Pittsburgh Penguins fantasy preview for 2020-21

As part of NHL.com's 31 in 31 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Pittsburgh Penguins. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasyand subscribe for free to the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast.

Sidney Crosby, C (NHL.com rank: 13) -- Crosby is second among active NHL players in points per game (1.28; 1,263 points in 984 games) behind Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (1.34; 469 in 351 games). Crosby missed significant time last season because of core muscle surgery but averaged more than 1.00 points per game (47 points in 41 games), was second on the Penguins in assists (31; behind center Evgeni Malkin's 49), and tied forward Bryan Rust for second in power-play points (17; behind Malkin's 24). Crosby is one of the safest targets in the late first round or early second round.
Penguins 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the Numbers]
Evgeni Malkin, C(23) -- A perennial top-tier fantasy player, Malkin led the Penguins in assists (49) and points (74; Rust was second with 56) despite being limited to 55 of their 69 games because of injury. He's third among active NHL players in points per game (1.19; 1,076 points in 907 games) and should have strong linemates again with Rust, who led the Penguins in goals (27) and power-play goals (eight) last season, and wing Jason Zucker, who scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 15 games with Pittsburgh after a trade from the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 10.
Jake Guentzel, LW/RW(33) -- Guentzel missed significant time last season following shoulder surgery, but like linemate Crosby averaged more than 1.00 points per game (43 points in 39 games). Guentzel, who finished among the top 50 overall (41st) in standard leagues during the 2018-19 season with NHL career highs in goals (40), assists (36), points (76) and shots on goal (227), has renewed upside after the addition of potential fantasy sleeper forward Kasperi Kapanen, who was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Aug. 25 and is expected to start the season on the top line with Guentzel and Crosby. Guentzel also is a valuable player to draft in the first four rounds of any standard fantasy league because of his strong hits production (1.5 per game in five NHL seasons).

Kris Letang, D(81) -- Letang is third among active NHL defensemen in points per game (0.66) behind Erik Karlsson (0.82) of the San Jose Sharks and John Klingberg (0.68) of the Dallas Stars (minimum 75 games played). Letang was fourth on the Penguins in points (44 in 61 games) last season, behind Malkin, Rust and Crosby, and always is a safe fantasy bet on the first power play with Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel. Letang, like Guentzel, is valuable for hits (1.6 per game in 14 NHL seasons), and since 2014-15 ranks among the top 10 defensemen in goals (72; tied for eighth), assists (234; ninth), points (306; sixth), power-play points (119; seventh) and shots on goal (1,142; ninth).
Tristan Jarry, G(101) -- After the Penguins traded goalie Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 7, Jarry joined the top 20 fantasy goalies (17th) in NHL.com's rankings. Jarry played in the NHL All-Star Game for the first time last season after breaking out with 20 wins in 31 starts and a .921 save percentage. He now will be relied upon as the clear No. 1 goalie for Pittsburgh with a chance to reach at least 30 wins, but his peripheral stats potentially could dip.
Other players to consider in later rounds or off waiver wire: Bryan Rust, LW/RW (111); Jason Zucker, LW/RW (149); Kasperi Kapanen, LW/RW (174); John Marino, D; Casey DeSmith, G
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