Penguins Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines- Kulak Trade, Contributions A Plenty & More

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a strong first week back after the Olympic break, getting points in all three of their matchups last week (Feb. 26- March 1), going 2-0-1. This was without captain Sidney Crosby in the lineup, who is currently out with a lower-body injury. They have seen strong play from their depth in the lineup, and will look for more of that as they push for a playoff spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Brett Kulak/ Sam Girard Trade

Last week, general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas pulled off a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, sending defenseman Brett Kulak to the Avalanche for defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick. While the move may not be earth-shattering, it does add another draft pick to the stockpile that Dubas has accrued since taking over the reins back in 2023. Kulak is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), while Girard is under contract through next season. The return of Girard and a second-round pick is yet another strong move Dubas has made as GM of the Penguins.

In the two games Girard has played in a Penguins jersey, he has yet to tally a point, but has been paired up with Kris Letang, basically taking Kulak’s spot in the lineup. He has played over 17 minutes in both games and should be a solid partner for Letang the rest of the season.

Big Week Ahead

With the Penguins entrenched in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, every game is a big one from here on out. They will also be playing three times against teams trying to stay in the hunt this week(Boston twice, Buffalo once). Taking on a hot Sabres team will not be an easy task for the Penguins, but staying the course with the way they have played as of late should help them push for wins in the big matchups this week.

This week could go a long way toward determining the chances the Penguins have of making the playoffs. A successful week will set them up in a great position, but struggling to get at least a single point in these matchups will put them in a tighter spot come the home stretch of the regular season.

First Year Penguins Stepping Up Big

Coming into the season, Dubas had signed a couple of players that many viewed as potential players who could be rentals for playoff teams come the trade deadline. But, given how things have worked out to this point, players like Anthony Mantha (one-year contract), Justin Brazeau (two-year contract), and other depth players have stepped up. That trend continued this past week with the absence of Crosby, as the aforementioned players, along with 2025 first-round pick Benjamin Kindel and Egor Chinakhov, all had big weeks for the team. Chinakhov has been great since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring the most goals of any Penguin (seven).

To continue to succeed and “tread water” until Crosby returns to the lineup, the Penguins will need to continue to get strong play from players in their first year with the organization. Up to this point, the collective group of new Penguins has combined for 73 goals, which is the most of any team in the NHL this season.

Penguins Schedule (March 2- March 8)