The return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2021–22 has not gotten off to a good start for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A lifeless 3–2 loss on home ice in Game 1 to the Philadelphia Flyers carried right over into a 3–0 shutout loss in Game 2, putting the Penguins on the ropes before they could even blink.
Not only are they down 2–0 heading to Philadelphia, but the vibes couldn’t be any worse. Pittsburgh, the NHL’s third-highest scoring team (293 goals for) in 2025–26, has been absolutely stymied, unable to even generate quality opportunities for the most part.
The Flyers deserve a lot of credit for the way they played at PPG Paints Arena. Rick Tocchet put on a coaching clinic, and the players on the ice executed his plan to perfection. There is just no time and space out there for anyone on the Penguins, and that’s where their top-heavy veteran superstar core becomes a problem.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang are all future Hockey Hall of Famers, and some of the all-time greats, and as good as they still are, they can’t do the same things they were able to do in their primes. It’s just the reality.
Garnering all of the attention every second of every shift in the postseason is hard enough for any star player to break through, but it’s almost impossible to rely on a 38-year-old, 39-year-old, and 35-year-old to do so, and lead the charge and carry the mail offensively.
Pittsburgh made the playoffs because of its improved depth and scoring throughout the lineup, but when the postseason hits, it ultimately comes down to the big guys. The first two games of the Battle of Pennsylvania have shown it’s just not realistic to consider yourself anything close to a Stanley Cup contender when your three best players are all 35 and older.
Could they flip the switch and still come back to win the series? Sure, but Saturday and Monday night were ugly, and it should reiterate to GM Kyle Dubas that this Penguins team is in desperate need of another game breaker, preferably one that’s much younger to take some pressure off the legendary core they still have in place.
Game Breakers Pittsburgh Could Target
Finding such talent is far easier said than done, but what Dubas has done in recent years puts the Penguins in a prime position to swing for the fences this summer: an abundance of cap space, a stockpile of draft picks, and a prospect pool that has both quality and quantity.
With Crosby, Malkin, and Karlsson only getting older, this is the offseason for Dubas to be ultra-aggressive. He could spend 3, 4, heck, even 5 assets to land a superstar and still have a cupboard full of future assets to work with. So who should he have his eyes on? There are a few names that stand out.
Jason Robertson
There’s been plenty of rumors around Pittsburgh’s interest in Robertson, and for good reason. A 26-year-old point-per-game winger is exactly what the Penguins need.
His future in Dallas remains somewhat uncertain as a pending RFA in line for a massive payday, and if the Stars aren’t able to give him the deal he wants, Dubas can swoop in and not only provide Robertson a big-ticket contract, but also give GM Jim Nill a package to help fill out his roster as well.
William Nylander
How about a familiar face in William Nylander? It would be the Phil Kessel trade a decade later: a polarizing yet extremely skilled right-shot winger who could flourish alongside Crosby or Malkin.
Who knows what the direction of the Toronto Maple Leafs is, so Dubas should absolutely be calling his old team to see what it would take to pry Nylander loose. For all of the Maple Leafs’ playoff shortcomings, it’s always been Nylander whose speed and skill translate to postseason production.
Top-Five Draft Pick in 2026
Everyone thought the Penguins would be drafting in the top five this summer to begin with — why not trade your way into it after a surprise playoff appearance?
Whether it’s Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, Pittsburgh needs its building-block prospect moving forward, and they have the assets to put forth a compelling package to get the chance to draft one of them. You rarely see it happen in the NHL, but if there’s a team equipped to do so, it’s Dubas and the Penguins.
Other High-End Talents
Beyond that, there are several other high-end talents who have been in the rumor mill and could be had for the right offer.
Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou’s names have been floating around forever. Elias Pettersson needs a change of scenery and could be a worthy buy-low move. Alex DeBrincat, Nico Hischier, and Drake Batherson are all entering contract years as well.
There is always buzz around player movement that never ends up coming to fruition. But in this case, Dubas knows the clock is ticking on his aging superstars, and this postseason should tell him that a big swing is needed if he truly wants to give them one more chance at a Cup.
Next: Predictions for Round 1 of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs
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