The Forman Faceoff 2015/2016 NHL Season Preview - Pittsburgh Penguins

By: Jamie Kornblum (Guest Writer)

Now or Never

After a string of disappointing playoff appearances, the Pens enter cup-or-bust mode. Do they finally have the right pieces to solidify a deep post season run?

After another early exit in the 2015 playoffs, the Penguins are poised to bring back their 4th Stanley Cup in franchise history to the steel town. With the recent off-season acquisition of superstar Phil Kessel, and adding guys like Eric Fehr, Nick Bonino, and Tim Erixon into the mix, the Penguins feel they have what it takes to come out of the Eastern Conference. The Pittsburgh Penguins have failed to reach the Stanley Cup Final since their championship in 2009 and will be relying on a youthful defensive core to get the job done.

There’s a growing sense that the window of opportunity is closing with the core of this club moving past their prime years of hockey. Will that create a sense of urgency or a great deal of overwhelming pressure? Some believe that X-factor is five-time 30-goal scorer Phil Kessel, as he finally has an opportunity to play with a world-class center. How he responds will have a big impact.

Projected Opening Night Lineup:

Forwards: 

LW- Chris Kunitz C- Sidney Crosby RW- Phil Kessel

LW- Sergei Plotnikov C- Evgeni Malkin RW- Patric Hornqvist

LW- David Perron C- Nick Bonino RW- Pascal Dupuis

LW- Daniel Sprong C - Matt Cullen RW- Beau Bennett

Extra: Eric Fehr

Defense:

Ian Cole - Kris Letang

Derrick Pouliot - Olli Maatta

Rob Scuderi - Ben Lovejoy

Extra: Brian Dumoulin, Tim Erixon

Goaltending:

Marc Andre Fleury

Jeff Zatkoff

2015/2016 Outlook and Prediction:

2nd in Metropolitan, 4th in Eastern Conference