Depending on where you are located in the United States, the weather outside feels the opposite of what you expect when thinking about Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. For those of use living in Western Pennsylvania, the past few weeks have felt more like living on the surface of the Sun than anything resembling hockey weather, though being stuck inside an ice rink right doesn’t sound like the worst idea.
We now approach mid-July, the doldrums of the NHL offseason are preparing to set in. The Stanley Cup
has been awarded, the NHL Draft has passed, and the bulk of free agency has come and gone. There will be the occasional signing or minor more along the way to pique some interest, but short of a blockbuster, news will slow to a trickle until we approach training camp in September.
As we prepare to enter this slow season, let’s take some time quickly to catch up on some news you may have missed over the past few weeks while enjoying summer or trying to stay cool.
Pens Points…
There will be some big news surrounding the 2026-27 NHL season announced this week, with the full release of the regular season schedule set for Thursday. Opening night matchups will be revealed on Wednesday. This will mark the NHL’s first season moving to an 84 game slate. [NHL]
Ben Kindel was a revelation for the Penguins last season as a rookie. Now he’s looking to build off that success in his second season and he’s busy working on his game back home in Vancouver this summer. [Pensburgh]
As Kindel puts the work in to improve his game and continue developing, all fans can do is hope that what we saw from him as an 18 year old rookie is just scratching the surface of just how talented he could be. [The Hockey News]
Right now, the Penguins roster is loaded with players and questions still have to be answered about where exactly everyone fits in. While there are still moves to be made and the summer still young, one area that needs addressing is down the middle at center. [Pensburgh]
Back before the NHL season ended, news leaked out that Kyle Dubas was interested in big game hunting this offseason instead of just adding on the margins in free agency. Although that big prize hasn’t yet been landed, there is one name that keeps being tied back to the Penguins. [The Athletic $$]
Arturs Silovs was one of the pending restricted free agents who resigned with the Penguins last week. There were some bumps in the road for Silovs this past season, but a strong showing in relief during the playoffs gave him some momentum heading into next season. [Penguins]
Along with Silovs, the Penguins agreed to contracts with three others last week. Those names include fellow goaltender Joel Blomqvist (two-year deal), the recently acquired David Gustafsson (one-year deal), and Egor Chinakhov (three-year deal) who broke out in a big way for the Penguins after being acquired. [Penguins]
It may be slightly old news at this point, but in case you have been fully tuned out for the offseason up to this point, the Penguins added six new names to the organization at the 2026 NHL Draft. [Penguins]
One of those new faces has already put pen to paper on his entry level contract with the Penguins. Second round pick Tomas Galvas signed his three-year deal last week. [Penguins]
Brady Tkachuk left Ottawa. Leo Carlsson signed an offer sheet to leave Anaheim. Zach Werenski was involved in trade rumors. Big names across the NHL are exploring options outside of where they have spent their entire careers. All that just further emphasizes the loyalty of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang. [The Athletic $$]
There has been an infusion of youth into the Penguins system in recent years, but a lot of those players are currently waiting for a shot in the NHL. If Kyle Dubas wants to let that youth moment flourish, it’s time to give those players a real shot at making the roster. [The Hockey News]
After just one season in Pittsburgh, the Penguins moved on from Parker Wotherspoon, dealing with to Vegas in exchange for defenseman Kaedan Korczak, a younger player with a bit more contract flexibility. [The Hockey News]
Again in more old news but an ICYMI just to cover all the bases, the Hoffman family completed their purchase of the Penguins in June and received approval from the league. A few days later, the new owners met with local media to discuss their plans for the franchise. [Penguins]
