Training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins begins on Sept. 18. With 49 contracts on the books, the unofficial 2024-25 NHL roster includes only five players drafted by the organization.
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Considering many hockey experts rank the Penguins’ prospect pool in the bottom third of the league, it’s unsurprising that there are so few homegrown players in the lineup.
Even though the future is looking a little better, especially after the acquisition of Rutger McGroarty, it’s becoming more apparent that there will be a changing of guard soon as Pittsburgh only has one prospect drafted in the last decade under an NHL contract.
Here’s a look at the five drafted Penguins slated to play in Pittsburgh in 2024-25.
Valtteri Puustinen – 2019 (7th Round/203th Overall)
Initially selected in the seventh round of the 2019 Draft, Valtteri Puustinen finally earned a regular role in the NHL in 2023-24, playing 52 games and scoring 20 points.
Related: Why Does McGroarty Wear No. 2?
According to early line projections, Puustinen must re-earn his spot in 2024-25. But, depending on his performance in camp and how productive he can be when he gets the opportunity, there’s a chance to stick around.
Bryan Rust – 2010 (3rd Round/80th Overall)
Bryan Rust just finished his 10th season in the NHL and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion. As a third-round pick in 2010, he’s been a mainstay in the Penguins lineup since 2015-16.
In 567 games, Rust has scored 172 goals and 372 points while playing top-line minutes alongside Sidney Crosby.
Kris Letang – 2005 (3rd Round/62nd Overall)
Kris Letang is just one of three players to skate in 1,000 games in a Penguins sweater. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup winner and is the team’s all-time leading scorer amongst defensemen.
As he begins his 19th season, Letang is part of a core with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the longest-tenured teammates in North American sports history.
Sidney Crosby – 2005 (1st Round/1st Overall)
Crosby is arguably the second-best Penguins player of all time and is fast approaching hockey legend Mario Lemieux’s once-unachievable milestones.
Related: 7 Fascinating Statistics About Sidney Crosby’s Career
Interestingly, the Penguins have selected first overall at the draft three times: Lemieux (1984), Marc-Andre Fleury (2003), and Crosby in 2005. These players are all of a Hall of Fame caliber, with trophy cases stacked with awards and Stanley Cup rings. Heading into 2024-25, Crosby is on pace to become the ninth player to score 1,600 points.
Evgeni Malkin – 2004 (1st Round/2nd Overall)
Malkin is among the best Russian-born players in NHL history and ranks top in the Penguins record book. Although he was drafted a year before Crosby, he got started after Sid the Kid, opting to play back home before coming to the NHL.
As a multi-time Stanley Cup winner, former regular season, and playoff MVP, Malkin is one of the pillars of this generation’s success in Steel City.
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