Pittsburgh will be without its top offensive prospect for a while after it was announced that Rutger McGroarty would be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. Pittsburgh stated Thursday that they would be taking it slow with their 21-year-old prize prospect and would not rush his return. In his first taste of NHL action last season, the former 14th overall pick (2022) had a goal, three points and 11 SOG in eight games played.
Silovs is a talented goalie who has battled inconsistencies and was buried on Vancouver's depth chart behind Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. He is coming off a terrific Calder Cup-winning postseason with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), posting a stellar 2.01 GAA and .931 SV% in 24 appearances (16-7). With the recent departure of Alex Nedeljkovic, Silovs could have an opportunity for a heavier workload at the NHL level this season.
Pittsburgh took advantage of Dallas' need to shed salary on Thursday by acquiring Matthew Dumba and a 2028 2nd Round Pick from Dallas for Vladislav Kolyachonok. Dumba has been on the move often lately, joining his fifth team in the last four seasons, entering his 13th NHL season. In 63 games with Dallas in 2024-25, he had a goal, 10 points and 60 PIMs.
Kindel was Pittsburgh's 2025 1st round pick (11th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract just weeks after being drafted. The 18-year-old right-winger spent 2024-25 with Calgary (WHL), where he was a point shy of the century mark with 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games played. He is expected to return to Calgary this season but may receive an extended look with the Penguins with a strong training camp.
Alexeyev was a first-round pick for the Washington Capitals in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft that became a lineup-regular for the first time in the 2024-25 postseason, suiting up for 10 games with the team. The Capitals did not quality an offer to him, a move the Penguins quickly acted on by signing him to a one-year deal worth $775,000.
Bakersfield (AHL) lost one of its most reliable defensemen on Wednesday after it was announced that Pittsburgh had signed Phil Kemp to a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old made his only NHL appearance with Edmonton in 2023-24 but has spent the last four years with Bakersfield (AHL), where he had seven goals and 12 points in 56 games in 2024-25. He is expected to report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) to start 2025-26.
After four up-and-down seasons in Montreal, Rafael Harvey-Pinard will join his second NHL organization after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old only appeared in one game for the Canadiens in 2024-25, spending the majority of his season with Laval (AHL), where he had five goals and 19 points in 40 games played.
Mantha had his 2024-25 season cut significantly short due to an ACL tear but has earned himself a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Pittsburgh as he attempts to bounce back this upcoming season. The 30-year-old right-winger is joining his fourth NHL organization in the last three years. Before his injury in 2024-25, he was off to a fairly decent start with four goals, seven points and 11 PIMs in just 13 games played.
Pittsburgh added to their defensive depth on Day 1 of Free Agency by signing seven-year veteran Caleb Jones to a two-year, $1.8 million contract ($900,000 AAV). The 28-year-old defenseman appeared in six games for Los Angeles in 2024-25 but failed to pick up a point. He should fight for one of Pittsburgh's final defensive spots to start the season.
Brazeau is an undrafted 27-year-old forward who spent his entire career in the AHL before making his NHL debut in the 2023-24 season, playing 19 games with the Boston Bruins. He became an NHL regular last season, scoring 22 points (11G / 11A) in 76 combined games between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. He joins the Pittsburgh Penguins on a two-year contract worth $1.5 million AAV, looking to make an even bigger offensive impact on a team desperate for depth scoring.
Tomasino was the Nashville Predator's 24th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the 2024-25 season. He scored 23 points (11G / 12A) in 50 games with the Penguins, earning himself a one-year contract extension worth $1.75 million.
Pittsburgh will bring back a familiar face on Day 1 of free agency by signing Connor Dewar to a one-year contract extension. The 26-year-old forward came to Pittsburgh at last year's trade deadline and finished the season with four goals and 10 points in 48 games played between Toronto and Pittsburgh. He is expected to fill a bottom-six role much like he did last season after being acquired.
Pittsburgh added to its defensive depth on Tuesday by signing three-year veteran Parker Wotherspoon to a two-year, $2 million contract ($1,000,000 AAV). The 27-year-old appeared in a career high 55 games with Boston in 2024-25, picking up a goal, seven points and a -10 plus/minus. He is expected to play an everyday role for the Penguins in 2025-26.
Koppanen split his 2024-25 season between the NHL and AHL, but spent most of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), where he had 23 points (8G / 15A) in 56 games. Koppanen has just one goal and one assist in 20 career NHL games since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Fermstrom was Pittsburgh's 2024 3rd-round pick (93rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Friday. The 19-year-old Swedish right-winger spent 2024-25 with Orebro HK (SHL) and had eight goals and 17 points in 48 games played.
Imama appeared in 16 games with the Penguins in 2024-25, picking up one goal, 30 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus and earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract extension on Friday. The 28-year-old bruiser has appeared in 31 career NHL games with three separate organizations (ARI, OTT, PIT) but has never averaged more than 7:29 TOI in any of his four seasons.
Ilyin is Pittsburgh's 2023 5th-round pick (142nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Saturday. The 20-year-old Russian winger spent 2024-25 with Severstal (KHL) and had seven goals, 30 points and 14 PIMs in 64 games played.
Hallander was a second-round pick, 54th overall, of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old spent the previous two seasons playing for Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring a combined 89 points (40G / 49A) in 102 games.
Howe was Pittsburgh's 46th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward played 47 WHL games this season, split between the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen, scoring 46 points (18G / 28A).
