A future for the Penguins? Drew O’Connor’s career season is a bright spot in lost season

Silvia Leija Rosas
Silvia Leija Rosas
A future for the Penguins? Drew O’Connor’s career season is a bright spot in lost season
Credit: Feb 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Drew O'Connor (10) reacts after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. New York won 5-4 in overtime.Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This article was written by Silvia Leija Rosas, who is part of the Professional Hockey Writers Association x To Hockey With Love Mentorship Program. This program pairs aspiring writers with established members of the association across North America to create opportunities for marginalized people that do not traditionally get published on larger platforms covering hockey. 

To Hockey With Love is a weekly newsletter covering a range of topics in hockey – from the scandals of the week to providing a critical analysis of the sport. 

_____

SEATTLE — When journalists visit the Pittsburgh Penguins’ locker room, they gravitate to future Hall of Famers like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. For nearly two decades, they’ve captivated the hockey world with their talent. 

Nestled between Crosby and Malkin’s stalls is 25-year-old Drew O’Connor, who doesn’t have nearly the same amount of star power as his teammates. When Crosby fields questions from reporters, O’Connor sits with his hands resting just above his knees and head against the wood of the locker, listening to Crosby’s sure answers. He takes a breath before leaning down and untying his skates.

The 6-foot-3 forward may not have that same pressure of upholding the Penguins’ glory days, but he is doing his part. In his first full season with the Penguins, O’Connor has emerged as a solid contributor with 10 goals and 25 points in 67 games on a team clinging to faint playoff hopes. 

“It’s nice to contribute when you can and find different ways to help the team,” O’Connor said. “We have a lot of talented players. But for me, it’s kind of adapting to the game the best way I can and using my strengths for the team.”

O’Connor began the season playing with Lars Eller and Radim Zohorna on the team’s third line. But after Jake Guentzel, whom the Penguins sent to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline, suffered an upper-body injury on Feb. 14, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has trusted him in top-six roles, notably playing alongside Malkin.

“I feel like he’s dragging (Malkin) into the fight so to speak,” Sullivan said before his team’s Feb. 29 game against the Kraken. “Geno is very capable of playing, but we’ve got to surround him with guys that can help him.”

Sullivan has also praised O’Connor’s versatility, as he’s able to play wing and center. O’Connor lined up at center with Dartmouth University and later with the Penguins’ minor-league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

After high school, O’Connor went undrafted and almost lost his chance at furthering his hockey career. O’Connor stands at 6-foot-3 now, but in his younger years, he was a modest 5-foot-6. 

“I feel like I kind of always had to work a little harder and think the game a little bit better,” he said in 2022. “I was fortunate to get that offer from Dartmouth.”

The Big Green was the only team to offer him a scholarship. O’Connor scored three points, including his first ECAC goal, in his first game for a 6–5 overtime win against Harvard. By the end of his freshman season, O’Connor held the second-highest goal count among all Division I first-year players and the third-highest among freshmen in the history of Dartmouth’s hockey program. Subsequently, O’Connor became the first Dartmouth player to lead the ECAC in conference goals in 40 years. 

O’Connor finished his second season with 21 goals in 29 games and became the fourth player in Dartmouth history to be named the Ivy League Player of the Year.  

“I think just playing in all of those situations helped me a lot,” he said, crediting his skills and development to his time at Dartmouth. “The coaching and staff was great with that.”

In March 2020, following his final season at Dartmouth, O’Connor signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the Penguins. Later that year, when the NHL experienced a pause in play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Connor was loaned to Manglerud in Norway where he scored six goals in 10 games. 

After three seasons splitting time between the NHL and AHL, O’Connor established himself as a full-time NHLer during the 2023-24 season. He even signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract before the season began, avoiding arbitration. 

“He was a bit of a late bloomer,” Sullivan said. “He has emerged as a great opportunity for the organization.”

Since signing the contract, O’Connor has contributed in some key moments for his team throughout the season. 

In February, O’Connor scored the game-tying goal against the New York Islanders by banking a shot off Anders Lee’s skate and into the goal, before losing to the Isles in overtime. Two nights later, he scored a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. O’Connor then extended his season-high goal-scoring streak to three in his next game, with an assist from Malkin, scoring against the rival Philadelphia Flyers. 

“He’s one of those guys who works extremely hard at his game both on the ice and off the ice,” Sullivan said in a recent post-game interview. “He’s playing a significant role on our team—his straight ahead, North-south speed, his size, his ability to get in on the forecheck—and now he’s getting rewarded with some goals.”  

O’Connor’s ability to create chances, be a net-front presence, and his pace have also drawn rave reviews from Sullivan. 

“We have been encouraging that for a while now,” Sullivan said. “Not just scoring goals but helping us get momentum — offensive zone time and hanging on to pucks. If we continue to do that we are going to win games.”  

Wins haven’t come as easily to them as in previous years. With 12 games left in their season, the Penguins are nine points out of a playoff spot. Questions are swirling about their future and if they can still win with an aging core of players. Penguins team president and general manager Kyle Dubas is looking to create a younger team, acquiring a handful of prospects at this year’s trade deadline. 

O’Connor’s play this year should help the forward be a part of the Penguins’ plans, and there may be more upside to come. 

“I don’t think we are close to what he is if he reaches his potential as a finished product,” Dubas said during the Penguins’ GM show on March 13. “He is a full-time NHL player…and I think the potential for him is significant, still. He’s been one guy who has taken big steps this year.”

_____

More from the PHWA x To Hockey With Love Mentorship Program

Keep scrolling for more content!
19+ | Please play responsibly! | Terms and Conditions apply