The Pittsburgh Penguins lost in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. We've seen the Flyers make the Penguins look old and sluggish for most of the series. But for the Penguins team that had to play Gavin McKenna's football, Pittsburgh was very successful.
Will Evgeni Malkin return, or will the Pittsburgh Penguins go the other way?
But there are questions surrounding this roster and what direction GM Kyle Dubas will take. We know that previous managers were disturbed by the idea of winning ownership with Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin. Although Crosby signed an extension and said he wanted to stay, rumors spread that he would be traded.
Malkin's name began to circulate as he was a pending free agent, and contract negotiations were put on hold until after the season. Dubas has been revamping the system to keep the team competitive. But this is still a rebuilding team. And now watch out for the Malkin and Crosby rumors again.
Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com and Full Press Media joined TSN Radio in Montreal last Friday and were asked about the Pittsburgh Penguins roster and whether they will bring back the same team next season.
Writing for NHLRumors.com
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Broadcaster: “I wanted to end with that series. They have four players, at one time, champions in this league, Malkin, Crosby, Letang and Karlsson, like, how different does this club look in October?”
Jim Biringer: “I think it's going to be different. I think they've got a lot of decisions to make. Kyle Dubas has a lot of decisions to make. Like, look we're still in Crosby, but the talk is going to be about is he going to stay? Is he going to keep playing? Is another extension possible? Is he going to be traded again?
Malkin? Will they bring him back? I know you want to come back, but is it a one year contract? A two-year contract. Kris Letang, I know he still has time left in his prime, same with Karlsson, but Letang doesn't, and it's just my opinion. He could come back and have a great season, but it feels like this is the end of that Pittsburgh Penguins core, and this team will look different.
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And how many guys will have career seasons again next year for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Like (Connor) Dewar and Anthony Mantha. They have many contracts to sign and see for themselves. And again, to score goals, who will be there? Are you Artur Silovs and Stuart Skinner? Are they bringing him back?
There are many question marks for Kyle Dubas. This will be a different looking Penguins team next season.”
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