The Pittsburgh Penguins have completed the bulk of their offseason tasks, though the period is not yet concluded.
This situation is typical for a team in late July. President of hockey operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas has signed new forwards, reshaped portions of the defense, finalized most restricted free‑agent contracts, and assembled a roster that appears ready for training camp. Most of the intensive work is now behind them.
The remaining queries are more focused. Some involve contracts, others concern roster composition, and still others are broader strategic concerns that may influence camp, the trade deadline, or next season.
A recent mid‑summer checklist shows that Pittsburgh does not have many mandatory moves before camp. Nevertheless, “not much” does not equal “nothing.” Ville Koivunen remains unsigned, the rights situation for Cruz Lucius is nearing its deadline, and the roster still features a crowded forward group and an unconventional defensive configuration.
Below are five key offseason questions confronting the Penguins.
1. What Happens With Ville Koivunen?
Ville Koivunen represents the most prominent pending contract.
The Penguins extended a qualifying offer to Koivunen alongside several other restricted free agents earlier in the offseason. While most of that group has already been addressed, Koivunen remains unsigned. His restricted free‑agent status affords Pittsburgh control, and the qualifying offer is set at $850,000.
This is unlikely to evolve into a complex negotiation unless unforeseen circumstances arise. Koivunen possesses limited leverage, and the Penguins have strong incentives to retain him. The more compelling question is not merely whether he signs, but what role he will occupy once the agreement is finalized.
Koivunen’s trajectory to the NHL already appeared congested before the summer, and the competition has intensified. Pittsburgh has signed Andrei Kuzmenko, Nicholas Robertson, Hendrix Lapierre, and other forwards while retaining several veterans. Meanwhile, players such as Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, and Avery Hayes are pushing for spots from the AHL.
Pittsburgh’s development plan for Koivunen still lacks clarity. He possesses talent, and his AHL production has kept him in the conversation, yet the NHL roster offers few clear openings. Securing his signature is straightforward, but identifying a suitable opportunity may prove more challenging.
If Koivunen returns to Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton, the organization must ensure he receives meaningful minutes rather than merely waiting for injuries. Should he impress during camp, the Penguins will need to be candid about whether a spot exists for him.
2. Does Cruz Lucius Leave the Organization?
Cruz Lucius presents a distinct offseason question that may already be nearing its conclusion.
Lucius currently sits on Pittsburgh’s reserve list, but he will become an unrestricted free agent on August 15. According to PensBurgh’s checklist, he is expected to sign elsewhere after that date, making the situation feel less like a negotiation and more like an anticipated departure.
The Penguins obtained Lucius as part of the Jake Guentzel trade, so losing him for nothing would not be ideal. However, such outcomes are not unexpected. Prospect‑rights situations can become complex when a player does not envision a clear future with the organization, especially as Pittsburgh’s system has evolved since that trade.
The context matters most. Lucius’s departure would be more painful if the prospect pool still seemed thin, but it is far richer than it was a few years ago. Dubas has added Ben Kindel, McGroarty, Koivunen, Sergei Murashov, Owen Pickering, Bill Zonnon, Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck, Tomas Galvas, and several other young players who now shape the system.
Pittsburgh’s prospect reset under Dubas has added depth, making a potential Lucius exit easier to absorb. That does not diminish its significance. Teams naturally want to retain as many useful young assets as possible.
Nevertheless, if Lucius no longer perceives a clear path in Pittsburgh, the organization may need to accept his departure and move forward. The broader lesson is that acquired prospects only matter if they ultimately fit within the development structure.
3. Has Dubas Finished Adding?
The Penguins may be largely finished, but Dubas should keep flexibility for one more move if the right opportunity arises.
Pittsburgh has already added several players, including Kuzmenko, Robertson, Lapierre, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Kaedan Korczak, Declan Carlile, David Gustafsson, Oliver Okuliar, and others. The front office has not been idle, and it has avoided massive long‑term commitments, preserving future flexibility.
The key question is whether this group is truly balanced.
The current Penguins forward depth chart shows more bodies than clear roles. PensBurgh noted that a realistic top‑12 can be built without Lapierre or Justin Brazeau, and that several young options may remain blocked unless injuries or trades create openings.
A trade could make sense if it clears a forward spot and bolsters the left side of the defense. PensBurgh’s checklist highlighted that moving a forward for a defenseman would improve roster balance. While not urgent, the issue should not be ignored.
The Penguins do not need another move merely for activity; they may still require one to improve structure.
4. Which 2027 Free Agents Will Appear on Trade‑Watch Lists?
Some of Pittsburgh’s most significant remaining questions may not pertain to this offseason at all; they may relate to the next one.
The Penguins have several players entering pivotal contract years. PensBurgh highlighted Brazeau and Tommy Novak as entering the final season of their deals, while Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell remain under contract through 2028 and continue to surface in trade speculation. The bigger names are even more complex.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson each have contract situations that could shape the franchise’s next chapter. Crosby’s case is unique given his importance to the organization. Malkin is entering the season at 40 years old, and Karlsson’s trade complexity is heightened by his age, contract, and no‑trade clause.
This makes Pittsburgh’s season direction critical. If the Penguins exceed expectations, Dubas may be more patient with pending decisions. If they underperform, the trade‑watch list will expand rapidly.
Novak and Brazeau merit monitoring because they are not franchise icons, and their upcoming contracts may not align with Pittsburgh’s long‑term plan. If either becomes a valuable trade chip, the Penguins must decide whether retaining him benefits the present more than moving him aids the future.
The same broader logic applies to veterans. Pittsburgh’s trade‑candidate conversation persists. Rust, Rakell, and Karlsson each bring different levels of value and complication. The Penguins do not need to move any of them now, but the season could compel tougher choices.
That is why the quiet part of the offseason matters; decisions made now can affect trade leverage later.
5. Is the Current Depth Chart Sufficient?
The final question is both simple and challenging: is this roster good enough?
The Penguins now have more options, more young players, and heightened competition, yet they still have unresolved issues at center, on the left side of defense, and in goal.
Pittsburgh’s forward group could be deeper, but it also looks crowded. The center position behind Crosby still lacks definition. The young goalie room shows upside, but Artūrs Šilovs, Murashov, and Joel Blomqvist do not yet provide the same proven full‑season certainty as a veteran starter. On defense, the right side features Karlsson, Kris Letang, Korczak, and van Riemsdyk, while the left side leans heavily on Samuel Girard and a collection of less settled options.
That imbalance represents one of the most important roster questions. PensBurgh’s depth‑chart analysis described the left side as thin and noted that Pittsburgh now has a surplus of right‑shot defensemen. Such a configuration could work if the Penguins are comfortable using a player on his off side, though it is not a conventional construction.
Training camp battles should answer part of this question. If Koivunen, McGroarty, Pickering, or another young player forces the issue, Pittsburgh could look deeper than its paper depth suggests. If the battles remain unsettled, Dubas may need to revisit the market.
Penguins Still Have Work to Monitor
The Penguins are no longer facing a lengthy offseason to‑do list. Most major matters have been addressed, which is positive.
The remaining questions remain significant.
Koivunen requires a contract and a defined role. Lucius’s rights situation is nearly at its deadline. Dubas must decide whether the roster needs one additional structural move. Several players could become trade‑watch names as their contract years progress. The depth chart must still demonstrate it can hold up once training camp begins.
This is the quiet phase of the NHL calendar, but Pittsburgh is not finished evaluating itself. The organization has created options; now it must turn those options into answers.