Young Penguins Forward More Motivated Than Ever as He Enters Contract Year

The Pittsburgh Penguins are clearly entering a rebuilding phase in their franchise history, and after missing the post-season for three straight years, they're looking to add more and more young talent to a team that's clearly not ready to compete.

They did that in the 2025 NHL Draft by adding a trio of young talents to a steadily improving prospect group, but on their roster they have some young talent that are ready to prove themselves as pieces of the future.

One player that is seeking a new contract after this season is Philip Tomasino, who came to the team in a trade with Nashville last season, showing promise by scoring 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games played in Pittsburgh following his arrival.

Now, he's been identified as a player that could potentially push for a full-time role and another contract with the Penguins, with his chemistry with Evgeni Malkin potentially playing a huge part in that.

In his career thus far, Tomasino has been labelled as an offensive winger set for the bottom-six, but if he is given consistent time alongside Malkin in the top-six, many believe he could become a very productive player at the NHL level.

For now though, he's fighting for his life in the NHL, but with the salary cap set to jump to $104 million heading into the 2026/27 campaign, the Penguins will have room for him, and if he proves himself this season, there's no reason why the 24-year old can't play a role in Pittsburgh for years to come.