One Burning Question for the Pittsburgh Penguins Offseason
The 2025-26 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins was widely expected to be a transitional period.
Before the season, Vegas odds had the Penguins with a projected over/under point total of 76.5, which was the lowest of any team in the Eastern Conference.
As it turned out, however, Pittsburgh was one of the biggest surprise stories in the league, finishing with 98 points, and clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2022.
Unfortunately, the fun ride ended in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with the Penguins losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. A lackluster power play was the biggest culprit, for the series loss; going just 3-for-15 on the man advantage.
It was announced on Friday that Dan Muse was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award. The 43-year-old Muse became the youngest rookie head coach to guide the Pens to the playoffs.
Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager, Kyle Dubas, is a strong candidate for NHL Executive of the Year, and in my opinion, should be the favorite.
Dubas made a plethora of solid moves for this season, including a two-year deal for Parker Wotherspoon, signing Anthony Mantha on the cheap, drafting Ben Kindel, trading for Arturs Silovs, Egor Chinahkov and Elmer Söderblom, and perhaps his most shrewd move - acquiring Stuart Skinner from the Edmonton Oilers, while getting out of the Tristan Jarry contract.
As the Penguins get ready to prepare for the offseason, there is one burning question to ask. What will be their level of aggressiveness?
Despite a favorable cap last offseason, Dubas chose to make conservative moves, which certainly made sense, since Pittsburgh wasn’t suppose to compete. But given the unexpected playoff run, it could lead to a more active offseason, with plenty of cap space.
Because Silovs was in net, for the remainder of the playoffs, and how high they are on Sergei Murashov, it’s very likely the organization decides to let Skinner walk in free agency.
Of course the biggest item is in regards to Evgeni Malkin. The future Hall of Famer enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. While Malkin has expressed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh, he’s also been transparent about the opportunity to play elsewhere, if he’s not re-signed.
As it pertains to trades, will Dubas look to move some draft capital to add key veteran pieces, or does that involve players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell being on the trade block, to obtain prospects and/or draft picks?
My gut feeling is that the Penguins choose to be semi-aggressive this offseason, but will that consist of mostly buying or selling?