Stock Watch for Top 6 Forwards for the Pittsburgh Penguins

At any given time, a National Hockey League team will typically carry 13 forwards in its lineup. That's enough to build four lines and keep one spare in the press box in case of emergencies.

In 30 games so far this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have already deployed 19 different forwards. Injuries and illnesses have led to one trade, a handful of call-ups from the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and constant line-juggling by coach Mike Johnston as he strives to keep his offense scoring goals.

For the most part, it's working. Despite the ever-shifting availability of their personnel, the Penguins are holding on to third spot in the NHL with 3.20 goals per game, behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. More importantly, they remain comfortably perched at the top of the Metropolitan Division and second overall in the NHL through games on December 15.

Winger Pascal Dupuis is sidelined for the next six months with a blood clot, so he won't figure in the Penguins' plans for the rest of the regular season. Other current injuries and illnesses should be running on shorter timelines.

Here's a look at the status of the players currently holding down Pittsburgh's top six forward spots.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com.

Evgeni Malkin

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

2014-15 Stat Line: 30 GP, 15-22-37

His Season So Far:

Evgeni Malkin has been Pittsburgh's blue-chipper in 2014-15. Though he missed all of training camp, he's one of a handful of Penguins to have appeared in every game this season. He has been excellent.

Deployed both at center and on the wing, Malkin has consistently produced. Only once all year has he gone two games without recording a point.

All told, Malkin's 37 points put him in a second-place tie with the Philadelphia Flyers' Jakub Voracek in the NHL scoring race.

Stock Watch Report: STEADY

Malkin's steady, strong play is a big part of the reason why the Penguins remain at the top of the Metropolitan Division despite the team's rash of injuries.

Sidney Crosby

USA TODAY Sports

2014-15 Stat Line: 27 GP, 9-26-35

His Season So Far:

After choosing not to have surgery over the summer for a wrist issue that had troubled him during the 2014 playoffs, Crosby got off to a smoking-hot start in 2014-15 and quickly climbed to the top of the league scoring parade.

Crosby has been sidelined since December 12 with what is now confirmed as the mumps. In addition, Sam Kasan of Penguins.com reports that Crosby suffered an injury to his salivary gland on November 28th and had been taking medication to reduce the swelling. The combination of the two issues could help explain why Crosby had just two points in five games before he was quarantined.

Stock Watch Report: FALLING

On December 15, Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford told Michelle Crechiolo of Penguins.com that Crosby is past his contagious stage, so he should be able to start practicing again soon. It's unclear when the captain can rejoin the lineup and how much he'll be able to contribute when he does.

The Penguins are a practiced team when it comes to fighting through adversity, but the loss of Crosby always hits harder than any of their other players.

Patric Hornqvist

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

2014-15 Stat Line: 28 GP, 11-15-26

His Season So Far:

Acquired from the Nashville Predators during the offseason because of his willingness to play in the dirty areas in front of the net, Patric Hornqvist clicked instantly with the Penguins offense, especially on the power play.

The gritty Swede had eight points in his first four games with Pittsburgh, but his production gradually trailed off. He was sidelined for two games earlier in December with an upper-body injury but had gone cold even before he got hurt. Hornqvist's assist against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 15 was his first point since November 28.

Stock Watch Report: FALLING

As soon as Sidney Crosby stopping putting up points, so did Hornqvist. He's the garbageman who capitalizes on the playmaking of his skilled linemates and has suffered without Crosby at 100 percent up the middle.

A power-play point on Monday night while working with Steve Downie and Evgeni Malkin is a step in the right direction.

Chris Kunitz

USA TODAY Sports

2014-15 Stat Line: 23 GP, 9-11-20

His Season So Far:

Until he was knocked out of the lineup on November 29 with a fractured foot, Chris Kunitz had been providing a potent spark to the Pittsburgh offense, whether or not he was playing with his usual center, Crosby. 

Nine of Kunitz's 20 points were collected on a hot power play that has struggled to produce since he has been out of the lineup.

Stock Watch Report: RISING

Kunitz got back on the ice on Monday for the first time since his injury, so he looks like he'll soon be back in the lineup. His return will add some much-needed offensive depth to Pittsburgh's top six.

Blake Comeau

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

2014-15 Stat Line: 29 GP, 10-8-18

His Season So Far:

Free agent Comeau signed with Pittsburgh as a depth forward for just $700,000 this season, according to CapGeek. With 10 goals and 18 points, he has become one of the best bargains in the NHL and a reliable contributor when asked to fill in on the Penguins' top two lines.

Stock Watch Report: RISING

Comeau's 10 goals in 29 games are already twice as many as he managed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013-14. He's known as a streaky player but has impressed in Pittsburgh with his ability to step up and provide scoring when needed.

Brandon Sutter

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

2014-15 Stat Line: 30 GP, 7-7-14

His Season So Far:

On paper, Brandon Sutter is the Penguins' third-line center behind Crosby and Malkin. This season, he's the forward with the third-highest average ice time per game, behind Crosby and Malkin.

Thanks to the team's injuries and other roster decisions from coach Mike Johnston, Sutter has spent most of his time this season in a second-line center role. He has also been a key player on both the power play and the penalty kill.

Stock Watch Report: RISING

Mike Johnston has relied on the versatile Sutter more and more as the season has worn on. Now regularly playing over 20 minutes a game, Sutter's ice time peaked at a season-high 24:35 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 13.

Sutter is proving to be one of the workhorses who is keeping the Penguins in the win column as they weather their latest storm of injuries.