Major NHL Outlet Predicts Rough Season In 2025/26 For The Penguins

After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons, the expectations for the Pittsburgh Penguins heading into 2025/26 have been rather low, with most expecting them to sell off some key veterans and miss the post-season once more.

They've not been busy selling this off-season, but even with the likes of Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson still in the lineup, the outlook for this team heading into the season is grim.

In the series predicting the 2025/26 standings, social media outlet PuckEmpire began with the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 32 in their standings prediction, and unfortunately for Penguins fans hoping for better, the team come in at No. 31.

While some want this team to compete, finishing 31st in the standings would give this team a great shot at the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes as the team look to land a superstar to lead them into a generation beyond Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

On paper however, there's still some talent in the forward group, but if the organization decide to move on from Rust and Rakell, it will be for future assets, meaning any chance of staying alive in the Wild Card race will likely take a huge hit.

Ultimately, this is a Penguins team looking to the future, and while a No. 31 overall finish in 2025/26 would be a bad look for a team so consistently dominant over the past two decades, with a loaded 2026 NHL Draft class, if that helps them land a star of the future, it's a trade off that many Penguins fans will be happy with.