Pittsburgh Penguins News

Galves was Pittsburgh's 2026 2nd round pick (54th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday. The 20-year-old Czechia defensemen represented his country at both the World Championships and the Under-20 Campionships in 2025-26 while playing majority of his club hockey for Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia). He is expected to start the season in Wilkes-Barre (AHL) as he gets used to his first taste of North American hockey.

Gustafsson has been unable to establish himself as a full-time NHLer and will hope a change of scenery, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins, can inspire some confidence and more consistent play. The 26-year-old forward has played 149 career NHL games, all with the Winnipeg Jets, but he spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 32 points (10G / 22A) in 48 games with the Manitoba Moose.

Blomqvist has impressed at the AHL level the past few seasons and has earned himself a two-year contract extension with the Penguins' organization. The 24-year-old Swedish goalie, a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, posted a 2.40 GAA and .913 SV% in 26 games (16-5-4) last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).

Silovs made his mark with Pittsburgh last season, including an impressive, albeit short, playoff stint, proving he can handle an increased workload in the crease, earning himself a one-year extension worth $2.8 million. The 25-year-old Latvian goalie posted a 3.07 GAA and .887 SV% last season in 39 games (19-12-8) with Pittsburgh. With the offseason departure of Stuart Skinner, Silovs will have a chance to earn an even larger workload between the pipes in 2026-27.

Chinakhov was drafted 21st overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft but never lived up to expectations with the team. The Penguins made a deal to acquire Chinakhov from Columbus in December of last year; he immediately thrived with his new team. The 25-year-old Russian forward played 48 games with Pittsburgh, scoring 36 points (18G / 18A), earning himself a sizeable three-year contract extension.

After success in the KHL, Kuzmenko broke into the NHL as a 26-year-old rookie in 2022-23 with the Vancouver Canucks, putting together a tremendous 74-point season (39G / 35A) in 81 games. That said, the 30-year-old Kuzmenko has struggled with consistency since then, failing to earn his coaches' trust. Last season, he was regularly a healthy scratch, but scored 25 points (13G / 12A) in 52 games with the Los Angeles Kings.

Calvert is an undrafted forward who has yet to play an NHL game. The 22-year-old forward spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 38 points (16G / 22A) in 70 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Carlile is an undrafted defenseman who never made an impact at the NHL level until last season, when he played a career-high 42 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 3 points (1G/2A). The 26-year-old adds some depth to Pittsburgh's blueline on a two-year contract worth $3.0 million ($1.5M AAV).

Robertson joins the Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas, who was part of the team responsible for drafting Robertson in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old Robertson was never able to establish himself as a full-time top-six forward with the Maple Leafs and hopes to have better luck in a fresh start with his new team. Robertson had 32 points (16G / 16A) in 78 games last season.

Korczak had a big role on the Vegas Golden Knights' blueline in the 2025-26 season, playing a career-high 78 games and scoring 16 points (3G / 13A). The 25-year-old Korczak is entering the first year of a four-year contract worth $13 million ($3.25M AAV).

Gustafsson has been unable to establish himself as a full-time NHLer and will hope a change of scenery, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins, can inspire some confidence and more consistent play. The 26-year-old forward has played 149 career NHL games, all with the Winnipeg Jets, but he spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 32 points (10G / 22A) in 48 games with the Manitoba Moose.

With Washington's recent acquisitions of Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch, the team has sent Lapierre to Pittsburgh in exchange for 2027 third-round and 2028 fifth-round draft picks. The 24-year-old Lapierre played a career-high 74 games with Washington last season, but saw a slightly diminished role, averaging only 8:50 time-on-ice while scoring 16 points (4G / 12A).

Okuliar was an undrafted free agent who has played one season in North America (2024-25) since signing with the Florida Panthers in April 2024. He spent the 2025-26 season in the Swedish Hockey League with Skellefteå AIK, recording 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 46 regular-season games. He also finished second on the team in playoff scoring with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists), helping Skellefteå AIK capture its fifth Le Mat Trophy as SHL champions in club history.

Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) will return from a month-long absence on Tuesday for Game One against the Carolina Hurricanes, resulting in Korczak being a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Korczak is averaging 11:55 time-on-ice, recording nine blocks, 23 hits, and three assists in 12 games this postseason.