Devils 2024-25 Metro Opponent: Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished ahead of the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24, but that should not be the case this coming season

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After a little break from these previews, we return with a look at the Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished fifth in the Metro with 88 points a season ago. Sidney Crosby is still a top-five center in the NHL, but what about the rest of the roster?

General manager Kyle Dubas made some moves this offseason, but most were modest at best. The goal seems to be reset and make a real push in 2025-26 for one last hurrah with Crosby and Co. That should bode well for the New Jersey Devils, who have had plenty of success against the Penguins over the last couple of seasons.

Penguins Offseason Moves

• Signed Matt Grzelcyk

• Signed Anthony Beauvillier

• Signed Blake Lizotte

• Acquired Kevin Hayes

• Acquired Cody Glass

• Re-signed Alex Nedeljkovic

Devils Forwards vs. Penguins Forwards

Crosby and Evgeni Malkin give the Penguins’ forward group some flare, but there isn't much to work with around the edges. Bryan Rust has been a remarkably consistent top-six winger for many years and was excellent last season, totaling 28 goals and 56 points in 62 games.

But after Rust, there's not much scoring pop in the Penguins' lineup. Rickard Rakell posted 60 points in 2022-23, but he regressed quite a bit a season ago, totaling just 37 points in 70 games. The Penguins desperately need him to bounce back this season to help solidify their top six.

Michael Bunting, who was part of the Jake Guentzel trade, played quite well after arriving in Pittsburgh, totaling 19 points in 21 games. He's a good fit and should provide around 50-60 points in a top-six role.

Still, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt are much more dynamic than the Penguins' core forwards, which is no surprise given the age discrepancy. And don't forget about Timo Meier, too.

Where the Devils' core forwards have a significant advantage (aside from age) is they can all create plenty of offense off the rush. It's why they've enjoyed plenty of success over the Penguins the last couple of seasons.

However, the Penguins can still create offense. They averaged 2.82 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five last season, 0.01 more than the Devils. The Devils have more talent and are more dynamic up front than the Penguins, but the Penguins still do well to create offense in other ways than off the rush.

But even then, the Devils' forward group gets the edge because they should have better depth. After adding Paul Cotter, Tomáš Tatar and Stefan Noesen this offseason, the Devils should also have a better bottom six. Ondřej Palát will be a second/third-line winger, while Erik Haula should slide into the third-line center role (assuming no significant injuries).

Compared to the Penguins, whose bottom six will feature some players who need to bounce back (Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier and Cody Glass), the Devils' four lines appear deeper than the Penguins'.

Devils Defense vs. Penguins Defense