Pittsburgh Penguins
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Pittsburgh Penguins, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Kaeden Korczak, Hendrix Lapierre, Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Nick Robertson, Andrei Kuzmenko, Declan Carlile
Key Departures: Anthony Mantha, Stuart Skinner, Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon, Connor Clifton, Noel Acciari
Overview
Under first-year head coach Dan Muse, the Pittsburgh Penguins had one of their most surprising seasons in years: they went from missing the playoffs in 2024-25 to finishing second in the Metropolitan Division, thanks to an 18-point increase, and returned to the postseason for the first time in four seasons. Their playoff fortunes were short-lived, losing to their in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, in six games.
Offense
The Pens scored 290 goals, the third-most in the NHL last season and just one fewer than the number two team, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins scored four or more goals in a remarkable 38 of their 41 wins. Sidney Crosby continues to show little signs of slowing down. Crosby recorded his 21st consecutive point-per-game season, leading the team with 74 points (68 games). His 29 goals were second only to Anthony Mantha (33 goals and now a New Jersey Devil) and led the Penguins in power play goals (10) and scored the Pens’ first goal of the game a team-high 12 times. His linemate, Bryan Rust, matched Crosby’s 29 goals and his own personal best with 65 points. Egor Chinakhov, rescued from the Columbus Blue Jackets, flourished after his trade to the Pens, scoring 18 goals and 36 points (43 games), and earned a three-year, $18.75 million contract in the summer. Rookie Ben Kindel didn’t look out of place in his first NHL season, putting up 17 goals and 35 points.
Defense
The Penguins allowed 258 goals, ranking 24th in the NHL this past season. Despite being in the bottom third of the league in goals against, the Pens were able to keep games close, as 23 of their 41 losses were by one goal, the fifth-most one-goal losses last season. They also had the league’s sixth-best penalty kill.
Erik Karlsson’s 15 goals and 66 points were his best since the 2022-23 season when he won the Norris Trophy with 25 goals and 101 points. He is in the final year of his contract that carries a 10-million-dollar cap hit but only 5.5 million in actual cash (salary and bonuses), making him an attractive trade chip. Kris Letang’s three goals last season matched his lowest goal total since the 2009-10 season. Even at 39 years of age, he logged over 21 minutes a night. Pittsburgh acquired Samuel Girard from Colorado last season and Kaeden Korczak from Vegas and signed free agent Trevor Van Riemsdyk, who spent the last five-plus seasons in Washington. Keep an eye on Declan Carlile, who spent last season in Tampa. The blueline is good enough to keep them competitive most nights.
Goaltending
For now, the plan is to go with 25-year-old Artrus Silovs and 22-year-old Sergei Murashov. Silvos came over to the Penguins last summer in a trade from Vancouver. In his first full NHL season, he made 38 starts and won 19 games, including a pair of shutouts. Murashov, considered the goalie of the future, played most of the season in the American Hockey League. He made four starts for the Penguins, picking up a pair of wins, including a 21-save shutout over the Nashville Predators. Both goalies have one year left on their contracts and are approaching Restricted Free Agent status.
Player to Watch
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas knows Nick Robertson as well as anyone in hockey. The former Maple Leafs general manager drafted Robertson in 2019, and this summer sent a fourth-round pick to Toronto to acquire Robertson. The Pens hope a better opportunity to showcase his talents will propel him to crack the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career after three seasons scoring 14, 15, and 16 with the Maple Leafs.
Outlook
A lot went right for the Penguins last season in snapping a three-year playoff drought. Their goaltending is a big question mark for me, and why I have concerns about them making a second consecutive trip to the playoffs. In their division, Carolina and Washington are better than Pittsburgh, and I can make a case for the Islanders and Devils as well. As much as I would like to see Sidney Crosby make another playoff appearance, I think Pittsburgh will be on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 89.5 (Over -115, Under -115)
To Make the Playoffs: (+195)
Miss the Playoffs: (-240)
To Win the Division: (+1600)
To Win the Eastern Conference: (+4000)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+8000)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 41-25-16 (98 points, 3rd in Metropolitan Division)
Over/Under: 47-32-3
Home Favorite: 12-7 // Home Dog: 5-11
Road Favorite: 5-3 // Road Dog: 15-16
Win Score 4 or more: 38 of 41 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 27 of 41
Puck Line Wins: 29 of 41 // Puck Line Losses: 18 of 41
Front End Back-to-Back: 7-9 // Back End Back-to-Back: 7-9
Points Leader: Sidney Crosby – 74
Goal Leaders: Anthony Mantha – 33
Teams First Goal Leader: Sidney Crosby – 12
Assist Leader: Erik Karlsson – 51
Shots on Goal Leader: Bryan Rust – 183
Blocked Shots Leader: Parker Wotherspoon – 112
Depth Chart
Forwards
Rickard Rakell / Sidney Crosby / Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov / Tommy Novak / Evgeni Malkin
Andrei Kuzmenko /Benjamin Kindel / Nichola Robertson
Justin Brazeau / Blake Lizotte / Connor Dewar
Defense
Trevor Van Riemsdyk / Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Graves / Kaedan Korczak
Goalies
Arturs Silovs / Sergei Murashov
