Evgeni Malkin may very well not take the ice for the Penguins until the calendar turns, and Sidney Crosby — who is skating, according to general manager Ron Hextall — will likely miss the start of the regular season.
The obvious question is, ‘who will pick up the production for two of the game’s most productive and dynamic players over the last 15 years?’
But, on top of that, who is going to replace the leadership void?
While that’s still to be determined, it does seem that the Penguins have some players more than capable, and willing, to do so. It may just be in their own way.
“I don’t think it’s just vocal,” forward Bryan Rust said. “I think it’s going out there on the ice in these practices and scrimmages and trying to lead by example, through work ethic, through how we want to play the game here.”
The Penguins aren’t short on veterans. Their younger core players, like Rust and Jake Gunetzel, have been through the battles for years now. And while both have played meaningful on-ice roles, they’ve always worked as strong compliments to Pittsburgh’s two star centers.
While Rust and Guentzel could be younger options, the Penguins do have a real, majorly experienced veteran to turn to in Jeff Carter.
“Yeah, I can try, for sure,” Carter said. “I’ve been around long enough that you kind of know when to say things and when not.
“I’m not going to overstep anybody. There’s still a lot of good leaders in that room without those two guys in there. I’ll just follow their lead and see where it goes.”
Leadership is important in the sport. But Carter knows it only goes so far. Finding a way to replicate Crosby and Malkin’s production in games is a concern.
“I’m not going to replace them. It’s going to have to be throughout the lineup,” Carter said. “I’ll do my part to alleviate some of that pressure, but we’re going to need it from everybody.
“It’s the two best players on the team, so it’s going to be a big task for everybody. But I think it’s going to be fun.”