Penguins 2025-26 Player Grades: Expectations Exceeded By Many

At the beginning of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, many believed that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be waiting to see if the ping pong balls would bounce their way at the NHL Draft Lottery. But, after a really strong season, they found their way back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. There were plenty of players who lived up to the expectations they had built throughout their careers, while some were welcome surprises as well.

** Players who played 30 or more games are only being graded in this piece**

High Honors

LW Yegor Chinakhov

2025-26 regular season stats (with Pittsburgh): 43 games played, 18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero points

When Yegor Chinakhov was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, it was unclear what the Penguins were going to get from the 2020 first-round pick. He had shown flashes of living up to the first-rounder expectations with the Blue Jackets early on in his career, but had fallen out of favor with the team. After arriving in Pittsburgh, he seemingly built instant chemistry with fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin.

Chinakhov had a great 40-plus games in a Penguins jersey and showed throughout the season that he could take over a game with his skill. While a quiet postseason was disappointing, he has put himself in a position to find a long-term home in Pittsburgh and should get a multi-year contract this offseason as a restricted free agent (RFA).

Grade: A+

C Sidney Crosby

2025-26 regular season stats: 68 games played, 29 goals, 45 assists, 74 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, one goal, four assists, five points

The only thing that slowed down the Penguins’ captain this season was an injury that he sustained at the 2026 Winter Olympics with Canada. He continued to be the model of consistency for the team this season and put up yet another point-per-game season in his 21st NHL season. He not only led the way in points for the regular season, but also in the postseason. Had he not missed the time he did in the second half, there is no reason he would not have at least reached the 80-point mark.

Grade: A+

LW Connor Dewar

2025-26 regular season stats: 78 games played, 14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, two goals, zero assists, two points

One of a few players on the Penguins roster this season who had a career year, Connor Dewar, was great in the bottom six of the forward group. He set career highs in all three major offensive categories by a wide margin and was one of the players who stepped up to help bring the secondary offense that the lineup was missing last season. He was also one of the team’s most consistent penalty killers all season long. His strong season was rewarded with a new two-year contract with the organization earlier this month.

Grade: A+

D Erik Karlsson

2025-26 regular season stats: 75 games played, 15 goals, 51 assists, 66 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, one goal, two assists, three points

In his best offensive season since being traded to the Penguins in 2023, Erik Karlsson proved to be a massive boost for the offense from the backend this season. He led the team in power-play points (26) and was steady offensively. The defensive numbers were better than they were last season, too, and everyone knows that he has never been known to be the most “defensive” defenseman. The pairing with Parker Wotherspoon paid off for head coach Dan Muse and the team for the majority of the season.

Grade: A

C Ben Kindel

2025-26 regular season stats: 77 games played, 17 goals, 18 assists, 35 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero points

When the Penguins took Ben Kindel with the 11th pick of the first round at the 2025 Draft, there were not a whole lot of people thinking he would make the NHL roster this season. But after a strong camp and preseason, the young forward made it hard for Kyle Dubas and Dan Muse to keep him out of the lineup. Kindel had a really strong rookie season, and even when his production tapered off at times throughout the season, he still made a difference while on the ice. After turning 19 years old in April, he brings plenty of excitement and hope for the future within the organization, and being able to play a full NHL season at his age is impressive in itself.

Grade: A-

C/W Evgeni Malkin

2025-26 regular season stats: 56 games played, 19 goals, 42 assists, 61 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, two goals, one assist, three points

Along with Crosby, Malkin continued to prove that he can put up strong numbers even as he hits the home stretch of his career. There were times when he did look a step slow, but overall, the 20-year veteran had a strong season once again for the Penguins. With over a point-per-game pace and playing with Chinakov, Malkin was a force, both in five-on-five and power play situations (22 power play points). One of the biggest questions heading into the offseason surrounding the Penguins is whether or not he will return to the only team he has played for in the NHL. It should really be a no-brainer for him to return, but time will tell.

Grade: A

RW Anthony Mantha

2025-26 regular season stats: 81 games played, 33 goals, 31 assists, 64 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero goals, one assist, one point

On a one-year deal this season, Anthony Mantha put up his healthiest season he has had in two seasons, playing in all but one regular-season game with the Penguins. He also set a career-high in goals with the 33 he had playing in the middle six of the lineup. He was great on the power play, putting up seven goals on the man-advantage, and added much-needed secondary offense in the lineup this season. He exceeded expectations after playing in only 13 games with the Calgary Flames last season. He will surely be getting paid this offseason as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) by Kyle Dubas or someone else in the league.

Grade: A+

C Tommy Novak

2025-26 regular season stats: 82 games played, 16 goals, 26 assists, 42 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero goals, two assists, two points

Having his best season point-wise in two seasons, Tommy Novak brought much-needed secondary offense to the Penguins this season. He was also strong in helping bring some energy to the bottom half of the lineup and was part of helping alleviate the burden for the top six forward group. Playing over 14:30 a night, Novak should be a fixture yet again next season in the Penguins’ lineup.

Grade: A

RW Bryan Rust

2025-26 regular season stats: 72 games played, 29 goals, 36 assists, 65 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, one goal, one assist, two points

Another model of consistency for the Penguins, Bryan Rust was once again rock solid when he was healthy and in the lineup this season. His offensive numbers were identical to last season, but where the numbers really were differnt were on the defensive side. His plus/minus went from minus-21 last season to an even plus/minus this season. While that could be attributed to the overall team defense being better for the majority of the regular season, Rust was part of that. He was second behind Karlsson in power-play points this season with 24 on the man-advantage, and at the age of 34, continued to be a key cog alongside Crosby and Rickard Rakell.

Grade: A

D Ryan Shea

2025-26 regular season stats: 80 games played, six goals, 29 assists, 35 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero goals, one assist, one point

In my by far the best season in his young career with the Penguins (three seasons), Ryan Shea took a bigger role in the lineup this year, playing over 18 minutes a night and playing solid defensively (plus-30). His offensive numbers were great for a player who had only recorded 20 points in his first two NHL seasons. As a pending UFA, it will be interesting to see if the Penguins decide to bring him back or roll with some of their prospects who could be pushing for a spot in the NHL (Harrison Brunicke, Owen Pickering). Either way, the way that Shea played this season sets him up to earn a raise on his next contract after making only $900,000 this season.

Grade: A

D Parker Wotherspoon

2025-26 regular season stats: 80 games played, three goals, 27 assists, 30 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero goals, one assist, one point

After signing with the Penguins this last offseason, Parker Wotherspoon was viewed more as a depth player for the Penguins from the backend of the ice. But, in a career season for Wotherspoon, he was one of the team’s most consistent defensemen. He proved to be a great partner for Erik Karlsson, playing a more “stay at home” style of game, but he proved he could chip in on the offensive side of the game as well. On a contract that pays him only $1 million a year, he has proved to be a steal for Dubas and the Penguins from their free agent signings from the past offseason.

Grade: A+

Honors

W Justin Brazeau

2025-26 regular season stats: 64 games played, 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: One game played, zero points

After a great start to his time with the Penguins, where he tallied 11 points in the first 10 games of the regular season, Justin Brazeau came back to earth as the season progressed. Playing 64 games, he did bring some physicality to the lineup when he was healthy and was strong alongside Anthony Mantha. An injury shortened his playoffs, which definitely did not help the Penguins’ forward grouping, but a stronger overall season would have helped him earn a higher grade.

Grade: B+

C Noel Acciari

2025-26 regular season stats: 67 games played, 13 goals, 12 assists, 25 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero goals, one assist, one point

Along with Dewar, Noel Acciari was one of the players in the bottom six who stepped up in a strong way for the Penguins this season. The veteran forward was strong in both five-on-five play and on the penalty kill. His offensive numbers were great for a bottom-six player, but with the aforementioned Dewar getting a new contract and Acciari being a pending UFA, there is a strong chance he will not be back with the Penguins next season.

Grade: B+

C Blake Lizotte

2025-26 regular season stats: 55 games played, seven goals, 12 assists, 29 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, zero goals, two assists, two points

Injuries have limited Blake Lizotte in his first two seasons with the Penguins, but he took advantage of the ice time and chances he was given yet again this season. He was a spark plug in the lineup and was part of a bottom six that helped get the team to the playoffs. In the playoffs, he was all over the ice and was a pest for opponents to play for. Had it not been for only playing 55 games this season, his grade would have been higher.

Grade: B+

W Rickard Rakell

2025-26 regular season stats: 60 games played, 24 goals, 24 assists, 48 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, one goal, three assists, four points

Had it not been for a fractured hand that he suffered in October, Rickard Rakell would likely end up being part of the “High Honors” group. He missed a total of 22 games this season and still put up a strong showing offensively, with the 48 points he tallied. He was strong on the power play and was the team’s second-highest playoff scorer behind Crosby. If he can stay healthy, which he has struggled to do over the past few seasons, there is no reason to doubt he can replicate his numbers from last season when he played 80 games and racked up a career-high 70 points, including 35 goals.

Grade: A-

G Artūrs Šilovs

2025-26 regular season stats: 38 starts, 19-12-8 record, 3.07 goals-against average (GAA), .888 save percentage (SV%), two shutouts
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Three starts, 2-1 record, 1.52 GAA, .939 SV%

After being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in the offseason, the hope was that Artūrs Šilovs could ride the momentum from a Calder Cup (American Hockey League Championship) with the Abbotsford Canucks into this season. There were plenty of times where he looked like a goaltender who could be the number one for the Penguins, and then there were times where the inconsistencies showed through. Overall, he had a solid regular season for the Penguins, but where his game really shone was in the playoffs. He took over the net after game three from Stuart Skinner and was great for the Penguins, playing a huge role in the team’s attempt to come back from a 3-0 series deficit.

Entering the offseason as an RFA, he should earn at least a bridge contract. With the likes of Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist on the cusp of pushing for more playing time in the NHL, Šilovs will be entering a big season next season.

Grade: B+

Players the Penguins Needed More From

D Kris Letang

2025-26 regular season stats: 74 games played, three goals, 31 assists, 34 points
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Six games played, one goal, one assist, two points

While like Karlsson in the sense that his defensive game has not necessarily been the main aspect of his game, Kris Letang’s game has gotten to the point where he has seen decreased playing time the past three seasons and struggled defensively this season. While the 34 points were better than last season’s 31, he played the fewest minutes a night he has played since the 2009-10 season. As he continues to reach the back end of his career, it has been hard for Penguins fans to see a player who has been in the organization for as long as to struggle. Had it not been for his offensive numbers, his grade would have been lower than it is.

Grade: C

G Stuart Skinner

2025-26 regular season stats (with Pittsburgh): 27 starts, 12-9-5, 2.99 GAA, .885 SV%
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: Three starts, 0-3, 3.08 GAA, .873 SV%

When the Penguins acquired Stuart Skinner from the Edmonton Oilers, most fans knew what they were going to see from the veteran netminder. He had his ups and downs in the regular season, and had some really strong games where he helped steal a couple of wins with his play. But when the playoffs came around, he struggled mightily. After the first three games, in which he looked like the goaltender who struggled with the Oilers in the same environment, he gave way to the aforementioned Silovs. As a pending UFA, he will likely not be back in a Penguins jersey next season.

Grade: C+

Strong Season With Plenty to Build On

While the season came to an unfortunate end against a bitter rival in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there were plenty of bright spots and players who had strong seasons that will give the team plenty to build off of going into next season. Mix in the crop of younger players in the system who are making their way toward being NHLers ( Brunicke, Rutger McGroarty, Murashov, Pickering), and the future could end up being very bright for the organization.