Penguins Retool on the Fly with Youth Movement

The Penguins posted 98 points and finished second in the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26, but the front office clearly saw a roster that needed reinforcement. This summer brought a flurry of depth moves: forward additions in Andrei Kuzmenko, Hendrix Lapierre, David Gustafsson, and Nick Robertson, plus defenseman Kaedan Korczak on the blue line. The signings and trades address organizational depth without a marquee splash, and the hire of Ron Francis as a special advisor signals continuity in the front office after the Hoffmann family's ownership approval. It's a retool, not a rebuild, but the lack of a difference-making addition leaves questions about whether this group can take a step forward.

Last season in review

Pittsburgh scored 293 goals and allowed 268, a plus-25 goal differential that reflected a competent but not dominant team. Sidney Crosby led the way with 29 goals and 74 points at age 38, still the engine. Erik Karlsson posted 15 goals and 66 points from the back end, and Bryan Rust matched Crosby's 29 goals while adding 36 assists. The offense had firepower, but goaltending was shaky. Arturs Silovs went 19-12-8 with an .888 save percentage, a number that won't cut it in a tight division. The Penguins were good enough to make noise but not deep enough to sustain it.

Ins and outs

• In: Andrei Kuzmenko (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Nick Robertson (acquired in trade, per nhl.com)
• In: Hendrix Lapierre (acquired from Washington for a 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick, per nhl.com)
• In: David Gustafsson (acquired from Winnipeg for Jack St. Ivany, per nhl.com)
• In: Kaedan Korczak (acquired from Vegas for Parker Wotherspoon, per nhl.com)
• In: Tomas Galvas (signed to three-year entry-level contract, per nhl.com)
• In: Ron Francis (named special advisor, hockey operations, per nhl.com)
• Out: Jack St. Ivany (traded to Winnipeg)
• Out: Parker Wotherspoon (traded to Vegas)

The Penguins also avoided arbitration with four players in early July, per nhl.com, and extended qualifying offers to seven others on June 29, per nhl.com.

The big question

Can the goaltending improve enough to make this a playoff team? Silovs' .888 save percentage was below league average, and the Penguins didn't add a proven starter this summer. If the crease remains a liability, the offense will have to outscore every mistake, and that's a tough way to win in the Metro.

X-factor

Andrei Kuzmenko. The one-year deal suggests the Penguins are betting on a bounce-back, and if he rediscovers his scoring touch, Pittsburgh suddenly has another weapon in the top six. A productive Kuzmenko could be the difference between a wild-card push and another early exit.

Bold prediction

The Penguins finish third in the Metropolitan Division and return to the playoffs, but goaltending keeps them from advancing past the first round.

The outlook

Pittsburgh opens the season on the road against Philadelphia on September 30, and the early games will show whether the depth additions can stabilize a roster that still leans heavily on Crosby and Karlsson. The Metro is unforgiving, and the Penguins didn't do enough to separate themselves from the pack. This is a team trying to squeeze one more run out of a closing window, and the margin for error is thin.