Key departures
Anthony Mantha, F: Returning from ACL surgery that ended his 2024-25 season after 13 games, Mantha rebounded with an NHL career-high 64 points and 33 goals in his lone season with the Penguins. He signed a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 15. … Parker Wotherspoon, D: Karlsson’s defense partner throughout last season, Wotherspoon was traded to Vegas in the trade for Korczak. He will come off a League career-high 30 points (three goals, 27 assists) in 80 games. … Stuart Skinner, G: After being acquired in a trade that sent goalie Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12, Skinner was 12-9-5 with a 2.99 goals-against average and .885 save percentage in 27 starts as part of a tandem with Arturs Silovs. He signed a two-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1. … Noel Acciari, F: Arguably Pittsburgh’s best penalty-killer last season, Acciari signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1.
On the cusp
Sergei Murashov, G: Pegged as Pittsburgh’s potential No. 1 goalie of the future, the 22-year-old was 1-1-2 with a 2.56 GAA, .897 save percentage and one shutout in his first five NHL games (four starts) last season. He was 24-9-4 with a 2.20 GAA, .919 save percentage and four shutouts in 38 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League and 8-7-0 with a 2.11 GAA, .931 save percentage and one shutout during the Calder Cup Playoffs. … Harrison Brunicke, D: The 20-year-old started last season with the Penguins, scoring one goal in nine games before returning to Kamloops of the Western Hockey League. Selected in the second round (No. 44) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Brunicke could begin this season in the AHL before earning a way back to Pittsburgh. … Rutger McGroarty, F: The 22-year-old has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 32 games across two seasons with Pittsburgh since being acquired in a trade with Winnipeg on Aug. 22, 2024. This season could be pivotal for the development of McGroarty, a former first-round pick (No. 14) in 2022.