RSS Penguins Team Notes

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Everyone was wrong about the Penguins this season

MONTREAL, CANADA - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles bench duties during the second period against the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on December 20, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montréal Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sticking with our informal theme today about surprises, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the biggest surprises in what has turned into a very surprising NHL season.

Olympic break is a good opportunity to check out where the standings projection race falls…

In case you haven't noticed, this season has been pretty unpredictable. The market O/U and fan survey avg (in other words, the "expected" outcomes) have been among the worst performers. pic.twitter.com/OfzZWwPx5S

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 6, 2026

The average margin of error for seven of the leading internet advanced stat models, plus betting over/unders and a large fan poll has added up to being off by 23 points for the Penguins. The only team that preseason prognosticators were more wrong about was Vancouver with a 31 point error — and in that case it was an over-statement where Vancouver was predicted to be a decent team with a 91-point total and instead has slumped away for the 60 point pace that they’re on for a path towards last place.

A lot of that shows just how quality the Penguins have been this season. They already have 70 points in the standings after 56 games — just 10 points fewer than 2024-25’s full season total of 80 (34-36-12 record). No one could have realistically expected a turnaround so dramatic and complete like that. There has always been the rote comments from inside the room about believing they could have a good season, though those comments were not much different from what had become a stubbornly proud team saying many of the same things in 2023 and 2024.

The reasons touched on in the earlier article are clear improvements across the board, in ways expected and those that have worked out to best case scenarios. The coaching inputs under Dan Muse has freed up the team. Management has added players like Egor Chinakhov, Brett Kulak and Stuart Skinner to help (and also didn’t make widescale subtractions of players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell in the offseason). The players have come through too, whether it’s been franchise staples like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin doing what they’ve done for the last 20 years or fresh-faced rookies like Ben Kindel and the technically-a-rookie Arturs Silovs coming in and adding where they could or under-the-radar free agents making the most of changes of scenery like Parker Wotherspoon, Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. The list of “what could have gone right” for the Penguins so far is virtually limitless compared to the list of previous seasons for “what went wrong” (goaltending, powerplay, depth support, coaching/management inputs) going quiet.

Add it all up and the results can be seen in the chart above to make the Penguins the biggest positive surprise of the NHL season so far. That’s been a frequent occurrence with other teams joining them in Minnesota, Boston, Detroit, Montreal, NY Islanders, Seattle and Anaheim taking big steps forward. Others like Buffalo and Columbus are working on it too. Some of those teams might not be primed to finish the story this year (cast a suspicious eye over to NYI, Seattle and Anaheim, in particular as potentially unsustainable Cinderella stories at risk of running out of gas before the finish line) but the theme of the season has been one of a wild variety or rises and falls that weren’t to be expected as recently as four or five months ago.

The NHL hasn’t always been the most unpredictable of sports within the regular season, though this year has seen enough conditions emerge to change that. Almost every franchise, even builders and recent uncompetitive teams, have clearly stated their intentions to improve and progress. There aren’t many patient teams in the stages of actively tearing down their clubs, though teams like Vancouver and the NY Rangers face uncomfortable and unwanted results forcing them to switch strategies, which has led to one of the more unpredictable and exciting seasons so far. That spirit has been on display in Pittsburgh just as much as anywhere, where for the first time in a while the Penguins are providing some excitement and positive surprises compared to the last few years mired in slumps and disappointments.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/analysis/72764/everyone-was-wrong-about-the-penguins-this-season

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Sunday Standings: Penguins surging at the Olympic break

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his second NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres with teammates Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of an NHL game on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Fueled by a 14-3-3 run since Christmas break that ranked second in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture when the NHL took its pause for the Olympics.

Pittsburgh’s season so far can be neatly broken into three segments; there was the hot 8-2-2 start that got them off to a strong footing followed by a period from Halloween to Christmas where they struggled to a 7-10-7 record that put them around the bottom of the league in that stretch, followed by the return to the top up to the Olympics from the period of Christmas onward.

That does leave one to wonder what will come next in the upcoming unofficial fourth segment of the season when games resume. Unfortunately for the Pens, it’s going to be a tough path to travel. They have the NHL’s toughest remaining strength of schedule based on quality of opponent. From Tankathon:

The Pens still have a lot of obstacles in their path in what looks like a brutal slate in March. The Pens will play 17 games in the month, tough enough as that may be it’s even more daunting seeing 14 of those 17 opponents currently in a playoff position. Seven of those games come against teams that are currently first in their division. That will be highlighted with three March games against Carolina, the team the Penguins find themselves eight points behind for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Despite the upcoming brutal path, most models are bullish on the Pens’ chances to make the playoffs due to the strong work they’ve put together to this point. The Athletic is projecting a season finish of 95.8 points, Hockeystats.com is at 98. The Pens’ current statistical pace is 103 points based off how they’ve done so far. The team already has 70 points with 26 games to go, meaning both models are expecting close to a .500 finish in the games that remain. That could be something to keep in mind, if the Pens can over-perform that figure then their projections will shift up, and the opposite will hold true if the losses and regulation losses start stacking up again.

Even though it can be seen as a tough development to take a pause while the team has been among the NHL’s best in the last six weeks, the Olympic break likely still comes at a good time for the Pens overall. The break gives Kris Letang a chance to heal his broken foot without missing as many games. Evgeni Malkin was gutting through a shoulder problem that gets the benefit of added time off. Stuart Skinner was going into a slide and gets an opportunity for a reset. Pittsburgh will need all three veterans to play well down the stretch, the break provides them all a better chance compared to if the NHL season kept rolling on like it would in a non-Olympic year.

The NHL season is nearing 70% done, the Penguins have an impressive body of work through that time. It’s set them up for a very realistic chance at doing what many thought couldn’t be done to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2022. There’s still a way to go and a short time to get there, which their fate will ultimately be determined by playing a very tough schedule when the games pick back up. That’s what meaningful hockey this time of year is all about.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/72759/sunday-standings-penguins-surging-at-the-olympic-break

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Thoughts on the Penguins at the Olympic break: Are they contenders?

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored one of their most impressive wins of the 2025-26 season on Thursday night when they beat a Buffalo Sabres team that has been one of the hottest in the NHL by an 5-2 margin. It was an impressive win not only because they mostly outplayed the Sabres, but also because they did it without Kris Letang, Rickard Rakell, Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari. They did it with another mostly off night from the Sidney Crosby line. They did it with a couple of rookies (Ben Kindel and Avery Hayes) providing most of the offense.

It has the Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division going into the Olympic break, while also having a pretty nice cushion over the non-playoff teams in the Eastern Conference.

It is impressive. It is also far better than anybody anticipated for this season when it began.

It also leads to a question that needs to be asked. Are the Penguins contenders this season? Right now? The knee-jerk reaction instinct is to simply say, no, they are not, because that is not what anybody anticipated at the start and certainly not what the expectations were. But as I wrote on Tuesday, your play changes expectations, and based on the Penguins play and results I am having a hard time arguing why they can not contend for the Eastern Conference this season.

Follow me here.

1. Can the Pittsburgh Penguins be Eastern Conference contenders right now?​

Let me just give you some numbers on where the Penguins rank across the board in both the standings and some other major categories.

• NHL Points Percentage: .625 (7th)
• Eastern Conference Points Percentage: .625 (4th)
• NHL Goal Differential: plus-23 (7th)
• 5-on-5 Goal Share: plus-15 (8th)
• 5-on-5 Expected Goals Share: 52.2 (7th)
• 5-on-5 Expected Goals For Per 60 Minutes: 2.92 (4th)
• 5-on-5 Expected Goals Against Per 60 Minutes: 2.67 (17th)
• 5-on-5 Scoring Chance Share: 51.6 (9th)
• 5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chance Share: 52.7 (9th)
• Penalty Kill Success Rate: 84.0 (3rd)
• Power Play Success Rate: 25.9 (4th)

In just about every standings metric, possession metric, and scoring chance metric they are a top-10 team. In most of them, they are a top-eight team. They are an outstanding 5-on-5 team. Their special teams in both areas are among the best in the NHL. They have four capable forward lines with some depth beyond them (as we have seen with Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen and now Avery Hayes able to make the move from the AHL and contribute). The goaltending has run hot-and-cold at times, but overall it has been good enough.

The only metric where they are not in the top-10 is when it comes to preventing expected goals defensively. They are middle-of-the-pack in that area. But even then they jump up to 12th in the NHL over the past 25 games, indicating some significant improvement in their defensive play.

Against teams currently in a playoff position they are 13-5-6 this season. Against the other top-10 teams in the standings this season they are 8-4-2.

We all know what the preseason expectations were. We all know what the roster looks like on paper and where the perceived shortcomings are.

We also know that we have a 56-game sampling where they have consistently outplayed teams, won games, and won games against other top contenders in the Eastern Conference and the NHL as a whole.

Right now the Tampa Bay Lightning are separating themselves from everybody else in the Eastern Conference and are starting to get healthy. They look like the class of the conference right now and are suddenly giving the Colorado Avalanche a run for their money league wide. They look impressive. Even dominant. Even then, the Penguins have traditionally matched up well with them and played them very well. Including this season. Including recently.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played, obviously, but not THAT much. The March schedule is brutally difficult and I suspect we will learn a lot about the Penguins during that stretch. We have also been saying that quite often this season and each time they keep passing the test. There is a lot to be said for that.

They are an objectively good hockey team right now. It is just a matter of how good and what their potential ceiling might be. My suspicion is it might be higher than even Pittsburgh thinks it is.

2. Sidney Crosby is in a funk and it has not really mattered​

The one Penguins line that is not really clicking right now is, oddly enough, the Sidney Crosby line. Part of that was the absence of Bryan Rust for a few games while he served his suspension, and Justin Brazeau not really being a great fit in his place. Part of it has been Crosby going through a rare funk. Both things are contributing.

Crosby especially has been struggling with zero goals, only two assists and a minus-3 rating over his past seven games.

The Penguins record in those six games: 4-1-1

That is a testament to the Penguins forward depth.

That is also another box checked in the “why are they not considered contenders right now?” list.

3. Ben Kindel just keeps getting better​

Of all the changes the Penguins made to their roster for this season, the selection of Ben Kindel and his unexpected presence in the lineup has been one of the most significant. An 18-year-old, non-top-five pick, playing at center, and just stepping right into the NHL and being one of the best players on his team (and a good team!) is just outrageously impressive and unexpected work.

He is not only impressive.

He keeps getting better.

Especially now that he has snapped out of the goal-scoring funk that he was stuck in for a few weeks.

He is now up to 14 goals in 53 games (a 22-goal pace over 82 games) and still one of their best all-around players. He had a game this past week where the Penguins expected goal share when he was on the ice was 98 percent. It is the second game this season he was over 94 percent in a game. He is arguably their best possession-driving forward this season. He is finding his scoring touch. He is a relentless puck-hound. He plays with an insane level of confidence for an 18-year-old. He has helped make their lineup significantly deeper in terms of quality. It can not be overstated how significant his presence in the organization has become.

He is not only a big reason why they are a potential playoff team this season, he is setting up to be a significant long-term building block. He is a huge part of the reason why this season has become so exciting for both the short-term and the long-term.

4. Anthony Mantha is having a career year​

Kyle Dubas has been on some kind of a run over the past season-and-a-half and the Anthony Mantha signing this past offseason has been one of the more surprisingly productive moves. The plan with him at the time seemed obvious. Sign a guy coming off a down, injury-shortened season the prior year to a low-risk contract, hope to build his value up a little, then flip him at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. He seemed to be this season’s Anthony Beauvilier.

It has worked out significantly better than expected.

Going into the Olympic break Mantha is already up to 20 goals and 42 total points in 56 games, is on pace to set career highs in goals and total points. Prior to this season his high goal-mark was 25 (in only 67 games) during the 2018-19 season with the Detroit Red Wings. He is currently on pace for 29 goals. His career high in total points is 48 in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He is currently on pace for 61 points.

The Penguins could easily trade him for a second-round pick in March. Probably more. But I also do not know how they do that given the way the season is right now. It is not like the Penguins have a pressing need for more draft picks. They already have more of them over the next four years than any team in the NHL, including several picks in the first three rounds.

Should the Penguins re-sign him? That might be going a little too far with it. He has been a great addition and a great story this season. Whether or not he can continue that next season at age 32 on a significantly higher contract is an entirely different question. For now, though, you might just have to ride with it and see where it can take you.

Expectations change. Sometimes when expectations change your plans also have to change.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/analysis/...uins-at-the-olympic-break-are-they-contenders

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Pens Points: Crosby named captain for Team Canada

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 08: Sidney Crosby #87 of Team Canada takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…​

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was officially named captain of Team Canada’s men’s ice hockey team on Sunday. Crosby previously served as the Olympic captain in 2014 when Canada won gold. [Trib Live]

After a 12-year absence on the Olympic stage, the Penguins’ Olympians are treasuring the moment to represent their home countries once more. [Trib Live]

As the NHL freezes play for the 2026 Olympics, the American Hockey League will trudge on. The Penguins assigned rookie forwards Avery Hayes and Rutger McGroarty to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday. [Trib Live]

Updates from around the NHL…​

Prosecutors have dropped the most serious assault charge against Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna, considered a likely top pick in this year’s NHL draft. Still, he remains accused of less serious offenses. [CBS News/Associated Press]

Veteran NHL defenseman Travis Dermott has joined the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on a player try-out contract, the team announced on Saturday. [TSN]

Auston Matthews was named the captain of the United States men’s hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. [Sportsnet]

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/news/7276...-team-canada-ahl-nhl-gavin-mckenna-penn-state

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

The week ahead for Penguins players at the Olympics: The games begin

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 08: Sidney Crosby #87 of Team Canada takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NHL players are back in the Winter Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi games, and that means we get our first fully functional best-on-best tournament in over a decade. It is going to be thrilling, compelling hockey, and it all begins on Wednesday.

There are three primary rooting interests I have for this tournament. They are, in order:

• Nobody get hurt. This can not be emphasized enough.
• Some sort of narrative-driving performance from the United States, where either they prove the critics wrong and Bill Guerin gets to take a victory lap screaming “everybody is dumb except me,” or a 2006-type embarrassment where they just totally wet the bed and everybody gets to tell Bill Guerin how everybody is smart except for him. Simply winning a Bronze or Silver medal would be boring. Go big or home. Win Gold or get embarrassed. If you win Gold, you win Gold. If you get embarrassed, you might cause some soul-searching that could lead to gold in the next winter Olympics.
• Sidney Crosby win to add to his already spectacular legacy.

Seems reasonable.

The Penguins have four players participating in the tournament this year with Crosby (Canada), Erik Karlsson (Sweden), Rickard Rakell (Sweden) and Arturs Silovs (Latvia) all in Italy.

So what is ahead for them and their respective teams this week?

Let’s look at it.

The round-robin/group play portion of the tournament takes place through Sunday, and Sweden will be the first team with a Penguins player (Rakell and Karlsson) in action.

Sweden’s first game is on Wednesday against host nation Italy, and nothing about that seems like a fair fight. The Italian team is easily the worst team in the field and will be lucky to be competitive in any of their games.

Rakell opened practice skating on Sweden’s third line next to Mika Zibanejad and Elias Pettersson, while Karlsson was on the third-defense pairing alongside Philip Broberg.

I actually like this Sweden team a lot, and might even go as far as to pick them to win Gold. There just is not a weakness anywhere. Their forwards are not quite on the same level as the Canadian or American teams, but they are still good. They also might have the best defensive lineup from top-to-bottom in the entire tournament, while also having three solid goaltending options. You can probably find a weakness for every other team.

After playing Italy on Wednesday, Sweden plays what might be the most anticipated game of the preliminary round on Friday when they go against Finland.

They complete group play on Saturday against Slovakia.

Sweden is pretty clearly one of the top three or four gold medal contenders here, and that should make them a favorite in the group. That game against Finland likely determines who gets the top spot here.

Next on the list is Canada and the most prominent Penguins player — Crosby.

Crosby, who was named captain of the Canadian team, opened practice skating on the third line between Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, which is an utterly fascinating trio, and I’m not sure how well they mesh with Crosby’s preferred playing style of having fast north-south guys next to him. But Stone and Marner are good two-way players, and Stone especially is a great defensive presence on his wing. It is also a positively staggering third-line in terms of talent, indicating just how good Canada’s forward depth is and how good their top-tier players are.

Canada opens play on Thursday against Czechia and then plays Switzerland on Friday before concluding group play on Sunday against France.

The Swiss have been a notorious thorn in the side of Canadian Olympic teams over the years, and this Swiss team is pretty good. So that is going to be a compelling matchup, and Czechia will not be a pushover. That is a tough group for the Canadians, but they should still be able to get through it at the top. There just might be a couple of close games in there.

Then we have Silovs and Latvia.

Goaltending is the one potential strength of the Latvian team, and it remains to be seen how much Silovs will play, if at all. Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins figures to be the No. 1 goalie going into the tournament.

Latvia opens tournament play on Thursday against the United States, before playing Germany on Saturday and Denmark on Sunday.

Latvia is probably the worst of the four teams in this group, and it would probably be a mild upset to see them win any of their games.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/analysis/...guins-players-at-the-olympics-the-games-begin

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Hockey gets underway in Milan this week. Here’s a reminder of the Olympic rules.

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 09: Players of Team United States pose for photographs during training on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hockey will get underway this week at the Milan Olympics featuring NHL players for the first time in more than a decade.

Here’s a reminder and refresher that the rules at the Olympics will be a bit different than when you watch your typical NHL game.

3-3 sudden death OT for gold is diabolical pic.twitter.com/Xdbc0MUzMb

— Paulie (@pauliebignuts99) February 10, 2026

During the preliminary rounds of the Olympic hockey tournament, if games are tied after regulation, there will be a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime, followed by a five-player shootout if the tie isn’t broken.

In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the overtime period will be extended to ten minutes.

In the gold medal game, there will be no shootout, but the overtime period will be played as 3-on-3.

During the Olympics, fighting is not allowed and the penalty for doing so is ejection. Playing without a helmet subjects players to a minor penalty.

Roster sizes allow teams to have a maximum of 23 players, consisting of 20 skaters and 3 goalies.

Teams are allowed to dress two more players than allowed during NHL play, meaning that a game lineup can feature 13 forwards and 7 defensemen.

Rink sizes at the Palaltalia Santa Giulia and the Fiera Milano arenas will be a little more snug than standard NHL dimensions (200 ft x 85). The rink size measures roughly 196.85 feet long by 85.3 feet wide.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will also be captaining Team Canada for this year’s Olympics, the same role he served for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/7...is-week-heres-a-reminder-of-the-olympic-rules

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Penguins prospects earn AHL, WHL weekly honors

Avery Hayes isn’t the only Penguins prospect who is coming out of a big week.

Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen forward and seventh-round 2025 draft pick, was named the WHL’s Rookie of the Week after racking up six points (four goals, two assists) in four games.

What's up, Dach?

For the second time this season, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and @WHLHitmen forward Kale Dach has been named the @SandmanHotels WHL Rookie of the Week

| https://t.co/tn1d6BsCDe pic.twitter.com/BhFI0f6nE2

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 9, 2026

This is the second time Dach has won the weekly honor. He was also named the WHL’s December Rookie of the Month after scoring 14 points (eight goals, six assists) with three game-winning tallies in nine games.

Shooters shoot!

Kale Dach scores his 27th of the year! pic.twitter.com/TEHD2SwKRI

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) February 8, 2026

Dach’s former teammate Ben Kindel was racking up his own WHL weekly rookie honors during his first season in the league in 2023-24.

Penguins VP of Player Personnel Wes Clark said last June that the original plan for Dach, who was selected with the Pens’ final pick of the 2025 draft, was to have him play alongside Kindel for a season with the Hitmen.

Kindel ended up making the jump to the NHL earlier than expected, but that hasn’t stopped Dach from finding success. He has 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 45 games this WHL season.

Dach, who turns 19 next week, is heading to the NCAA next year after committing to join Penn State.

Up in the AHL, Hayes was named the AHL’s Player of Week five days after scoring two goals in his NHL debut.

Hollywood script-writers could never dream up a week like the one Avery Hayes just had. But the reality is, he's the Howie's Hockey Tape AHL Player of the Week.

Congrats, Avery!!!https://t.co/VLuMK1tdVn pic.twitter.com/zTGY9GN7Vg

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 9, 2026

Hayes earned the honor after following up his historic NHL debut by completing an AHL hat trick in overtime.

AVERY HAYES CAPS OFF THE HAT TRICK IN OVERTIME@WBSPenguins | #WBSvsHER pic.twitter.com/R1i5GBoBZZ

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 8, 2026

The 23-year-old forward was one of the first players the Penguins signed after Kyle Dubas took over in June 2023. He has 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) in 32 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.

The NHL isn’t the only league currently on break. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens action is also paused until Feb. 14 for the AHL All-Star Game. Sergei Murashov and Tristan Broz are representing the Penguins at the event in Rockford, Illinois on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/72805/penguins-prospects-earn-ahl-whl-weekly-honors

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Wilkes Weekly: At the All-Star break

'Pens Rafa?l Harvey-Pinard passes the puck during the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins home opener on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo by Jason Ardan/The Citizens' Voice via Getty Images)

For the second week in a row a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was named the AHL’s player of the week. Avery Hayes claimed the honors this week by producing four goals in two games. Oh, and in between he found the time for a little dalliance in the NHL as well.

A-very good week. @WBSPenguins | @penguins | @hockeytape

: https://t.co/vMuy9UH1Wf pic.twitter.com/6AuX8HedvE

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 9, 2026

Fresh off his two-goal game in the NHL on Thursday, Hayes scored a hat trick against Hershey in a 4-3 OT win that culminated in Hayes scoring that game-winner while breaking his stick.

All in all, not a bad week for Hayes with six goals in three games combining time in Pittsburgh and WBS.

The same could be said for the Pens having a good week, winners of their three games. From Nick Hart at WBSPenguins.com:

Wednesday, Feb. 4 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Hershey 1
Sergei Murashov stonewalled the Bears in the first two periods, leading to a 0-0 score. The Penguins then uncorked four goals in the third period, including Tanner Howe’s first as a pro.

Friday, Feb. 6 – PENGUINS 6 at Lehigh Valley 5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton survived a high-scoring affair down the PA Turnpike thanks to a four-point, hat trick night from d-man Matt Dumba. Ville Koivunen also logged four points (1G-3A). Melvin Fernström made his AHL debut and recorded two assists.

Saturday, Feb. 7 – PENGUINS 4 at Hershey 3 (OT)
Avery Hayes came back from a dream NHL debut to give the Bears nightmares before the All-Star Break. Hayes scored a hat trick, capped off with the overtime winner. The Penguins’ other goal came from 19-year-old Fernström, his first in the AHL.

New faces and fresh blood were key, former second round pick and 20-year old Tanner Howe is back from his ACL rehab to get a belated start to his first pro season. Swedish import Melvin Fernstrom has taken to the AHL for his first taste of North American pro hockey and generated three points over the two games he’s played.

No change in the standings, the Penguins remain in second place in the Atlantic Division. WBS is on a five-game winning streak, which is nice but hardly anything compared to first-place Providence’s current 10-game heater. Both first and second place are pulling away big time at this point from the rest of the pack. Charlotte has four games in hand but are 13 points back of WBS. Fourth place Hershey has the four games in hand but are a whopping 20 back of WBS. Good news for getting a bye as a top-two seed in the division.

As a result of the heavy early schedule, things lighten up for WBS. They only have seven games remaining in February and just 10 scheduled in March (compared to the 17 that will be played by NHL Pittsburgh, though the NHL regular season is 10 games longer).

The AHL is currently celebrating their All-Star festivites, the skills challenge event was last night. Tristan Broz and Sergei Murashov are the Penguin representatives.

The overall AHL All-Star challenge is tonight in Rockford Illinois. The WBS Pens will be back at it this weekend with Saturday and Sunday home contests against Syracuse and Cleveland, respectively.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/wbs-weekly/72793/wilkes-weekly-at-the-all-star-break

 

[Zedster]

Great roundup of news heading into the Olympic break. Really exciting to see Crosby named captain for Team Canada again - feels like 2014 all over again. The man just keeps adding to his legacy and it's hard not to root for him to grab another gold.

I have to say, the three rooting interests laid out in that second article are pretty spot on. Player safety has to come first, especially with guys like Sid, Karlsson, and Rakell representing the Pens over there. Nobody wants to see anyone come back injured for the stretch run.

The Sweden analysis is interesting too. Hadn't really thought about them as a dark horse gold medal contender, but the point about their defensive depth is well taken. Karlsson on the third pairing says a lot about how stacked they are back there.

On the prospect front - Avery Hayes having the week he just had is incredible. Two goals in your NHL debut, then coming back down to the AHL and completing a hat trick in overtime? That's the kind of stuff you can't script. Six goals across three games between the two leagues is just absurd. Really hope he can keep building on that momentum.

Kale Dach quietly putting together a nice season in Calgary too. 58 points in 45 games as a seventh-rounder is solid development. The Penn State pipeline continues.

The WBS Pens sitting in second place with a five-game win streak heading into the All-Star break is encouraging. Depth is going to matter down the stretch for Pittsburgh, and having guys like Hayes, Murashov, and Broz developing well is exactly what you want to see.

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Top 25 Under 25: 2025-26 season update

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing in his first NHL game, is congratulated by Rutger McGroarty #2 after scoring his first goal during a game against the Buffalo Sabres on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Olympic break gives a chance to pause and look at the top prospects within the Penguins’ organization. Here’s a quick refresher based off last summer’s rankings for how things are going for the prospects.

Rank	Player	League	GP	G	A	P
25	Quinn Beauchesne	OHL	40	5	14	19
24	Cruz Lucius	NCHC	30	12	26	38
23	Travis Hayes	OHL	46	12	18	30
22	Brady Peddle	QMJHL	48	3	14	17
21	Finn Harding	AHL	34	1	11	12
20	Sam Poulin	AHL	45	12	18	30
19	Joona Vaisanen	NCHC	7	0	6	6
18	Avery Hayes	AHL	32	16	10	26
17	Tanner Howe	AHL	3	1	1	2
16	Tristan Broz	AHL	38	14	16	30
15	Emil Pieniniemi	ECHL	10	2	2	4
14	Mikhail Ilyin	KHL	54	11	24	35
13	Peyton Kettles	WHL	3	0	1	1
12	Melvin Fernstrom	AHL	2	1	2	3
11	Arturs Silovs	NHL	26	0	2	2
10	Sergei Murashov	AHL	24	0	0	0
9	Philip Tomasino	AHL	28	7	15	22
8	Owen Pickering	AHL	45	5	14	19
7	Joel Blomqvist	AHL	15	0	2	2
6	Bill Zonnon	QMJHL	20	7	18	25
5	Will Horcoff	Big10	28	20	12	32
4	Ben Kindel	NHL	53	14	13	27
3	Harrison Brunicke	WHL	8	2	10	12
2	Ville Koivunen	AHL	20	6	19	25
1	Rutger McGroarty	AHL	10	4	10	14

We’ll break down some of the notable cases going on based off the tiers established previously.

Tier 7: #22 – honorable mentions; Long-term prospects with some upside

The biggest story in this group is the great season that Lucius is off to at Arizona State. The Penguins have a decision coming up to sign him, being as this is his last year of NCAA eligibility. As of now he’s definitely looking like a player that should be brought in on an AHL PTO and eventually signed to a pro contract. Otherwise this list about is what it is for some longer-term prospects, including honorable mention and 2025 fifth round pick Ryan Miller who is playing as well as anyone in this tier (53 points in 49 games for WHL Portland).

Tier 6: #15 – 21; Slightly more developed prospects still a ways away

This has been one of the more interesting tiers, albeit dogged by injuries. Tanner Howe has made an early splash in his debut in the AHL following a lengthy rehab from a torn ACL in 2025. Unfortunately Joona Vaisanen, one of the top players on last year’s Western Michigan NCAA championship team, was lost for the season early on with an injury. Emil Pieniniemi balked at going to the ECHL, eventually relented and got his season off to a delayed start (with a few AHL callups along the way). Broz and Hayes have been chugging along as some of the team’s best AHL players but still looking for traction at making the leap to the NHL. Hayes with two goals in an almost accidental one-game cameo (that only happened due to an illness, a childbirth and an injury) will put him on the radar for more as it opens.

Tier 5: #12 – 14; Intrigue, but patience required

Patience was required and patience will be tested here. Kettles, a 2025 second round pick, was lost early in the season with a shoulder injury, in what could be a tough obstacle to overcome for a young player and career. Fernstrom struggled in Sweden, getting demoted a league before the Penguins decided they wanted him to work in the minor leagues. To his credit, he’s made the most of the chance with a strong opening impression. Ilyin remains a very productive player in Russia. The picture, overall, in this tier is remains muddled, but still with some hope and promise.

Tier 4: #9 -11; The wildcards

Wildcards indeed. Tomasino quickly went bust, surprising since he had a few very nice moments in Pittsburgh last season before falling out of grace quickly and getting moved on (the Flyers have yet to recall him to the NHL after the trade). Other wildcards have been more promising, Silovs’s play has been a bit all over the map — sometimes it’s worth remembering he technically is an NHL rookie. At time he’s been pretty good for the Penguins, at other times it’s been a struggle. Overall for a first time goalie, he’s having a pretty nice year. The other player in this tier, Sergei Murashov, didn’t have as many skill or pressing age-related questions, and still looks like he’s handling every challenge thrown his way. The future remains bright and promising there.

Tier 3: #7-8; Older, near ready players

Pickering, as a draft+4 first round pick, hasn’t managed a call-up to the NHL this season putting him at risk of going into troubling territory historically for this stage of his career. Blomqvist was unfortunately hurt when Pittsburgh needed an NHL replacement the most earlier in the season but has been strong in the AHL again (8-4-3 record, .916 save%, 2.43 GAA). It can be strange to think of either as ‘older’ as far as anything but for NHL prospect time the clock is starting to tick loudly in both of these cases.

Tier 2: #4-6; Recent first round picks

What a haul the first round the 2025 draft is turning out to be for the Penguins. Zonnon came back from a pair of injuries to recently look like one of the top forwards in the QMJHL, Horcoff exploded to become one of the NCAA’s top goal scorers and Kindel is off to a history-making season for a player to produce in the NHL despite not even being a top-10 pick. There’s still a lot of time to go in all of these cases, so far the Penguins must be thrilled at the talent they’ve gotten out of that draft.

Tier 1: #1 -3; Cream of the crop

Progress not being a straight line is a lesson in all of these cases. Brunicke, especially, had to endure some bumps along the way – but joins a select club of teenaged NHL defensemen. Kouvinen has been unable to gain a lot of traction in the NHL this season but continues to be one of the top players at the AHL level and inspire some hope, though his 0.38 P/60 and skating deficiencies have taken a lot of the wind out of the sails for a possible long-term future. McGroarty has been in and out with injuries and up and down between the NHL and AHL. His NHL boxcars (2G+3A in 20 games, 1.14 P/60) suggest a less impressive impact than he’s been able to make at times with his energy and ability to get to the net.

There could be some questions for all at this midway point between the 2025 T25U25 and 2026 list about the ceilings for all — could Brunicke now come into focus as a more likely a 4/5 defender instead of a 2 or 3? Maybe McGroarty is more bottom-six than mid-six and Koivunen’s end point a lot more variable and troubling in terms of improvements needed to become an NHL regular. The good news is the talent involved makes the targets fluid and potentially prone to positive progressions in the near future with stronger second halves to the season than to this point.

—

Overall on this list, Kindel would rise with his showing this season. Impressive doesn’t sound like a strong word, but at this point I’m not sure there is one. There’s good reason to be excited about the futures of Murashov and Hayes, the latter in a smaller role but both getting close to making good on NHL futures. Silovs has become an NHL caliber goalie. Down range, Zonnon, Horcoff, Brunicke and Lucius have done well in their respective leagues and unfortunately injury concerns have popped up for others like Kettles and Vaisanen. The next few months will potentially be big proving grounds for players like McGroarty, Koivunen, Broz, Hayes, Pickering and Blomqvist to pick up momentum heading into next year — all of those players getting into a range where you’d really like to see progress sooner than later given their age and the typical developmental curves.

The best news of all is the team’s system is improving and only getting better. Egor Chinakhov (who turned 25 earlier this month) will not be T25U25 eligible but is still adding youth, speed and skill to the NHL team. The Penguins, as of the moment anyways, still possess three of the first 57 and five of the top 89 picks in the draft and figure to add even more talent by the time the 2026 Pensburgh list comes out over the summer. The 2025 list was incredibly young (only Silovs will age out, though Tomasino and Sam Poulin have departed the organization), making this list something of a starting point and base for the years that follow to build upon.

The movement that the team has underwent in the past two years to stock the system and organization with the next wave of talent is just starting and figures to have the opportunity to swell the talent pool much further in the coming months and years.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/pittsburgh-penguins-prospe/72781/top-25-under-25-2025-26-season-update

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Pens Points: Canada, USA set to get started

LIVIGNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 10: A drone is seen flying near the Olympic Rings during the Men's Moguls Qualification 1 on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Air Park on February 10, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Wednesday, the Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament began at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan with Slovakia and Sweden opening Group B play with victories. Action will ramp up even further today with four games on the schedule, including Sidney Crosby leading Team Canada against Czechia in Group A while the Americans open Group C play by taking on Arturs Silvos and Latvia.

In other games set for Thursday, Switzerland takes on France in Group A and Denmark does battle with Germany in Group C.

Puck drop for Canada is set for 10:40 AM EST and can be seen on USA or Peacock. For the United States, puck drop is scheduled for 3:10 PM EST, airing on USA or Peacock as well.

Pens Points…​

There is plenty of Penguins representation at the Olympics, with Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson, and Arturs Silovs all taking part. Even on the women’s side, there are four Penguins’ Elite alumni representing the United States in Milan. [Penguins]

Already a decorated Olympian himself, Erik Karlsson returns to the Olympics with a silver medal on his resume from the Sochi Games in 2014. Now an elder statesman of the bunch, Karlsson is relishing the opportunity to once again represent his country on the Olympic stage. [Penguins]

Between making his NHL debut and his play in the AHL, Avery Hayes is on a heater at the moment and gets the nod for AHL Player of the Week. Taking after Hayes, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are hot as a team, winning five straight with their sights set on a playoff bye. [Pensburgh]

Every summer, we go through the evaluate the Penguins top 25 players under the age of 25 years old. With the team on hiatus for the Olympics, now seems like a good time to check in on our list of prospects from this past summer and see how their seasons are going thus far. [Pensburgh]

In his NHL debut last week against the Buffalo Sabres, Avery Hayes played a starring role with a pair of goals to help jumpstart the Penguins to victory. As a bonus, Hayes was wearing a microphone for the game and the Penguins digital team caught some good sound bites from the rookie. [Penguins]

After years of disappointing bottom six play, this season’s Penguins team has been blessed with routinely great play coming out of the third and fourth lines. Most notably, the current fourth line has been a buzzsaw against opponents, regularly closing down games when asked. [PPG]

NHL News and Notes…​

In the first Olympic hockey game featuring NHL players since 2014, Slovakia pulled off a massive upset with a 4-1 victory over Finland. Juraj Slafkovsky, who participated four years ago before being drafted, recorded two goals and an assists to give his country a massive leg up in Group B. [NHL]

It was always going to be an uphill battle for hosts Italy in this tournament and starting off against medal favorites Sweden was a tough draw, but the home side battled away and put a scare into the Swedes before ultimately falling 5-2 in their Olympic opener. [NHL]

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/news/72871/pens-points-canada-usa-set-to-get-started

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Milan Olympics: Penguin players at the start

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Erik Karlsson #65 of Team Sweden skates in the second period during the Men's Preliminary Group B match between Sweden and Italy on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The wheels are starting to get in motion for the Penguin players who are over in Italy. Here’s our check-in.

Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell each recorded an assist in Sweden’s 5-2 win over the host nation Italy yesterday. The game was closer than many thought, with Italy scoring first and later making it a 2-2 game until the Swedes finally pulled away near the end of the second period. The David vs. Goliath type battle was one where the Italians were hanging on, despite being badly outmatched to the tune of the 60-22 shot differential reflecting the team quality differential of Sweden (all NHL players, many of All-Star caliber) and Italy (zero NHL players). The Swedes have a big game coming up tomorrow against their biggest rival Finland.

Karlsson was named an alternate captain for the Swedes, he’s been skating on a third pair with Philip Broberg and playing on their top power play. Rakell is playing as a mid-line winger with Elias Pettersson and Mika Zibanejad.

Karlsson getting a point continues his tradition of production at Olympic events.

Though he notched just a lone assist in a 5-2 #TeamSweden victory over Italy earlier today at the #MilanoCortinaOlympics2026 Games, Erik Karlsson now owns 9 in his first 7 career Olympic outings. It now has him ranking in a tie for 3rd on this national list of productive players pic.twitter.com/zTwWheEeBp

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 11, 2026

The other two Pens Olympians get going today with their first action. Sidney Crosby is back to captain Team Canada again and spent this week centering Mark Stone and Mitch Marner while working on the top power play. Canada takes on the Czechs at 10:40am eastern. It’s been fun and games so far for the Canadian star players to take in some of the Olympic atmosphere, they’ll now flip the switch and look to get down to business.

Brad Marchand demonstrating the wave to Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon before the entire Team Canada joins in on the fun pic.twitter.com/Tk0qAgBaVf

— Dude Where's Makar (@joelthesakic) February 11, 2026

A couple of nice Crosby retrospectives have come out from the Canadian media in the past day or so. Nothing too revolutionary, just more examples of a classy human going about his business and going out of his way to do good things where he can. Certainly worth your time with the perspectives of some of Crosby’s peers.

As he prepares to captain Canada in another Olympics, @SachdevaSonny brings us the story of how Sidney Crosby evolved into one of the great leaders in hockey history, as told by the teammates he had along the way. https://t.co/d5XXsdtsqB

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 11, 2026

Sidney Crosby is a hockey legend. His peers say he's much more than that https://t.co/ISOF07pfQ6 pic.twitter.com/VbvZRnNhq6

— Province Sports (@provincesports) February 10, 2026

Latvia takes on the USA in the other game today at 3:00pm eastern, though it appears that Pittsburgh goalie Arturs Silovs will not be starting in net for the Latvians today. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins has prepared like the started for this game, the Latvians play on Saturday and Sunday coming up where Silovs is expected to get playing time eventually as the tournament rolls on. Team USA will feature former Penguin Jake Guentzel on a featured line with Auston Matthews, while western PA natives Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller have rotated in practices on a fourth line. The team is led by former Pens coach Mike Sullivan and a former assistant GM, Bill Guerin.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/news/72868/milan-olympics-penguin-players-at-the-start

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Looking at potential defense additions for Pittsburgh Penguins

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 15: Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights shoots the puck during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena on January 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

When the Pittsburgh Penguins return from the 2026 Olympic break, they will have five games before the 2025-26 NHL Trade Deadline. Given where they are in the standings, and the way they have played for the better part of the past two months, the Penguins seem to have positioned themselves as potential buyers, or at the very least, some sort of hybrid buy-sell team like they were a year ago.

While the idea of somebody like Jason Robertson or Robert Thomas is fun to think about and dream on, those are probably more offseason-type moves than in-season deadline deals. Especially as it relates to Robertson given the Dallas Stars current status as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

The Penguins also already have a lot of depth at forward this season and probably have more good players than they can play at the moment. Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes and even Ville Koivunen are worthy of NHL playing time right now, but there just simply is not room for them.

The defense is where the Penguins might be in a position to make a small addition. Not only due to the injury to Kris Letang, as well as the fact Erik Karlsson is playing in the Olympics and is not getting any tine to rest, but just because they could use a little more quality depth at the position in both the short-term and the long-term.

Based on everything Kyle Dubas has said this season, and based on everything he has done over the past year-and-a-half, I would not anticipate them being in the market for older players that are obviously rentals.

But what about a younger player on an expiring contract that could potentially be re-signed?

The ideal situation would be finding a young defenseman with team-control remaining beyond this season, but that sort of thing is probably easier said than done.

So let’s take a look at a couple of options that could be available and might fit what the Penguins are looking for.

Simon Benoit, Toronto Maple Leafs​

Benoit is intriguing because he is still only 27 years old and is signed through the end of next season at an extremely manageable salary cap number of just $1.35 million per season. He is not going to do a lot to generate offense, but he has been a very solid defensive player this season and would bring some of the size and physical play that Dubas has tried to inject into the lineup this year.

He’s a bottom-pairing player, but he is cheap, you get two potential playoff runs with him and you know you’re going to get an honest effort and a player that’s not afraid to get in front of a shot.

He has been given exceptionally one-sided defensive assignments (only 26 percent offensive zone starts) with the Maple Leafs allowing just 2.58 expected goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play and only 2.32 actual goals per 60 minutes when he is on the ice. Both numbers are tops among Maple Leafs defensemen.

I could see there being interest, especially after the Penguins made a similar trade with Toronto at last year’s deadline to get Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins. That one worked out well.

Zach Whitecloud, Calgary Flames​

Whitecloud has been a solid, if unspectacular player for a few years now in Vegas, and recently found himself as part of the Rasmus Andersson trade that sent him to Calgary. Given the state of the Flames season and their ongoing rebuild, there is no doubt he could potentially be on the trade block again over the next few weeks. He is 29, signed for more full seasons after this at $2.75 million per season, and could be a potential depth upgrade both this season and beyond.

Again, you are not going to get much offense out of him, but he is a solid enough defensive player that can help keep the puck out of your net. The contract is going to increase the return in terms of assets, so it might come down to a matter of how much you are willing to pay this year and how much you like Whitecloud.

Mario Ferraro, San Jose Sharks​

The problem with Ferraro as a potential option is that he is an unrestricted free agent after this season and would likely be a rental. But he fits into the age range the Penguins might be interested in (27) and could be a potential extension candidate.

Ferraro has been stuck on a bad San Jose team for years and has typically outperformed his teammates when it comes to suppressing chances and goals. He probably has more offensive upside than a player like Benoit, but might cost more in terms of assets and be at risk of just simply being a few month rental. That might not be their preferred path.

Logan Stanley, Winnipeg Jets​

Stanley is a massive physical presence at 6-foot-7 and over 230 pounds, but has never really fully established himself as a quality or consistent NHL Player until this season.

It has been a perfectly timed breakout as well, given the fact he is in a contract year and due for a raise after this season as a pending unrestricted free agent. I don’t know that I am willing to risk paying what he is going to get on the open market this summer, and I suspect he might come with a fairly high asking price from Winnipeg, but he is a potential defense option that should be available.

Braden Schneider, New York Rangers​

I am going to include Schneider because he kind of fits the mold of what the Penguins might be looking for in a player — and the type of player they have looked to acquire at other positions — and will almost certainly be available.

I am just not sure I actually want him.

Or how much I would want him.

Or what I would even be willing to give up for him.

He is still only 24 years old, but is a restricted free agent after this season and would need some sort of a commitment contractually.

Maybe if you acquire him you give him a look the rest of the season, and if you don’t like what you see you just do not qualifying him an offer and let him go.

He has size and talent, but none of it has been put together at the NHL level and he seems to have taken a step backwards this season. Maybe a fresh start helps? He would not be high on my priority list.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/analysis/...ial-defense-additions-for-pittsburgh-penguins

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

23 Years Ago This Week: A dark chapter in Penguin history

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 14: Hockey: New York Rangers Alexei Kovalev (27) in action vs Pittsburgh Penguins Joel Bouchard (39), New York, NY 2/14/2003 (Photo by Lou Capozzola/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X67754 TK1 R3 F22)

Memories like these pop up and serve as a reminder of how drastically different things were for the Pittsburgh Penguins, although now way in the past.

On this day in 2003, the Rangers acquired Alexei Kovalev, Dan LaCouture, Janne Laukkanen and Mike Wilson from the Penguins in exchange for Rico Fata, Mikael Samuelsson, Joel Bouchard, Richard Lintner, and future considerations #Hockey365 #NYR pic.twitter.com/KDiRr9xkOd

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) February 10, 2026

In some ways, this moment might have been – if not rock bottom – than certainly a ‘it always gets darkest before the dawn’ for the Penguins. Kovalev was sent off for most importantly what was termed “future considerations”, which meant $3.9 million dollars in cash. That was the biggest amount the NHL would allow to change hands on a trade in a season where the Penguins were expecting to lose money that year, making their already tenuous financial situation that much worse. The Pens also threw in relatively expensive veterans Laukkanen and Wilson to drop even more salary while picking up a hodgepodge of players back from the Rangers without receiving any of their best prospects.

It was an act of survival and desperation in a hockey landscape where the end result of a healthy Penguin franchise was far from a given. At this point there was no Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin (or even Marc-Andre Fleury), there was just the grim financial reality of trying to scrape by and live to see another day. There was no reason to hope things would improve in the future, after all how could a team losing money purge their best players and expect to ever get better while worsening the product and team? That was a vicious cycle started with the Jaromir Jagr trade of 2001 as the team went into a downturn on and off the ice that troubled their very ability to remain competitive.

Of course by now, the sale of Kovalev is water long under the bridge. It took just five years from this point in 2003 to where the Penguins acquired Marian Hossa in 2008 as a sort of a full circle moment where the small time operation had been transformed into something completely different. In retrospect, it’s amazing just how quickly that took place.

A lot happened to get there: a new CBA tied revenue to team player payroll, there was an agreement with the state for a new arena to be built that would allow the team to grow, the draft broke extremely friendly to add players like Fleury, Crosby and Malkin to inject new life and talent get to the point where the shoe was on the other foot. The Penguins were now the fully functional NHL franchise, spending to the maximum limits, a position they would remain financially accessible to be at to this day. There were no more budgetary constraints, the team never had to imagine trading away a prime aged Crosby or Malkin due to salary concerns or even bigger questions about the viability of their team.

And, of course, eight years after they shipped him away, in 2011 Pittsburgh would re-acquire Kovalev as a rental of their own for a playoff run in the ultimate full circle moment. What he came back to by then was different in every way besides the jersey colors and Mario Lemieux from when Kovalev left.

That bright future felt like an extremely unlikely scenario back in 2003, when the Pens were in the NHL in name but hardly as a true franchise capable to operate.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/72875/23-years-ago-this-week-a-dark-chapter-in-penguin-history

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

This day in Penguins history: The 2009 run begins in earnest

TORONTO - FEBRUARY 14: Jason Blake #55 of the Toronto Maple Leafs scores on Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during game action February 14, 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Penguins status as a rising contender was in serious jeopardy on this day 17 years ago in 2009. What looked like a team on the rise — the 2008 squad made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final — was now mired in a rut. Pittsburgh was in 10th place in the conference, five points back of the playoff line. Time was growing short with only 25 games left in the season, continued success and solidifying their place as one of the NHL’s top teams was suddenly in very shaky ground.

February 14th was the date that ended up turning the season around, a clear early starting point to put the Pens on track to make the playoffs and eventually win the franchise’s third Stanley Cup just a few months later. However, like so many changes, it took going through pain and difficulties to make it to the other side.

Take that game on 2/14/09, against a not-exactly-stacked 11th place Toronto team. The Maple Leafs would outshoot the Pens 41-27 and score six-straight goals to take a 6-2 victory that only further mired the Penguins in their malaise. Not even Pittsburgh-native Bill Thomas scoring his second and final goal for the Pens to give them a 2-0 lead ended up being enough as the game spiraled out of control in the third period that saw them go from leading 2-1 to trailing 3-2 in a span of 19 seconds via two Jason Blake goals. Then it only got uglier from there. Via Hockey-Reference:

How did a loss spur a team onto greatness? The answer comes from the details.

Sergei Gonchar made his season debut on this night, coming back from a shoulder injury suffered in preseason. The absence of Gonchar proved to be a major limiting factor in the first two-thirds of the season. His presence as a top defender and power play wizard coming back into the lineup would serve as an important add. Ruslan Fedotenko also rejoined the lineup after missing a month with a hand injury. Fedotenko’s experience and steady play also signified an important return to health that the team would need in the period to come.

And while the team added those two elements, they would drop another after this game. Ray Shero decided to pull the trigger on a coaching change and relieve Michel Therrien of his duties the following morning. In Therrien’s place, a coaching newbie, Dan Bylsma, earned a promotion from his role as the Wilkes-Barre head coach up to the big time. Byslma’s refreshing outlook coming out of the often sour Therrien days provided wind in the team’s sails that would help them along.

Bylsma (and Gonchar…plus later trade addition Bill Guerin) would help spur the Penguins onto a 18-3-4 finish over the rest of the regular season. Pittsburgh would rocket all the way up to fourth place in the conference and draw rival Philadelphia in the first round, a rematch of the prior season’s Eastern Conference Final.

That all had to start somewhere, and the Toronto edition of a “Valentine’s Day massacre” ended up being the catalyst for the changes needed to get back to the top.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/72920/this-day-in-penguins-history-the-2009-run-begins-in-earnest

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Sidney Crosby records sixth career Olympic goal against Switzerland

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 13: Connor McDavid #97 of Canada celebrates his goal with Nathan MacKinnon #29 and Sidney Crosby #87 during the Men's Preliminary Group A match between Canada and Switzerland on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 13, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sidney Crosby has scored an Olympic goal for the first time in 12 years.

Crosby scored on Friday in the third period of Team Canada’s 5-1 preliminary round win over Switzerland in Milan.

Simply the best. pic.twitter.com/DFVO9lHn4n

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 13, 2026

The tally helped Canada improve to 2-0 following Thursday’s 5-0 win over Czechia. Next up is a game against France this Sunday at 10:40 a.m. ET.

Friday’s goal marked the sixth goal and 13th point in 15 games of Crosby’s Olympic career.

Crosby recorded four goals and three assists in seven games of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, including his overtime golden goal against Team USA.

He added one goal and two assists, with his lone tally coming in a 5-0 bronze medal game shutout of Finland, through six games of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Crosby has now recorded three points in two games of the 2026 Milan Olympics thanks to a pair of helpers against Czechia and his goal against Switzerland.

The captain is so far the only Penguins player to record a goal this tournament. Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell have each contributed an assist during Sweden’s 1-1 start to the tournament. They dropped the puck against Slovakia this morning at 6:10 a.m. ET.

Arturs Silovs made his Olympic debut in relief for Elvis Merzlikins during Latvia’s 5-1 loss to the United States on Thursday. He made five saves on six shots against a stacked Team USA. He and Latvia 2343 also back in action early this morning with a 6:10 a.m. ET matchup against Germany.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/7...sixth-career-olympic-goal-against-switzerland

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

An Olympic Arty Party

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Arturs Silovs #31 of Team Latvia shakes hands with Lukas Reichel #73 of Team Germany after the Men's Preliminary Group C match between Germany and Latvia on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Some hockey topics to munch on for an Olympic Sunday.

Arturs Silovs made 26 saves against the Germans yesterday, helped Latvia to their first Olympic win in 12 years. [NHL.com]

Erik Karlsson notched two assists in Sweden’s win over Slovakia — but Sweden didn’t win by enough (5-3) and saw Slovakia celebrate winning the group due to total goal differential. Much more on this below. [NHL.com]

Jake Guentzel scored a goal in Team USA’s 6-3 win over Denmark as his partnership with Auston Matthews starts to take off. [ESPN]

Teams are allowed to dress two extra players for games in the Olympics, how they’re used tends to vary. [Sportsnet]

Here’s the outlook entering today sets the stakes for an important day:

USA beats Denmark 6-3, outshooting Danes 47-21. So, heading into final round-robin day:

Top four get bye into quarterfinals. Pool Winners get first three spots

Canada (6 points, +9 goal differential, vs France)
USA (6 points, +7, vs Germany)
Slovakia likely third (6 points, +2,…

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 14, 2026

The US and Canada are in good shape to cinch up their byes into the quarter finals. Goal differential will be worth watching, the Americans are two behind (and have a tougher-on-paper opponent today), seemingly setup for a tougher road to travel. In the event of a tie in points, the top seed will go to the best goal differential in the event. That could be significant, being as the Olympics use a bracket and will not re-seed and Sweden is now locked into the seventh spot, lining up to play the No. 2 team in the quarters. Thus, as James Mirtle spells out:

The No. 1 team will face the winner of a game featuring some combination of Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic. And the No. 2 team will get the winner of Sweden versus Latvia or Denmark

Slovakia’s group win to bump them over Sweden upsets the apple cart and has created a bit of chaos. Many were of the belief that the US, Canada and Sweden were the top-three teams in the tournament (in varying order). The way things have setup from the early results it sure looks like two of these teams will be playing each other in the quarterfinals in the single-elimination event that will send one high-powered club home and open up the podium for a surprising team to make an appearance.

That makes today huge for the Americans and Canadians in a bigger way than just the actual games they’ll be playing. Canada plays first (10:40am eastern time) and the US goes at 3:10. The Americans will know what they need to win by and have huge incentive to try and pass their northern neighbors on goal differential in order to get a better seed and path in the knockout round. That will also put pressure on the Canadians to put up a big enough win today on their own to the point that the US can’t match/surpass.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/72944/an-olympic-arty-party

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

Sidney Crosby sets Team Canada Olympic scoring record

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 13: Sidney Crosby #87 of Team Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the third period during the Men's Preliminary Group A match between Canada and Switzerland on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 13, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sidney Crosby recorded a goal and two assists in Canada’s first two periods against France on Sunday. The latter two points tied and then surpassed Jarome Iginla for most points by a Canadian player in the NHL era (1998-on).

Another milestone unlocked for the

Crosby's 15th career #WinterOlympics point passes Jarome Iginla for the most by a Team Canada player in Olympics featuring NHL players. pic.twitter.com/6TIGof5y5f

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 15, 2026

The stay at the top might be a short one – Connor McDavid was already up to eight points in his first eight Olympic periods prior to the start of the third against France, already enough to tie the Canadian record for most points in the Olympics (8).

Overall, it’s been all systems go for the Canadians in the group stage against lesser opponents with Crosby looking as sharp and effective as ever by producing six points in the tournament without being on the ice for a goal against. Canada has only given up two goals in the first eight periods.

With a period remaining against France, Sidney Crosby already has six points (2-4-6) in three games in the tournament, including at least one point in every game. He hasn’t been on the ice for a goal against.
As you’d expect.
At 38, still one of Canada’s most important players.

— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) February 15, 2026

Crosby and Canada keep chugging along towards a bye in the play-in round and will play again on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/general/72953/sidney-crosby-sets-team-canada-olympic-scoring-record

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

2026 Olympics: On Sidney Crosby ‘passing the torch’ to Connor McDavid

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 12: Captain, Sidney Crosby #87 of Team Canada react with Connor McDavid #97 during the Men's Ice Hockey - Group A match between Team Czech Republic and Team Canada on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 12, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hold the Claude Giroux jokes, we might finally be seeing a real passing of the torch at the 2026 Olympics.

Olympics.com: “How Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby is passing the torch to Connor McDavid at Winter Olympics 2026”

The evidence focused on symbolism, when Connor McDavid was the last player in line to take the ice.

Yet beyond the numbers and the scoreline, there was symbolism. Crosby allowed McDavid to step onto the ice last, a subtle gesture that felt like a passing of the torch from one generation to the next.

Fans of the Penguins will know this is nothing new, Evgeni Malkin famously used “three years Super league” to pull rank and be last in line ever since his NHL debut, so in some veins the superstitious Crosby has no qualms about positioning of heading to the rink.

On the ice it was there too in a bigger way. McDavid created 14 chance contributions against the Czechs more than double of anyone else out there. Crosby was way down the list with two.

Forward Scoring Chance Contributions

McDavid leads the way with 14 chance contributions, a tournament high so far and more than all Czechs combined.

Pastrnak held to one chance, Czechs in general were mostly limited to rebounds and rushes.

Data from @DimFilipovic pic.twitter.com/ZXmvkxliBW

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 12, 2026

Of course, the torch may have been actually passed a long time ago as far as which player ascended to the higher level. McDavid already owns far more individual trophies (5 Art Ross scoring titles, 3 Hart MVPs) than Crosby (2 Art Ross’s and Hart’s). It’s just that it’s more dramatic on ice and in symbolism seeing the 29-year old McDavid take the lead as Team Canada’s dominant player for the first time at the Olympics, the position Crosby held down in the 2010’s.

The magic comes when the two are together on the power play. Combined with fellow all-world player Nathan MacKinnon, Canada’s power play down low is absolutely frightening with the amount of talent they push near the net.

The puck movement and and rotation between Crosby, McDavid and MacKinnon on the man advantage…

Canadian hockey fans waited way too long to witness this greatness on the Olympic stage.

(Via: @CBCOlympics) https://t.co/iGYwzpEzeo pic.twitter.com/X26N8cTuzJ

— Grady Sas (@GradySas) February 12, 2026

Crosby, 38, has not declared this will be his final Olympics, though the question about a potentially 42-year old playing in 2029-30 and being able to perform at the level of the mighty Canadian Olympic team area answers itself.

The good news for all is that the Milan games might not be the final international ‘best on best’ even for Crosby. Relations are good between the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF these days and a post-Olympics announcement is expected with details on a 2028 World Cup of Hockey.

At this point with the games underway, Canada faces off against Switzerland this afternoon, it doesn’t really matter who the symbolic best player is or where the offense is coming from. Crosby chipped in two assists in the first game and is still a key figure in aura and literally for the Canadians. There of course is no actual physical torch out there that the game’s best carries, just a figurative one. For now, all Crosby and McDavid are looking for is a gold medal and the team glory that comes with it.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/news/7291...ey-crosby-passing-the-torch-to-connor-mcdavid

 

[Pittsburgh Penguins]

The week ahead: Big week for Penguins players at the Olympics

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Erik Karlsson #65 of Team Sweden chases the puck in the third period during the Men's Preliminary Group B match between Sweden and Italy on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The men’s Olympic hockey tournament continues — and concludes — this week with the knockout phase and medal rounds starting on Tuesday.

So far, it has been a pretty good tournament for the Pittsburgh Penguins representatives, and there is a good chance that at least one of them returns with some sort of a medal.

Their progress so far….

• Penguins Captain (and also Team Canada captain) Sidney Crosby has continued to play at a dominant level, even at age 38, and already has six points through the first three games of the tournament. That includes a pair of goals as Canada cruised through the group stage, outscoring their opponents by a 20-3 margin, and right into the quarterfinal. Crosby is tied for the second-leading scorer in the tournament.
• Team Sweden was probably one of the bigger disappointments of the group stage, finishing in third place behind Slovakia and Finland. Defenseman Erik Karlsson has three assists and nine shots on goal through the first three games, while forward Rickard Rakell has an assist and eight shots on goal. It’s not that Sweden has been BAD, they still won two of their three group stage games, but the loss to Finland was decisive and allowing a late goal to Slovakia, thanks in part to a bad penalty and a bad goal against, to lose the tiebreaker in the group was a tough result.
• Goalie Arturs Silovs took over the net for Latvia after a tough start for Elvis Merzlikins, and then led his country to a win with a big performance against Germany. He struggled early in their next game against Denmark, but finished strong to at least keep them in it.

So what is ahead for all of them this week?

It is a waiting game for Crosby and Canada as they will play the winner of Tuesday’s Czechia-Denmark game in the quarterfinals. They will be heavy favorites no matter which team it is, and it should be another emphatic win no matter who they face. Canada already beat Czechia 5-0 in the group stage, while Denmark doesn’t really have much high-level NHL talent that is going to be able to hang with what is basically an All-Star team. Canada has looked like the best team in the field so far — not really a surprise — and should not see any sort of a serious test until the medal round.

Crosby, meanwhile, is just three wins away from winning his third Olympic gold medal and adding another major accomplishment to his resume. If he gets it, he will be the first player to ever win three Stanley Cups and three Olympic gold medals.

He will also be a big part of it. Not that it is a surprise given what we are still seeing from him with the Penguins, but he remains one of Canada’s best players and one of the best players in the world. He is defying aging curves.

As for the Karlsson, Rakell and Silovs trio, they are going head-to-head on Tuesday for the chance to play the United States later in the week.

It remains to be seen if Silovs will get the start, but he has pretty much held the Latvian net since the opening period of the first game. It has been a mixed bag of results for him, and Sweden would be his toughest test yet as a starter in this tournament. If he helps pull off an upset there he would be a Latvian hockey legend.

It is still surprising that Sweden is even in this position where it needs to play in the opening playoff round. They were the team I was leaning toward gold with when the tournament began. They SHOULD beat Latvia, and assuming they do, that sets up a monster quarterfinal matchup between Sweden and the United States.

That is also a potential nightmare quarterfinal matchup for both teams because it means one of the top-three gold medal favorites from the start of the tournament is going to leave Italy without even having the chance to play for a medal. It would be a massive failure for either one of them. That is a good way to add some extra intrigue to a quarterfinal game.

The sub-plot to that game, as if it needed one, would be the Erik Karlsson revenge game against Mike Sullivan.

Even though Karlsson has not really said anything directly about Sullivan, it is pretty clear the two did not see eye-to-eye on things. It is not hard to read between the lines on some of Karlsson’s comments this season (and even going back to the 2024-25 season when Sullivan was still in Pittsburgh) and see how much better he has played away from Sullivan to realize it was just a bad fit for everybody.

Will Karlsson get his revenge?

Will Crosby get his next gold by going through either his former coach (Sullivan) or current teammates (Karlsson or Rakell)?

Will the United States win its first Olympic gold medal since 1980?

The next week will be fun to watch no matter the results.

Source: https://www.pensburgh.com/analysis/...big-week-for-penguins-players-at-the-olympics