Penguins Bottom Six will have a new look for the next season
After two straight years without a playoff game, the Penguins made very little changes to their bottom six.
Looking to the future of the organization as well as putting out a competitive team are top priority for Kyle Dubas. They will need to keep as much draft capital as possible for the future, but can the bottom six as is help them compete?
It does not seem there was much change to help the bottom two lines in the area that was needed most, scoring. Looking for prospects to make a difference like Brayden Yager out of camp may not be the solution.
Kevin Hayes looks to be positioned as the third line center
With the addition of Kevin Hayes this summer with a second-round pick, the Penguins hope to get the Hayes of 2022-23 and not the one who struggled last season with just 13 goals and 29 total points in 79 games.
Playing with guys like Valtteri Puustinen, Blake Lizotte, Drew O'Connor, or Anthony Beauvillier should put a step back into Hayes legs. His main contribution is offense as he lacks good defense skills.
This would put Lars Eller into the fourth line center role. Eller is still a top contender to be traded, but if he stays the line would look something like Acciari, Eller, and some mix of Lizotte, Nieto, and Beauvillier.
The Penguins could be looking at a starting roster similar to the lines below, unless there is a breakout star in camp.
Drew O'Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Blake Lizotte - Kevin Hayes - Valtteri Puustinen
Anthony Beauvillier - Lars Eller - Noel Acciari
The way things are shaping up now, the bottom six looks to be very similar to what it was last year. Unless players like Acciari and Hayes can have bounce back years, the Pens are looking like the bottom six can still be a struggle to provide much needed offensive.
As Read On: The Hockey News -
What will the Penguins' bottom-six look like?
| POLL | ||
AOUT 5 | 97 ANSWERS Penguins Bottom Six will have a new look for the next season Do you think that Kevin Hayes will help with the Penguins Bottom Six? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 57.7 % |
| No | 41 | 42.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
