The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for their development camp at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, kicking off Monday. While the excitement is palpable, the team will have to navigate the camp with a few bumps and bruises, as three of their forwards-Will Horcoff, Mac Swanson, and Melvin Fernstrom-are attending but marked as injured.
The camp is set to host a mix of fresh faces and familiar names. Five out of the six 2026 draft picks-Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck, Pierce Mbuyi, Tomas Galvas, and Parker Von Richter-are ready to hit the ice. However, the fifth-round pick, goaltender Matvei Nikonovich, will be sitting this one out.
In addition to their draft picks, the Penguins have cast a wide net, inviting a slew of undrafted free agents. Forwards Jeremy Martin, Alex McLean, David Bosco, and Jack Horbach will be showcasing their skills, alongside defensemen Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, Tyler Dunbar, Benett Kelly, Callum Croskery, Tyler Duke, and Dryden Allen. The goaltending squad will feature Carter Casey, Matthew Humphries, Joseph Skidmore, and Xavier Wendt.
The camp's schedule is packed with action. It all starts with the goaltenders taking the ice at 9 a.m.
ET on Monday. Following them, Team Murphy will have their session at 10 a.m.
ET, Team Barrasso at 11 a.m. ET, and Team Rutherford wraps up the morning at noon ET.
Fans have a treat in store, as all practice sessions from Monday through Thursday, along with a tournament on Friday at noon ET, are open to the public and free to attend. It's a golden opportunity to see the future of the Penguins in action and get a glimpse of the talent that could soon light up the NHL.
In Other News...
Kyle Dubas May Have Quietly Won Two Important Penguins Deals
Kyle Dubas did not land a splashy summer headline with Blake Lizotte or Connor Dewar, but the Penguins general manager may have quietly done something just as useful during the regular season. Both forwards were extended on short-term money that keeps the cap commitment manageable, and in a league where bottom-six depth can get pricey in a hurry, that matters. The deals also give Pittsburgh a little more certainty around two players who have fit well enough to earn trust without forcing the club into long, expensive commitments.
The broader appeal for the Penguins is what those contracts avoid. Around the NHL, comparable role players have been getting longer terms and higher price tags, which can clog up flexibility fast if the fit is merely solid instead of essential. Lizotte and Dewar may not move the needle on their own when it comes to Pittsburghs bigger picture, but they do give the team a cleaner financial path and a chance to keep building without overpaying for familiar depth. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Robertson Trade Saga Just Took A Much More Serious Turn
Jason Robertsons future has become one of the leagues more interesting summer watch items, and Pittsburgh has stayed in the conversation for a reason. The restricted free agent turned down an offer from Seattle and reportedly showed no interest in St. Louis, which only adds to the sense that his next move will be more complicated than a simple fit-and-sign scenario. For the Penguins, the appeal is obvious: they have the cap flexibility to make a serious run at him if the opportunity opens up.
The harder part is getting Dallas to the point where a deal makes sense for them, and that is where the process has slowed. Pittsburgh is being viewed as a club looking to do something meaningful, but interest alone does not close the gap on a player of Robertsons stature. The Penguins may still be in the mix, though the bigger question now is whether they can put together the kind of trade package that would keep the Stars engaged. [Read more 🡒]