The Pittsburgh Penguins made a small trade but it could have big implications in the near future. Pittsburgh and GM Kyle Dubas acquired left wing/ right wing Oliver Okuliar from the Florida Panthers in exchange for disgruntled defenseman Emil Pieniniemi as he goes to the Panthers. Okuliar immediately signed a 1-year, 2-way deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $850,000.
Who is the newest Pegnuin?
Okuliar is a 26-year-old who spent last season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Before that he spent the 2024/25 season with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL), posting 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points and 119 penalty minutes in 69 games. In 25/26, he spent the season with SKELLEFTEA AIK of the SHL, posting 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points and 38 penalty minutes in 38 games. He also played in 11 games with Slovakia International, recording three goals and six assists for nine points and 10 penalty minutes in 11 games.
Okuliar is a solid two-way player and can combine offense with a strong physical game. He has the type of game Pittsburgh and Kyle Dubas would love going forward, bringing intensity to the middle-six. He is a dual threat, scoring goals along with amazing passing skills.
Where does Okuliar fit in?
For Pittsburgh, Okuliar is likely to spend the upcoming season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He has played in the AHL before so he does not need time to get fully adjusted. He should get plenty of ice time as the Penguins see him as a future call-up in the near future. The NHL Penguins do have three forwards (Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, and Kevin Hayes) who are unrestricted free agents (UFA) and if they do not sign he could be up sooner than later if he performs well.
When he does reach Pittsburgh, where does he fit in within the lineup? He has a well-rounded game that presents well in the NHL. He has the type of game that could keep him in the NHL based on his style and play in the offensive zone. Depending on what happens between now and his NHL debut, he could be a second-line player that stays in Pittsburgh long-term. Okuliar has been productive everywhere he has played and not suffered in his play from reaching higher levels of competition so the NHL may be no different. Adjustment to the NHL game is necessary but he catches on quickly. He likes to stir things up but he is also offensively and defensively responsible.
The Penguins forward depth chart is not scary or long. This move by Dubas is a good one because he is a player the Penguins could use at the NHL level and he is only 26, plenty of time to make a mark in the league. He is not going to be an elite player, but he will be a player that is consistent and the team can rely on to help them long-term. Okuliar will have a better shot at making the Penguins long-term, something he did not have in Florida. This is also a shot for him to reinvent himself with a new team, new organization, and new surroundings. This could be an opening that Okuliar and the Penguins need to be serious contenders in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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