The Penguins’ deadline-day swing for Elmer Soderblom didn’t come with much noise, but it gave them a big body who quickly made his presence felt.
Pittsburgh sent a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to Detroit for the former Red Wings forward, hoping a new setting would unlock more from a player who never quite settled into a steady role in three seasons with the organization that drafted him in the sixth round in 2019. In Detroit, Soderblom appeared in 86 games and produced 11 goals and 22 points. In Pittsburgh, the opportunity came fast, and he made it count with five goals and 10 points in 20 games.
His value showed up in the areas that matter most for a player built like he is. Around the net, he was dangerous.
Along the boards, he was a problem. He held onto pucks well, worked effectively in tight spaces, and made life difficult for defenders trying to move him off the puck.
That performance carried into the postseason, where he dressed in five of the Penguins’ six playoff games and scored once. His goal came early in Game 5 against the Philadelphia Flyers, opening the scoring in a 3-2 Penguins win before the team was knocked out in Game 6.
Now Soderblom enters the 2026-27 season under contract through that year at a cap hit of $1.125 million, giving him time to keep proving he belongs. He also fits the kind of profile Kyle Dubas has been adding over the past couple of years.
The next step is whether he can turn that late-season stretch into something more permanent. A crowded camp awaits, but Soderblom has a real shot to stick as the 12th forward if he keeps the momentum going.
The Penguins will also want to see him lean harder into what makes him different. At 6-foot-8, he can create problems behind the net and in board battles, and if that physical edge keeps opening up his offensive game, double-digit goals this season is within reach.
Another area worth watching is the penalty kill. After the trade, Soderblom logged 3:43 shorthanded for Pittsburgh, a notable jump from the 31 seconds he had combined on the PK across three seasons with Detroit. That gives Dan Muse at least one more option to consider.
Nothing is guaranteed here, but Soderblom has a path to becoming a useful fourth-line piece and a possible replacement for Noel Acciari.
In Other News...
Penguins Camp Could Shake Up A Forward Battle Fans Are Watching
Players are starting to trickle back for a shortened Penguins training camp, and that alone puts a little extra edge on the weeks ahead. Pittsburgh enters camp with some real roster choices to make, especially when it comes to balancing younger talent with veteran experience, and those decisions are going to be felt both on defense and up front.
Ville Koivunen and Owen Pickering are among the names worth watching closely because what they do in camp could help shape the final roster picture. For a team trying to sort out who fits where before the season begins, every practice rep and preseason look matters, and the competition for forward spots could be one of the more interesting battles to follow. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Could Revisit A Risky Roster Move Fans Know Too Well
With the NHL moving toward a 33rd team by the end of the year and a possible 34th franchise not far behind, league front offices are already having to think ahead to the kind of roster gymnastics expansion forces. For the Penguins, that kind of planning can bring back a familiar conversation, because expansion drafts tend to squeeze contenders into choosing between protecting depth and preserving flexibility for the future.
Pittsburgh fans know the tension well enough, and it could be back on the radar as the leagues next wave of growth takes shape. The broader NHL chatter has also been full of movement around other clubs, from E.J. Hradek floating possible landing spots for Connor McDavid if he ever leaves Edmonton to the Islanders unveiling a fan-selected alternate jersey for 2027-28, but the Penguins interest is more immediate: how to navigate another potentially risky roster decision without getting caught flat-footed. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Playoff Hopes Ride On One Risky Balance
The Penguins are heading into the stretch with plenty of familiar questions and a little more intrigue than they probably wanted. Their offensive potential is still the obvious reason to believe, and the coaching staff gives them a structure that has kept them in the conversation before, but recent roster changes have forced the group to relearn some habits on the fly. The balance between what this team still does well and what it has to prove is what makes the playoff picture feel so fragile.
Pittsburghs outlook now depends on whether the new additions can settle in quickly enough to offset the departures, especially with defensive adjustments, chemistry and physicality all under the microscope. The aging core remains the central variable, because the Penguins still need those players to drive the team while the rest of the roster finds its footing. If the mix comes together, there is a path back into the postseason, but it is the kind of path that leaves little margin for error. [Read more 🡒]