Will any of the Penguins’ young players turn into true difference-makers? That’s the real question hanging over this group, because Pittsburgh has clearly stocked up on talent under Kyle Dubas - just not the kind of blue-chip, can’t-miss names that once defined the franchise.
There’s plenty to like in the pipeline. The organization looks heavy on the sort of players who can help you win - the Tyler Kennedy and Max Talbot types, with Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes and Tanner Howe fitting that mold.
But when it comes to the Crosby-and-Malkin level of star power, that’s a different conversation. The Penguins haven’t had a top-10 draft pick since Derrick Pouliot went eighth overall 14 years ago, and that matters.
So the focus here is narrower: which of the younger players might grow into someone who can center a second line, make an All-Star Game, or otherwise rise above the pack?
Egor Chinakhov would be the obvious name if age weren’t the cutoff. At 25, he’s a little older than the rest of the group, but the case for him is strong.
His shot is wicked, his release is lightning-fast, and his speed and overall game give him real upside. In the right setup, he could become a 35-goal, 70-point player - maybe more if he’s skating with a top-notch center.
Among the true kids, Harrison Brunicke jumps out immediately. Taken 44th overall in the 2024 draft, the 6-foot-3, 202-pound right-shot defenseman has the full package: size, mobility, and puck skills.
His path was anything but normal, bouncing from the Pens to the Baby Pens to the Canadian National Team and back to junior before returning to the Baby Pens for their playoff run. But that winding route helped his game take a big step, especially on the defensive side.
He may not be Erik Karlsson as an offensive force, but the ceiling is high enough to dream on a second-pairing defenseman - maybe even a top-pairing player and the heir apparent to Karlsson and Kris Letang.
Ben Kindel already gave the organization a real glimpse of what he can be. A year ago, he arrived as a surprise 11th overall pick, then went on to do something rare for an 18-year-old: make the NHL and produce, finishing with 17 goals and 35 points.
The former Calgary Hitmen star had stretches where he looked a lot like a mini-Crosby, especially with his quick passes in traffic, his feisty edge, and the way he impacts the game in all areas. But there were also quiet offensive spells, including two goals and five points over his final 19 games.
That could simply be what happens when a teenager is thrown into a huge role and a demanding schedule. The bigger question is whether Kindel can keep climbing toward second-line center territory.
In goal, Sergei Murashov has been building buzz for a while now. Ever since Ron Hextall took him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, there’s been expectation attached to his name, and it’s easy to see why.
He put up eye-catching numbers in Russia for Yaroslavl and the Lokomotivs’ junior affiliate, and the fact that he was picked 118th overall - the same slot used on Igor Shesterkin - only added to the intrigue. The 22-year-old has handled North America well so far.
Last season with the Baby Pens, he tied for fifth in the AHL in save percentage (.919) and goals against average (2.20), then got even better in the Calder Cup playoffs with a .931 save percentage. That performance helped earn him a spot with the Pens this season as a projected tandem partner for Arturs Šilovs.
His talent is obvious, and so are the Fleury-esque, cat-quick reflexes. The next step is cleaning up the rebound control.
If that comes together, Pittsburgh may have something much bigger on its hands: an all-star level goalie, maybe even a future Vezina Trophy candidate.
Bill Zonnon is another name worth watching. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward caught attention in his draft year, and it wasn’t hard to see why.
He plays with force, strength, and skill, and Dubas made him the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 draft. Zonnon battled injuries in his final junior season but still drove play for Blainville-Boisbriand, then came over to the Baby Pens for the Calder Cup playoffs.
He centered the fourth line, scored in each of his first three pro games, and finished with seven points in 11 playoff games - four goals and three assists - despite limited ice time. Just as impressive was the preparation: he taught himself the Baby Pens’ system before arriving.
That kind of maturity stands out. Whether he becomes an all-star is an open question, but the ingredients are there for a productive middle-six power forward.
Rutger McGroarty almost makes the cut, and there’s a reason for that. He has the physical maturity you want, and he works the corners and boards hard.
Even so, there are still limits to his game right now, especially in skating and shot quality. At this point, he looks more like a third-liner than a future star.
In Other News...
Sidney Crosby Looms Over Penguins Camp For One Huge Reason
The Penguins prospects are already on the move, with Detroit set to be their base as they get ready for their first game next Saturday and begin the soft launch of the 2026-27 season. Even with the formal training camp start date still to come, informal skates are underway and the calendar is already filling up, with the first preseason game scheduled for Sept. 21 against Buffalo.
All of that naturally keeps Sidney Crosby at the center of everything in Pittsburgh. The bigger question hanging over camp is whether Crosby will extend his contract before the season gets going or enter the year in the final season of his current deal, a possibility that would only add more intrigue to every camp session, every preseason shift and every bit of news coming out of the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Fans Will Have Strong Opinions On This Perfect Player Debate
The idea of building a perfect player out of todays Penguins is the kind of thought experiment that always gets fans talking, because it asks them to separate favorite names from favorite traits. Sidney Crosby is the obvious starting point for hockey IQ, while Erik Karlsson brings the kind of vision that changes how a play develops before it fully exists. Add Bryan Rusts mentality and Evgeni Malkins knack for delivering in big moments, and the result already feels like a snapshot of why Pittsburghs stars have defined so much of the franchises recent identity.
What makes the exercise more fun is how quickly it becomes a debate over which skill matters most, not just which player is best. Kris Letangs athleticism belongs in the mix, Egor Chinakhov supplies shot and finishing ability, and Elmer Soderblom offers the size piece that rounds out the build. Even without a final answer, the argument says plenty about how Penguins fans see the roster now: as a collection of distinct strengths, each one worth borrowing for a different part of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Move Is Already Bigger Than A Routine Prospect Extension
The Penguins eight-year deal for prospect Ville Koivunen has already started to ripple beyond Pittsburgh, because it was the kind of commitment that other teams notice when they are weighing how to handle their own young talent. A move that might have looked routine on the surface suddenly feels like part of a larger conversation around how much value clubs are willing to lock in early, and it comes with the added backdrop of a market that is shifting around the league.
Elsewhere, the Canucks signing of defenseman Zeev Buium fit right into that same wide-ranging evaluation of prospect value, while the Red Wings were said to have asked for a top-line center in trade discussions involving Dylan Larkin. The Islanders have also admitted they are in a transition phase, and the Bruins used the 2025 NHL Draft to grab James Hagens sixth overall, all of which makes the Koivunen contract look less like a standalone decision and more like one more sign of how aggressively teams are trying to shape their future now. [Read more 🡒]