Mark Madden: The Penguins are playing their way toward sleeper contender status

The Pittsburgh Penguins might yet morph into a sleeper contender.

“Might yet” means “not yet.” But there are positive signs.

Much depends on the condition and performance of Evgeni Malkin when he returns from knee surgery. (Don’t expect vintage Malkin right away.)

The locker room likely sees itself as more than a mere sleeper. But locker rooms always overestimate.

But the upgrade to sleeper is significant for a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2018 and followed last year’s division title with a first-round flop. The arrow seemed to be pointing down.

The reasons for optimism are clear:

• Mike Sullivan is one of hockey’s very best coaches. He can be a bit rigid with his preferred tactics, but GM Ron Hextall gave Sullivan some new speed to work with, even if much of that new speed isn’t overly talented.

• The Penguins forecheck is ferocious, even on back-to-back nights this past Friday and Saturday in victories over Washington and Anaheim. To skate and pursue like that twice in 48 hours was impressive. It was gegenpress on ice.

• Kris Letang is having a second straight huge season. If the Penguins are to be a playoff team beyond this year, it’s essential to extend his contract before he hits free agency in the coming offseason. His minutes and skills can’t be replaced. (If you’re rebuilding, that’s different.)

• Chad Ruhwedel mostly has been a spare part till now. But he’s playing every game this season and thriving. He made a great play to turn a tight defensive situation into a nifty breakout that led to the game’s lone goal vs. Anaheim on Saturday.

• Marcus Pettersson has become a stout, pure defensive defenseman and a top contributor on the penalty-kill.

• The aforementioned PK ranks first in the NHL with a success rate of 92.4%. That’s a phenomenal number. Every member of the unit pulls his weight.

• Sidney Crosby is still good. Normal service has been resumed.

• Teddy Blueger never puts a skate wrong. He plays a 200-foot game and always does what’s right. He’s like Crosby without the stats. (That’s an exaggeration, but if Blueger ever scores 20 goals, he might double his $2.2 million salary and then some.)

• The output of Kasperi Kapanen and especially Jason Zucker has disappointed. But unlikely sources like Danton Heinen, Evan Rodrigues and Brock McGinn have compensated somewhat. Heinen and Rodrigues have eight goals apiece, McGinn seven. Each is brimming with confidence and scoring good goals. There’s nothing fluky about their production.

• The goaltending is great. Tristan Jarry leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.92) and is fourth in save percentage (.934). Backup Casey DeSmith has won two straight starts and got a shutout Saturday. Their performances result in more confident play in front of them.

The Penguins are far from out of the woods. The standings confirm that, as do soul-crushing home defeats to enhancement talent Buffalo and Montreal. The Penguins have won nine of 13, but those losses during that span stick out like sore thumbs.

But the Penguins are greatly assisted by the New York Islanders and Philadelphia being dead in the water. Many tipped the Islanders to win the Metro Division. Philadelphia was a strong playoff contender. Both are mired in deep malaise. Two fewer teams to be concerned about.

So, the Penguins have taken a turn for the better.

But are they a Stanley Cup contender by any remote definition?

The days of saying “any team with Crosby, Malkin and Letang has a chance” are over. Malkin is 35, the others 34. The NHL is not an old man’s league. The championships in 2016 and ’17 aren’t relevant anymore. This isn’t that team, or that time.

But perhaps the Penguins are a team that could make some noise.

Don’t forget the situation we dare not talk about, however.

The NHL trade deadline is March 21. Letang and Malkin are on expiring contracts. Each could fetch a first-round pick.

If neither gets extended, how good do the Penguins have to be to justify keeping Letang and Malkin through season’s end, then letting them walk for no compensation?

Because the Penguins might be good. But probably not that good.