Pens Points: Evgeni Malkin in a Fighter Jet

Get your Thursday going with a new edition of Pens Points...

When talking about the assets the Penguins could move this offseason to improve the team, one major asset few discuss is their first round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. For the first time since 2014, the Penguins could make a selection in the first round or they could move the pick to bring in a generous return. [Pensburgh]

Twenty years is a long time to make a lot of memories, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins made quite a few during their two-decade run in the AHL. With a new arena contract in place, it looks like the Baby Pens have more memories to make. Here is Part 2 of our look back at the first 20 years of WBS history. [Pensburgh]

When the dust settles, the Penguins will likely not trade Evgeni Malkin, but the rumors are there and must be discussed. It’s easy to nit pick Malkin’s season and call him out for poor play, but when you look at the numbers the criticism is less justified. [Trib Live]

Speaking of combating criticism of Geno, our friends over at Pensblog published a numbers-heavy article showing that No. 71 wasn’t as bad as perceived on the ice this season. Fans of advanced stats and visuals will enjoy this in-depth analysis. [Pensblog]

On a lighter note regarding Malkin, he’s currently with the Russian national team preparing for the IIHF World Championships beginning this weekend. He had some down time yesterday and spent his time away from the ice in the cockpit of a Russian fighter jet. [KDKA]

News and notes from around the NHL...

Without Charlie McAvoy available for Game 1 because of a suspension, the Boston Bruins will need to find a fill in for the opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. Replacing the young McAvoy will be no easy task, but the Bruins have plenty of options at their disposal to make it work for one game. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

Boston and Carolina presents an interesting matchup between two differing styles of hockey. The Bruins like to wear you down while the Hurricanes much prefer an open game where they can utilize their speed. This brings forth plenty matchups to keep an eye on if you are tuning in. [Canes Country]

If you are into advanced stats, the rise of the Carolina Hurricanes may come as no surprise to you. Even during their struggles early in the season, their were positive signs they could turn it around. [NHL]

With the Conference Finals now set, here is the full schedule for both the East and West: