Here we are. It is opening night for the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins. It has been a very long and uneventful summer for the team. Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell remain on the roster along with familiar faces like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
While summer was uneventful, training camp brought some intrigue. There is some new hope competing for regular roles on the big roster and some of them will be making their debuts tonight.
Rookie debuts
Both Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke are going to be making their NHL debuts tonight at Madison Square Garden. This is an impressive accomplishment for both players. They have played their way onto the roster for opening night with a stellar training camp
Brunicke has put together two impressive training camps in a row. While he was never in the running to stick with the big roster last year, he most definitely has a chance to stay with the Penguins this year. If he can put together solid minutes behind both Karlsson and Letang it will be his spot to lose. He also provides a little insurance for when a potential Karlsson trade goes down.
The Penguins haven’t had a lot of first round picks worth getting excited about in some time. Ben Kindel has given Penguins fans a reason to be excited. He has come in and made his mark with quality play from prospect camp throughout training camp. I do not believe he will be staying with the team for the entire year, but this opportunity was well earned. Who knows, maybe this stretch of games for Kindel doesn’t give the Penguins a choice and he earns a permanent sweater. Stranger things have happened.
Who better to lean on in a moment like this than Sidney Crosby?
Surprise Starter
The Penguins will not be going with Tristan Jarry tonight. Instead, it will be Penguins newcomer, Arturs Silovs.
I really like the decision by Dan Muse to go with Silovs. I, much like most people who follow the team, are over Tristan Jarry. He isn’t the now or the future. Silovs has put together some great stretches in the AHL playoffs (MVP) and the World Championships. The logical next step in his development is being given a steady diet of NHL starts. The Penguins are in a position where they can deal with growing pains as the standings are pretty meaningless in the big picture.
The pillars
Tonight will mark the 20th(!) season where the Penguins will have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang in the lineup. This is such an incredible constant Penguins fans have had in this very special era. It is the first time this has ever happened
Obviously, we are almost to the end of their historic run. Time is undefeated. Regardless of how the Penguins do in the standings I for one feel like it is still special to see these three play together.
Legendary leader
Sidney Crosby has been the leader of the Penguins since he was a teenager and now he is tied with one of his idols in the leadership category.
Lastly, the Penguins will be facing off against their longtime bench boss in Mike Sullivan. Coach Sullivan was the right man at the right time for the organization back when he was hired. At the present time he is not the right guy for the job. Dan Muse will seemingly embrace the new faces and new blood in the organization. Something I don’t think would have happened under Sullivan. Having Muse go up against Sullivan in his first game as an NHL bench boss is a fitting start.
Here are some of the NHL standings predictions for the upcoming season
