The Pittsburgh Penguins forward group comes into the 2026 NHL offseason with a much different goal than expected. In President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas’ third year on the job, the Penguins finally found themselves in a Stanley Cup Playoff spot. This comes in the year that analysts and the team alike had finally thrown in the towel in order to become a lottery team. Instead, with veterans returning to form, important contributions from young guns, and bounce-back seasons from unexpected sources all led to a Pittsburgh Penguins squad that finished second-best in the Metropolitan Division with a 41-25-16 record. Although there is some work to be done, with a first, two seconds and a third-round pick, in addition to a whopping $38 million in salary cap space, Pittsburgh is primed to make a splash should Dubas choose to do so this offseason.
A Penguins Forward Group Full of Highs
There were Pittsburgh Penguins forwards who experienced bounce-back seasons, in some cases even career highs in production in the 2025-26 season. Chief among them is free agent Anthony Mantha. The 31-year-old forward set a career high in goals and points, with 31 goals and 64 points through 81 games on the season. Notably, a lot of this production came playing away from either one of the team’s top centres in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Instead, Mantha was nearly stapled to the third-line centred by rookie Benjamin Kindel. Mantha struggled in the playoffs, however, with just an assist in six games against the Philadelphia Flyers. Another free agent signing, Justin Brazeau, also saw his game elevated in the black and gold. Leaving the Minnesota Wild to come over to Pittsburgh, Brazeau excelled on the third line with Mantha and Kindel. He scored a career-high 17 goals and 34 points through 64 games. Brazeau made a name for himself using his big frame and silky hands in order to finesse his way through opposition and finish plays all season long.
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One of the newest Penguins forwards, Egor Chinakhov, was one of the biggest stories of the season. Coming over from the Columbus Blue Jackets through a trade in late December, the Russian winger quickly found a home on the team’s second line alongside fellow Russian star Evgeni Malkin. In 29 games with the Blue Jackets, he had scored just three goals and three assists for six points. In the proceeding 43 games with Pittsburgh, Chinakhov surpassed his career-highs in goals and points, with 18 and 36, respectively. He similarly struggled in the playoffs, however, as his incredible wrist shot was highly scouted by the Flyers’ defence.
The Penguins’ Salary Cap Situation Heading into the Offseason.
Heading into the offseason, as we mentioned, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a substantial $38 million in cap space. However, President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas stated at his end-of-season presser that the team is not interested in splurging for the sake of doing so, wanting to avoid making long-term mistakes with overinflated contracts. This is especially important as the Penguins are in a bit of a rough spot in regard to determining next steps for the organization as a whole. The team is led by aging veterans in Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, all of whom are likely to retire within the next few years. As such, Dubas and the organization are hesitant to push for a window that may not even be there and then get stuck in mediocrity as a result. With that in mind, the Penguins will need to prioritize keeping forwards that fit both the short-term and long-term plans of the team.
The Penguins have four free agent forwards to address. Veteran forward Kevin Hayes is likely gone, as he only appeared in 28 games even though he was healthy all season. He scored four goals and four assists during this time. Next are the aforementioned Mantha and Chinakhov. Anthony Mantha looks to be heading to free agency, with there being a lack of reports suggesting he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. He is likely looking for a large payday, and the Penguins don’t have much room for him in the top nine without blocking space for younger players like Ville Koivunen or Rutger McGroarty to establish themselves. Chinakhov, however, is someone the team will look to bring back, likely at a bridge deal, as he only appeared in 43 games and then struggled in the playoffs.
Finally, veteran fourth-liner Noel Acciari’s contract is expiring. Although his presence was valued this past season, the acquisition and emergence of young forward Elmer Soderblom on the team’s fourth line may have pushed Acciari out. Soderblom performed incredibly, with five goals and 10 points in 20 games. With Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte already having signed extensions, those three look to be the fourth-line trio. Young guns like Avery Hayes in the AHL will try to impress should any of those three go down with injury.
Decisions To Be Made for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Forwards Group
Heading into what is sure to be a busy offseason, decisions will also need to be made on a select group of veteran forwards whose time with Pittsburgh could soon be coming to an end. These being Crosby’s wingers, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, as well as middle-six stalwart Thomas Novak. Although he dealt with injuries, Rakell scored 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games. Rust, meanwhile, scored 29 goals and 65 points in 72 games. Both players were staples in trade rumours all of last summer and last season, before the team’s sudden rise to the top half of the standings shushed these stories. However, a quick first-round exit has reignited the potential for moves. This is magnified by a relatively weak free agent class in 2026. It’s expected that top free agents like Alex Tuch will get expensive contracts, while both Rust and Rakell, who are cost-controlled, are much better numbers for contending teams. While it seems unlikely the Penguins will look to go scorched earth after having made the playoffs, teams may be willing to pay a high price for forwards like Rust and Rakell.
Similarly, Thomas Novak may get interest around the league as well. Acquired from the Nashville Predators a couple of seasons ago, Novak has established himself in the middle-six forwards group for the Penguins. On an expiring contract worth $3.5 million, Novak had 16 goals and 42 points while being in charge of keeping his line with Malkin and Chinakhov defensively honest. Novak has proven himself to be a valuable part of a forward group and could garner interest on a cheap expiring deal. For the Pittsburgh Penguins forward group, this will be a pivotal offseason in balancing the ability for youth to break into the league while not squandering the last few years of having Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Karlsson in one team. As such, Kyle Dubas and the organization will need to make shrewd moves and utilize the mountain of cap space available to the team skillfully in the 2026 offseason.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
