The Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff dreams officially evaporated a while back, but instead of lingering on what went wrong, it's time to brace for the potential rebirth of the team. The "rebuild" buzz is in full swing, and when you dig into the Penguins’ season stats, it’s easy to see why.
Let's start by discussing Erik Karlsson. Maybe it’s good to share, but Karlsson took it to another level with 129 giveaways, second only to MacKenzie Weegar, who had 140.
That’s some questionable puck handling for sure, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg according to MoneyPuck.com’s analytics. For instance, Philip Tomasino's shots average out at over 28 feet away, significantly more than typical players' 25 feet.
To add to that, his expected finishing ability is 13.4% below average. Yikes.
On a brighter note, Tomasino's teammate Tommy Novak seems to have cracked the shooting code, boasting stats that place him comfortably above average in shooting talent, with closer shot distances.
Kris Letang deserves a nod for cutting down on turnovers. He significantly lowered his rate enough to avoid the top 35 in giveaways, a change that speaks volumes about his effort to keep the puck on his tape. Even so, Letang clocked in at 48th for giveaways overall.
When honing in on defensive zone giveaways, Karlsson drops to 12th with 67, but Letang’s name creeps up the list to 34th, registering 58. Meanwhile, Ryan Graves is another Penguin shackled by giveaways, ranking 114th despite only playing 57 games mostly in a secondary role.
Matt Grzelcyk descended to 101st overall in the defensive turnover department after his recent performances, standing 99th with 44 D-zone blunders. The Penguins aren't in the league’s bottom depths alone; Utah HC's got the top 10 cluttered with names like Ian Cole, Mikhail Sergachev, and Olli Matta. The trend continues as Vegas and Toronto both deal with challenges in this area as well.
However, the Penguins’ chaotic defense doesn't help matters. They carry an Eastern Conference-worst -56 goal differential, partly because they’re fifth-worst at giving up high-danger shots and fourth-worst at medium-danger ones. Strange as it sounds, they are a top-six team when it comes to creating high-danger shots for themselves, but it's all about the chances they concede that paints the picture of their tumultuous season.
Sidney Crosby's name might hover around the top 100 on the giveaway list, but considering his extensive ice time and down-low playstyle, his turnovers are more about the hazards of the job than a glaring issue.
As for the Penguins’ netminder, it's been a bit of a twisty ride. Goalie Tristan Jarry finds himself in an interesting spot.
Terms like "audition" were thrown around when discussing his performance for securing a spot next season. General Manager Kyle Dubas acknowledges the battle for the goaltender spot, as does Jarry’s ongoing bid to prove his mettle.
Meanwhile, coach Mike Sullivan brushed off the audition talk, focusing instead on the constant evaluation that comes with playing in the NHL. Jarry, for his part, is stepping up to the plate, despite the earlier season struggles.
Off the ice, Sidney Crosby has diversified his interests. This week, news broke of him investing in NORQAIN, a company known for its Swiss-made luxury wristwatches.
The company is a passion project of his old Penguins teammate, Mark Streit. Crosby’s long been an aficionado; it’s said he even gifted a special watch to teammate Malkin.
It’s not just any timepiece either; the Wild One turquoise skeleton watch Crosby sports is crafted from carbon fiber and features an in-house movement with 26 embedded rubies.
If your curiosity is piqued, to check out these timepieces for yourself, make a pit stop at Joyce's Jewelry in Uniontown or head to Fairlawn, Ohio. These high-end watches tell more than just time; they are a testament to luxury that Crosby seems more than happy to wear on his sleeve.
