The team's core,
Sidney Crosby,
Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, missed the playoffs together for the first time last year, signaling a potential end to their dominant era. In a bid to revitalize the team, Kyle Dubas was brought in, known for his analytical approach from his time in Toronto, but the Penguins find themselves lagging in the Metropolitan Division, with playoffs looking unlikely for a second consecutive season.