Pittsburgh will be in need of a backup goaltender to start the 2024-25 season after it was announced Alex Nedeljkovic sustained a lower-body injury on Wednesday and will be out week-to-week. The 28-year-old surprisingly took over Pittsburgh's crease for the Penguins end of season playoff run in 2023-24 due to his 18-7-7 record, 2.97 GAA and .902 SV% during his first season in Pennsylvania.
Karlsson worked out off-ice on Monday and is "going through the process" according to head coach Mike Sullivan. The Penguins have said previously that they expect Erik Karlsson to be ready for the season opener, but he's running out of time to join his teammates fro practice.
Crosby's lifelong connection to the number 87 continued on Monday as the 37-year-old signed a two-year extension worth $8.7 million with Pittsburgh. "Sid the Kid" will once again take a team-friendly contract after coming off one of his most impressive seasons in years in 2023-24, with 42 goals, 94 points and 278 SOG in 82 games played. Crosby is entering his 20th NHL season and is 10th all-time in career points (1596); only 45 points from Joe Sakic and the 9th slot.
Hours after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in a one-for-one deal for Brayden Yager, Rutger McGroarty has signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and had excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with the Michigan Wolverines.
McGroarty had announced in April that he was planning on returning to Michigan (NCAA) for the 2024-25 season but has been dealt from Winnipeg to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager and is now expected to sign his entry-level contract. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and has excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with Michigan.
Pittsburgh added to their forward depth on Tuesday by acquiring Cody Glass alongside a 2025 3rd-round pick (MIN) and a 2026 6th-round pick from Nashville for Jordan Frasca. The 25-year-old centre carries a cap hit of $2.5 million into 2023-24 and should fit in well in Pittsburgh's bottom six after a down season last year which saw him score only six goals and 13 points in 41 games played.
Murashov is Pittsburgh's 2022 4th round pick (118th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Russian netminder spent the majority of 2023-24 with Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) and had an impressive 2.03 GAA and .930 SV%. He is expected to start 2024-25 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) as he adjusts to North American hockey.
Brunicke was a second-round pick (No.44 overall) in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old right-shot blueliner played for the Kamloops Blazers (WHL) during the 2024 season, scoring 10 goals with 11 assists (21 points) in 49 games.
After five seasons in Long Island, Sebastian Aho has signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old appeared in 58 games in 2023-24, picking up two goals, nine points and 12 PIMs.
Bemstrom will return to Pittsburgh after a successful first-half season with the Penguins and has signed a one-year extension worth $775,000. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade from Columbus early on in 2023-24 and had eight goals, 16 points and 12 PIMs in 56 games played between Columbus and Pittsburgh.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) added a depth piece on Tuesday after Pittsburgh signed Nathan Clurman to a one-year contract worth $775,000. The 26-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance but has spent the last three and a half seasons between Colorado's AHL and ECHL teams.
After six seasons in Los Angeles, Blake Lizotte has joined the Pittsburgh Penguins on a two-year deal worth $3.7 million ($1.85M AAV). The 26-year-old had a down year in 2023-24, with seven goals, 15 points, 20 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus in 62 games played.
Pittsburgh added some grit on Monday by signing 27-year-old Bokondji Imama to a one-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old appeared in six games with Ottawa in 2023-24, but failed to pick up a point while adding seven PIMs and averaging 5:25 TOI/GP.
Pittsburgh added to their offensive depth on Monday by signing Mac Hollowell to a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old defensemen's last and only NHL appearance came with Toronto in 2022-23, where he had two assists in six games played. He spent the entire 2023-24 season with Hartford (AHL) and had three goals and 44 points in 64 games played.
25-year-old Jimmy Huntington has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh on Monday as he attempts to crack the NHL for the first time in his career. The travelling centre won a Calder Cup with Hershey (AHL) in 2023-24 after putting up 16 goals and 33 points in 67 games played during the regular season.
Beauvillier dressed for three separate teams (NSH, CHI, VAN) in 2023-24 and earned himself a one-year contract worth $1,250,000 AAV with Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old failed to find a home last season, picking up five goals, 17 points, eight PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 60 games between the three teams.
Shea made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with the Penguins and has earned himself a one-year, contract extension worth $775,000 to stay in Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old has yet to pick up an assist in his 31 NHL games played, but has a goal, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
After eight seasons with Boston, Matt Grzelcyk will join Pittsburgh on a one-year deal worth $2,750,000 AAV. The 30-year-old defensemen appeared in 63 games in 2023-24 and had two goals, 13 points, and 37 PIMs while averaging 17:36 TOI/GP.
