This was supposed to be a sort of “last dance” for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

With their playoff streak halted, key players in their 30s, and the contention window closing rapidly, the new general manager, Kyle Dubas, is determined to capitalize on the franchise's remaining year or so of relevance. Although he retained the team's 2023 first-round pick, his primary focus was on bolstering the roster with experienced players, leading to a significant three-team trade to acquire Erik Karlsson. The addition of the reigning Norris Trophy winner created optimism about the team's playoff chances, reflected in betting odds predicting 96.5 points—a reasonable estimate for a roster with flaws but star power.

However, the first third of the season has not unfolded as anticipated. The team is currently o