Penguins
A preview of the 2025-26 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: Dan Muse (head coach), Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau
Key Departures: Mike Sullivan (head coach) Matt Grzelcyk, P.O. Joseph, Matt Nieto
Overview
Three straight seasons of not making the playoffs left Sidney Crosby feeling very empty. “It’s difficult when you’re cleaning out your locker and just thinking about how much fun it is to play in the playoffs and how important that is.”
After 10 seasons and two Stanley Cups, head coach Mike Sullivan did not want to be part of the rebuild in Pittsburgh and felt it was time to move on. Enter Dan Muse. If you are like me, you did a Google search to find out where Penguins GM Kyle Dubas found his new head coach. (He was an assistant with the Rangers and previously coached the U.S. National Team Development Program under-18 and under-17 teams.)
Offense
Goals, goals and more goals were the theme in Penguins games last season as they averaged 6.54 goals per game (third-highest) with 45 of their games going Over the total, second-most behind Columbus who finished with 46. At 36, Crosby had a team-best 91 points, marking his 20th NHL season averaging at least a point per game passing Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history. It was his third consecutive season with at least 90 points, and his 33 goals made it four straight seasons of 30 goals or more.
Even more impressive were his 91 points, which were 20 more than Rickard Rakell, who finished second on the Penguins in scoring. Evgeni Malkin is entering his 20th and what is very likely his final season in Pittsburgh as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Malkin’s 16 goals and 50 points were his lowest goal and point totals since 2010-11.
Defense
Pittsburgh’s 287 goals against, a 39-goal increase from the prior placed them 30th in the league in goals surrendered, with only Chicago and San Jose giving up more goals. Pittsburgh gave up at least four goals in 38 of their 48 losses.
The Penguins still rely heavily on future Hall of Famers Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson as their blue line anchors. Karlsson came to Pittsburgh after winning the Norris Trophy in the 2022-23 season when he put up 101 points with San Jose. In his two seasons in the Steel City, he has a combined 109 points and has been a defensive liability. Health has been an issue for Letang in the past few seasons. His 30 points (nine goals) last season were his lowest output of his career when playing at least 60 games.
Goaltending
The 2024-25 season was a struggle to say the least for Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, highlighted by the team putting him on waivers and being sent to the minors. His sub-.900 SV% and 3.09 GAA were his worst numbers since his debut season in 2018-19 when he played just two games.
Pittsburgh acquired goalie Arturs Silovs from Vancouver to serve as their backup goalie. Last season, he led Abbotsford (AHL) to a Calder Cup Championship and was named top goalie and tournament MVP.
Player to Watch
There has been a lot of speculation and hope by anyone not a Penguins fan that Sidney Crosby is traded to the Colorado Avalanche to join his good buddy Nathan MacKinnon, where Crosby would have a legitimate chance to win his third Stanley Cup. Crosby is one who hates the trade speculation. Suffice to say his only other opportunity to win anything of significance soon will be at the Olympics in Torino where he will play for Team Canada.
Outlook
The Penguins finished 24th overall last season and I see them taking an even bigger dip and falling into the bottom five. Their projected point total is 78.5 and that is just under last season’s finish of 80 points. Pittsburgh Under 78.5 (-120) is my best bet.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 78.5
To Make the Playoffs: +600
To Miss the Playoffs: -1000
To Win the Metropolitan Division: +10000
To Win the Eastern Conference: +10000
To Win the Stanley Cup: +20000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 34-36-12, 80 points (7th in Metropolitan Division)
Over/Under: 45-35-2
Home Favorite: 10-5 // Home Dog: 10-15
Road Favorite: 2-4 // Road Dog: 11-24
Win Score 4 or more: 24 of 34 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 38 of 48
Puck Line Wins: 20 of 34 // Puck Line Losses: 32 of 48
Front End Back-to-Back: 4-10 // Back End Back-to-Back: 6-8
Points Leader: Sidney Crosby – 91
Goal Leader: Rickard Rakell – 35
Assist Leader: Sidney Crosby – 58
Shots on Goal Leader: Sidney Crosby – 227
Blocked Shots Leader: Matt Grzelcyk – 101
Depth Chart
Forwards
Rickard Rakell / Sidney Crosby / Bryan Rust
Ville Koivunen / Evgeni Malkin / Anthony Mantha
Rutger McGroarty / Tommy Novak / Phillip Tomasino
Connor Dewar / Blake Lizotte / Justin Brazeau
Defense
Ryan Shea / Erik Karlsson
Kris Letang / Connor Clifton
Owen Pickering / Matt Dumba
Goalies
Tristan Jarry / Arturs Silovs
Power Play Unit 1
Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson, Ville Koivunen
