Penguins season preview: Jarry, staying healthy keys to success

The 2022-23 NHL season starts Oct. 7. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Coach:Mike Sullivan (eighth season)
Last season:46-25-11, third in Metropolitan Division; lost to New York Rangers in Eastern Conference First Round

3 KEYS

1. Staying healthy
Last season started with first-line center Sidney Crosby out for 12 of the Penguins' first 13 games because of wrist surgery and COVID-19, and second-line center Evgeni Malkin out until Jan. 11 recovering from offseason knee surgery. Those two, and forwards Jason Zucker, Bryan Rust, Teddy Blueger and Brock McGinn, all played fewer than 70 games. Pittsburgh survived those issues and made the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but better health from key players is paramount for the Penguins, who will try to win a postseason series for the first time since 2018.
2. Consistent depth scoring
Crosby, 35, Malkin, 36, and Jake Guentzel (team-high 40 goals) can't be expected to carry the scoring alone. The Penguins are hoping for repeat performances from Rust, who had an NHL career-high 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 60 games and signed a six-year contract May 22; Danton Heinen, who scored an NHL career-best 18 goals; and Jeff Carter after his best offensive season (45 points; 19 goals, 26 assists) since 2016-17 for the Los Angeles Kings (66 points; 32 goals, 34 assists). A healthy Zucker also will be needed to contribute. Injuries have limited the four-time 20-goal scorer to a combined 79 games the past two seasons.
3. Repeat from Jarry
Tristan Jarry answered any questions about his ability to be a No. 1 NHL goalie last season. Among goalies to play at least 30 games, he was sixth in goals-against average (2.42), tied with Ville Husso for sixth in save percentage (.919) and allowed two goals or fewer in 34 of 56 starts. Jarry was at his best when the Penguins needed him, going 18-6-4 with a 1.91 GAA, .932 save percentage and three shutouts in 28 games (27 starts) before Malkin returned to give the Penguins a complete lineup. He will be needed to maintain a similar high level of play this season.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut
Though the Penguins remade their defenseman group with the acquisitions of Jeff Petry, Ty Smith and Jan Rutta, Pierre-Olivier Joseph could have a chance to earn an NHL spot this season. The 23-year-old has five points (one goal, four assists) in 20 NHL games, but tied for ninth among American Hockey League defensemen last season with 10 goals in 61 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) and offensive skill could give him a chance to push Smith (5-11, 180) for a spot on the third pair and second power-play unit.
Most intriguing addition
Petry and forward Ryan Poehling were acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on July 16 for defenseman Mike Matheson and a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Penguins hope the Petry they're getting is the one who had four straight seasons of at least 11 goals and 40 points from 2017-21, in lieu of 27 points (six goals, 21 assists) in 68 games last season. Petry (6-3, 209) has the size and smarts to get the puck out of the defensive zone quickly. If he can rediscover his offensive touch, it will make the attack that much deeper.
Biggest potential surprise
Valtteri Puustinen tied for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lead with 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) in 73 games last season and had an assist in one NHL game. The 23-year-old forward doesn't have typical NHL size (5-9, 183), but a strong training camp could earn him consideration for a top-nine forward spot.
Ready to break through
Kasperi Kapanen is 26 years old and needs to show he can be a valuable part of the present and future. He scored 11 goals in 40 games in 2020-21, but last season scored 11 in 79 and two in his final 39, and had a season-ending 21-game goal drought that included the seven-game loss to the Rangers in the first round. Kapanen likely will start the season on the third line, but the Penguins would benefit from him earning a larger role.
Fantasy sleeper
Rickard Rakell, LW/RW (fantasy average draft position: 170.0) --He had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and 38 hits (2.00 per game) in 19 games after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on March 21, then signed a six-year contract July 11. Rakell played on multiple lines for Pittsburgh last season but could be a fantasy deep sleeper if he settles on the second line with Malkin (1.17 points per game; third among active NHL skaters to play at least 150 games). -- Pete Jensen

PROJECTED LINEUP

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Rickard Rakell
Danton Heinen -- Jeff Carter -- Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Poehling -- Teddy Blueger -- Brock McGinn
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Ty Smith -- Jan Rutta
Tristan Jarry
Casey DeSmith