PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The NHL Draft is so much about the future. Projecting where these teenagers fit on rosters and how they can finally help lift a franchise to the playoffs or a championship.
It would seem the best of the Penguins is not the future, rather the past. There are no young superstars in Pittsburgh. No new pieces to build around. The Hall of Fame group that remains from their last Stanley Cup championship are in their mid-30s.
"They are getting a little bit older but they are not old," said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. "I think there is a big difference. There's still elite play in these guys. I've never been around a better core, a more accomplished core, a more driven core during my time in the NHL. What they have accomplished is so impressive to this point."
"I believe they are hungry for more and they have the ability to accomplish great things."
Sullivan said they are not a perfect team, but no teams are in a salary cap world. Every team has its strengths and weaknesses.
"We can get stronger down low in the defensive zone," Sullivan said. "I think we can improve in our wall play. We can become a team that is a little more difficult to play against physically."
"Some of it will be tactically, we are going to go through our due diligence process as a coaching staff. We do that after every season. We look at how we play and we ask ourselves the hard questions-are we playing to our strengths. There are tweaks we make every single year to how we play so that we continue to evolve as a hockey team and we are not stagnant."
Sullivan is optimistic they will sign Evgeni Malkin, who he believes is still a big part of what they do. He was a point-per-game player last year with 42 points in 41 games including 20 goals.
"I believe in these guys," Sullivan said. "I believe they are capable of great play. They are special players, special people. It's hard to win, we know that. We believe we have a group that can contend. I think their play this year illustrates that."
Sullivan and Kris Letang on Thursday noting how much injuries played a part in the 2021-22 season. Whether it was Malkin and Crosby at the beginning of the season or losing both goalies in the playoff series with the Rangers and still nearly winning it. If they stay healthy, especially those three who have been together for 16 years, Sullivan likes their chances.
"They have such a drive to win," Sullivan said. "As they age, they gain the benefit of experience. They've been through successes, but they've also been through disappointments. I think the benefit of those experiences serves them well. What I admire about them is how hungry they are for more. They are just not satisfied and they want to win. That's how they are wired, it's part of their DNA."
"I don't think they are finished."
