The Pittsburgh Penguins wasted no time showing why Kyle Dubas’ offseason approach is drawing early praise.
After a summer built around young, affordable bets, the Penguins opened the 2025-26 season with a statement: a 7-0 rout of the rival Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Nick Robertson scored twice in his debut season with Pittsburgh, Ville Koivunen added a goal, and center Hendrix Lapierre chipped in with two points.
Dubas’ plan was never just about patching holes. It was about keeping the Penguins competitive now while trying to build some kind of future around a roster that still includes Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. On Thursday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton pointed to that balancing act as the real story behind Pittsburgh’s strong start.
Yaremchuk praised the way Dubas has kept taking swings on younger players who needed a new setting. He cited Robertson, the 25-year-old forward acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs and signed to a two-year contract, as well as Lapierre, a former first-round pick brought in from the Washington Capitals. He also brought up Filip Hallander and the idea that these moves are built on trust in the pro scouting department.
“You take some risks.”
Hutton saw the same logic at work in the Penguins’ lineup construction, especially with young players on controllable numbers. He pointed to the third line as a spot where the value could really show up if Lapierre keeps producing.
“That third line is a $6 million line. I think if you look at any other competitive teams, there’s not that kind of money spread throughout the lineup.”
For Hutton, the key is simple: give the right players the right chance, and production can follow. He said Robertson has often been stuck in a crowded Toronto setup where it was difficult to crack the top six, while Pittsburgh offers him a clearer runway.
“It’s opportunity, it’s timing, it’s putting guys in the right situation. … If you’re Nick Robertson, you’re kind of a top six guy.
He’s always been in that Toronto lineup where it was really hard to be a top-six guy with the depth they have. Now, he’s in a situation where at his number where he’s at, he can produce, and I think that’s why Dubas needs a lot of credit here.”
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