DENVER — After Pittsburgh Hockey Now took a big early-season swing at the troubles besetting the Pittsburgh Penguins, the idea and possibilities continued to marinate over the last couple of days. The room was awkward after Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

And the hows and whys seem to be eluding the team and coaches. How can a team be so discombobulated with so many good players at the top of the lineup? And it’s in some preseason comments that we might find answers, as well as one big difference from last season.

This week’s column is less about the conversations and more about the observations in the room and on the ice.

Remember when Erik Karlsson told us (and the Athletic) that the team is in a weird spot? This writer included that little nugget in the bare-knuckled column on Wednesday, but it might have just been the start of the conversation, not the end.

Kris Letang does not hang back to speak to the media as often as he once did. Nor does Evgeni Malkin. Yet both were available Tuesday with the same critical message, albeit in their own words.

Are the veterans entirely happy with the results of the belabored offseason? That’s not a question to which a writer in 2026 would expect to get an answer, but there are clues. Instead of proven help or an influx of young talent, general manager Kyle Dubas split the difference. Now, coach Dan Muse is struggling to find places for the new players, who are talented in their own right, but whose natural skills don’t necessarily fit into the lineup puzzle the team began to assemble last season.

Hendrix Lapierre is a prime example, though he will likely be a healthy scratch Friday. Lapierre is a center on a team already with four entrenched pivots. Trading away Filip Hallander may have caught some players off guard, too, as he was well regarded by some of the players at the top of the Penguins’ depth charts.

There were some serious conversations going on in the hallways in the day following Hallander’s trade, and there were some words being said through gritted teeth.

Unquestionably, losing brings out the questions and friction. Winning eases all pain. The Penguins are 1-3-1 since the first five periods of the season propelled them to two wins. So, no one should be happy, especially given the extraordinary ways in which the Penguins have lost; it’s a minor miracle the scores were competitive in those games.

In fairness, PHN has questioned both assistant GM Jason Spezza and GM Kyle Dubas about the overstocked forwards group in training camp and the lack of opportunities. Both gave similar answers, essentially saying that the roster will be an evolving entity through the year.

But that’s not the primary issue with the players in the room. Make no mistake, they don’t care specifically if Rutger McGroarty or Avery Hayes is in the NHL lineup or not, but they do care if the team has the best lineup possible.

It’s hard not to see players like Elmer Soderblom in the press box and wonder why. It’s not hard to see players get outplayed in training camp but earn NHL spots and wonder if you’re surrounded by the best team. Perhaps the answer to the question and observation we made Wednesday that “Something is wrong with the Penguins” is that the foundation and the direction are not clear.

There is not a guiding principle or direction to buy into. It’s all sort of a gray area that makes the next move far less predictable and makes the recent moves far more questionable.

Interwoven in the analysis is one big difference from last season. Ready for it? Rookies.

By January last season, the Penguins had put 12 rookies into the lineup for at least one game. There was indeed an energy, a vibrancy that surrounded the team. No, the only rookies that ended the season with the team were Arturs Silovs and Ben Kindel, but that didn’t change the youthful feeling that the team adopted.

Remember Kindel, Letang, and Sidney Crosby staying on the ice for an hour after practice playing pickup hockey or skill games? That vibe just isn’t present right now. The only rookie on the team is goalie Sergei Murashov, who could pass for the oldest player in the room. And the only youngster is Koivunen.

Soderblom has worn the disappointment of being a scratch. It was on his sleeve.

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

One thing that is starting to work is the top line. After Muse swapped Nick Robertson with Bryan Rust, Crosby’s fortune immediately improved.

“I mean, we’re familiar with each other. I think, as far as being predictable for another, you know, I think we know what to expect out there,” Crosby said Thursday. “That’s a big part of it. Any time you play together, you want to be instinctive. You want to be able to anticipate things.”

It was a general answer from Crosby, but we talked later about the specifics. Rust’s puck retrieval. Crosby’s ability to distribute or control. Rakell’s connection.

The one thing Crosby noted about the line was that they each could pick up roles as they’re available. Crosby doesn’t have to carry the line. He likes Rakell’s ability to distribute and Rust’s ability to finish, and how all three can be interchangeable.

Tags:Avery Hayes Erik Karlsson Evgeni Malkin Filip Hallander Hendrix Lapierre Jason Spezza Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins Rutger McGroarty Sidney Crosby

Categorized:PHN+ Pittsburgh Penguins