Filip Hallander will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Koivunen to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Koivunen was solid in his season debut, scoring one goal in 13:50 time-on-ice.
Murashev made his NHL debut last season, recording a 2.56 GAA and .897 SV% in five appearances (1-1-2). The 22-year-old goalie is expected to play a larger role this season, possibly in a timeshare, but his debut has been delayed by a strong opening two games from Arturs Silovs (2-0-0). Still, hopes are high for Murashov this season, who has excelled at every other level, including posting a solid 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% last season in 38 games (24-9-4) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). Pittsburgh enters the action on Monday as -175 home favourites against the Winnipeg Jets, who are coming off a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings yesterday.
Gustafsson was placed on waivers Saturday but went unclaimed and has now been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) on Sunday. The 26-year-old was acquired in a trade with Winnipeg in June for Jack St. Ivany but has yet to appear for the Penguins after putting up two goals and six points in 36 games last season.
Kindel suffered a lower-body early in the preseason and has been sidelined since. He did not play in Pittsburgh's season-opening 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but he was back at practice as a full participant on Thursday. The 19-year-old forward enters his sophomore season after scoring 35 points (17G / 18A) in 77 games with Pittsburgh in 2025-26.
Lizotte did not participate in training camp due to a lower-body injury, but was activated from Injured Reserve on time to play in Pittsburgh's season opener on Wednesday. He played 13:13 time on ice in a 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but he will return to the sidelines with a lower-body injury. The team has not yet provided a concrete update, but he will not practice Thursday and will be re-evaluated.
For a second straight season, Arturs Silovs will be Pittsburgh's opening night starter as they take on the Flyers in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 25-year-old goalie is entering his second full season with Pittsburgh after an up-and-down 2025-26 season that saw him post a 19-12-8 record, 3.07 GAA and .888 SV% across 38 starts. He will head to Philadelphia for an interstate battle vs. the rival Flyers, who finished 2025-26 tied with the Penguins with 98 points and a 43-27-12 record.
Rust will begin the 2026-27 season sidelined, as he recovers from an upper-body injury. The 34-year-old Rust matched a career high with 65 points (29G / 36A) in 72 games last season. Penguins' newcomer Nicholas Robertson has a chance to see an elevated role during Rust's absence.
Rust will not be available for Sunday's practice session and is considered questionable to play in the Penguins' season opener until he's evaluated and the team releases more information.
Brazeau's 2026-27 campaign is already off to a rough start after Pittsburgh announced on Friday that the 28-year-old bottom-six winger left practice with a lower-body injury and is uncertain of his status for the team's opener. Brazeau missed 18 games in 2025-26 due to injury but still put up an impressive 17 goals, 34 points and 104 SOG in 64 games in his first season in Pittsburgh.
Kindel suffered a lower-body injury in Monday's preseason game, did not return, and has been sidelined since. Team doctors are still evaluating him, but he has been listed as week-to-week. The 19-year-old forward enters his sophomore season after scoring 35 points (17G / 18A) in 77 games with Pittsburgh in 2025-26.
At age 27, Brazeau had a breakout 2025-26 season, scoring a career-high 34 points (17G / 17A) in 64 games with the Penguins. He is temporarily sidelined during training camp due to a lower-body injury, but the team hopes he can provide reliable depth scoring again in 2026-27.
Koivunen is tending to an upper-body injury, but is not expected to miss significant time. The 23-year-old Finnish forward is expected to play a sizeable role for Pittsburgh this season after signing a massive 8-year, $32,000,000 contract ($4M AAV). He scored seven points (2G / 5A) last season in 39 games.
The Penguins did not provide a concrete update on Kindel's injury, but his departure from the game may have been more precautionary. He missed training camp on Tuesday but isn't expected to miss significant time, listed as day-to-day. The 19-year-old forward is entering his sophomore season after scoring 35 points (17G / 18A) last season in 77 games with Pittsburgh.
Lizotte missed training camp on Monday and is expected to be sidelined week to week due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old bottom-six forward is entering his third season with the Penguins and is coming off a 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 19 points (7G / 12A) in 55 games.
