It's hard to see any way for the Pittsburgh Penguins to punch their ticket to the 2026 playoffs, even if they still have a few core players who have won championships. Still, even with bold predictions, it's hard to make a case.
But players can still set new milestones and surprise us. Sidney Crosby won't be one to throw in the towel and admit defeat, and he will take things up another level in 2025-26. There are also two youngsters who will solidify themselves as part of a new-look Penguins core. That duo will give Pens fans a lot of hope and optimism for 2026-27 and beyond.
Sidney Crosby hits 100 points for the seventh time
Even if the Penguins struggle again in 2025-26, it won't be on Sidney Crosby's watch. Crosby has hit 100 points six times throughout his Hall of Fame career, and the last three seasons saw him put up 93, 94, and 91 points, respectively.
That said, Crosby is still capable of breaking the 100-point barrier, and with a sense of urgency to try to snag at least one more playoff berth, look for Crosby to take his game up another level. He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone, but he wouldn't mind doing all he could to lead a new-look and patchwork Penguins team past expectations.
It's already a given that Crosby will enjoy a big year, but few may have him pegged in for 100 points. Still, a player of Crosby's caliber is one you can't count out.
Ville Koivunen ends up in the top three for the Calder
Ville Koivunen's NHL career is off to a hot start, with his seven assists in eight games in 2024-25. While he won't threaten an assist-per-game pace in 2025-26, the productivity he showed throughout a limited sample size means he could be in line for a half-assist per game, or 41 if he appears in all 82 contests.
Maybe he won't be a surefire goal scorer, but with his playmaking ability, Koivunen doesn't have to. He'll end the year with 15 goals and 41 assists, good for 56 points and serious consideration for the Calder.
With the Penguins potentially parting ways with players like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell during the season if they don't win early, Koivunen will get even more chances to shine. Peg him in as a key fixture to the Penguins' next-generation core.
Arturs Silovs ends the year as the No. 1 goaltender
The Penguins still have no clear-cut goaltender, and Tristan Jarry has proven time and again he's not the answer. That has left the competition for the top job in the net wide open. While the Pens have a few hopefuls to land the job, like Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov, Silovs has shown in the past that he can more than put up respectable performances.
While his final season in Vancouver was a wash, Silovs played some outstanding hockey when injuries in the crease forced him into action during the 2023-24 season. He ended the year with an 0.881 save percentage and a 2.47 GAA, before finishing a 10-game playoff run with an 0.898 save percentage, a 2.91 GAA, and a shutout.
It's also worth mentioning Silovs is only in his age-24 season, and since he held his own at such a young age, he's the best candidate to handle what could be a long season in the Steel City. And that will cement him in as the No. 1 netminder heading into 2026-27.
Even if the Penguins keep suffering, Sidney Crosby will still be on top of his game as he enters the twilight phase of his career. He could be even better, since if the Penguins hold a fire sale early, they will be turning to him often. Ville Koivunen is a player who will fill a void if that fire sale occurs, and he'll also benefit. While it could be a rough season in Pittsburgh, Arturs Silovs is no stranger to such campaigns, thanks to his time in Vancouver, and that experience will take him a long way.