is it happening that Crosby/Malkin penguins are falling from contender status to a mediocre team??

[FourRings]

I think they'll bounce back as soon as next year provided they can make some moves to sure up their defense. Crosby and Malkin will be world class for at least another five years.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

I think so. They are declining. I think the Pens will inject some youth, but you can’t just inject elite young players, who can make up for Crosby/Malkin/Letang starting to show their age.

I think they’ll still be a good team for a couple years, but I think this next year might be their last as a serious cup contender.

 

[Ice9]

Age doesn't discriminate. Catches us all.
It's closing in on their turn...

 

[JaegerDice]

One bad playoffs, 2 years removed of winning back to back cups...

EVERYONE POUNCE!

Well, to be fair, HFboards doesn't discriminate with its recency bias.

The board did the same thing to the Kings in 2015 when they missed the playoffs one season after winning the cup, and did it to the Blackhawks in both 2012 and 2017 after getting upset in the 1st round.

 

[end]

I think the Islanders spanking the Pens extra hard is more about Barry Trotz playing Mike Sullivan 4 years in a row than it is an indication of a sudden decline. I don't think most had the Pens any higher than 4th most likely to win in the East going into the playoffs so it's more like the drop off happened throughout this year. I can see the Penguins making the playoffs next year, since most teams are not coached by Barry Trotz.

They won't be the odds on favorite to win anymore, but if Crosby stays consistent and Murray can bail out the defense, they should still make the playoffs and be an outside shot a couple more times.

 

[3074326]

The defense sucks. That's all there really is to it. Can't move the puck, is slow, can't defend. Doesn't matter what your forwards do when you have to dress either Maatta or Jack Johnson.

Sorry, folks. Malkin just scored over a point per game in an off year and Sid is an MVP candidate. Short memories.

 

[irunthepeg]

Pens won the Cup in 2009 and then struggled in mediocrity for years until they became ahead of the curve of the new NHL... yes Sid and Geno are in their early 30s now but give them a few years to figure things out again (maybe create a semblance of a D-core) and maybe they'll be contenders again. As long as those two can be close to elite they'll always be in it enough to make a run. The fact they've got a young sniper like Guentzel only getting better will help too.

 

[bigtim1988]

I think the Crosby/Malkin Pens still have 1 more cup left in them before they decline/retire.

 

[HuGo Sham]

wow the hot takes. crosby had 100 f***ing points and malkin 70 in a down year. they need a better D, maybe another gritty winger, 3rd line shutdown C...but they'll be around for a while. people forget how much parity there is in NHL

 

[BHD]

Rutherford is managing them into the ground. He's acquired Hunwick (since been traded), Johnson, and Gudbranson after putting together back-to-back winners. Plus, there's been other moves like Reaves (ugh...), Oleksiak, and Pearson. The Penguins could put together one last run before 87 and 71 are finished, but management can't get out of their own way.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

The window is closed if JR doesn't recognize the defense is an issue. If he can fix the blueline, I think Crosby and Malkin are still good enough to be the top guys on a Cup winner.

 

[LateSleeper]

Sid is going on 32, Malkin is turning 33 in July.

If they have to play their butt off to make the PS, they will have run out of steam come playoff time, and it will be getting worse. You can't dominate both regular season and playoffs past certain age. Your body won't let you.

 

[Nyx]

Sorry, folks. Malkin just scored over a point per game in an off year and Sid is an MVP candidate. Short memories.

And how good were they in the playoffs?

 

[Son Goku]

And how good were they in the playoffs?

Crosby played pretty good despite not scoring. He was the best player for us.

 

[SotasicA]

What ever does that title even mean?

 

[member 298589]

Still premature, but becomes more likely each year unless they can inject some youthful talent in.

 

[Kresnik]

The downfall is inevitable, i don't see them in another SC final with this core. Malkin need better player to work with and the D core need an upgrade i think. But who knows.

 

[romba]

OP should write headlines for all the internets, perfected the skill.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Its because ever since NJ won Hughes the torch has been passed...

 

[Gunnersaurus Rex]

One bad playoffs, 2 years removed of winning back to back cups...

EVERYONE POUNCE!

Teams drop off quickly. See Chicago & LA for examples.

 

[JudgeandJury]

We'll know for sure when Mario puts the For Sale sign out on 5th Avenue. There's no way he's going to suffer through 11,000 per game again.

 

[lidstromiscool]

Aging super stars, worst prospect pool in the league, questionable goalie locked up to long term contract, terrible defensive core. Yup they're in trouble

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Two of the GOAT (even if it pains me to admit) that are getting older and have a lot of road wear from repeated semi/finals/cup wins, it was bound to happen

 

[nhlfan9191]

They’ve won what they had too. They’re getting older. Happens.

 

[RandV]

The Crosby/Malkin Penguins have always been cyclical based on the roster that's assembled around them, nothing really different here. While the forward group looks pretty good they're likely in for a bit of a rough patch now with that blue line they've assembled.