Pittsburgh Penguins: 2 Biggest Surprises Of The Season So Far

Every NHL team has now played 20 games this season, so we are starting to get a better understanding of what to expect from them moving forward. There have been certain players who have been big surprises thus far and it feels fair to shine a light on them. In this series, we will be looking at two from each team who certainly can be classified as that.

In this one, we will be looking at the Pittsburgh Penguins. Even with all of their injuries, the Penguins still have a respectable 15-8-5 record and are fourth in the Metropolitan Division. These two players have stepped up in a big way for them.

Evan Rodrigues: The Penguins quietly re-signed Evan Rodrigues to a one-year contract and it's turned into a complete steal for them. In 28 games, he has scored nine goals and recorded 22 points. This pace of production is easily the best of his career, as he's second on the team in both those categories. This breakout campaign is coming at the perfect time, as the 28-year-old is due for another contract next summer and should get a nice raise.

Danton Heinen: The Penguins were criticized for their lack offseason moves, but the Danton Heinen signing has turned out to be a very solid one so far. In 28 games, he has eight goals (tied for third on team) and 13 points. Keep in mind, he only had seven goals and 14 points in 43 games last season with the Anaheim Ducks. He's looking more like the solid depth scorer he was during his beginning days with the Boston Bruins, which certainly makes his $1.1 million cap hit a good one for Pittsburgh.