Pittsburgh Penguins 2026 Depth Chart: Future Stars on the Rise

The 2026 NHL draft has concluded, ushering in a new league year for the Pittsburgh Penguins. As the organization resets, it’s time to take a closer look at the depth of talent beyond the NHL roster. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to the top young players in the Penguins’ pipeline, offering insights into their potential placements for the upcoming season.

At the forefront of the Penguins’ prospects are Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Joel Blomqvist, Owen Pickering, Sergei Murashov, Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz, and Harrison Brunicke. Each of these players is poised to see some action in the NHL next season, albeit possibly in a limited capacity. Injuries to current roster players might open doors for them, but the competition is fierce. Murashov, in particular, could emerge as the starting goalie on opening night, while Koivunen’s future remains uncertain, as he could be waived in September. This group illustrates the wide spectrum of talent on the brink of breaking into the big league.

Next in line are Tanner Howe, Bill Zonnon, David Gustafsson, Oliver Okuliar, Melvin Fernstrom, Atley Calvert, Mikhail Ilyin, Jake Livanavage, Phil Kemp, Chase Pietila, Finn Harding, Daniel Laatsch, and Gabriel D’Aigle. Many of these players are expected to form the backbone of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL for the 2026-27 season. While a few may snag an NHL appearance if circumstances align perfectly, this group primarily consists of younger talent focused on development and seasoned players providing depth.

Further down the pipeline, we find William Horcoff, Peyton Kettles, Brady Peddle, Charlie Trethewey, Joona Vaisanen, Quinn Beauchesne, Travis Hayes, Carter Sanderson, Ryan Miller, Jordan Charron, Luke Devlin, Mac Swanson, Kale Dach, Zam Plante, Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck, Pierce Mbuyi, Parker von Richter, and Matvei Nikonovich. This segment of prospects falls into the “check back in 2-3 years” category, primarily consisting of 2025 and 2026 draft picks. While many of these players hold promise for future development, they will require significant time and effort to evolve into finished products.

Lastly, Kalle Kangas, Emil Jarventie, Kirill Tankov, and Tomas Galvas round out the list. The Penguins have not heavily focused on European talent in recent drafts, as confirmed by Assistant GM Amanda Kessel, who noted that second-round pick Galvas will remain overseas for the upcoming season. At this point, none of these players are on the NHL radar, but their development will be worth monitoring in the coming years.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.