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NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

This season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are attempting to navigate a tightrope.

The team that won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 is noticeably different. However, the Penguins still believe they aren’t too distant from what made them successful for 16 consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff appearances from 2007-22, and aren’t completely dismissing it.

“The franchise’s on-ice strategy is not just to scrape into the playoffs,” said General Manager Kyle Dubas. “Our aim is to quickly transform the team back into a contender. Whether we can achieve this in the current or next season is difficult to predict.”

This is clearly not a situation where we need to completely rebuild from scratch. The individuals in the [locker] room are too talented for such measures. Instead, we are exploring all strategies to secure future assets that we can introduce into our organization. This could be through the draft, by recruiting younger free agents, or through trades or waivers, all with the aim of strengthening the existing core team.

Centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain part of that core, along with defenseman Kris Letang. Defenseman Erik Karlsson, set for his second season in Pittsburgh, now is considered part of it too.

Crosby celebrated his 37th birthday on August 7. He is in the final year of his 12-year contract, which is worth $104.4 million and was signed on July 1, 2012. The contract has an average annual value of $8.7 million.

Following a second consecutive season where the Penguins failed to make the playoffs, their captain admitted he couldn’t specify how many more seasons he has left in the NHL. Crosby’s goal while still in Pittsburgh is straightforward – he wants to vie for a fourth title with teammates Malkin, 38, and Letang, 37, and pursue a first championship with Karlsson, 34.

In his 19th NHL season, Crosby, the leading scorer for the Penguins with 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) from 82 games, was optimistic as they concluded the last season with an 8-2-2 record in their final 12 games. They finished just three points short of the Washington Capitals for the second wild card entry into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

“Crosby expressed, “I believe everyone significantly collaborated. I’ve reiterated multiple times that every person played a part in us having an opportunity towards the end. I’m convinced that it’s something we can certainly develop further, and optimistically, we can carry that minor momentum we experienced into the following year.”

And Pittsburgh won’t appear significantly different from that stretch run.

Forwards Reilly Smith, traded to the New York Rangers after one season with the Penguins, and Jeff Carter, who retired after 19 NHL seasons, are key departures. Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph also won’t return after signing a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Kevin Hayes could add to the bottom-six forward group after being acquired in a trade with the Blues on June 29. The same could be said for Blake Lizotte (two years) and Anthony Beauvillier (one year), each of whom signed with Pittsburgh on July 1, and Cody Glass, acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Aug. 13. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk might compete for a spot next to Letang or Karlsson after signing a one-year contract July 1.

But the top contributors are unchanged.

Crosby is leading, accompanied by Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson.

There’s still forward Bryan Rust, coming off an NHL career-high 28 goals in 62 games last season. Forwards Rickard Rakell, Michael Bunting and Drew O'Connor could fill out the top two lines with Crosby and Malkin.

Tristan Jarry will be the primary starting goalie, with Alex Nedeljkovic signing a two-year, $5 million contract ($2.5 million AAV) June 20 to stay as the backup.

Those remaining pieces are enough for Coach Mike Sullivan.

“Sullivan expressed, “Our vision and direction are unmistakably clear regarding our goals and methods of achieving them. We are confident that Sid continues to perform at an extraordinary level. Similarly, Kris Letang is exhibiting exceptional performance. ‘Karl’, ‘Geno’ and others are highly competitive and proficient players.”

We feel that we are in a situation where we are attempting to enhance our core group with everything possible to maximize our competitiveness and challenge.