The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a weird spot as they head into the 2022-23 season. On one hand, they still have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, which, in previous years, meant they had a shot to win the Stanley Cup.
However, both are seemingly past their prime (even if slightly) and the roster around them could have some holes. Does that mean this team is a pass in terms of futures for those who bet online?
Let’s take a closer look at the Penguins’ prospects for the 2022-23 season as well as their NHL betting odds that are already up on the board.
Let’s check the latest NHL picks, stats, injury reports, and NHL predictions. We’ve plenty of NHL expert picks for you to consider.
Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
- To win Stanley Cup +2000
- To win Eastern Conference+850
- To win Metropolitan Division +280
- To make playoffs Yes -500 / No +360
Player to Watch
Tristan Jarry will be closely monitored to see if he can repeat what he did last season for the Penguins. The All-Star goaltender was sixth in goals-against average and tied for sixth in save percentage last season.
He also allowed two or fewer goals in a whopping 34 of his 56 starts. Plus, he shined during the games when Malkin wasn’t out there.
He played 28 games with Malkin missing from the lineup and had an 18-6-4 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a stellar .932 save percentage.
As has always been the case for the Penguins in the Crosby era, the key to their success has been goaltending. The offense should be just fine as usual, but if Jarry is again a stellar backstop, this is a playoff team.
- Player to Watch: G Tristan Jarry
Breakout Player
Kasperi Kapanen looks like a player who could emerge for the Penguins. He’s just 26 years old and has already had a good amount of ice time for the Penguins in his career.
He scored 11 goals in just 40 games in 2020 and followed it up by scoring 11 in 79 games. The problem of last season was that he had just two goals in his final 39 games, including a seven-game playoff loss to the New York Rangers.
What’s interesting is that Kapanen has openly said he was disinterested in hockey and lacked passion last season. He appears to have rediscovered his joy for the game.
The Pens have made him a penalty killer, which he enjoys, and put him on a line with his buddy Jeff Carter. If he does, in fact, play with renewed vigor, he might be able to set offensive career highs and give this team quality forward depth.
- Breakout Player: Kasperi Kapanen
Penguins Outlook
It’s hard to doubt what the Penguins have with their main core of players. Crosby, Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang form a formidable trio, assuming they don’t drastically fall off in their production.
And keep in mind this team finished with 103 points last season and only got 41 games from Malkin and 69 from Crosby. That would indicate they have room to move up if healthy.
Combine that with the star performance that Jarry put forward last season and this is a team that should be back in the playoffs again.
The challenge with betting the Penguins in the sportsbook is we don’t know if they are championship-level. If you believe guys like Kapanen are set to take off, they might be worth a flier for your NHL picks to win the division or conference.
At the same time, the safest bet in terms of futures is probably a simple “yes” wager on them to make the postseason.
