Penguins report cards: Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell top of class

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Pittsburgh Penguins played their 41st game of the season on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes, which means it’s time to grade some midterms.

This season has been particularly volatile, even by the Penguins’ standards. The organization that is never boring has been all over the place. Let’s break it down.

(These grades are based on expectations for each player. I’m aware that Sidney Crosby is a better hockey player than Ryan Shea, for instance, but they have individual expectations.)

Forwards

Sidney Crosby — B 

Crosby wasn’t himself in October. His goal-scoring pace also is down mightily from the last couple of seasons.

Still, we need to remember that he’s 37 and is playing his first full season without Jake Guentzel since 2016. Crosby is still putting up better than a point per game and, starting with the third period against the Los Angeles Kings last month, he’s looked like Crosby again following his shaky start.

It hasn’t been a virtuoso Crosby season by any stretch, but he’s still been pretty great, and when considering his age, I can’t be too critical.

Evgeni Malkin — B

Malkin’s numbers look pedestrian, but if you’ve watched him play, you know better. He’s been quite good.

When Malkin sat down with Mike Sullivan before the season, the head coach asked him to play smarter hockey — to eliminate the turnovers and the bad penalties. Malkin, to his credit, listened. He’s been much better than the numbers suggest. Malkin also looks a step quicker this season (the last two games notwithstanding).

Bryan Rust — A

I’d argue that Rust has been the Penguins’ best player this season.

He is producing at a similar level as Guentzel did when he was in Pittsburgh, and Rust helps the Penguins win in ways Guentzel can’t. No one plays harder, not many play faster, and not many play better. Nothing but respect for Rust, who is having one of his best seasons.

Rickard Rakell — A

What a response from Rakell after a shaky season.

He’s been a goal-scoring machine, and I’d suggest his all-around play has been every bit as impressive as his scoring.

This is the player the Penguins were expecting last season. Now, if they want, they can trade him this summer for a nice return. Or, they can simply opt to keep employing him, which seems perfectly reasonable.

Michael Bunting — B-

When he’s good, he’s very good. When he’s bad, he’s terrible.

After a rough start, Bunting is now scoring goals. The Penguins way better when they get the current version of Bunting. The closer he gets to the net, the more effective he is.

Drew O’Connor — D

In general, it’s been a wildly disappointing season for O’Connor. You can’t go 32 games without scoring, especially when many of those games saw O’Connor skate on the top six.

The talent is there. It’s past time for a more regular brand of production from O’Connor.

Phil Tomasino — B

That first week was really something. He hasn’t been horrible since then, but the drop-off is pretty clear.

That said, he was a wise acquisition by GM Kyle Dubas, and the results have been strong so far.

Cody Glass — C

The lack of goal scoring has been quite disappointing. However, his playmaking ability is better than expected and he’s the kind of guy who never screws up. That has value on a team that screws up a lot.

Still, you’d like to see more from him.

Anthony Beauvillier — B+

After seeing him play the past couple of years, my expectations for Beauvillier were extremely low. I’m guessing I’m not alone.

And yet, he’s been very good. He’s producing at a 20-goal pace, his speed makes a real difference in the lineup and he’s been generally solid.

Blake Lizotte — A-

I didn’t see this coming. Lizotte has been a revelation for the Penguins. He’s scored regularly and been a very solid defensive contributor.

Impressive.

Jesse Puljujarvi — Incomplete 

The enigma of all enigmas. He’s looked fairly good in his appearances this season. His mental mistakes, however, gnaw at coaches and keep him out of the lineup.

Noel Acciari — B-

There is nothing flashy about him, but he kills penalties well and might pop in 10 goals, which is all you can expect. He’s been fine.

Matt Nieto — C

It was a very slow start for Nieto, but given the health issues that he’s been through, that was understandable. He’s in the league because of his ability to kill penalties. Also, the Penguins’ fourth line has been fairly effective.

Kevin Hayes — Incomplete 

I can’t bash the guy. The Penguins didn’t lose any games because of him. They do appear to be a better team with him in the press box, though. His poor skating is difficult to ignore. Some offensive touch remains, though.

Valtteri Puustinen — Incomplete 

Some fans acted like he was the second coming of Rocket Richard when he entered the league. I’m still extremely confused by that.

Erik Karlsson has been one level above a disaster, but maybe he’s coming out of his funk. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

Defensemen 

Erik Karlsson — D

He’s been much better lately, so this grade is tracking in a better direction.

I can’t easily dismiss the way he played in October, though. He lost a handful of games for the Penguins. As recently as New Year’s Eve in Detroit, Karlsson took a foolish penalty that cost the Penguins another game.

He’s done some brilliant things in recent weeks. That’s good. More of that. We’re 123 games into the Karlsson Experiment, and it’s been only one level above a disaster.

That said, maybe he’s coming out of his funk. It has happened before.

Kris Letang — C-

I loved how he played before his most recent health setback, and it’s important to consider his age. At 37, it’s no longer fair to expect greatness from Letang night in and night out.

Still, he was brutal during the season’s first six weeks.

It will be interesting to see how he performs during the season’s second half.

Marcus Pettersson — D 

He’s been very disappointing this season. I suspect his looming trade is on his mind. He’s a very, very good player who is having a difficult season.

The Penguins need him to be at his best in a hurry.

Owen Pickering — A

It’s early. Very, very early. But how can you not be impressed?

The young man has been steady as can be and looks like he might develop into a Pettersson or Brian Dumoulin kind of player. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Matt Grzelcyk — C

He’s had some brutal moments but, like Karlsson, has played much better recently.

Grzelcyk is much better in the offensive zone than I realized. He can really skate and makes good decisions offensively.

That said, his defensive work has been pretty poor.

P.O Joseph — B-

He always leaves you wanting a little more, but he’s become a fairly reliable NHL defenseman. He has his limitations defensively but, as a third-pairing defenseman, he’s perfectly OK.

Ryan Graves — C

He’s actually been much better over the past month, all things considered. Expectations couldn’t have been lower, and he was absolutely brutal in October.

Slowly but surely, you can see him getting better. His ceiling isn’t high and he doesn’t even have a point this season, which is really something. But he’s not hurting the Penguins the way he was last season. So, at least we see improvement.

Ryan Shea — B

He’s a latter-day, left-handed Chad Ruhwedel. And I don’t mean that as an insult.

Shea has turned himself into a solid NHL defenseman, albeit one without any flash.

Jack St. Ivany — C-

I didn’t think he was as bad as the coaches apparently did. After what he did late last season, though, St. Ivany’s performance and ultimate return to Wilkes-Barre was disappointing.

Tristan Jarry is the Penguins’ biggest problem. (Rich Storry / Imagn Images)

Goaltenders

Tristan Jarry — D-

He actually has been better since his recall from Wilkes-Barre, but sorry, he’s as close to failing as one can be.

His goals against average has never been higher. His save percentage has never been lower. Organizational confidence in Jarry has never been lower. He’s made an art form of allowing a goal on the game’s first shot.

Jarry remains the Penguins’ biggest problem.

Alex Nedeljkovic — C

Like Karlsson, Graves and Grzelcyk, Nedeljkovic had a horrible start to the season and is now coming to life. His numbers are comparable to Jarry’s, but he’s paid to play like a backup, not like a starter.

Joel Blomqvist — A

The Penguins weren’t exactly protecting him. The numbers were good in his first NHL stint and the eye test was even better. I’m not fully prepared to say he’s the Penguins’ future between the pipes, but I’m starting to lean in that direction. He looks like a keeper.

(Top photo of Bryan Rust: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)