Pens Points: Offseason Mode

TL;DR

The Pittsburgh Penguins are entering offseason mode after returning to the playoffs for the first time in four years. General Manager Kyle Dubas will focus on free agents, trades, and the NHL Draft as the team looks to retool for the next season.

Key points

Pittsburgh Penguins return to playoffs for first time in four years
Kyle Dubas will evaluate free agents and explore trades
Ryan Shea and Evgeni Malkin are key free agents this offseason

Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL Draft

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 8: Ryan Shea #5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with Arturs Silovs #37 following a 5-4 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 8, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to switch into offseason mode as the Pittsburgh Penguins have a busy summer ahead as they look to continue to retool and build off the success of the 2025-26 season that saw them return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. There is plenty of work for Kyle Dubas to attend to and that work starts now as his team evaluates free agents, explore possible trade options, and prepare for the NHL Draft.

Pens Points…

With the Penguins out of the playoffs, all attentions turns to the offseason and what Kyle Dubas has plans to keep retooling the team back into a true contender. There are many avenues Dubas can pick this offseason, which should make him a busy man throughout the summer. [Pensburgh] One of the many questions to answered this summer for Kyle Dubas and his staff will be which pending free agents to resign and which to let go. Among those pending free agents is defenseman Ryan Shea who put himself in line for a big pay day with his play this season. [] Shea is just one of a handful of players who the Penguins will need to make decisions on this summer. The biggest name among the group is obviously , but Geno is far from the only player without a contract the Penguins could bring back for another run. [] Two years ago, the Penguins signed as a free agent, but not the Aho who immediately comes to mind when you hear the name. Signed to be a depth defenseman in the Penguins system, Aho did not appear in a single NHL game in his two seasons in the organization. [] Second round action is now underway in the Stanley Cup playoffs with three of the four series already through Game 1 with just Montreal/Buffalo waiting to begin. Carolina looks to have already overmatched while and should be great hockey theater. []