2025-26 NHL Season Review: Pittsburgh Penguins Player Predictions
As we step back into the 2025-26 NHL season, it’s time to reflect on the predictions we made for various Pittsburgh Penguins players at the beginning of the year. At PensBurgh, we set some over/under figures for both the promising young talents and the new veteran additions to the team, and now we’re assessing how accurate our forecasts were. Here’s a look at how these players performed versus our expectations, starting with the younger cohort.
Young Players Underperforming Against Expectations
The Penguins’ younger roster includes Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, and Owen Pickering, and unfortunately, the results didn’t match our hopes. Koivunen was projected to rack up over 20 assists but ended with just 5 assists in 39 games. McGroarty was anticipated to hit 15.5 goals but delivered only 3 goals across 24 appearances, while Pickering posted zero assists in 4 games. The reality for these players is largely tied to the team’s strong forward depth, limiting their ice time and opportunities. Koivunen’s previous season was promising, yet that success in the AHL hasn’t translated to the NHL yet. Meanwhile, McGroarty has shown potential, although he struggled with an earlier injury and didn’t see enough playing time. Unfortunately, Pickering appears to be struggling to establish himself within the team.
Surprising Success from New Veterans
On a brighter note, the newcomers have significantly exceeded expectations. We gave Anthony Mantha an over/under of 14.5 goals, yet he shocked everyone by netting 33 goals in 81 games — easily the best performance among the new arrivals. Justin Brazeau also surprised, scoring 17 goals in just 64 games and establishing himself as a reliable scorer. Matt Dumba and Connor Clifton, however, did not meet their respective projections; Dumba played largely in the AHL, while Clifton managed only 6 points in 50 games. On the flip side, Parker Wotherspoon’s performance outshone our expectations, accumulating an impressive 30 points, making him a valuable contributor on the blue line alongside Erik Karlsson.
Solid Outputs from Core and Secondary Players
Focusing now on the more established Penguins players, we set over/under figures for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Crosby was expected to hit 90.5 points but finished with 74 points in 68 games, primarily due to missed games caused by participating in the Olympics. Nevertheless, his scoring pace over 82 games suggests a high level of performance. Malkin, remarkably, hit 61 points despite missing 28 games, demonstrating effective offensive production when he was on the ice. Letang was right below our mark, achieving 34 points in 74 games in a season characterized by ups and downs.
Egor Chinakhov’s Impressive Integration
Finally, we had a special over/under for newcomer Egor Chinakhov after his impactful start. Initially projected for 7.5 additional goals, he significantly surpassed this, contributing 10 more goals during his 43 games with the Penguins, bringing his season total to an impressive 21 goals combining his time with Columbus and Pittsburgh. Chinakhov’s acquisition has proven to be a pivotal move for the Penguins, as his addition brought much-needed speed and skill to the lineup. His versatile scoring ability, along with his playmaking skills, has marked him as a player to watch moving forward.
In summary, while some young players faced challenges this season, the promising contributions from new veterans and core players have given the Penguins a strong foundation to build upon moving forward. Expectations will surely adjust as we look ahead to future seasons.
