PHN EXTRA: Kessel Math, How the Penguins Replace Phil

It seems no matter how many times I’ve answered the question, it returns to the fore but with more question marks behind it. How can the Penguins replace Phil Kessel? The fan favorite sniped 82 points in 82 games. He played the full boat of games for the ninth consecutive season. The Penguins power play which often pinwheels through Kessel has been consistently ranked in the top five, including the franchise best 2017-18 version.

How can the Penguins replace Phil Kessel??

Let’s begin with the power play before working to the full picture.