5 Young Penguin Player Projections Entering 2026-27

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ youth movement cannot stay theoretical forever.

President of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas has added young players, rebuilt parts of the prospect pool, and created more internal competition than Pittsburgh had a few years ago. The next step is harder. The Penguins need some of those players to stop being possibilities and start becoming reliable NHL pieces.

That is why the 2026-27 season is so important. Pittsburgh still has Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and other veterans carrying major responsibility, but the roster will not move forward unless younger players begin taking over more of the workload. The Penguins do not need every young player to break out at once. They do need two or three of them to beat expectations.

A recent young-player projection discussion centered on several Penguins who could shape the season. Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Nicholas Robertson, Sergei Murashov, and Rutger McGroarty all have different paths, but each could change Pittsburgh’s ceiling if things break right.

Here are five young player projections entering 2026-27.

1. Ben Kindel: 20 Goals, 48 Points

Ben Kindel is the easiest player to start with because he has already done more than most expected. The Penguins did not need to imagine his NHL future last season. They watched him become part of the present.

Kindel finished his rookie year with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 regular-season games. That put him at 0.45 points per game. A 48-point projection over 84 games would move him to 0.57 points per game, which is real growth without asking for a massive sophomore leap.

The goal projection is also intentionally modest. Getting to 20 goals means adding only three goals to last season’s total while playing a slightly longer schedule. That feels reasonable if his ice time climbs, if he gets more offensive-zone usage, or if he earns steadier power-play work. The points projection is more aggressive because it assumes his playmaking grows as he becomes more comfortable with NHL pace and spacing.

The biggest variable is deployment. Kindel can play center or wing, and that versatility gives head coach Dan Muse options. If he stays on the wing, the offensive path may be cleaner. If Pittsburgh gives him more center responsibility, the point total could become harder to reach, but his long-term value might grow faster.

A sophomore dip remains possible because young players rarely develop in a straight line. Still, Kindel’s rookie production, contract value, and role flexibility make 20 goals and 48 points a fair target if he earns more responsibility.

2. Egor Chinakhov: 27 Goals, 58 Points

Egor Chinakhov is difficult to project because his Pittsburgh sample was strong enough to make almost any number feel possible.

After arriving from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chinakhov produced 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins. That pace would translate to roughly 35 goals and 70 points over 84 games. The projection here intentionally pulls him below that rate because maintaining a post-trade heater for a full season is difficult.

A 27-goal, 58-point season would still be a major win. It would put Chinakhov at 0.69 points per game, down from his Pittsburgh pace but high enough to confirm that last season was more than a change-of-scenery surge. It would also justify the Penguins treating him like a real top-nine scoring piece rather than a short-term breakout story.

His three-year Penguins contract carries a $6.25 million average annual value (AAV), which changes the standard. Chinakhov is no longer a low-cost surprise. He is being paid like someone Pittsburgh expects to drive offense.

The projection assumes he keeps a meaningful offensive role but does not play at last season’s exact pace. If he spends heavy minutes with Crosby or Malkin, 30 goals becomes realistic. If the forward group gets crowded and his minutes become less stable, the number could fall into the low 20s. Either way, his first full Penguins season will help reveal whether Dubas found a long-term scoring piece.

3. Nicholas Robertson: 21 Goals, 42 Points

Nicholas Robertson does not need to become a star for his first Penguins season to work. He needs to become a defined top-nine scorer.

Robertson signed a two-year Penguins contract with a $3.25 million AAV after coming over from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The deal gives him security, but it also gives Pittsburgh two seasons to find out whether his shot can translate in a larger role.

He had 16 goals and 32 points in 78 games last season, setting career highs across the board. A projection of 21 goals and 42 points asks him to move from 0.41 points per game to exactly 0.50 points per game over an 84-game season. That jump is meaningful, but it is not unreasonable if he gets more consistent top-nine usage than he had in Toronto.

The goal total comes from a simple role-based expectation. Robertson already reached 16 goals without being a full-time offensive centerpiece. Five more goals are realistic if he earns power-play touches, plays with more skilled linemates, and becomes one of Pittsburgh’s preferred shooting options. The assist total is more cautious because his game still leans heavily toward finishing rather than driving offense.

Pittsburgh’s Robertson role question is not only about scoring. He has to become reliable enough away from the puck to stay in the lineup when he is not finishing chances. If that happens, the Penguins could have a useful young winger at a manageable number.

The risk is roster congestion. Chinakhov, Andrei Kuzmenko, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Kindel, McGroarty, and Ville Koivunen all need opportunity. Robertson can beat this projection if his shot separates him early. If he blends into the crowd, he may fall short despite having the talent for more.

4. Sergei Murashov: 18 NHL Starts, .905 Save Percentage

Sergei Murashov is the boldest projection because young goalies are difficult to forecast. His ceiling is obvious, but the timeline remains uncertain.

Murashov was one of the best goalies in the American Hockey League (AHL) last season. He ranked third in the league with a 2.20 goals-against average and .919 save percentage (SV%) in 38 regular-season appearances for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, then helped drive a long playoff run. That performance moved him from interesting prospect to legitimate NHL challenger.

The projection is 18 NHL starts with a .905 SV% because it splits the difference between patience and opportunity. Eighteen starts would not make Murashov the full-time answer, but it would mean he forced his way into Pittsburgh’s season. It assumes he either wins the backup job, earns a call-up during the year, or takes advantage if Artūrs Šilovs or Joel Blomqvist does not provide enough stability.

The SV% also builds in a realistic adjustment. A .919 mark in the AHL is excellent, but NHL shooters, traffic, lateral plays, and defensive breakdowns create a different test. Dropping that expectation to .905 gives Murashov room to look like a promising rookie without pretending the transition will be seamless.

The Penguins’ young goalie questions begin with Šilovs, but Murashov may have the highest upside in the organization. If Šilovs is steady, Pittsburgh can be patient. If the NHL crease gets messy, the young Russian could force his way into more starts quickly.

There is risk in moving too fast. Goaltenders can look ready in the AHL and still need more time against NHL shooters. A strong camp should earn Murashov a serious look, but the Penguins should not build the entire crease around him before he proves he can handle it.

5. Rutger McGroarty: 14 Goals, 31 Points

Rutger McGroarty has to win a role before he can chase a number. That makes his projection more complicated than the others.

McGroarty had six points in 24 NHL games last season, but his AHL production kept his stock from slipping too far. He posted 34 points in 30 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and added nine points in 15 playoff games. That production suggests he can push for a real NHL job, even if his first Pittsburgh look did not produce much offense.

The projection assumes he does not immediately get the same offensive runway as Kindel, Chinakhov, or Robertson. A 14-goal, 31-point season would probably require something like 65-75 games in a middle-six or third-line role. That puts him in the 0.40-to-0.45 points-per-game range, which is a reasonable step from his NHL sample without assuming he carries his AHL pace directly into Pittsburgh.

His goal total is tied to style. McGroarty is not only a perimeter shooter. He can get inside, win battles, and play a heavier game than several other young Penguins forwards. If he earns trust through forechecking and details, the scoring chances should follow. If the coaching staff sees him as a limited-minute energy player, 14 goals becomes harder.

The challenge is opportunity. McGroarty’s crowded NHL path remains one of the most important young-player stories entering camp. Pittsburgh has added forwards, committed to Robertson, kept Chinakhov in a major role, and still has veterans ahead of him.

If McGroarty starts in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, this projection becomes difficult to hit. If he wins a middle-six job out of camp, 14 goals and 31 points are reachable. The gap between those outcomes may depend on whether he can make Muse trust him away from the puck quickly.

Penguins Need These Projections to Matter

The Penguins do not need every young player to hit these projections. They need enough growth to make the roster feel less dependent on the same veteran group.

Kindel becoming a 48-point forward would give Pittsburgh one of its clearest development wins. Chinakhov approaching 60 points would validate a major bet. Robertson scoring 20-plus goals would make his fresh start worthwhile. Murashov proving he can handle NHL starts would change the goalie plan. McGroarty carving out a real role would help ease the forward squeeze.

The Penguins’ breakout candidates entering 2026-27 are more than optimistic names on a preseason list. They are central to Pittsburgh’s path. If the young group stalls, the roster likely leans too heavily on Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, and Letang again. If two or three beat expectations, the Penguins become much more difficult to project.

Pittsburgh is not only trying to win games this season. The organization is also trying to learn which young players can become part of the next version of the roster. Kindel, Chinakhov, Robertson, Murashov, and McGroarty will help answer that.