Penguins need to become a playoff team in 2025-26 – Hockey Writer – Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh penguins are in reconstruction phase. Kyle Dubas, president and general manager of the hockey business, made it clear that he did not intend to quickly move the process or the team returned to the playoffs. The Penguins ended their 16-straight playoff winning streak in 2022-23 and have never returned to the playoffs since. Dubas wants not only to sneak in or enter the first round exit; he wants his team to be a legitimate contender when they return to the playoffs. That is definitely not a bad plan; however, it can be said that Pittsburgh is desperate to return to the playoffs to continue building in the right direction.
Penguins should aim for the playoffs
When Pittsburgh returns to the playoffs, Dubas hopes it’s a long time. He didn’t expect his team to enter the playoffs next season, and he was satisfied. However, there should be more urgency within the organization to return to the playoffs. Even if the penguins barely scream, they will still participate. The atmosphere and competition in the playoffs are also different, and getting this experience is an important part of becoming a competitor.
If the Penguins enter the playoffs next season, there is a high chance of being eliminated in the first round. Not only will Pittsburgh be a highly competitive playoff team overnight, but the playoff experience in the NHL is something they desperately need. This is especially true for young players. In the 2005-06 season, Sidney Crosby scored 58 points, the second-to-last in the league. The following season, they entered the playoffs, lost in the first round, and then won the Stanley Cup in the 2008-09 season. Each trip in the playoffs is different and different knowledge is learned along the way.
Whenever the Penguins and the playoffs are discussed in the same conversation, it is impossible not to talk about Crosby. He has been the heart and soul of the team, and has been in the 20 seasons, and at the age of 37, he is still playing at the elite level. This season, he scored 33 goals and scored 91 points in 80 games. He also scored his average score per game in his 20th season, a record previously held by Wayne Gretzky. In his career, he won three Stanley Cups and two Conn Smith Trophys. The organization has two years left and the organization will do everything it can to return to the playoffs.
Dubas still has a lot to do
At the corner of the draft and free agents behind, Dubas won’t slow down any time soon. He is building development for the future and so far he has done a good job. But missing the playoffs next season shouldn’t be a sacrifice he’s willing to make. There are likely to be a handful of young players on the roster next season, and the sooner they encounter the NHL playoffs, the better.
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In the playoffs, having the opportunity to study and play with Crosby will not only enhance the career path for young players, but also speed up Pittsburgh’s timeline. If the Penguins missed the playoffs next season for the fourth year in a row, it would be extremely disabled for their development. Dubas tends to be unconventional, but he certainly has a plan. Free agents officially opened on Tuesday, July 1. Will he make big deals and help be more competitive next season?
