The Penguins are rebuilding, but aren't necessarily succeeding because their rebuilding has arrived ahead of schedule.
Only two young skaters are contributing on a significant level, namely Ben Kindel at 18 and Egor Chinakhov at 25.
Resurgent stars like Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin have played big roles.
But much has been derived from recycling or outright dumpster-diving.
That's no offense to defensemen Ryan Shea and Parker Wotherspoon, but they seem the best examples.
Shea, 29, had played 80 NHL games before this season. Wotherspoon, 28, had played 108.
Both seemed to be 4A players: Quality American Hockey League performers capable of filling in occasionally at the big-league level.
But, for the Penguins this season, both are doing far beyond that.
Shea is a Swiss Army knife on defense, able to play up and down the depth chart and even on the right (his opposite) side when injury dictates.
Wotherspoon has been a rock paired with Karlsson, enabling the three-time Norris Trophy winner to be unpredictable and adventurous with minimum risk.
Shea and Wotherspoon are very solid defensively. Wotherspoon occasionally crunches somebody. He's a quietly big hitter.
Shea has 28 points, Wotherspoon 23. Unexpected bonus.
Shea is a team-best plus-25. Wotherspoon is plus-12.
Their impact is tangible.
That's how a team contends for a playoff spot when it's supposed to suck: Players like Shea and Wotherspoon are given a chance, then come through.
Kudos to both, and to Coach Dan Muse and president of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas for aiding and abetting.
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