Who Stays, Who Goes For Penguins In 2026-27?

With the offseason officially in full swing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s fair to wonder what this roster is going to look like next season.

Fresh off a season where they defied expectations and made the NHL playoffs, the Penguins will have some big decisions to make this summer regarding some uncertain situations. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has done a masterful job in collecting assets and draft capital, and there’s a good chance he will target and favor young talent to help this team take the next step in 2026-27.

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So, which pending restricted and unrestricted free agents figure to be part of that focus? There is a pretty long list of them, and not all of them will be wearing black and gold next season.

Here is who the Penguins should lock up – and who they should let go.

Restricted free agents

F Egor Chinakhov: Sign

This is a no-brainer, and it doesn’t require too much explanation. Chinakhov said during locker cleanout day that he wanted to sign in Pittsburgh and be “part of the organization for a long time.”

Well, his 18 goals and 36 points in 43 regular season games with the Penguins certainly earned him a multi-year deal, even if it is more along the lines of a two- or three-year bridge deal. The Penguins really like Chinakhov and his potential as a star top-six winger, and Chinakhov really likes the Penguins.

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I would be shocked if he is not in Pittsburgh next season, and I think three years, $4.5 million per sounds about right given the salary cap spike.

‘There’s A Lot To Build On’: Penguins Confident 2025-26 Season Is Just The Starting Point For Contention After being eliminated from the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins are confident that they’ll be back in the post-season in the years to come.

G Arturs Silovs: Sign

I can’t say I’ve seen a player literally earn a new…