LOS ANGELES — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon still needs a GPS to get to the practice rink and keeps it on when heading to PPG Paints Arena, just in case.

The Penguins’ defenseman laughed at how difficult it can be to navigate Western Pennsylvania’s back roads and a city under construction. Fittingly, between Penguins’ new coach Dan Muse and general manager Kyle Dubas, the organization and team are undertaking a similar process.

In addition to everyone being on a new learning curve, many of the players are also learning the basics of living in Pittsburgh and the suburbs.

“There are no bad guys in here. So we’re pretty good, getting settled. I’m learning where to go–just everyday life–Where to go to the grocery stores, and things like that,” Wotherspoon said. “So I think I’ve got it pretty figured out, but it took me three times using GPS to get to the practice rink.”

Except there is no GPS for Dubas, nor are there turn-by-turn directions for Muse’s new system, which is a large departure from the previous bench boss’s schematic design for the Penguins veterans, and a new school for many of the new faces.

Muse’s system is a unique 1-1-3 setup, which might appear to be a trap much like their Thursday opponent, the LA Kings, but is anything but. No, Muse’s system creates layers through the neutral zone but unleashes the defensemen to jump into the forecheck or to take advantage of the layers to get back on pucks quickly to begin a transition.

The results thus far have been mixed, though captain Sidney Crosby seemed to think the team was adapting well, even if the results have been mushy.

“It’s four games in, but I think we’ve got more and more comfortable,” said Crosby. “Yeah, we’ve got to find a way to translate that into wins, though.”

At least statistically, the Penguins are getting the better of opponents. While the Penguins are giving up more shot attempts (49%), they’re well ahead on scoring chances (55%), high danger chances (60%), and expected goals for (55%). All stats from NaturalStatTrick.com.

However, they’ve lost the last two games when good starts morphed into loose play, penalties, and mistakes.

They also haven’t yet settled into the system with aggressive ease, perhaps the result of an overstocked training camp roster, perhaps because the season is merely four games old.

“I think it’s taking some time. Obviously, it’s a whole new system for everyone. I think we’re starting to kind of piece together and become more predictable as a team right now,” defenseman Caleb Jones said. “There were a couple of times I was like, especially the D-men, where you don’t know where you’re going back for breakouts–what routes are and where everyone’s at.

“It sometimes can look a little chaotic. I do know that firsthand, but I think everyone’s working hard and we’re starting to come together.”

Indeed, the defensemen especially have seemed to relish the great wide open, even as they’ve struggled. Jones has solid advanced statistics (55% scoring chances), but his obvious mistakes have put his ice time in the red regarding high-danger chances (43%).

His defense partner, Harrison Brunicke, is in a similar spot, though he hasn’t been as visible with mistakes and is not showing up as much on the negative ledger with a 55% scoring chance rate and a 48% high-danger rate.

On paper, Muse’s system should be perfect for a team with Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson atop their defense pairings. Both are simultaneously famous and infamous for their ability to create offense, even as that offense is sometimes for the opposition.

Karlsson has attacked, flashing that Norris Trophy form that earned him the 2023 trophy and a guaranteed spot with Team Sweden at last February’s Four Nations Face-Off. However, Letang has struggled, not yet registering a point in four games and posting eight giveaways–a number that seems generous after scorers only marked him for one in a problematic game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

Scorers could have tagged Letang with several more.

Perhaps it’s not only Wotherspoon who needs a GPS. Muse is also learning the joys and sorrows of freeing the Penguins’ defensemen.

“I keep saying it, but, you know, it’s still early,” Muse said Thursday morning.

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