All articles tagged with #pittsburgh penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed restricted free agent Ville Koivunen to an eight-year, $32 million contract extension ($4 million AAV), a move notable for a player with just 14 NHL points in 47 games. The deal follows a standout AHL season and signals the team’s belief in his potential as they head into a busy off-season with more than $10 million in cap space.
Ville Koivunen signed an eight-year, $32 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins (avg. value $4 million), after a productive AHL season and limited NHL impact; Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said the deal is a bet on his potential and warned there are no guarantees Koivunen will crack the lineup in 2026-27, emphasizing he must earn his spot in training camp. The 23-year-old forward was drafted by Carolina in 2021, traded to Pittsburgh in 2024, and has 14 NHL points in 47 games, all with the Penguins.
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Ville Koivunen to an eight-year extension at a $4 million AAV, with back-loaded salaries and signing bonuses through 2033-34, a high-risk, high-reward bet on a player with limited NHL experience, driven by a data-driven approach and timed to beat upcoming CBA limits on contract length.
Penguins re-signed restricted free agent Ville Koivunen to an eight-year contract worth a $4 million AAV through the 2033-34 season, a bold long-term bet after a strong AHL season (41 points in 34 games) and limited NHL production in 2025-26; GM Kyle Dubas views him as a key piece for Pittsburgh's future.
NHL trade chatter centers on Alexander Nikishin with Penguins not publicly named as a suitor; meanwhile the San Jose Sharks signed Macklin Celebrini to a five-year, $18.8 million contract, making him the highest-paid player in the game. The piece also touches on next summer’s UFAs and notes a late-season favor from the Wheeling Nailers, who traded prospect Gabriel D’Aigle to the Florida Everblades.
Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson signed a team-friendly deal, pausing the Penguins’ pursuit for now and delaying the Robertson trade saga. The market remains active as teams assess remaining targets and arbitration cases, with Robertson’s availability postponed but not canceled.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were notably quiet on Day 2 of NHL free agency, fueling questions about GM Kyle Dubas and the team’s strategy, while a broader NHL trade-talk scramble unfolds around big-name players and top remaining UFAs, with outlets weighing potential moves and signings (including Anthony Mantha) and offering a digest of moves and analysis from across the league.
The Penguins’ 2026 offseason moves mix young talent with veteran pieces, fueling a debate over whether Dubas is rebuilding sustainably or chasing short-term success. Acquisitions like Nick Robertson, plus signings such as a veteran right-handed defenseman and a high-scorer with KHL experience, raise questions about left-right balance, roster fit, and how the moves affect young players’ development. The changes could yield competitive rosters but risk meaningless wins and cloud the plan for a true rebuild, echoing past aggressive pivots that left uncertainty about the core’s long-term direction.
The Penguins have 39 contracts locked in for 2026-27 as of July 2, with room to reach roughly the mid-to-upper 40s (potentially about 47) as RFAs, ELCs and other signings count toward the 50-contract limit. They bid farewell to several veterans (Acciari, Mantha, Hayes, Skinner, Clifton, Wotherspoon, among others) and added a mix of new players (Kuzmenko, van Riemsdyk, Carlile, Calvert) plus trades (Korczak, Okuliar, Gustafsson) and RFAs/ELCs (Lapierre, Robertson, Brunicke, D’Aigle, Zonnon, Fernstrom), signaling a balance of NHL depth and burgeoning AHL talent. The goaltending shift leans younger, and the team could still trade or sign a few more to finalize a 46–49 player core before the season starts.
On the NHL’s opening day of free agency, a wave of former Pittsburgh Penguins signed with teams across the league, including Ian Cole (Chicago, 1 year, $4 million) and Stuart Skinner (Winnipeg, 2 years, $3.75 million per season), Noel Acciari (Philadelphia, 2 years, $2.8 million AAV), Teddy Blueger (Toronto, 2 years, $5 million), and Conor Sheary (Buffalo, 1 year, $850k), among others like Sam Poulin (Montreal), Luke Schenn (Vancouver), Kasperi Kapanen (Edmonton), Zach Aston-Reese (Philadelphia), Ryan Shea (Edmonton), and Vincent Desharnais (Washington). Anthony Mantha remains unsigned, with more deals anticipated in the days ahead.
The Penguins shuffled assets at the draft (St. Ivany for Gustafsson; Wotherspoon for Koczak) to create roughly $35.96M in cap space heading into July 1 free agency. With a thin left side beside Erik Karlsson, Dubas is leaning analytics-driven signings and prioritizing left-handed defensemen, eyeing options like Heinola, Sebrango, Boqvist, and Declan Carlile (who has since signed a two-year, $1.5M AAV). Up front, Pittsburgh aims to add depth pieces and potential middle-six presence if top forwards aren’t available, all while managing a crowded training camp and the prospect pipeline. The strategy blends cap flexibility with targeted defensive upgrades and smart, under-the-radar forward signings.
18-year-old twins Liam and Markus Ruck were split into separate Penguins development-camp groups on day one, with a Friday tournament to decide. Drafted in 2026 (Liam 22nd; Markus 39th), they expect to eventually play together in the NHL but will develop independently for now, return to Medicine Hat next season, and attend North Dakota in 2027-28, as Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said they’ll focus on strengthening and gym work.
Twin brothers Liam and Markus Ruck were both drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2026 NHL Draft—Liam No. 22 overall in Round 1 and Markus No. 39 in Round 2—making them the first twins drafted by the same team since the Sedins in 1999. They plan to return to Medicine Hat for the 2026-27 season before joining UND in 2027, with Sidney Crosby welcoming them and the Penguins outlining development plans to boost their strength, skating, and on-ice smarts as they pursue a shared NHL path.
Day 2 of the NHL Draft featured the Pittsburgh Penguins not pulling off a blockbuster trade, instead drafting Markus Ruck (joining his twin Liam), Tomas Galvas, Pierce Mbuyi, Park Von Richter, and Matvei Nikonovich while GM Kyle Dubas and VP Wes Clark weigh the results. Across the league, big-name trade rumors swirled around players like Zach Werenski and others, as teams reassess after the draft and goaltending moves continue to be debated.
Day 2 of the NHL Draft in Buffalo begins at 11:00am ET with rounds 2–7 to be completed; Pittsburgh Penguins hold two second-round picks (39, 54), a third-round pick (86), and a sixth-round pick (170) after Day 1 saw Liam Ruck drafted 22nd overall by the Penguins. Watch on NHL Network or ESPN+.