3 Penguins Who Need to Have a Breakout Season – The Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins

Last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division and booked a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Most people thought the rebuild would take at least two seasons, if not three, before they saw the postseason again. The team performed well throughout the regular season, but they also owe part of their success to a division that was not very competitive.

That will not be the case this season as teams like the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers have been busy improving their rosters this summer. If the Penguins want to get back to the playoffs this season, they will need breakout performances from three key players. 

Elmer Soderblom

The Penguins acquired Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings on March 6. He played 20 games and scored five goals and five assists. His size, at 6-foot-8 and 252 pounds, is the first thing most people notice about him. However, he has speed, skill, a high hockey IQ, and he is very good at going to the corners and getting in on the forecheck. 

Even though the sample size is small, Soderblom made the Penguins better at the end of last season and performed well during Pittsburgh’s six-game playoff run against the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring one goal. The question now is where he fits in the lineup.

Last season, most of his playing time came on the fourth line with Noel Acciari while Blake Lizotte was injured. Acciari signed with the Flyers at the start of free agency, leaving an open spot on the fourth line. If he earns that fourth-line spot, he needs to continue providing solid forechecking and use his size to clear the net front.

Nicholas Robertson 

Pittsburgh acquired Nicholas Robertson, brother of Dallas Stars Jason Robertson, from the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 and signed him to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.25 million. Last season, he set career highs with 16 goals and 16 assists. During his NHL career, all with the Maple Leafs, he has been held to limited minutes but has still produced decent numbers. He is a physical player with a strong 5-on-5 game.

General manager Kyle Dubas clearly sees hidden potential in Robertson, as his contract strongly suggests he will be a top-nine forward. At 24 years old, he is a perfect fit for the team, and if he can hit 20 goals this season, he would provide some welcome offensive punch and could be looking at a contract extension as early as next summer.

Sergei Murashov

Sergei Murashov spent most of last season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he ranked third in the league in goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage (SV%). He made his NHL debut in November 2025 and played five games. Pittsburgh’s goaltending tandem this season will likely include him and Arturs Silovs. The team signed Silovs to a one-year extension on July 5, and he is projected to be the 1A starter.

Murashov has proven he can perform at a high level in the AHL, but will he be able to build off of that success in Pittsburgh? This could be his first full season in the NHL, and he needs to provide the team with at least above-average goaltending. The Penguins will need it if they have any hope of returning to the playoffs. 

Penguins Need to Start the Season Strong

The Penguins overachieved last season and set a high bar for themselves going into 2026-27. If players like Soderblom, Robertson and Murashov step up, not only will the team make the playoffs, but it will also be a positive step towards the future.

Dubas has decided to continue merging his veteran core with his young talent, which is a strategy that worked well for him last season. No one can clinch a playoff berth in October, but a team could miss the postseason because of a bad start. Pittsburgh will need to start strong and build on last season’s success to be considered a competitor.