The Pittsburgh Penguins want to rebuild a bit presently. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang aren’t getting any younger. Nonetheless, this team isn’t near contending for a Stanley Cup. Because of this, Pittsburgh is the one team within the NHL willing to sell its veteran players to get younger pieces in return.
Pittsburgh has acquired young players without sending out a veteran recently. Philip Tomasino and Cody Glass got here over in separate trades, though each had previously played with the Nashville Predators. Rutger McGroarty also got here over in a prospect swap with the Winnipeg Jets. These moves have helped give them young NHL talent without a direct subtraction from their roster.
Nonetheless, there are examples of the more traditional type of selling. Mainly, the Penguins trading Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2024. Guentzel helped the Hurricanes to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs that season. Meanwhile, the Penguins received a package including a roster player, three prospects, and a first-round pick.
All of that is to say that the Penguins are hoping for his or her next stars to interrupt through soon. A few of those stars have yet to affix the franchise. Of the players on the team, though, let’s take a have a look at Pittsburgh’s best potential breakout candidates.
Rutger McGroarty could play top-six minutes
As mentioned, the Penguins acquired McGroarty in a trade with the Jets last summer. McGroarty requested a trade away from Winnipeg after informing the team he wouldn’t sign a contract with them. His first taste of NHL motion had its ups and downs, however the potential is definitely there.
McGroarty played just eight games within the NHL this season. He scored a goal and added two assists to his ledger. All three points got here within the month of April in a five-game span. He spent nearly all of his season within the AHL, where he performed well. McGroarty scored 14 goals and 39 points in 60 AHL contests.
The Penguins didn’t trade Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell this summer. Because of this, the young Pittsburgh forward might want to fight for a spot up the lineup. In saying this, he has the potential and skill to play a bigger role. If he wins a job this fall, it definitely would not be surprising to see him stand up the lineup in brief order.
Penguins’ Artus Silvos has shown intriguing promise
Vancouver Canucks fans are very conversant in Arturs Silvos at this point. Silvos was an unsung hero of the team’s run within the Stanley Cup Playoffs last summer. Injuries to Thatcher Demko and Casey Desmith threw the young netminder into the highlight. And he nearly delivered a Western Conference Finals appearance.
Silvos only played 10 NHL games last season. Nonetheless, he did perform well within the AHL regular season. His best performances, though, got here within the Calder Cup Playoffs. Silvos backstopped the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup championship this summer. In 24 games, he played to an otherworldly .931 save percentage.
The Penguins traded for Silvos this offseason. He didn’t have a transparent path to a job in Vancouver. Because of this, Pittsburgh hopes he can carry this momentum over to PPG Paints Arena. The 24-year-old puckstopper likely won’t emerge as a star. But he could break out as a longtime, NHL-caliber goaltender in 2025-26.