This is the seventh installment in a series of profiles of members of the Penguins' major-league roster, as listed alphabetically on the team's website.
There will be one each weekday until all players have been addressed.
ALEX GALCHENYUK
Age: 25
Size: 6 foot 1, 207 pounds
Position: Center
Acquired: Trade with Arizona, 2019
Salary-cap hit: $4.9 million, through 2019-20
2018-19 NHL stats: Nineteen goals, 22 assists in 72 games
How he fits: It's anyone's guess at this point. Perhaps he could bump Nick Bjugstad out of the No. 3 center spot, but it's also possible that he'll find work on the wing somewhere on the top three lines.
Shortcomings: Galchenyuk's intensity level seems to fluctuate and his play away from the puck has been poor at times throughout his time in the NHL. If those criticisms still apply, Galchenyuk and Mike Sullivan probably won't turn out to be the best of friends. And with a success rate of just 45.7 percent on faceoffs last season, Galchenyuk doesn't figure to be a go-to guy on key draws.
Strengths: Galchenyuk has an excellent shot and probably is a more creative playmaker than his modest total of assists suggests (he's had more than 27 just once in seven NHL seasons). He's most effective when attacking with speed and has a skills set that makes him a logical candidate for power-play time, although it's hard to see him cracking the No. 1 unit here.
Hidden variable: Maybe, just maybe, Galchenyuk will finally produce to his perceived potential if he settles into a role with a steady set of linemates after spending much of his career moving between lines and positions.
2019-20 expectations: Setting precise statistical objectives probably should wait until it is determined where Galchenyuk will fit into the lineup, but if he stays healthy and adds the consistency that has been missing from his game at times, he could challenge his personal-bests in goals (30), assists (32) and points (56).
The big question: Will Galchenyuk contribute enough during the final year of his contract to earn a new deal from the Penguins, or will he be changing teams as an unrestricted free agent next July?
All profiles to date can be found here.
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