The Pittsburgh Penguins made only one move on the day of the NHL trade deadline, acquiring forward Elmer Soderblom from Detroit in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick that originally belonged to San Jose. While Friday was relatively quiet, the team had already addressed various needs over recent months by adding goaltender Stuart Skinner, forward Egor Chinakhov, and defensemen Sam Girard and Ilya Solovyev through earlier trades.
Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas commented on the lack of last-minute activity. “I think everyone would be more excited if there was a lot more movement, especially the folks assembled here today and the fans,” Dubas said. “I can only speak from our perspective, we tried to get the players in earlier because the types of players that we’re trading for, and have traded for throughout the year, are either guys that are going to be here a while, or maybe wasn’t going perfectly where they were. So, the more runway you have to get them up and running, (the better).”
Dubas explained another reason for limited moves at this deadline: confidence in the current roster. At training camp before this season began, Dubas emphasized his expectations for new head coach Dan Muse and his staff to establish a strong foundation with an eye toward making Pittsburgh a contender. According to Dubas: “Obviously, the mix has worked quite well. They’ve got some chemistry. Dan has done a great job coaching them. The staff has done a great job. We just have to deal with some absences this year for various different reasons, and continue to stay with it, find a way to write our own story, regardless of what anyone expects it (to be).”
He noted that injuries or off-ice issues affecting key players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin did not alter their approach at the deadline.
Dubas added: “Which is at first, you’re a little emotional about what the impact on the team would be. And then, I think it’s my job to immediately get away from that and get back to, ‘OK, what’s the plan? What do we have already?’”
As part of their internal solutions strategy after recent player absences or suspensions, Pittsburgh plans to bring up Ville Koivunen—acquired around last year’s trade deadline as part of another deal—after he earned AHL Player of the Month honors in February.
“Have big expectations of Ville and a lot of belief in him. So, this would be his chance,” Dubas said. “Everyone always wants an opportunity; this is it for him. And he could run right through it and carry on as long as he wants. So that’s…how we dealt with it.”
Regarding Soderblom’s addition—a 24-year-old signed through next season—Dubas described how he fits into management’s aim to build around young NHL talent who are not short-term rentals but also not teenage prospects or veteran players.
“I think the key part for us is just term and control with ability to work with him…and try to have same effect that coaching staff…have had on other players we’ve brought in,” Dubas said.
As of Friday’s deadline passing point, Pittsburgh ranked second in its division with 75 points—nine behind first-place Carolina—with two games in hand over third-place New York Islanders.
Since returning from holiday break—a period marked by consistent wins—Dubas pointed out what stands out most is not just results but how victories are achieved: “And when team shows itself consistently able play at level even when things aren’t perfect…you want be in spot where now we’re going try put pressure on Carolina…and we just didn’t feel like right now was time begin take apart.”
“We have our biggest challenges ahead…and it’ll be ultimate test mentality make most what we have…but I think that’s also most exciting part being here…we have great opportunity now…and we have make most find way.”
The Penguins remain integral both competitively—with numerous playoff appearances—and culturally within Pittsburgh’s sports scene (official website). The organization is known for Hall-of-Fame figures among its ranks (official website), plays home games at PPG Paints Arena (official website), maintains strong community ties (official website), and operates under Fenway Sports Group ownership (official website).
