The Pittsburgh Penguins Should Have Extra Motivation For The Next Two Years

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a slew of players who are either in the final or second-to-last year of their contract. 

Star center Evgeni Malkin is in the last year of his deal. He’s one of seven Penguins forwards who are UFAs after 2025-26. Three Pens defensemen are in the same boat. If you count players in the penultimate year of their contract, the number goes up to 10 forwards – including captain Sidney Crosby – and five defensemen, including star Erik Karlsson.

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is retooling this team, yet Crosby, Malkin and star defenseman Kris Letang seem about as deeply embedded as it gets. What Dubas has created around them is an environment where players have every motivation to have a productive year while these leaders are still playing. The team isn't devoid of talent, but it does need players at both ends of the ice to play boom-or-bust hockey if Dubas isn't tearing down the roster.

That motivation applies to boosting their offensive production. This past season, only Crosby had a point-per-game average (1.14) of at least one, and the Penguins ranked 18th in goals-for. Those numbers won’t cut it in an NHL era where offense has been on the rise overall.

If Dubas trades Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, who both recorded career-high point totals this past year, the offense will likely dry up more. But unless the Penguins get a trade return for each of them that makes the team much stronger down the line, those two will be motivated to find yet another gear. They each scored more than 30 goals in 2024-25, and Pittsburgh can do its best to take advantage of that as long as those players are around. 

Dubas is clearly hoping their depth players entering contract years or getting close to it – Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Danton Heinen, Noel Acciari, Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar – wind up thriving in pursuit of a better payday sooner rather than later. As for Malkin, he would surely want to finish what could be his last season with the Penguins on a high note by trying to reach the 83 points he put up in 2022-23.

Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

That said, don’t be fooled into thinking that just because Pittsburgh can’t put the puck in the net, they’re somehow going to be better on defense. The Penguins are worse on the back end, with 3.50 goals against per game, which ranked third-last in the NHL. This was not a good Pens team at either end of the ice.

Dubas obviously wants the team to improve up front, but if the Penguins want to surprise the NHL and compete for a playoff spot next season, they have to give their goalies a fighting chance – since the netminders couldn’t bail them out night in and night out. So they need those five defensemen who are at or near the end of their contract – Karlsson, Matt Dumba, Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea – to also step up by clamping down in their own zone and chipping in some scoring.

For much of this roster, the knowledge that their time in Pittsburgh could be almost done should provide a sense of urgency to their game. 

Crosby will be a fixture as a Penguin for as long as he wants to be, but you can light a bigger fire under him if he knows his teammates are giving it all they’ve got. That’s what the Penguins should hope this collection of end-of-contract players will do.

When Dubas took over in June 2023, he tried to put together a team that would compete for the Stanley Cup right away. That plan didn’t work out. So last year, Dubas shifted the gaze of Penguins fans from the here and now to tomorrow. Dubas hasn’t hit home runs with every move he makes, but you can’t accuse him of being satisfied with the status quo.

However, in trying and failing to return to the playoffs in the last three seasons, the Pens have demonstrated how far they are from being a contender. They could be further from it if the players on the final legs of their contracts, including their franchise legends, don’t find a way to get a hot streak going that powers them farther than most NHL followers can expect.

Teams have overachieved their roster on paper time and again, and Pittsburgh should hope to join that list. They could make the most of the here and now while getting started on developing the core of tomorrow.

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Islanders Matt Martin Compares Matthew Schaefer's Skating To Former Toronto Maple Leafs Star

Former New York Islanders forward and assistant to the general manager Matt Martin didn't talk much about his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, we are well aware that during his two seasons in Canada, he became incredibly close with superstar Mitch Marner.

While a portion of the Islanders fanbase hoped that Marner would be Long Island-bound, the 28-year-old signed an eight-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights worth $12 million annually. 

That's pretty high praise for the No. 1 overall pick, whose skating is, no question, his bread and butter. Shifty skating, as we'll call it, makes it very difficult not only for the opposition to slow a player down but also makes it harder to read their movements.

Guys like Schaefer, Marner and Mathew Barzal, amongst others like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon prey on defensemen who get caught flat-footed. 

Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio said that Schaefer's skating reminds him of Quinn Hughes, with Cole Eiserman adding that Schaefer is going to have a 15- to 20-year NHL career due to his footwork. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

PHOTO:  John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Will There Be a First-Time Stanley Cup Champion in 2026?

Breaking down the chances of a team to win the Stanley Cup for the first time during the 2025-26 season.

With the 2025–26 NHL season approaching, sportsbooks have posted season bets early on that betters can hop on now as the value of some teams will only get lower from this point on. One future bet that we wanted to explore and examine was a fun one: Will a team win the Stanley Cup for the first time?

Meaning do you think a team that has never won the Stanley Cup before, will do it in the 2025-26 season? Fortune favors a repeat winner as they are listed with massive -850 while a first-time cup winner is listed with +550 odds. Eligible teams that fall into the first-time winners category include the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, and the newly relocated Utah Mammoth.

The "No" side is supported by the deep field of past champions and future contenders in the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. With the field stacked against them, we explore some teams that could win the cup for the first time and have the highest chance of carrying this bet over the finish line. 

Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateFormer Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Winnipeg Jets - Stanley Cup Odds (+2300)

Last season's President's trophy winner continued the history of the top team in the regular season being ousted and not winning the Cup. Next season will be different for the Jets as they've made adjustments to their lineup by allowing forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Mason Appleton walk in free agency while bringing in talent like three-time Stanley Cup Champion Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist and Tanner Pearson. 

Their defence is set up to repeat as the league's best backend for the third season in a row and will have back-to-back Vezina trophy winner and recent league MVP Connor Hellebuyck in net. They have all the pieces to make a deep run but will need a couple bounces their way to lighten up the elite competition in their way in the Central Division before making the Conference Finals. 

Minnesota Wild - Stanley Cup Odds (+3500)

After years of solid-but-not-spectacular seasons, the Wild may finally be ready to make the leap. It has to be their year eventually as they came close to upsetting the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round but were ultimately downed in six games.  With Kirill Kaprizov driving the offense and rising star Brock Faber stabilizing the blue line, Minnesota enters the season with one of the league’s most balanced lineups. 

A deep run is a possibility if they can catch a couple breaks their way like the Edmonton Oilers to have a down year or experience injuries at the worst time and even then they'll have to get past a revamped Golden Knights team that just added another superstar talent in Mitch Marner. 

Vancouver Canucks - Stanley Cup Odds (+6000)

The Canucks came close in 2024 and return with a roster built for another run. Star players in Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes lead the charge, while the net is more secured than ever with Thatcher Demko coming back healthy and Kevin Lankinen looking to have another stellar year after posting elite numbers in Demko's absence. 

They'll have a different looking middle-six with new acquisitions in Evander Kane and a full season with Filip Chytil. The defence will be elite once again with an elite group including Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, Marcus Pettersson, Derek Forbort and rising talent Elias Nils Pettersson

Oilers' Howard, Blues' Snuggerud Present Closest Competition to Demidov For CalderOilers' Howard, Blues' Snuggerud Present Closest Competition to Demidov For CalderRookies Isaac Howard and Jimmy Snuggerud appear to be best cases behind Montreal's Ivan Demidov for 2026 Calder trophy

Jets' Social Media Team Earns League Award

The National Hockey League has announced its yearly 'Stanley' Awards - no, not the Stanley Cup, but the Stanley Awards. 

The 2025 presentation included eight different award winners, which included one department of the Winnipeg Jets' behind-the-scenes teams.

Photo courtesy of Adam Krueger

The Stanley Award winners were announced from the Club Business Meetings in Seattle, which are presented for creativity, team achievements and fan engagement annually. NHL on TNT personality Anson Carter emceed the event, while Jayna Hefford, Walter Jones and Detlef Schrempf served as presenters. 

The eight awards were as follows:

  • Marketing Campaign -- Utah Hockey Club/Utah Mammoth (home opener campaign)
  • Social Impact and Growth Initiatives -- Nashville Predators (music heritage nights)
  • Social Media Club of the Year -- Winnipeg Jets (various posts, interactions and online content)
  • Sponsorship Activation -- Toronto Maple Leafs (Oreo - “Stay Playful")
  • Ticketing Initiative -- Detroit Red Wings (designer merch collaboration)
  • Game Presentation of the Year -- Tampa Bay Lightning (in-arena game day experience)
  • Venue Business Initiative -- New Jersey Devils (Center Pier Club and Eastback Kitchen)
  • Strategy, Analytics, and Innovation -- St. Louis Blues (Bluesnatics and Blues App)

Leading the charge for the Jets' social media team is director of content, Adam Krueger. He and his associates caught the eye of the NHL's team award staff, to the tune of the team's social media presence during games, at practices, in the dressing room and for key moments/signings/news pieces. The Jets' social media team's delivery is prompt, reliable and witty, serving up a perfect mix of content to its followers across various platforms. 

"This award recognizes overall excellence by a club's social media team, including maximizing the teams' official social media channels to engage existing fans and capture the attention of new fans with outstanding creativity, consistency, and proven instinct to innovate within the NHL."

Every Team’s Top Breakout Candidate for 2025-26: Metropolitan Division

This is the third edition of my top breakout candidates for each team in 2025–26, with the Atlantic Division covered here and the Central Division covered here. Next up is…

Rangers rookie Brett Berard played through torn labrum, expects to be ready for camp

When you’re a young prospect grinding in the minors, you'll do anything you can to stick in the NHL. 

Rangers youngster Brett Berard revealed on Thursday at the third annual Shoulder Check Showcase in Stamford that he battled through a torn labrum suffered just four games into his debut.

The 22-year-old did miss three games right after the injury occurred against the Montreal Canadiens, but he quickly made his way back into the lineup in an effort to not waste his opportunity. 
“I was out for about a week or so,” he told Mollie Walker of the NY Post. “It’s one of those things where you’re up in the NHL, you work your whole life for it. I felt like I was playing good hockey too, so you don’t really want to lose that -- just tried to play through it.”

Berard did have to wear a brace on his shoulder the rest of the way, but he went on to appear in a total of 35 games during his rookie campaign. 

Despite the physical limitations, the youngster showed some positive signs, as he provided a much-needed spark to New York’s bottom-six with his all-out style of play on both ends of the ice.

He finished the year with six goals, four assists, 29 blocked shot, 53 hits, and 59 shots on goal. 

Berard performed well enough to crack Team USA’s roster for the World Championships, but ultimately ended up sitting out of the tournament with the injury -- the team went on to win gold for the first time since 1933.

“It definitely stunk sitting out,” he said. “It makes you a little bit jealous, but I know a ton of those guys, a lot of them I'm best friends with, so I was rooting for everybody and it was awesome to see them win gold there.”

The youngster didn’t require offseason surgery, so after taking the past couple of months to fully recovery and continue his training, he’s back to 100 percent heading into training camp.

This camp is shaping up to a huge one for Berard, who has spoken with new head coach Mike Sullivan several times since he’s been hired, but is still awaiting his opportunity to show what he can do on the ice.

The hope is now that he is fully healthy, he’ll be able to take his game to another level.

“You only get one tryout, you get one first impression,” Berard said. “So it’s kind of all in -- I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason, so I feel like if I put myself in the best position I can that I’ll be good.”