Pittsburgh Penguins Players Who Have the Most to Prove This Season

As a team coming off of yet another disappointing postseason and having undergone wholesale changes both behind the bench and in the front office, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be under intense pressure to prove that they belong among the NHL's elite.

While that pressure will fall on the Pens' locker room as a whole, certain players will be under even more pressure than others since the Pens go as their stars do.

As the start to the 2014-15 regular season draws closer, let's take a look at the five Pittsburgh Penguins with the most to prove this season.

Sidney Crosby

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

It would seem strange to say that the defending MVP and scoring leader has anything to prove this season, but given the criticism that Sidney Crosby received for his subpar playoff performance, that seems to be the case.

Registering just one goal, eight assists and an uncharacteristic minus-four in 13 postseason games, Crosby didn't seem like the same player that he was during the regular season as clutch-and-grab tactics by opponents and a wrist injury took their toll.

Having played 80 regular-season games for the first time since the 2009-10 season, Crosby proved that he could stay healthy for a full season.

But with a new coaching staff and system in place, he will be under intense pressure to prove that he can still lead the Pens deep into the postseason.

Pascal Dupuis

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Since both older players and players returning from an injury can already expect to face a lot of scrutiny, it stands to reason that Pascal Dupuis, who turned 35 last spring and missed most of last season with a severe knee injury, will be one of the most scrutinized Penguins this season.

Dupuis had struggled early on during the 2013-14 season and tallied just three goals through the first two months before rebounding in December.

However, he still only converted on 7.2 percent of his shots, which amounted to roughly half of his previous season's percentage and his lowest mark since 2005-06.

As a player who relies on speed and grit to force turnovers and convert scoring chances, Dupuis will have to prove that he is still capable of being a top-six forward and that neither age nor injury will keep from being a key player for the Pens in the 2014-15 season.

Evgeni Malkin

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

During the 2011-12 regular season, Evgeni Malkin scored 50 goals in 75 games. Since then, he has managed just 32 goals in 91 regular-season games.

Pressure is starting to build for "Geno" to return to his MVP form.

Entering the first year of an eight-year, $76 million contract that carries a hefty $9.5 million salary-cap hit, Malkin will be the seventh-highest-paid forward in the league in the 2014-15 season but finished just 15th in scoring last season.

While injuries were partly to blame for his down year, the fact remains that with teams focusing so much attention on stopping Sidney Crosby's line, the Pens need Malkin to account for more than just the three game-winning goals he's tallied in each of the last two seasons.

Kris Letang

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

At the end of the 2012-13 regular season, a season in which he averaged more than a point per game, Kris Letang was being discussed as one of the top defensemen in the NHL and a future Norris Trophy winner.

Since then, however, it's been all downhill as inconsistent postseason performances and injuries have created doubt in the minds of observers and fans as to whether Letang's production will ever match his promise. This has even led to trade speculation from the likes of Pro Hockey Talk's Jason Brough.

Entering the first year of an eight-year, $58 million contract, Letang must prove to the Pens' new management team and coaching staff that he belongs in the discussion of the NHL's elite blueliners. Otherwise, his $7.25 million cap hit may prove to be more trouble than he's worth.

Marc-Andre Fleury

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

After a season in which he ranked among the league leaders in wins and goals-against average and posted even better postseason numbers than those of his 2009 Stanley Cup-winning performance, one would think that Marc-Andre Fleury would be off the hot seat.

However, his future in Pittsburgh seems anything but secure.

Although Fleury had as good a year as Pens fans could have hoped, he still hasn't been able to shake the stigma of being erratic at times. Also, his epic puck-handling disaster at the end of regulation and predictable collapse in overtime of Game 4 against the Columbus Blue Jackets didn't help matters.

Entering the final year of a seven-year, $35 million deal, Fleury will be playing for his future in Pittsburgh and also to prove that, while he may have his ups and downs, he is still a franchise goaltender and capable of leading the Pens back to the Stanley Cup.

Contract information courtesy of CapGeek.com.