Projecting Next 3 Years: Are the Penguins a better situation than Chicago?

Chicago Blackhawks (21-23-9, 51pts @ Pittsburgh Penguins (26-14-11, 63pts)

Blackhawks 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, bring a three game losing streak to PPG Paints Arena, while the Penguins enter tonight on a four game winning streak and 11-2-2 run. The playoff drought will continue for the Blackhawks this season where we’ve seen a team like San Jose Sharks significantly pass them up in accelerating their rebuild and as good as Connor Bedard may still end up becoming, next three Years would you rather be the Chicago Blackhawks or Pittsburgh Penguins?

Projecting what they currently have and the 2026 draft, Pittsburgh has a chance to enter next season with a top-10 prospect system in the NHL, scouts indicate. A ton of cap space to stay competitive in the short-term, most will certainly still take Chicago in future rankings but it’s not a stretch you’d rather be Pittsburgh in projecting the next couple seasons. Chicago’s system is universally regarded as a top-5 system and have a crown jewel waiting in Anton Frondell but this team year in and year out continues to seem so far away…….

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Penguins Lineup: McGroarty, Solovynov In

Rakell-Crosby-Brazeau

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

McGroarty-Kindel-Mantha

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

D-Pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Kulak-Letang

Solovyov-Shea

Goaltender: Arturs Silovs

Out: Rust ( 3 Game Suspension); Shea, Clifton

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Coach Talk:

Dan Muse on Ilya Solovyov: “He’s a guy we’re excited to see……Guy that we feel like there’s some elements there, from a physicality standpoint, from a defending standpoint, from a puck moving standpoint.”