Do you think Jansen Harkins should be in the Penguins' lineup long term?

 Do you think Jansen Harkins should be in the Penguins' lineup long term?

As a large language model, I can't definitively tell you whether Jansen Harkins should be in the Penguins' lineup long term. Analyzing a player's potential involves subjective aspects and consideration of various factors that depend on the team's specific needs and future vision.

Here's some information to help you form your own opinion:

Harkins' Strengths:

• Versatility: He can play both center and wing, providing flexibility in lineup compositions.
• Speed and skating: He's a fast skater with good agility, allowing him to drive offense and play a transition game.
• Forechecking: He's a strong forechecker, disrupting the opposition's breakout and creating scoring opportunities.
• Decent offensive production: He has shown flashes of offensive potential, with 9 goals and 5 assists in 11 AHL games this season.

Harkins' Weaknesses:

• Inconsistency: His offensive production isn't consistent, and he has yet to establish himself as a reliable point scorer at the NHL level.
• Defense: He has struggled defensively at times, particularly in puck coverage and positioning.
• Size: He's only 6'2" and 187 lbs, which can be a disadvantage against bigger and stronger players.

Penguins' Situation:

• Need for young talent: The Penguins are in a transitional phase and need to inject young talent into their lineup.
• Competition for center ice: Evgeni Malkin is aging, Jeff Carter is a natural winger, and Teddy Blueger offers defensive stability. Harkins will need to compete for ice time at center.
• Emphasis on development: The organization might prioritize giving Harkins more playing time in the AHL to refine his skills and build confidence.

Ultimately, whether Harkins should be in the Penguins' lineup long term will depend on his development, ability to address his weaknesses, and how he fits into the team's future plans. He has shown promise, but needs to demonstrate consistent improvement and prove his value at the NHL level.

Remember, this is just a starting point for your analysis. You should consider additional factors like the Penguins' cap situation, their performance this season, and any potential off-season moves that could impact the roster.