WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Somewhat remarkably, this Pittsburgh Penguins offseason will not reach the silly season stage, unlike so many before it. In large part, the calm is the result of general manager Kyle Dubas’s year-long personnel hot streak gliding in tandem with his transparency, which has set guardrails for the offseason chatter.
Yes to restricted free agents who don’t like their situation. Yes, to unrestricted free agents who want a greater role. And yes to impact players who may have some say in what happens next. But no to expensive veterans in their 30s who only fit the win-now mode.
Before setting sail for home or small mountain towns with only one traffic light or stop sign, PHN readers via X got to send us off with more pointed questions.
However, before diving into questions, more on the controversial Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ending that cost WBS the game, led to a lengthy hallway meeting that surely wasn’t entirely friendly, and some cleanup.
First, here’s the backside replay the AHL released later Friday night. The play is unique, and Sergei Murashov might play it differently if he had a second chance, but it’s important to watch where the action happens and how:
All the angles of the @TorontoMarlies‘ OT victory👇#WBSvsTOR | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/2896HwkkWf
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 30, 2026
WBS coach Kirk MacDonald didn’t specifically say which part of the ruling he disagreed with, but here’s the scoop: Refs waved off the goal because they ruled former Penguins forward Marc Johnstone knocked the puck into the net with his hand. They reviewed to confirm because a hand goal is one of the very few things AHL refs can review. Second point to consider: AHL refs cannot review goalie interference.
So, once the replay showed it hit Murashov’s blocker, not Johnstone’s hand, the referees had no choice but to rule a good goal. WBS Penguins lost in OT 2-1, and trail the AHL’s Eastern Conference Final series 2-0.
MacDonald had a lengthy conversation with AHL president Scott Howson and a team of people, and after another lengthy delay completed his media obligation, at which point the usually direct and emotional MacDonald was almost in good humor about the situation.
But let’s dissect a couple of key points. Johnston was in the crease, interfering with Murashov trying to play the puck. It’s not the usual interference of stick or body contact along the ice, but rather both players elevating for the puck–which is the same thing, even though it looks different The puck was essentially a jump ball, but it is not divergent from the rule because the goalie is entitled to that space, even if they’re jumping. Did Johnstone’s contact cause Murashov to misplay it? The answer to that question is irrelevant because the reality is that he MIGHT have, and that’s all that matters.
Here’s the moment that should have led to a GI call from the ice:
I’ll admit, the backside replay greatly reduces the kangaroo court nature of the call. But C’mon, the AHL can’t review for interference?
Goalie interference at the highest levels of hockey has become a joke. See also: Carolina’s first goal Friday when Logan Stankoven clearly hit Jakob Dobes. The GI rule is that the blue paint is the goalie’s domain and contact should not voluntarily occur or be caused by the offensive team. However, the rule has been so bastardized that it is now that contact should not occur, but if the puck actually goes in, we don’t want to take away goals, so it’s all good if the red light goes on.
Unless you’re referring to the Penguins winger Rickard Rakell’s nullification in Ottawa, in which his presence outside the crease caused the defenseman to contact the goalie inside the crease and that was no goal, too.
Penguins Q&A
Rapid fire prospect Q’s:
**What kind of impression has Mikhail Ilyin left during the WBS playoff run? — George Benjamin.
**Any thoughts on Finn Harding? –Rick Barie.
I really like Ilyin’s skill set. He’s obviously got the goods for the next level; his hockey IQ, playmaking, and slippery offensive zone presence are solid building blocks. He’s got to play more inside the dots, and he could use his speed more.
He just arrived from Russia little more than a month ago, so he is just getting his first taste of North American hockey, and he’s doing so without the benefit of a legit top-six center type to push the play and distribute the puck, or being able to speak the language.
In fact, his first games with WBS, Raivis Ansons–who MacDonald admitted hadn’t spoken Russian in years–had to provide some rudimentary translations on the bench.
In full compliment to the organization and scouts, the Penguins did well remarkably well to find Ilyin, and using a fifth-round pick to get him could become a bigger 2023 draft steal than Denver Barkey at the end of the third round.
I don’t have many thoughts on Harding. He made a few mistakes on Friday, including a blind backhand pass that became a dangerous turnover. At the risk of being dismissive, not every player has to be an NHL player. If he develops further, triple bonus score. If not, he seems to be rounding into a capable AHL defenseman. No shame in that career path.
**Is Shane Wright or Kappo Kakko worth taking a chance on as needing a fresh start or a reclamation project? — Jim
Shane Wright, yes. Kappo Kakko, no.
The reason for the split answer is the very nature of the differences. Kakko has been in the NHL for seven seasons, and this season equaled his career best with 40 points. He has value and can help a team win with some physical play and some offensive contributions. But to expect more after seven seasons and a lot of opportunity in Seattle would be a mistake.
Wright, 22, has only two NHL seasons on his resume, but also has some maturing. His talent is undeniable. Wright has speed, vision, and a strong small area game with finish, which would fit well with the Penguins.
Seattle desperately needs to get better immediately. The potential Penguins trade connection, youth for a veteran, is obvious.
**Would you sign Patrick Kane? He’s 37 now, but still putting up points. 2. What’s the NHL timetable for a college talent like Will Horcoff? 3. Karlsson will turn 36 end of May. Would you give Karlsson a lucrative extension? 4. Kris Letang a HOFer? — JC
Absolute no on Patrik Kane. He would in no way advance–as GM Kyle Dubas said following signing Evgeni Malkin–“The evolution of the Penguins.”
From what I’ve heard and can see, Horcoff is probably one year away from joining the WBS Penguins, maybe two. So, we’re at least two years from seeing Horcoff in the NHL.
No on a Karlsson extension unless he wants to stick around and accept the rebuild, which I doubt he does. His cryptic, albeit humorous answers and subsequent chat with PHN on cleanout day cemented that belief.
Yes. There’s a certain segment of the Penguins fanbase that made enough noise throughout Letang’s career to downgrade his reputation, but his body of work and overall stats are easily enough.
He may not be a first-ballot selection, but he’ll be in there. However, that 2017 Norris Trophy, which was his until a serious neck injury cost him the remainder of the season, would have been a guaranteed induction. Letang has finished in the top-five for the Norris several times, and his 843 points from the blue line put him in the Hall.
**Does it feel as though the Penguins are poised to remain in the NHL dead zone, not tearing down and not building? The Geno charity signing really threw me for a loop. They could’ve added a 200 foot younger forward with those dollars, it seems to go against Dubas’ own future plan — Pete.
It does feel that way, but a crucial factor is Dubas’s relentless focus on the future even as he manages the decline of the present. To wit, Dubas added Egor Chinakhov, Elmer Soderblom, Parker Wotherspoon, Blake Lizotte, Connor Dewar, and Ben Kindel, and will have a couple or several of the prospects from WBS.
The Penguins are not embarking on a traditional rebuild, so it becomes more difficult to predict. Just like every team trying to rebuild, there are no guarantees and Dubas might hit a dead end of building a team not good enough to win the Cup, but not bad enough to stack a few top-five picks to generate star power and competitiveness.
After Dubas’s near perfect record over the last 12 months, he’s earned an acre of leeway and the benefit of the doubt–space his predecessor did not earn.
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