I’ve seen published evaluations of the Penguins’ rebuilding process. Good, bad, indifferent, etc.

But the Penguins aren’t rebuilding.

Six of their key players are 40, 39, 38, 37, 34 and 33.

They have 13 veteran forwards under one-way NHL contracts. Ben Kindel is still on his rookie pact, a standard two-way deal.

Kindel will make the team. (Duh.) But there doesn’t appear to be room for youngsters like Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, Bill Zonnon, etc.

Rebuilding is impossible in that context.

That’s no criticism of president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas, who is doing an admirable job despite obvious limitations.

Dubas is shackled by nostalgia, and by new owners who likely don’t want to be seen as discarding old favorites.

It’s an organization scared to death of its own dressing room.

That room — and the fans — expect to have their cake and eat it, too. Preserve the old gang but still win.

Which the Penguins did last season, albeit to the smallest degree.

But that smacked of last gasp, not new beginning.

All this got confirmed when the Penguins re-upped Evgeni Malkin, at 40, for another season.

Malkin is serviceable. He got 61 points in 56 games. Was hurt a lot. There’s absolutely no doubting his status as a franchise all-timer.

But the Penguins likely re-signed Tommy Novak because he’s a comfortable fit on a line with Malkin. Then there’s the Russian connection with Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, which is way overblown.

So, before you know it, Kindel is skating on the third line with leftovers. Instead of on the second line where he belongs.

The logical thing to do, and unquestionably so, is to put Kindel and Chinakhov on the same line.

Kindel is 19, Chinakhov 25. They’re the Penguins’ only two young forwards of pedigree who are clearly able to play in the NHL right now. Big upside to both.

Play them together and see if they mesh. Find out if they can be two-thirds of a top line.

But Malkin isn’t a good fit with those two. Probably too slow.

Malkin will not be on the third line. Zero chance.

Sidney Crosby will skate between Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.

So, Kindel will be on the third line. Learning to be a third-liner.

Dan Muse is an excellent coach.

But Muse will be in his second year taking charge.

Malkin is entering his 20th season as a Penguin.

Muse isn’t going to cross Malkin. Malkin is top-six no matter what.

Same goes with the No. 1 power play.

Kindel, despite his youth, is the Penguins’ best power play mind. Chinakhov is an excellent pure shooter.

But PP1 will be Crosby, Malkin, Rakell, Rust and Erik Karlsson. Write that in stone. Average age: 36.

The organization shouldn’t be so beholden to veterans when the team hasn’t won a playoff series since 2018.

But it is.

I’m not outraged. I understand it.

But because I understand it, I don’t expect the Penguins to win, or develop.

I expect them to tread sewage.

It started as the mushy middle.

Then it became quicksand.

Now the cement has dried.

The Penguins need to bottom out. The situation needs to be made obvious.

I’m not sure that’s going to happen, either.

The wild card is rookie goalie Sergei Murashov.

If he arrives in dramatic fashion, Murashov could be the savior.

Or he could be a victim.

Or he could keep the Penguins in the mushy middle.