The Final Friday Poll: Penguin playoff hopes

Our Friday Poll series petered out a bit around the time of the lineup exercise that took over a lot of the polling, but now it’s the final Friday of the summer. At least if you consider summer the inactive period for the Penguins. The team will be back on the ice next week and we tuck away the Friday Polls ahead of being able to focus on the actual action.

Here’s some of the best from the series this time around if you’re itching to catch up or see how some of the polls ended:

—The Sullivan situation 5/3—Considering Kyle Dubas’ first year in Pittsburgh (5/31)—Choosing Utah’s name (still should be Outlaws, IMO) 6/14—Vacations! 6/21—Jarry on the block? (6/28)—Grading the off-season in the immediate aftermath of the start of free agency 7/5

For our final poll of the summer, a check in on the ultimate question. Teams play the regular season in order to qualify for the playoffs. It’s everyone’s goal and hope in September. Last August there was optimism. Lots of it:

That will make the outlook just 12 months later a lot more interesting. Much has changed, from team design and construction to how the Pens are opting to utilize their cap space.

Clearly the Penguins’ window as one of the league’s best teams — which, let’s not forget was a division winner as late as 2021 and a third string goalie disaster-class away from winning a playoff series in 2022). That’s only two and three years away, but boy it feels like a long time out now. Despite best laid hopes, plans, and ‘what could have beens’, the fact is that no peak or dynasty is ever going to last forever in modern competitive pro sports, but the run the 15-year run Penguins had from 2007-22 will be the peak to compare for any future up and coming team in the sport of hockey.

What comes up does eventually have to come down, as the Penguins have seen and learned all too well in the last two seasons. But now the question is, can Sidney Crosby hold back the hands of time for one more run? Let’s hear what you think!

Poll Will the Penguins qualify for the playoffs in 2025? Poll What would you consider the bare minimum for 2024-25 being a successful season in Pittsburgh? Poll Beyond what you want or hope to happen, what do you actually expect the Penguins to end up as this season?