2022 predictions for the Penguins

It's a new year and the Penguins are off.

The new ownership of the Pittsburgh Penguins has said all the right things in the early days. They want to continue to spend to the upper limit of salary cap and give the hockey decisions to "hockey people". Sidney Crosby is under contract until 2024-25. Malkin and Letang want the team to keep them for at least 3 or 4 more years. They are worth $16.75 million against the salary limit.

Letang and Malkin want to stay in Pittsburgh. Hextall and Burkie will decide if they do.

Bryan Rust is leaving Pittsburgh in free agency. He will get a similar contract to Zach Hyman's that he signed with Edmonton last summer. The Penguins won't be in a position to offer him a contract similar to Hyana's.

Rust is playing on a four-year, $14 million contract. Evan Rodrigues is a one-season wonder. The Pens will sign Rodrigue to replace Rust. The contract is comparable to what Rust has been playing with now.

Mike Sullivan will be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award this year. The Penguins coach has never won the award before. He is a good story and has a lot of good stories around the league.

Pittsburgh Penguins have only made one first round pick since 2012. Pens will make a first and second round draft pick in 2022. Pittsburgh has only done so three times since 2008.

Casey DeSmith had a bad season in 2021-22. Ron Hextall will bring in a new goalie in 2022. De Smith is a free agent this summer. The current tandem of Tristan Jarry and Casey Desmith will not be intact by the end of 2022-23 season.

Pittsburgh Penguins will have their first player born in the 2000's in their roster by the end of 2022. Poulin, Valtteri Puustinen, Filip Hallander, or even goalie Filip Lindberg will play for the Pens in that season.