The Pittsburgh Penguins are starting to sketch out the blueprint for their 2026-27 roster, and the first move came earlier this week with a three-year extension for forward Blake Lizotte. It’s a classic Kyle Dubas move - locking in a high-motor, versatile bottom-six piece who fits the kind of identity he’s been quietly building since taking over the front office.
Dubas hasn’t been shy about working the edges of the roster, constantly shuffling players between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre, and staying active on the trade wire. And while the swirling trade rumors around big-name veterans like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson have cooled considerably from where they were a year ago, that doesn’t mean the phones are silent. With Dubas, they rarely are.
Trying to project what this team will look like next fall is a bit like forecasting the weather six months out - you might get the general climate right, but the details are always subject to change. Still, with a mix of established veterans, pending free agents, and a wave of young talent knocking on the door, we can start to piece together a picture of what’s to come.
Locked In: The Core Under Contract
Let’s start with the players who are already under contract and expected to be part of the roster next season:
Forwards (7):
- Sidney Crosby
- Bryan Rust
- Rickard Rakell
- Tommy Novak
- Blake Lizotte
- Justin Brazeau
- Ben Kindel
Defense (3):
- Erik Karlsson
- Kris Letang
- Parker Wotherspoon
This is the foundation. Crosby remains the heartbeat of the franchise, and while his supporting cast has evolved, he’s still flanked by familiar faces in Rust and Rakell.
Novak and Lizotte bring energy and depth, while Brazeau and Kindel - both under-the-radar finds - have earned their spots. On the back end, Karlsson and Letang still anchor the blue line, with Wotherspoon continuing to show he can be a reliable piece.
But with Dubas at the helm, don’t be surprised if anyone outside of Crosby is on the move should the right opportunity arise. Flexibility is the name of the game.
The Decision Zone: Pending Free Agents and Fringe Players
This is where things get interesting. The Penguins have a number of players whose futures are still up in the air:
Forwards (5):
- Evgeni Malkin
- Egor Chinakhov
- Anthony Mantha
- Connor Dewar
- Noel Acciari
Defense (5):
- Brett Kulak
- Ryan Shea
- Jack St.
Ivany
- Ryan Graves
- Caleb Jones
Goalies (2):
- Stuart Skinner
- Arturs Silovs
Chinakhov, a restricted free agent, feels like a safe bet to return. His situation is more about paperwork than negotiation.
Malkin, on the other hand, is the big question mark. Many thought the team might move on before this season, but a strong first half has likely changed that conversation.
Dubas is expected to revisit talks with Malkin’s camp during the Olympic break - and if the fit still feels right, don’t rule out one more year for No. 71.
Mantha and Kulak are intriguing cases. They’ve shown flashes, and the Penguins may want to retain them, but with their contracts expiring, both could test a thin free-agent market in hopes of landing bigger deals elsewhere. Dewar and Acciari have quietly formed an effective fourth-line duo with Lizotte, and they’ll be in the mix for return consideration.
On defense, Graves and St. Ivany have contracts for next season, but that doesn’t guarantee NHL roles.
Graves, in particular, has seen his standing slip, and it looks like he’ll only get back into the lineup if injuries force the issue. The Penguins won’t keep him in the rotation just because of a paycheck - that much is clear.
In goal, Skinner has shown enough to warrant a short-term extension, especially as a bridge to the future. That future, of course, is Sergei Murashov, who’s inching closer to NHL readiness.
Likely Departures: Expiring Contracts
Forwards (1):
- Kevin Hayes
Defense (2):
- Matt Dumba
- Connor Clifton
These are the players most likely to move on when their contracts expire. Hayes, Dumba, and Clifton haven’t quite found a long-term fit in Pittsburgh. Clifton could still play his way back into the conversation with a strong second half, but right now, he looks more like a trade chip or a future free agent than a returning Penguin.
The Next Wave: Young Talent on the Rise
Forwards (5):
- Ville Koivunen
- Rutger McGroarty
- Tristan Broz
- Avery Hayes
- Fillip Hallander
Defense (2):
- Harrison Brunicke
- Owen Pickering
Goalies (2):
- Sergei Murashov
- Joel Blomqvist
The Penguins are hoping players like Koivunen and McGroarty can make the leap to full-time NHL roles by 2026-27. Both have had uneven seasons so far, but the organization is invested in their development, and their skill sets suggest they’ll get a long look.
On the blue line, Pickering and Brunicke are still developing, but if either can take a step forward, it would go a long way toward filling out the third pair internally - rather than relying on external signings. That’s a big “if,” though, given the unpredictable nature of young defensemen.
And in net, Murashov is the guy to watch. The Penguins are grooming him as their future No. 1, and while he may not be ready to take over entirely next season, a tandem with a veteran like Skinner could be the perfect bridge.
Projected 2026-27 Lineup (As of Now)
Forwards:
Rakell - Crosby - Rust
Chinakhov - Malkin - Brazeau
Koivunen - Kindel - Novak
McGroarty - Lizotte - Avery Hayes
Defense:
Wotherspoon - Karlsson
(External Add) - Letang
(External Add) - (External Add)
Goalies:
Stuart Skinner
Sergei Murashov
Of course, this is just a snapshot. Given Dubas’ track record, it’s hard to imagine all 12 forwards are already in the organization.
It’s more likely that at least one of Rakell, Rust, Brazeau, or Novak is moved in a hockey trade to shake things up. But without knowing what deals are out there, we’re sticking with what we know for now.
The biggest swings here come in net and on defense. Skinner and the Penguins seem like a logical short-term pairing while Murashov gets up to speed.
And on the blue line, there’s clearly work to be done. The Penguins will need to find their next Wotherspoon-type signing - a low-risk, high-reward addition who can stabilize the third pair.
If Pickering or Brunicke can step in and fill one of those roles, even better.
And let’s not forget - a year ago, Ben Kindel was a complete unknown. Now he’s penciled into the lineup.
Surprises happen. Development curves accelerate.
And Dubas never stops looking for ways to improve.
The Lizotte extension is just the latest puzzle piece. The big picture is still coming into focus, but one thing’s for sure - the Penguins’ front office is going to stay aggressive in shaping the next era of hockey in Pittsburgh.