The Metropolitan Division has been full of unexpected storylines this season, with plenty of teams, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, exceeding expectations. The team holds a 28-14-11 record through 53 games entering February, while hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021-22.
Plenty of factors have contributed to the Penguins’ success in 2025-26, with veterans leading the way back to the postseason. Among them are Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, all of whom know a little something about leadership.
Crosby has transformed into something of an ageless wonder in year 21 with Pittsburgh, leading the way with powerful goal-scoring and effective shooting. The 38-year-old leads the Penguins in goals (27), assists (31), and points (58), highlighting a skill that has yet to fail him throughout his professional career.
It seems like Crosby is putting his best foot forward for Pittsburgh towards the tail-end of his career, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Penguins’ fans. Although the Nova Scotia native’s next move is to captain Team Canada at the Olympics, it’s clear his top priority is Pittsburgh.
Crosby is a proven playoff performer, having played in 180 postseason games throughout his career. His 201 points throughout those contests stand as the sixth-most all-time among skaters, and he very well may get to add to that total this spring. Seeing playoff Crosby again would be a gift to hockey fans everywhere, so here’s to hoping Pittsburgh finds itself in a good spot down the stretch.
Pittsburgh’s defense has long been headlined by 20-year veteran Kris Letang, for good reason. The blue liner holds the franchise record for most points, assists, and goals by a defenseman, achievements worth noting given his contributions to the club. Letang’s 25 points through 50 games this season rank second on the team among defenseman behind Karlsson, who has 34 points through 48 games. Given Letang’s presence, the Penguins will be without a dominant force on the blue line since the defenseman suffered an injury that’s expected to keep him out for a month.
Some good news for Pittsburgh in light of Letang’s injury: Karlsson is playing some great hockey during his third year as a Penguin. The 35-year-old leads the team’s defense in points, goals, and assists in 2025-26, an asset Pittsburgh has greatly benefited from during its first 53 contests. Karlsson will get some attention at the Olympics for Sweden, so here’s to hoping he carries that momentum into the tournament and then back to the States for the Penguins.
Given the stories to come out of the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26, the Penguins have flown under the radar and find themselves in a good spot. Pittsburgh has had to rely on veteran leadership to stay in the playoff hunt so far this season, and players have risen to the occasion for the team. Having a good veteran core is a luxury in a league that seems to be getting younger and younger, a facet of the game not lost on the Penguins.
Having the Penguins back in the postseason means that Crosby, Malkin, and Letang get a shot to win their fourth Stanley Cup, something we don’t see in professional sports anymore. The longevity and commitment from those three to the city of Pittsburgh are both astonishing and admirable, something I hope they will be rewarded for come playoff time.
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