Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Penguins re-signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year deal and defenseman Ilya Solovyov to a one-year contract, the team announced on Thursday. [PensBurgh]
Hooks has compiled a list of players he is revisiting now that the 2025-26 is in the rearview mirror. These players’ futures remain something of an uncertainty, including Owen Pickering, Ville Koivunen, Tommy Novak, Arturs Silovs, and Tristan Broz. Each showed flashes of potential this season, but questions about consistency and NHL readiness
remain heading into next year. [PensBurgh]
How well did the Penguins do in their attempt to get younger during the 2025-26 season? Without committing to a full rebuild, Kyle Dubas and Dan Muse integrated 14 players age 24 or younger while still leaning heavily on veterans. There were promising contributors like Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov, while also some concerning developments regarding the aforementioned Pickering and the since-departed Samuel Poulin. [PensBurgh]
Defenseman Connor Clifton and forward Tommy Novak have been selected for Team USA’s roster ahead of the upcoming IIHF World Championship tournament. [Trib Live]
Forward prospect Bill Zonnon signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the remainder of this season. [Trib Live]
Rickard Rakell thinks the Penguins are capable of winning a championship, still believing in the team’s veteran core and improved stretches of play as reasons for optimism. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Buffalo Sabres blueliner Rasmus Dahlin, Colordo Avalanche superstar Cale Makar, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski were named finalists for the Norris Trophy. [TSN]
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill revealed that Mikko Rantanen played through a torn MCL suffered while representing Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which limited his effectiveness for the remainder of the season. [Sportsnet]
