The Pittsburgh Penguins begin the 2025-26 NHL season on Thursday with their first practices at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. And so begins one of the more unusual and unpredictable Penguins seasons in two decades.
Gone is coach Mike Sullivan, replaced by Dan Muse and his new staff, including assistant coaches Todd Nelson, Mike Stothers, and Nick Bonino .
Oddly, Sullivan was the only major departure for a team that missed the playoffs three years running. The Penguins are largely "running it back," as none of the oft-speculated trades to move out veterans and acquire young players in their stead occurred.
No, the Penguins' core with Sidney Crosby , Evgeni Malkin , and Kris Letang remains intact, as does the top supporting cast of wingers of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell . Defenseman Erik Karlsson also remains with the team.
However, the potential roster surrounding the top of the lineup is in great flux. Pittsburgh Hockey Now previewed the 21 forwards with a legitimate chance to earn a roster spot out of training camp/preseason, and then Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas added one more: forward Robby Fabbri .
Yes, there are 22 forwards in camp who could and have been on an NHL roster, from mid-20s Montreal Canadiens castoff Rafael Harvey-Pinard to Justin Brazeau and returning vets such as Noel Acciari and Kevin Hayes . It's going to be a full locker room for several weeks.
The blue line battle is no less crowded. The Penguins have stocked the blue line about 13 deep. Only seven or eight will get to stick around.
The most interesting battle on the blue line will be on the right side, where Dubas has stocked up. There are five right-handed defensemen who played in the NHL last season, plus 2024 second-round pick Harrison Brunicke , who could be a valuable rookie addition.
Karlsson and Letang are the clear inserts as the top two right-siders, but then there is Brunicke, whom the organization would prefer to keep in the professional ranks rather than return to the WHL, where he has–as director of player development Tom Kostopoulus admitted–outgrown juniors.
Jack St. Ivany also provides a unique skill set; he's big and uses his size well in front of his net.
However, Dubas also acquired Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba via trades. Both, and St. Ivany, would need to clear waivers if they don't make the team. Dumba, with his $3.5 million salary, was a salary dump trade by the Dallas Stars , but teams would likely claim Clifton and St. Ivany.
And there has not yet been an agreement between the NHL and CHL to allow 19-year-olds to play in the AHL this season (the new rule allowing one per team begins next season), so it's NHL or bust for Brunicke.
We got a good look at Brunicke in the Prospects Challenge last weekend in Buffalo.
September 18
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
2:00-3:30 PM – Group C Practice
September 19
8:45-10:15 AM – Group B Practice
1:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group C Practice
2:00-3:30 PM – Group A Practice
And here we go, from the last addition to the longest tenured, Fabbri to Crosby:
The post IT BEGINS! Penguins Training Camp Day 1 Schedule, Roster, & Lineup Debate appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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