I've taken stabs at predicting the lineup before, but the Cullen signing changes the equation. Additionally, I'd like to mix things up a little bit by incorporating a more data-driven approach based on WOWY.



Kunitz-Crosby-Kessel

Since coming to the Burgh Kuni has a 2.78 PP60 with the 2 headed monster and a 1.27 without, less than half. He's better off staying in the top 6 unless circumstances dictate otherwise. As far as Kessel goes, he posted a 2.93 pp60 alongside the once elite Marc Savard, as opposed to 2.41 with the less than elite Tyler Bozak. This certainly bodes well; he'll have a pretty good center by his side.

Bennett-Malkin-Hornqvist

Essentially a reconstruction of the once effective Bennett-Malkin-Neal line. If we're going to use a small sample to rag on Sutter for dragging down Geno, it's only fair that we use the converse for Bennett, with whom Malkin has a 3.30 pp60, albeit in 163 minutes. His 3.74 pp60 with Hornqvist is actually better than his 3.41 with Neal. Horn has actually been much better with Malkin than with Crosby (2.80 pp60 vs 2.07).

Perron-Bonino-Dupuis

Perron might not be a prototypical checking 3rd liner, but JR wants to eschew this notion anyway and have 4 scoring lines (for what it's worth, Perron does play a strong defensive game). His 1.75 pp60 for last season with Crosby nearly equals his 1.73 without. In fact his best hockey came along side St Louis' Patrik Berglund (2.34 pp60) who is closer in quality to Bonino than he is Crosby and Malkin. Dupuis endures a fairly stiff drop off in production without Sid the Kid (2.89 pp60 with vs 1.94 w/o), but it is not quite as steep as Kunitz' decline. As I've said before, it is better than he play a more lax 5v5 role anyway so he can maintain his PKing prowess.

Plotnikov-Cullen-Sundqvist

The remains, with Fehr replacing one of the wings or forcing Cullen to LW when healthy. Plots and Oskar may have trouble adjusting to the American game, so the WB-Pen trio of Wilson, Sheary, and Rust could man the wings. In reality, 10 spots are set in stone and these 5 are challenging for the last 3 (10 possible combinations), 2 once Fehr returns (also 10 combinations). Can't really go wrong with youth.

Maatta-Letang

Essentially the top pairing since the final horn sounded in MSG. Bare in mind Letang's production may take a hit (1.32 pp60 & 55.0 CF% with Martin, 0.81 and 51.5 with Maatta), but it's the best they got, and Maatta will likely improve and close that gap slightly.

Cole-Scuderi

Before you nail me to a stake for having Scuds in the top 4, hear me out. I'm operating under the premise that Scuds will still be on the team when the puck drops in Dallas; if it was up to me I'd bury him 20,000 leagues under the sea. Since I doubt he sits, the Pens might as well make the most out of him. Other than Simon Despres, the greatest player to ever lace up skates, Cole was the only dman to have a CF% above 50 in at least 100 minutes with the human anchor by his side (51.7 CF% with Despres, 51.5 with Cole).

Pouliot-Lovejoy

Not only does this setup take pressure off Pouliot to be a stud right away, but it puts him alongside Lovejoy, with whom he posted his best CF% of 56.9 (46.3 with Scuderi; he couldn't buoy him the same way Despres did). For what it's worth, all 3 D pairs would also have perfect lefty-righty balance.