Pittsburgh Penguins season snapshot fantasy honors

With the NHL pausing the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, NHL.com is taking stock of each of the League's 31 teams.
Today, a fantasy recap of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the pause:
NOTE: Rank for fantasy most valuable player is based on standard-category production to date.

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 250
|
100 forwards
|
Season snapshots
|
Injury tracker
Fantasy MVP: Evgeni Malkin, C (rank: 31) -- He has 74 points (25 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games after he had 72 in 68 games last season. Malkin has the third-best points-per-game average (1.35) of his impressive NHL career (1.45 in 2011-12; 1.38 in 2008-09) and his highest in eight seasons despite the Pittsburgh Penguins trading frequent linemate Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes in the offseason and elite center Sidney Crosby missing more than two months because of core muscle surgery. Malkin, who has missed 14 games because of injury or illness, is among the NHL leaders in points (14th), assists (tied for 11th) and power-play points (24; tied for 17th), and he leads the Penguins in all three categories.
Biggest surprise: Bryan Rust, LW/RW -- One of the breakout fantasy players of the season, Rust leads Pittsburgh with 27 goals despite being limited to 55 of a possible 69 games because of injury. Frequently playing on a line with Malkin, Rust has shattered his previous NHL career highs in goals, points (56; second on Penguins) and power-play points (17; tied with Crosby for second on Pittsburgh). He has played on the first power-play unit for much of the season because of long-term injuries to Crosby and elite left wing Jake Guentzel (shoulder surgery). Rust also has set NHL career highs in assists (29), rating (plus-14) and shots on goal (151), and is a top 50 fantasy player in standard leagues.

Unsung hero: Patric Hornqvist, RW -- Since being traded to Pittsburgh by the Nashville Predators before the 2014-15 season, Hornqvist has been a reliable stand-alone fantasy asset with strong category coverage of goals, SOG and hits, regardless of lineup placement and even if he misses time because of injury. His 17 goals through 52 games are fifth on the Penguins and one fewer than he had in 69 games last season, and he is among Pittsburgh's leaders in SOG (168; third) and hits (107; fourth). Despite a dip in power-play points (seven after he had 12 last season), Hornqvist has been worth owning in most formats. He has two three-point games, so he carries big-game potential.
---
Listen: NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast