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The Pittsburgh Penguins have some significant decisions to make in the offseason. At the moment, the team has several key players, including future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin, set to become free agents in the summer. Despite nearing 40, Malkin has expressed his desire to keep playing. The two sides are expected to reach an agreement on a new deal once the 2025-26 season ends.

The superstar, however, is not the only important piece of Pittsburgh’s puzzle with a precarious future. Yegor Chinakhov, Stuart Skinner, and Anthony Mantha are also among the group in their final year under contract. Mantha, in particular, has turned out to be one of the signings of the season for the Penguins. The veteran forward previously signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to play in Pittsburgh.

Despite the modest salary, Mantha is currently third on the team with 52 total points. As the Penguins push towards a favorable playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the forward has proven to be a key player for the team. In fact, the winger has racked up seven points in his last five games. This all came as superstar Sidney Crosby is sidelined with an injury, and Malkin has only just returned to the lineup.

The Athletic’s Josh Yohe cannot see how Pittsburgh can watch Mantha leave after the impressive season. “I don’t think the Penguins will let Anthony Mantha walk quietly this summer,” writes Yohe. “They’ll make an offer to the pending unrestricted free agent forward. I have no doubt. He’s a huge part of this team. At 31, he isn’t a kid, but he isn’t old.”

Pittsburgh Penguins are Unlikely to Trade Away Erik Karlsson This Summer

GettyErik Karlsson has been linked with a move away from Pittsburgh for months.

Potentially tying down Mantha with a contract extension will be a crucial bit of business for the Penguins. Outside of pending free agents, Pittsburgh also has to address Erik Karlsson’s future this summer. There has been plenty of speculation regarding the veteran blueliner since his arrival in 2023. He currently has one more year remaining on his massive $10 million AAV contract.

After a relatively disappointing start to his Penguins career, the defenseman has been rejuvenated this season. As of March 18, Karlsson has an impressive 49 points in 62 games during the current campaign. His 42 assists are currently the eighth-most in the NHL among blueliners. The figure is tied with Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy.

Both Yohe and Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz believe that the Penguins will avoid trading the veteran during the offseason. In fact, the club could even offer Karlsson a new contract. “Though anything is possible, I don’t believe [a trade] will happen,” says Yohe. “If anything, I think it’s more likely the Penguins offer him a couple more years.”

Penguins GM Looking to Keep Core Group Together

Karlsson, Malkin, and Mantha have clearly become incredibly important players for the Penguins. Potentially losing the three stars this summer would be a massive loss for the club. The trio has combined to rack up 151 combined points on the 2025-26 season. This figure represents nearly a quarter of all points scored by Pittsburgh on the campaign.

Penguins’ president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has been a big part of the team’s resurgence. The move to bring in Karlsson was one of his first trades after joining the team. He also took a chance on Mantha when other teams resisted. Dubas will now look to keep the core group together beyond the current campaign.

Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore

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