After Ray Shero was fired Friday, both owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle stated that the Pens needed to get younger, needed to draft better and needed to add grit and character. They do sorely need all of that. 13 of the Pens on this roster were over 30. Only 4 were 25 years old or younger (Maatta, Bennett, Sutter and Bortuzzo). Olli Maatta was 19 this season, the youngest kid in the room by quite a margin, especially if you exclude Beau Bennett (22).
All that being said, let's examine the forwards in the Pens system who could impact next year...
BEau Bennett
This was supposed to be a breakout year for the young California native. He was getting a chance to wing with Malkin and Neal on the 2nd line to start the season. But he never looked comfortable, and was quickly replaced with Jussi Jokinen. However, a wrist injury derailed his season starting in November, and when he did return at the end of March he still was not 100%. He admitted that he played the rest of the season and playoffs with significant damage to his wrist, enough to require surgery this week.
It will be interesting the plans moving forward for the young winger. You have to think he is Top 6 talent, and has shown flashes. But he doesn't seem to gel with Malkin or Crosby. I don't think we have seen all Bennett has to offer quite yet. I think the Pens need to either stick with him on a top line to see what he is truly made of before they make their decision on him, but I think he would benefit from playing with a line of youngsters moving forward as well.