3 Pittsburgh Penguins bounce-back candidates who disappointed in 2023-24 feat. Erik Karlsson

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 31, 2024 03:31 GMT

The Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs last season for the second year in a row. Before that, the Pens were bounced in the first round in back-to-back seasons. While the club’s core has essentially remained the same, some disappointing performances have led to the team’s subpar results.

But the good news is that three players stand out as candidates for a bounce-back year in 2024-25. So, let’s take a look at three players poised to bounce back for the Pittsburgh Penguins this upcoming season

3 Pittsburgh Penguins players who are bounce-back candidates for next season

#3: Rickard Rakell

Rakell has been a consistent performer throughout his career. But when Rakell joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022, he seemed to elevate his game. Rakell notched 13 points in his first 19 games in Pittsburgh. Then, he scored 28 goals and 60 points in 82 games in 2022-23.

However, last season was a letdown for Rakell and the Pens. Rakell missed some time due to injury, appearing in 70 games. During that span, he recorded 15 goals and 37 points. Perhaps injuries affected Rakell’s overall play.

But this upcoming season, the hope is that Rakell can be fully healthy, allowing him to return to the form seen in 2022-23. Playing alongside Evgeni Malkin is also expected to be another significant boost. Plus, a full year of Michael Bunting on the left side should make the Penguins’ second line very tough to play against.

#2: Evgeni Malkin

Speaking of Malkin, he registered 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games. While that would be a fantastic season for an average NHLer, it was a bit of a disappointing campaign for the three-time 100-point scorer.

In part, the Penguins showed some inconsistency with Malkin’s linemates. But this year, the hope is that having a healthy Rakell and a full season with Bunting should solidify that line, elevating each player’s overall production.

It may be a bit of a stretch to suppose that Malkin could produce a 100-point season at 37. But given the high level of play he’s shown at times, it’s possible for Malkin to have an excellent bounce-back campaign in 2024-25.

#1: Erik Karlsson

When Karlsson joined the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, he was coming off a Norris Trophy season in which he recorded 25 goals and 101 points with the struggling San Jose Sharks.

The thought was that Karlsson could continue his success by playing with the likes of Sidney Crosby. However, Karlsson regressed. Still, 56 points in 82 games is a great season for a blueliner. But it was disappointing given the previous season’s totals.

This upcoming season, Karlsson is poised for a bounce-back year. He can hopefully display much more consistency, especially on the powerplay. The Pens’ powerplay was a dismal 30th in the league. Assuming that the Pens can turn their powerplay around, Karlsson could easily add another 20 to 30 points to his total, putting him close to his career highs.