The Penguins are deep, but old, at center

The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to report to training camp Wednesday, with the first day of on-ice activities coming Thursday.

Here is a look at their depth at the center position:

Absent a few debilitating injuries, the Penguins haven’t had many questions about their top two centers for the past 17 years.

And that won’t be any different heading into year 18.

Sidney Crosby, 36, and Evgeni Malkin, 37, again will serve as prime meridians as they enter their 19th and 18th seasons, respectively.

And while their days as candidates to win MVP awards or scoring titles might be in the review mirror, they’re still capable of tilting the ice in favor of the Penguins anytime they step onto a rink.

For the first time, each of them appeared in a complete 82-game season, with Crosby leading the team in scoring with 93 points (33 goals, 60 assists) and Malkin second with 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists).

While injuries are always a legitimate concern with each of them as they enter their late 30s, both are still more than capable of being the most dominant player on the ice for any shift.

Long-time nemesis Lars Eller is Penguins management’s latest attempt to find a suitable third-line center.

A 14-year veteran, Eller routinely bumped heads with Crosby and Malkin as a member of the rival Washington Capitals throughout the 2010s and the early portions of this decade.

Splitting last season between the Capitals and Colorado Avalanche, Eller appeared in 84 games and posted 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists).

At 34, it’s fair to wonder if Eller is still capable of being the defensive nuisance he has been to opposing centers throughout his career. But management seems to have full confidence he will be able to provide that presence at five-on-five play as well as on the penalty kill.

Another offseason addition is presumed fourth-line center Noel Acciari. A tenacious presence on the ice, Acciari, 32, is a logical candidate to lead the team in hits.

He even can offer some offense. Splitting the 2022-23 season between the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs, Acciari had 23 points (14 goals, nine assists).

The big question at center is former third-line center Jeff Carter.

After joining the Penguins before the 2021 trade deadline, Carter became a big fan favorite over parts of two seasons as he provided a strong presence as a third-line center. But last season, Carter struggled as the season wore on. Eventually, he was relegated to right wing on the fourth line.

Can Carter, 39, regroup, or will he continue to struggle?

Another option at center is Drew O’Connor, who has been dominant at the position at the AHL level but has been deployed primarily as a winger in the NHL. Last season, O’Connor broke through as a full-time NHLer then signed a two-year contract extension this offseason.

Radim Zohorna returned to the organization as a free agent signing in July and is capable of playing all three forward positions.

Sam Poulin, a first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in 2019, was one of the final cuts from training camp in 2022 and looked poised to claim some NHL ice time last season. But a leave of absence to attend to his mental health in December has restarted the clock on his development as an NHLer to some degree.

Jonathan Gruden enjoyed a cup of coffee through a recall last season. His tenacity and hockey IQ always give him a chance to be an effective fourth-line center.

Offseason free agent signing Joona Kopponen is a classic “4-A” player who can be an effective top-six forward at the AHL level but is usually recalled only when several incumbents on the NHL roster are unavailable.