, with no instances of finger-pointing or blame-shifting.
Defenseman Ryan Graves echoed this sentiment, stating, “I firmly believe that wouldn’t happen within this group. It starts from the top down. Our leadership wouldn’t tolerate it… That’s not how you win. You win by asking, ‘What can I do better? How can I contribute to the team?’”
Jake Guentzel, enjoying a strong season with 22 goals and 51 points, emphasized the need for collective improvement over the remaining 33 games. “Everyone needs to step up,” Guentzel remarked. “We all recognize that, and time is running out.”
