The Pittsburgh Penguins are optimistic about the 2025-26 NHL season, viewing it as a foundation for future contention after returning to the playoffs. They aim to build on their recent experiences to create a sustainable competitive window.
Key points
Pittsburgh Penguins optimistic about 2025-26 season
Team aims to build a sustainable window of contention
Penguins eliminated in first round of 2025 playoffs
Previous playoff streak lasted 16 years
Recent playoff return after four years of missing
Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL2025 NHL playoffsPhiladelphia Flyers
'There's A Lot To Build On': Penguins Confident 2025-26 Season Is Just The Starting Point For Contention
It's no secret that building a sustainable window of contention in the National Hockey League is not an easy thing to do.
But, if there is one team with any kind of authority on how that works, it's the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Of course, the sting of that loss still resonated during locker cleanout day on Friday, but there is also a sense of hope and encouragement in the air that this is not going to be the last time the Penguins contend for the playoffs with Sidney Crosby and company still in town.
"I think we took some good steps," Crosby himself said. "I think just the way we came together, the way guys stepped up individually. You look at a lot of guys who had career years, so I think that's a reflection of guys' individual play, but also as a group. I think the coaching staff, management, everyone deserves a lot of credit for that, but it's a step. So, you've got to continue to grow and get better, and it's a starting point, though, for sure.”
Veteran defenseman Kris Letang agreed, saying that there's always a certain kind of feeling around a team that's legitimately good - and one that seems to have some things figured out moving forward.
"Just the way we did it," Letang said. "There's a feeling, when you're in a room for over like six months of time and you play the game every single time, there's a feeling that gets inside of you. It was not a group that was just going out there and winning with skill. Some nights, would go their way or not. It was the pace of the game we played at and the commitment we did, playing better defensively.
Q&A
What are the Pittsburgh Penguins' goals for the 2025-26 NHL season?
The Penguins aim to build a sustainable window of contention and improve upon their recent playoff experience.
How did the Pittsburgh Penguins perform in the 2025 NHL playoffs?
The Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers after a Game 6 overtime loss.
What challenges do NHL teams face in building a competitive roster?
Building a sustainable window of contention in the NHL is challenging due to factors like player performance, injuries, and team dynamics.
How many consecutive years did the Penguins make the playoffs before their recent misses?
The Penguins made the playoffs for 16 consecutive years before missing the playoffs for three straight seasons.
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As everyone knows by now, outside expectations for the group heading into the 2025-26 season were not exactly sky-high, and it required the entire team coming together to secure its spot in the playoffs this season. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has reiterated, time and time again, that his goal is not only to build a team that can contend for the playoffs but one that can contend for the Stanley Cup sustainably.
“We have a good group in here. We have a good base," said Erik Karlsson, who is entering the final year of his contract and is eligible for an extension this summer. "Obviously, we have some room to improve, just like 31 other teams will. After this year, there will only be one that will be satisfied.
"The potential is definitely there to improve on our roster. It’s exciting times. Been having a lot of fun here lately. This year was a very positive year and definitely something that you can see the qualities that the guys in here have and this team has. It will be easier to figure out what we need."
Defenseman Ryan Shea - a pending unrestricted free agent - has been with the organization since the beginning of the 2023-24 season. He's seen the progress that the organization has made during that time at the hands of Dubas and believes the team is well on its way to a stretch of years where they'll be competing in the post-season.
"Honestly, I think Kyle's vision... he hasn't deterred from the path he's wanted to go down," Shea said. "And I think it helped our team greatly this year. He brought in a couple guys that I would say, I don't know how other teams are letting them go. But, whether it's management, the culture, or the coaching staff, this organization and this team brought the best out of players that I've never really seen before, and kudos to them.
"A lot of guys had career years, but it wasn't just because guys were playing with confidence, it's because people that are above them put the confidence in them and kind of just gave them a role and trusted them that this is a spot that you can earn and play in if you do it, and a lot of guys on the team took a big step. I'm proud of this team, proud of everyone that did that, proud of myself for this year. And, obviously, the future's a little uncertain [for me], but I think the future for the Penguins is only going up."
But, at the end of the day, it takes a lot to build a sustainable contender. There will be some tough decisions this summer - including a decision on Malkin's future - and there is likely to be a lot of movement, especially if Dubas feels the team is on the upswing.
But forward Bryan Rust knows how much belief is in the room and in the organization to chart the right way forward and keep this team in the Stanley Cup conversation for the years to come. And it starts with the day-to-day mindset of each individual and their own belief in their teammates and in themselves.
"There's a lot to build on," Rust said. "For us, the culture that we had, the mindset that we had of taking everything day-by-day and using everybody, and having a team that we rely on everybody, all four lines, all of our defensemen, all of our goalies. That's extremely important to make sure everybody knows their value in the room and knows that they're really important to the room, and to continue that as we move forward."
