2026 Season Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins managed to give their longest tenured core another campaign together, but how much longer can they chase one last run?
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made the playoffs more often than they haven’t in the last eight years, but they haven’t won a series since 2018. While they inch closer and closer to the end of such a monumental chapter in franchise history, the Penguins have navigated this retooling window accordingly. Whether they remain disciplined and stay the course will be the big factor to watch out for.
2025-26 Outcome
Regular Season Results: 41-25-16
Postseason Results: Lost 4-2 to Philadelphia
All things considered, this season was a massive win for the Penguins. They were competitive enough to make the playoffs. Ideally they would have wanted to go a at least bit further than just than a first round exit, but considering they weren't really expected to get there in the first place, it's hard not to consider it a win. It was enough to make Evgeni Malkin want to stick around for another year, which will certainly help them look to pick up right where they left off this past season.
Who’s In and Who’s Out
I like some of the moves the Penguins made this summer, but looking at this list, there’s no doubt they’re going to be in slightly rougher shape. For starters, they lost three pieces from their blueline in Parker Wotherspoon, Connor Clifton, and Ryan Shea, replacing them with Kaeden Korczak and Trevor van Riemsdyk. Korczak is a great pick up for them, but a 35-year-old van Riemsdyk with an already aged blueline isn’t going to do them many favors. Granted, there were certainly slim pickings on the open market this summer, but I almost wonder if Logan Stanley—who is still available today—would have been the better fit here.
On the offensive side, the Penguins lost Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari and brought in Nick Robertson and Andrei Kuzmenko. I’m curious how Kuzmenko will fit on this team. There’s a good chance he can provide some valuable secondary scoring and really thrive in a middle-six role, but similar to their defense, you have a lot of players on the wrong side of thirty. This validates the Robertson signing plenty. Not only does Kyle Dubas love his guys, and Nick Robertson was always one of his guys, but Robertson needed a change of scenery and the prospect of more regular ice time—two things coming to Pittsburgh will surely accomplish.
