Breakout Candidates For the Pittsburgh Penguins This Season

The Penguins are in need of a breakout but luckily they have plenty of players who could take massive steps this season.

Last year, the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 years which could prove bleak for their future. Their current core consists of an aging Crosby and Malkin and they both want to retire as Penguins but also want to win another Stanley Cup.

If the Penguins want to make another cup run, they will need a breakout player to be a true X-factor for their franchise and that could be right under their noses.

In a recent article for The Hockey Writers, Gordon Munro identified a few candidates that could really break out but two stand out above all else. Pierre-Oliver Joseph and Alexander Nylander.

Both were top picks for other franchises and have found their way to Pittsburgh via trade.

P.O. Joseph was the 23rd overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL draft and he was selected based on his upside as an offensive defenseman. He found his way to Pittsburgh after the Penguins traded Phil Kessel to the Coyotes in exchange for Joseph and Alex Galchenyuk.

Joseph has a promising 2022-23 posting 21 points in sheltered minutes with the Penguins. If he takes a step in his second full NHL season, he could work his way all the way up to the top pairing for the Penguins by the end of the year.

Alexander Nylander is an interesting case study. He was the 8th overall pick in 2016 and was expected to make a massive impact like his brother did with the Maple Leafs. However, he has yet to make his mark in the NHL.

Last season, he spent 55 games in the AHL where he scored 50 points proving to be valuable for the Penguins organization. He also played in 9 NHL games for the Penguins where he scored a goal and two points but looked quite strong.

If he were to have a strong showing in training camp, he could potentially earn a top-six spot with the Penguins and unlock his full potential playing alongside elite players like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

The full article on The Hockey Writers - Pittsburgh Penguins Breakout Candidates for 2023-24

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