During disappointing season, Penguins forwards were less than sum of their parts

At the time, it looked like the start of something for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the third period of a Dec. 4 home game with the Colorado Avalanche, everything winger Patric Hornqvist touched found twine. His natural hat trick in a span of 2 minutes, 47 seconds not only set a franchise record for fastest three goals and gave the Penguins a 6-3 victory, it also put the memories of a brutal November in the rear-view mirror.

Before Hornqvist’s hat trick, the Penguins had lost 12 of their previous 16 games. Afterward, they went on a 14-4-1 tear.

For Hornqvist, though, the hat trick was more like an end. It was the conclusion of the last productive stretch he would have during the season.

Counting playoffs, Hornqvist had six goals over his last 50 games. Only three came at even strength.

By the end, he was slipping in and out of the top-six forwards and top power-play unit. He saw a run of five consecutive 20-goal seasons end.

“Hopefully, my numbers will be better next year,” Hornqvist said.

On paper, the Penguins’ forward depth chart is pretty well stocked for next year. On the ice, though, the group produced next to nothing in a four-game first-round sweep against the New York Islanders.

“That’s why we’re so disappointed,” Hornqvist said. “We know we have a good team in here. We didn’t play as well as we have to to win in the playoffs. This league is really hard. The seeding doesn’t really matter. Look at the other series. When you get in the playoffs, a whole new season starts.”

In the regular season, long slumps endured by Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel were a red flag something wasn’t right, and defensive effort from the group was inconsistent at best.

As a result, roster changes are afoot, and everyone seems to know it.

“This is an organization that wants to win and be on top of the mountain every time,” Hornqvist said. “For sure, there’s going to be some changes.”

Here’s a look at the team’s forward depth chart heading into the offseason.

Left wing

The emergence of 24-year-old Jake Guentzel as one of the league’s most dangerous goal-scoring wingers and the surprising entry of 22-year-old Jared McCann into the top-six mix give the Penguins a talented young core to build around on the left side.

When it comes to public opinion, Dominik Simon is the most divisive player on the roster. He does lots of little things that drive possession, but his final stat line — 8 goals in 72 games — was poor.

Beyond that, injuries stopped Zach Aston-Reese from making a lot of progress. He had an OK season at best. Adam Johnson showed speed and promise in a late call-up.

Center

How the aging curve treats Sidney Crosby and Malkin might be the biggest factor in determining how long these Penguins can stay in the championship hunt, but that’s a big-picture concept.

In the here and now, ridding themselves of Derick Brassard left the Penguins better set down the middle than they have been in a couple of years.

Nick Bjugstad emerged as a rangy, puck-protecting third-line center in the mold of a Jordan Staal. If Matt Cullen retires, Teddy Blueger showed enough after finally climbing out of the minors to engender optimism about the fourth-line center spot.

Right wing

Kessel had another point-per-game season, but the stated desire of team brass to become harder to play against could pave his way out of town. In addition to Hornqvist’s second-half slump, Bryan Rust disappeared down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Between them, they count $15.6 million against the team’s cap. This is the offseason hot spot for the Penguins.