The NHL has put the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first two dates of the 2026-27 season on the board, and the opening stretch starts with a familiar jolt. Pittsburgh will open on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers on September 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET, then come home a few nights later to host the Montréal Canadiens in its home opener on October 3 at PPG Paints Arena.
That road opener against Philadelphia is the first checkpoint in a season that follows a 41-25-16 finish for the Penguins. That record left the Steel City club 11th overall in the league and second in the Metropolitan Division with a .598 points percentage.
Sidney Crosby once again finished as the team’s offensive centerpiece in the 2025-26 regular season. He led the Penguins with 29 goals and 45 assists in 68 games for 74 points, then stayed at the top of the scoring chart in the postseason as well, posting five points - one goal and four assists - in six playoff games.
On the blue line, Erik Karlsson led the way during the regular season with 15 goals and 51 assists in 75 games, good for 66 points. He also topped Pittsburgh defensemen in the playoffs, finishing with one goal and two assists for three points in six games.
Among the rookies, Ben Kindel stood out with 17 goals and 18 assists in 77 games, finishing with 35 points.
In net, Artūrs Šilovs handled the workload with a 19-12-8 record and a 3.07 GAA while stopping 1,020 shots during the regular season. He also showed he could rise to the moment in the first round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs, going 2-1 with a 1.52 GAA and a .939 save percentage.
Stuart Skinner also appeared in the mix last season, finishing with a 12-9-5 record and a 2.99 GAA over 27 games. He is headed back to Canada next season after signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets as an unrestricted free agent, carrying a $3.75 million AAV.
The Penguins’ season ended early in the first round against the Flyers, but the club enters the new year with fresh draft additions and a reset schedule that begins with Philadelphia and quickly rolls into a home date with Montréal.
In Other News...
Penguins Could Have Another Ducks Deal Fans Will Definitely Debate
The Penguins have made a habit of turning salary-cap room into future assets, and that approach has become one of the more recognizable parts of Kyle Dubas roster-building playbook. Instead of sitting on unused space, Pittsburgh has been willing to help other clubs solve their cap problems if it means adding draft capital, even when the deal is more about bookkeeping than immediate help on the ice.
Anaheim now looks like the kind of team that could fit that pattern, with enough pressure on its books to at least make the idea worth discussing. If the Ducks decide they need relief, Pittsburgh could be the kind of partner that takes on a contract and asks for a sweetener in return, and the debate for Penguins fans would be whether another future pick is worth absorbing that kind of money. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins May Have Found A Goalie Prospect Worth Watching Closely
The Penguins added a goalie prospect worth a closer look in Matvei Nikonovich, the Minsk-born netminder they took in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. At 160th overall, he was not the kind of pick that turns heads immediately, but his recent work in the Rus-MHL with Tolyatti Ladia gave the organization a reason to pay attention.
Nikonovichs numbers last season were strong enough to stand out, and his development now comes with a layer of uncertainty because of what happens next in Russia. He could remain overseas for a while before the Penguins even begin thinking about bringing him to their North American pipeline, which makes him one of those late-round goalie bets that can take patience before the payoff comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins May Have Found A Trade Fit For Life After Crosby And Malkin
As the Penguins keep sorting out what life will look like after Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, one recent trade idea points them toward a younger center with some offensive upside. A Daily Faceoff piece from Mike Gould named Pittsburgh as a possible destination for a Seattle forward who could help bridge that gap, the kind of move that would fit a team trying to stay competitive while also thinking a step ahead.
The appeal is obvious enough: the Penguins need more long-term help down the middle, and this player has already shown he can contribute at the NHL level. He put up 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games last season, and after a stronger scoring year before that, he looks like the sort of upside swing that could make sense for a club trying to balance the present with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]