"Get Laine and stick him next to Crosby" "Garbage roster" — NHL fans left debating over Pittsburgh Penguins' projected lines for 2024/25 season

NHL fans are debating the Pittsburgh Penguins' projected lines for the 2024-25 season. The Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby, are coming off a 38-32-12 season and missed the playoffs.

NHL.com shared a projected lineup:

Forwards

• Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
• Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
• Anthony Beauvillier - Lars Eller - Valtteri Puustinen
• Blake Lizotte - Kevin Hayes - Noel Acciari

Defensemen

• Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
• Marcus Pettersson - Erik Karlsson
• Ryan Graves - Sebastian Aho

Goaltender

• Tristan Jarry
• Alex Nedeljkovic

Fans reacted to the NHL's projected Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"It sucks that they’re wasting the end of Crosby's career. They need to go get Laine and stick him next to Crosby." One fan said.

"It’s a slap in the face to play out the end of Crosby’s career with this garbage roster" another fan said.

"Gotta drop Graves. Have a resurgence from rakell. Probably add a top 6 winger. Get a 6th D man. Hope goaltending does as good if not better than last year. Maybe a bottom 6 guy or youth down there." a fan said.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X concerning the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup:

"Perhaps John Ludvig in place of Sebastian Aho. Need Rakell and Graves to have a bounce back season, and of course need much more production on the power play." a fan commented.

"I know it probably won't happen but Pittsburgh for the cup.. but seeing videos of malkin playing in the KHL right now making me think he's staying on Russia" another fan said.

"I’d put yager in my top six. Worst case scenario you just burn a year of control, he doesn’t produce but he gets to learn next to sid. It’s their best chance to get a potential difference maker on the ice ASAP" a fan opined.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' offseason acquisitions for the 2024-25 season

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made several changes for the 2024-25 season. Matt Grzelcyk signed a one-year deal and may play with Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang; he had 13 points last season. Kevin Hayes, acquired from the Blues, will strengthen the bottom-six forwards, having scored 29 points last season.

Anthony Beauvillier, on a one-year contract, is likely to play on the third line and had 17 points last season. Blake Lizotte, joining on a two-year deal, had 15 points last season. Sebastian Aho signed a two-year contract and is expected to join the third defense pair with nine points last season.