https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2721331
The Pittsburgh Penguins will let defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang share the ice on the man advantage.
“The power play is very important to Erik and Kris,” head coach Mike Sullivan told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. “So we’ll start with both of them on the top unit. And so we’ll see how it goes. We’ve got a lot of options.”
Karlsson’s future power-play usage was a notable topic of discussion when Pittsburgh acquired him from the San Jose Sharks over the offseason, as Letang has run the top unit for much of his 17-year career.
There don’t appear to be any hard feelings between the two stars, though, with Letang having reportedly endorsed the team’s pursuit of the reigning Norris Trophy winner before the deal was struck.
Along with the two veteran defensemen, Pittsburgh’s No. 1 power play will likely feature Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel – who may miss some time at the start of the season due to an ankle injury.
The Penguins ranked 14th in the NHL in power-play proficiency last season at 21.7%. Karlsson notched 27 of his 101 points with the man advantage. He has 273 power-play points to his credit through 14 NHL seasons.
Letang contributed 21 power-play points in 2022-23. Since Karlsson broke into the NHL in 2009-10, he and Letang rank first and fifth, respectively, among all blue-liners in power-play production.
Many eyes will be on the new-look Penguins this coming year after they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06. The team underwent significant changes to the front office and roster this offseason.
by TinnieTa21
10 Comments
We just became a super flex team with two QBs.
Sigh
Makes perfect sense to me. We’ve had two #1 centers and have played them on the same unit their entire careers. Top unit typically goes for close to 90 seconds anyway as long as they are maintaining zone time.
How about 65 QB from right point, 71 left point, 58 left wall, 59 in the slot and 87 doing his thing on the right wall / down low. I’m curious to see what Letang can do passing / one timers from a forward position.
Ugh. Why. This will be overpassing every single time. Have two units. That said, in Mike I trust.
Why do I have a bad feeling they are going to overcomplicate this? Just like Iginla. Play EK on the top unit and Letang on the second. It’s simple. EK and Brent Burns did not coexist well in SJ on the same power play. Forget the hurt feelings and do the right thing!
EK 40 goals this year, book it. This guy gets pucks to the net like no one else in the league on the point, except Makar.
Sounds good. Letang will be able to do what he’s always done in the O zone and Karlsson will minimize the breakaway risk.
Thank god Malkin is off the fucking point.
Wow, that’s not even fair to other teams. Good.