The Penguins were supposed to rebuild — so how did they make the playoffs?
The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t supposed to be right here. They’re too previous and too younger. They’re rebuilding and nonetheless making an attempt to form their future in the aftermath of the best period in franchise historical past.
Yet, right here they are, in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2022. The final dance has arrived.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, a resurgent Erik Karlsson, a first-year coach, a young person, a bunch of misfits and a transcendent common supervisor have lifted the Penguins from a presumed lottery staff to one that might make a run in the Eastern Conference.
How did the Penguins, who were extensively projected to be one among the NHL’s worst groups earlier than the season started, defy all expectations to make the postseason?
Here’s a glance again at the tales that designate the Penguins’ beautiful rise this season.
DanWho? Penguins president and common supervisor Kyle Dubas went off the grid with this selection.
Some followers applauded Dubas for not resorting to a recycled coach, which is frequent round the NHL. Still, Muse was a totally sudden selection. His hiring additionally signaled a transparent change, a not-so-subtle sign that the Penguins’ rebuild was in full movement, as Muse’s specialty is coping with younger gamers.
No one might have recognized how nicely Muse would subsequently unlock the next gear for his growing older superstars.
We stay in a mock draft society, and completely nobody — from the consultants to the amateurs — had the Penguins deciding on Kindel. In reality, Dubas was roundly mocked on social media for the “reach.”
Less than a 12 months later, Kindel will probably be the Penguins’ third-line middle in Game 1 of the playoffs, a can’t-miss standout who may need stardom in his future. Kindel’s hockey IQ made it not possible for the Penguins to bypass, and he has delivered to an nearly unfathomable diploma.
Most projections tabbed the Penguins to end seventh or eighth in the Metropolitan Division. They signed a bunch of misfits in the summer time, their stars were growing older and they appeared nicely on their method to discovering themselves in the combine for presumed No. 1 draft decide Gavin McKenna.
Very few individuals noticed this surge coming, though it was clear in the early days of coaching camp that they were maybe poised to exceed expectations.
From the very first sport of the season, in opposition to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, one thing felt solely completely different about this staff.
The stars seemed somewhat brighter than they had the 12 months earlier than, the Penguins were really enjoying protection — this has by no means been of their DNA — and they were enjoying noticeably laborious for Muse each night.
What they did in October was a press release and set the tone for the remainder of the season.
One of the most beautiful trades in franchise historical past noticed Dubas by some means unload the ever-disappointing Jarry to Edmonton in return for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a second-round draft decide. It was larceny. Dubas’ means to execute the commerce without having to retain any of Jarry’s wage stays maybe the most astonishing a part of all of this.
Kulak would later be flipped to Colorado for Sam Girard and yet one more second-round decide.
All of Canada held its breath. Pittsburgh did, too.
Crosby, maybe enjoying in his closing Olympics, was injured on a Radko Gudas hit and did not return to motion for a month. Canada by no means seemed fairly the identical with out its captain. Crosby did not look the identical for fairly some time following his return to the Penguins lineup.
The previous few video games, although, have proven indicators that he is regaining his type.
From the day Muse took over, Karlsson seemed like Karlsson once more.
His offensive genius has been on show all season, notably in the closing couple of months, when he changed into “All-world Karlsson.” His defensive work was a lot improved. His resurgence is a massively necessary a part of the 2025-26 Penguins’ story. He offers them a distinct really feel.
Karlsson was voted staff MVP for good motive. His sport has been nothing in need of good.
The Penguins clinched a playoff berth in New Jersey, which was fairly becoming.
Pittsburgh performed an imperfect sport, however finally, its offense overwhelmed the Devils. That is a microcosm of who these Penguins are. Crosby seemed somewhat emotional after the sport. He was clearly feeling the significance of the four-year wait since his final playoff look.
However, the Penguins did not rejoice a lot that night time. They knew how a lot work remained.
How good.
Spring is a particular time for hockey in Pittsburgh. The metropolis has fallen in love with its Penguins once more as the Stanley Cup playoffs have arrived. Making all of it the higher is the opponent: the staff that Pittsburgh loves to hate greater than every other.
Crosby has a particular dislike for the Philadelphia Flyers, and his teammates are suggesting he is greater than somewhat fired up for what will probably be one among the most anticipated sequence of the first spherical.
