The Pittsburgh Penguins are navigating a roster built around an aging core of established stars, raising questions about long-term sustainability. Beyond their veteran forward group, the team has also taken a calculated risk by relying on right-handed defensemen to fill left-side roles, a strategy that demands adaptability from those players. With high expectations and limited flexibility in their defense, the franchise faces a tightrope walk between experience and positional fit. The approach underscores a reliance on proven talent while testing the versatility of key contributors in unfamiliar positions.

A lot of folks might look at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ aging roster and think their biggest gamble is on an ageing core of superstars. One could also look at their defense and think the team is gambling that some right-shot defensemen can play the left side. But while those are gambles, neither is general manager […]