Now that we’re embedded in the post-Europe trip lull this week, there’s some time to kill. The Pittsburgh Penguins have completed 19 games of the season, a virtual quarter of the 2025-26 campaign. It would have been nicer for 20 games and a round number, but we’ll work with the cards dealt to give grades for the first quarter of the season based on what has gone down.
Evgeni Malkin, A+: Evgeni Malkin has already almost gotten to half his 2024-25 production when he only produced 50 points last season (in 68 games) by putting up 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists) in the first 19 games of the season. Malkin’s skating looks noticeably better than recent previous years, his energy is up, the confidence is sky high; it’s been a fantastic start for him.
Sidney Crosby, A+: Crosby has set and early full-season pace for 52 goals by scoring 12 times in the first 19 games, which would only be a career-high at the ripe old age of 38. Even if there’s some drop-off in the next 75% of the season, it’s just astounding how little Crosby has slowed down. He’s still among the absolute very best players in the game, despite now being old enough to reasonably be the father of players that are now coming into the league.
Justin Brazeau, A+: Hot streaks happen every now and then, but I can’t believe that Justin Brazeau had it in him to score 12 points in his first 12 games as a Penguin. The shots won’t go in at the same rate when he returns from injury but little else about his start looked like a fluke or like he didn’t belong in a scoring line role.
Arturs Silovs, A+: Despite relatively low workload with the goalie rotation (or maybe because of the smart usage..) Silovs is top-10 in the NHL in Goals Saved Above Average and tops in the league in per game. Given his prior NHL track record (spotty), there was no telling how he might look. So far you really couldn’t ask for much more — besides being poor in shootouts. Then again, Silovs was the primary reason the Pens even made it to the shootout in many of those games. He’s been spectacular and you just have to hope the magic doesn’t dry up.
Ben Kindel, A: Even less believable is that a non-top 10 pick stepping into the NHL months after being drafted and legitimately be one of the best players on the ice. Kindel’s attention to detail and defensive ability is great, his puck skills are there, the future is bright but the present already is here.
Erik Karlsson, A: Have loved Karlsson’s game, for the most part. This is the player the Pens thought they were getting two years ago. His skating is still among the very elite in the game, his puck moving is immeasurably important. Karlsson’s surviving as a first choice PK’er and thriving on the power play. There’s the occasional misplay and adventure in his own zone, but all in all he’s carrying a lot of the load and performing spectactularly.
Anthony Mantha, A-: Mantha has been known to be a streaky and inconsistent player over his career that’s been filled with peaks and valleys, and I do worry he’s cooling off a bit as we get to this point of the season. Mantha has three points (2G+1A) in seven November games after an October where he scored 11 points (6G+5A) in 12 games. In totality, it’s impossible to say anything other than Mantha has been a great add for the Pens so far.
Ryan Shea, A-: Against all odds and reasoning, Shea looks like a top-four defenseman. He’s already set modest career highs in goals (2), assists (6) and points (8). He’s a fine player, has some moments but also has been able to survive in a huge role and has been assertive in the offensive zone with an impressive six primary 5v5 points. Something to be said for that. Shea’s been impressive, and a standout in a team full of over-achievers and surprising efforts in the first quarter, Shea is right there at the top of the list.
Tristan Jarry, A-: If you just didn’t know about last season, Jarry’s 5-2-0 start with a .911 save percentage might not appear that special. But considering last year was such a disaster, it’s been a great performance for Jarry to get a reset and look like a very capable NHL goaltender again. Shame he got hurt to derail what was becoming a very nice story.
Parker Wotherspoon, B+: Wotherspoon had been considered a fairly decent player without an opportunity for a big role. Well, he has a big role now and has been mostly fine (or better) as a top-pair player and partner to Erik Karlsson, which isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. Unspectacular but perfectly serviceable so far, and perhaps even a step above that as a downright good performer that has provided a lot of stability, in fairness Wotherspoon is a whisker away from an A grade.
Bryan Rust, B+: I gotta agree with Gretz’s somewhat recent take that Rust hasn’t been the best this season at times. It’s been uneven, yet Rust still has managed to put up 15 points in 17 games and his presence and skill has been badly needed for a team that’s gone through injury of some of their top wingers. Rust will have a few choppy shifts but then you look up at the end of the game and he’s probably found the scoresheet and also made a nice play or two along the way.
Connor Dewar, B+: Dewar has been great to start the year. He’s about the ideal fourth line player where you know what you’ll get effort wise and he’s got the hands to pop in some goals when he heats up (four goals). You can put him out for penalty kills and defensive-heavy zone starts and he’ll handle it just fine.
Rickard Rakell, B: Thought Rakell was OK, kinda similar to Rust in that the points were there (3G+5A in nine games) but sometimes the inputs were not always wonderful. Then Rakell got hurt when a puck hit his hand, can’t do much about that. Decent start, there’s not much to go too crazy about in either direction so we’ll just go with a B and hope he heals up quickly.
Blake Lizotte, B: Lately it’s been a better grade, it didn’t start that was as much at the beginning of season for Lizotte. Like Dewar, he’s a perfect fourth line player, very capable and is consistently going to give a tremendous effort.
Noel Acciari, B-: I’ve liked Acciari at times, he can get a bad rap since he’s old and slow but there’s always a place in the lineup for him when he’s healthy due to his physicality and defensive acumen. When the fourth line was at its best this season, Acciari was a big part of it.
Filip Hallander, C: Hallander was fine doing his Dominik Simon impression on the top line for a handful of games. His skating and play away from the puck has been decent, his ability to score (1G+3A in 13 games) hasn’t provided a lot.
Tommy Novak, C: His point production has been decent (2G+5A) but he hasn’t made much of an impact. Just kinda guy on the team, which is fine since a team needs those types too. There’s something quiet about Novak where you can go a week or two without really noticing him too much. He’s been fine, but not too much better than that.
Kris Letang, C: Letang is a difficult player to grade, there’s a lot of mixed bag items to sort through. He’s been on the ice for the most 5v5 goals for among defenders (16) in an offensively slanted role, yet also the most goals against (14). Letang’s skills are eroding with age, which hurts to the eye to see. Yet the team has been effective while he’s been on the PK (yielding only one goal in his 36 minutes). At times he’s been just fine, at others it has been rocky.
Harrison Brunicke, C-: It’s impressive for a teenage defenseman to be at or near NHL quality at all, but putting that aside the results have only been OK and sometimes less than that. The Pens have to figure out what the best plan to manage him will be for his long-term future, and being a regular NHL player at this point doesn’t quite look like the right spot.
Ville Koivunen, D+: Koivunen could be a victim of increased expectations after finishing with seven assists in eight games last season. He’s only managed two points in 11 games this year. The effort is there and he’s been going to the net but he hasn’t been rewarded with his first career goal yet.
Philip Tomasino, D: No goals and one assist in nine games, Tomasino has floated down to the fringes of the lineup. You’d think he would need a strong showing the near future before the team gets healthy again to keep a spot, we haven’t seen it yet.
The rest have too slight of samples to dig into at this time. Obviously the beginning of Sergei Murashov’s career has been extremely impressive and the sky looks like the limit. Other depth defenders like Matt Dumba, Connor Clifton, Ryan Graves and Caleb Jones have had good and bad moments but mostly survived. Veterans like Kevin Hayes, Danton Heinen and Joona Koppanen have definitely dressed for a few games but that’s about it.
Overall, the team must be thrilled with the start. They have the top power play in the NHL, a top-5 penalty kill and some fantastic goaltending performances across the board no matter which of the three netminders that have played. That’s put them in a great spot coming out of the gates and given some life and excitement for the second quarter of the season.