New Penguins Top Six Projection Has Intriguing Look

The Pittsburgh Penguins brought in several new players this off-season, so their lineup will certainly look different next season. They will also have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to assembling their lineup, so they will need to be watched closely during the pre-season.

The NHL's official Facebook account recently shared its top six projection for the Penguins, and it offers a mix of everything.

For the Penguins' first line, they are predicting that Sidney Crosby will center Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. If Rust and Rakell both end up not being traded this off-season, it would not be surprising if they played on a line with Crosby. They both are coming off career-best seasons and have great chemistry with Crosby. Thus, if this ends up being the Penguins' first line, they should make a big impact offensively.

As for the Penguins' second line, they have Evgeni Malkin at center, which is a no-brainer. However, things get interesting when it comes to Malkin's wingers, as the NHL's official account has newcomer Anthony Mantha and prospect Ville Koivunen playing with No. 71. When healthy, Mantha has shown during his career that he can be an impactful second-line winger, so testing him out with Malkin would be understandable. As for Koivunen, he is one of the Penguins' most promising prospects, so having him play with a legend like Malkin could be excellent for his development.

It will be interesting to see what the Penguins' top six ends up being at the start of the season. Some other candidates who could compete for a spot in the Penguins' top six include Rutger McGroarty, Philip Tomasino, and Tommy Novak, if he plays on the wing.

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