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Pittsburgh Penguins players share their best on-ice and off-ice moments of 2025
Photo credit: Edit from Pens Labyrinth
It's a new year, and several of the Penguins players reflected on 2025 and revealed their best on-ice as well as off-ice moments.
Bryan Rust has been around long enough to know what comes with a media scrum late in December. Following practice on Dec. 29, the experienced left-winger was ready for all the typical talk of New Year's resolutions.
Instead, the interview went in a different direction. Rather than discussing resolutions, Rust was asked about the past year, including the highlight experience he had on the ice, the highlight experience he had outside of hockey, and something he would like to leave in the past, looking ahead to 2025.
He did not hesitate to give a thoughtful answer for himself and for the group as a team.
"On the ice, organizationally, it happened obviously recently - Sid passing Mario," Rust said. «I think as an organization, for him, for the team, for the city, to be able to see that is pretty special. How much he means to everybody, to the city, to the organization, to the fans... to see him pass THE Mario Lemieux, I think it was cool."
"And then for me personally, I think scoring 30 goals for the first time, in the last game of last season. Off the ice, my daughter was born. That's an easy one."
"And then for me personally, I think scoring 30 goals for the first time, in the last game of last season. Off the ice, my daughter was born. That's an easy one."
What Bryan Rust and likely many other players want to leave behind in 2025
What about what Rust wants to leave behind?
"Inconsistent hockey," Rust said without hesitation.
When the same question was put to the group, a great many players pointed to injuries as something they were looking to put in the past. This was no great surprise in view of the disruptions caused.
But not everyone on the team handled the question in the same way. Some players to note were those with strong mental aspects.
Tommy Novak was dealing with the mentality of not having a negative aftertaste and maintaining some positivity.
Tommy Novak
On the ice: Probably just scoring my first goal with the Penguins, I'd say.
Off the ice: Getting my golden retriever puppy. [«That's goated,» said Ben Kindel from a couple stalls down.
On the ice: Probably just scoring my first goal with the Penguins, I'd say.
Off the ice: Getting my golden retriever puppy. [«That's goated,» said Ben Kindel from a couple stalls down.
Rutger McGroarty was another player with an impressive response that was mature beyond his years.
Rutger McGroarty
On the ice: I would probably say my first career goal. I think that was really cool.
Off the ice: My girlfriend and I went to Hawaii this summer, and we went to Maui. We were just sitting there on the beach, and I looked over to her, and I'm like, 'I could sit here for the rest of my life.' The sun shining on your face, the sound of the waves, just kind of lying there, and relaxing in Hawaii.
On the ice: I would probably say my first career goal. I think that was really cool.
Off the ice: My girlfriend and I went to Hawaii this summer, and we went to Maui. We were just sitting there on the beach, and I looked over to her, and I'm like, 'I could sit here for the rest of my life.' The sun shining on your face, the sound of the waves, just kind of lying there, and relaxing in Hawaii.
Here are some of the responses other players of the Penguins gave about their 2025.
Justin Brazeau
On the ice: Best moment, probably (Sunday). First hat trick. That was a nice way to end the year.
Off the ice: Definitely the birth of my son (Justin and his fiancée Madison welcomed their first child, Jackson, in October).
On the ice: Best moment, probably (Sunday). First hat trick. That was a nice way to end the year.
Off the ice: Definitely the birth of my son (Justin and his fiancée Madison welcomed their first child, Jackson, in October).
Ben Kindel
On the ice: Playing in my first game.
Off the ice: Getting drafted. [«That doesn't count!» Tommy Novak said. «Does that count?» Kindel asked. After a brief discussion, we decided it was okay.
On the ice: Playing in my first game.
Off the ice: Getting drafted. [«That doesn't count!» Tommy Novak said. «Does that count?» Kindel asked. After a brief discussion, we decided it was okay.
Ryan Shea
On the ice: I think going plus-five in the game against Chicago was pretty good since I think I was minus four or five the game earlier. It's good to at least even it out a little bit [laughs]. I would probably say that, or at least playing with Tanger (Kris Letang) for as long as I did. For me, as a hockey player, that's pretty incredible.
On the ice: My brother has never been on a Dads Trip. So, bringing him was pretty cool. Just because he's such a big fan and supporter of me, such a big fan of hockey, growing up with my dad, even playing in high school, and club hockey in college. Having him there with all of the dads and being one of the only brothers, he loved it.
On the ice: I think going plus-five in the game against Chicago was pretty good since I think I was minus four or five the game earlier. It's good to at least even it out a little bit [laughs]. I would probably say that, or at least playing with Tanger (Kris Letang) for as long as I did. For me, as a hockey player, that's pretty incredible.
On the ice: My brother has never been on a Dads Trip. So, bringing him was pretty cool. Just because he's such a big fan and supporter of me, such a big fan of hockey, growing up with my dad, even playing in high school, and club hockey in college. Having him there with all of the dads and being one of the only brothers, he loved it.
Erik Karlsson
On the ice: Best on ice moment was probably, even though we lost, the game against Canada at 4 Nations. That was a very special game.
Off the ice: Probably when my oldest started kindergarten. That was pretty cool.
On the ice: Best on ice moment was probably, even though we lost, the game against Canada at 4 Nations. That was a very special game.
Off the ice: Probably when my oldest started kindergarten. That was pretty cool.
Rickard Rakell
On the ice: I think being on the ice at 4 Nations. The whole game in general, but the national anthem, it was awesome.
Off the ice: Becoming a dad of two (son Ziggy was born in April, joining older sister Daisy.
On the ice: I think being on the ice at 4 Nations. The whole game in general, but the national anthem, it was awesome.
Off the ice: Becoming a dad of two (son Ziggy was born in April, joining older sister Daisy.
Anthony Mantha
On the ice: Oh gosh. Probably my first regular-season game back from injury after 11 months. That was my proudest game, if you want to put it that way, just battling back from injury and playing in that game.
Off the ice: Probably just the family that I've been building. My wife and I, I think, are doing our best and are doing a great job at it.
On the ice: Oh gosh. Probably my first regular-season game back from injury after 11 months. That was my proudest game, if you want to put it that way, just battling back from injury and playing in that game.
Off the ice: Probably just the family that I've been building. My wife and I, I think, are doing our best and are doing a great job at it.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 123 ANSWERS Pittsburgh Penguins players share their best on-ice and off-ice moments of 2025 Will the Penguins have a better 2026 overall compared to 2025? | ||
| Yes | 113 | 91.9 % |
| No | 10 | 8.1 % |
| List of polls | ||