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.
Colorado's list of training camp injuries continued to grow on Wednesday after they announced Sam Girard is expected to miss part of training camp and is a possibility to return for opening night with a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season after putting up three goals, 24 points, and 95 SOG in 73 games played last season. If he is unable to go by the start of the season, Keaton Middleton is expected to fill his role for the time being.
Robertson played primarily in a bottom-6 role again in 2024-25, leading to just 22 points (15G / 7A) in 69 games while averaging just 12:00 TOI per game. With many offseason additions, like Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua, Robertson will once again find himself in a battle for playing time in the Maple Leafs' bottom-6 in 2025-26.
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.
Lapierre began the 2024-25 season with the Capitals but ultimately split his time between the AHL and NHL. During his time with the Capitals, Lapierre had eight assists in 27 games. He should be back with the Capitals as the No.3 centre to start 2025-26.
Korczak was a full-time NHLer in 2024-25 but served as the Golden Knights' No.7 defenseman, appearing in just 40 games. He finished the season with 10 points (0G / 10A), 34 SO and 59 hits in 40 games. With Alex Pietrangelo expected to miss all of 2025-26 (and maybe retiring), Korczak should be an everyday player for Vegas this season.
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.
The towering 6'8 Soderblom has shown glimpses of being an effective power-forward, something the Red Wings hope he can do more consistently in the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old Soderblom scored 11 points (4G / 7A) in 26 games with the Red Wings last season.
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.
