Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
Defenseman Matt Dumba, a veteran of 738 NHL games, has played only once for the Penguins so far this season, serving as a healthy scratch in five of the team’s first six contests. Coming over from the Dallas
Stars in an off-season trade, the right-handed blueliner is preparing for his next opportunity… whenever it may come. [Trib Live]
Forward Noel Acciari entered the 2025-26 season on less-than-stable ground while recovering from a hip flexor injury suffered during last season. Add to the mix, Acciari’s role as a fourth-line grinder was hardly guaranteed, as the Penguins had several younger players vying for NHL roster spots. But Acciari, an 11-year veteran and “glue guy” in the locker room, knows players “…can’t take being [in the NHL] for granted.” [Trib Live]
Acquired in what he described as a surprising trade last season for fellow forward Michael Bunting, Tommy Novak is still looking to carve out a more defined role for himself on the Penguins. Meanwhile, head coach Dan Muse, still something of a newbie in his own right, remains at least intrigued by what Novak brings to the table. [Trib Live]
Two rookies have caught the eye of the Penguins’ fanbase, and for good reason. Defenseman Harrison Brunicke and forward Ben Kindel have provided a much-needed injection of youth in what became a veteran-laden roster. Both youngsters figure to be part of the Penguins’ plans for years to come, but in the immediate future, both players are embracing the process of learning the pro game on the fly. [Penguins]
Filip Hallander, for those who remember, was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. His journey to the NHL has included many twists and turns, including a stop in the Maple Leafs’ organization (with Kyle Dubas) and a stint in Europe. Now back with the team that drafted him and contributing in the NHL, Hallander has been rewarded with another career first: his first NHL goal. [Penguins]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand has been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct during Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Marchand got into a scuffle with Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and took Dahlin’s helmet to the penalty box and ripped off the straps. [TSN]
The Ottawa Senators have, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, offered centerman Shane Pinto an eight-year contract extension. [Sportsnet]
NHL players have given their picks for the toughest building to play in, and the top answer may surprise you. [NHL]
