The Penguins have released their roster for the 2026 training camp, which starts today. Altogether, 69 players have been invited to camp, including 36 forwards, 23 defensemen, seven goaltenders and three injured players.
Bear with me, I’m about to go off on a tangent. Anyone who’s read PenguinPoop over the years knows I value toughness. I think it’s an important and necessary element to have on your team, as the majority of the recent Cup winners (Florida, Vegas, Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Washington) have demonstrated.
For one of the few times in recent memory, I was actually quite happy with our team toughness last season. However, by purpose or attrition, POHO/GM Kyle Dubas saw fit to divest the Pens of most of the guys who carried the banner in that regard, including Noel Acciari, Connor Clifton, Anthony Mantha, Parker Wotherspoon and popular heavyweight Boko Imama.
Scanning the training camp roster, we have four players who I’d regard as willing scrappers, defensemen Maleek McGowan (who’s genuinely tough) and Chase Pietila and forwards Max Graham and Lucas Ciona. None of whom figure to carve out a roster spot.
Noting the latter had racked up a fair amount of penalty minutes with the AHL Calgary Wranglers last season, I figured he was the heir apparent to assume Imama’s role as chief protector and looked him up on HockeyFights.com. As anticipated, the 6’2” 218-pound left wing is most willing to engage. Unfortunately, Ciona seems to land nary a punch during his battles, often resorting to wrestling tactics.
This isn’t meant as a put-down by any means. Win, lose, or draw, anyone who drops the gloves has a ton of guts in my book and deserves respect. Perhaps even more so if they’re not especially adept with their dukes. But it’s just so typical of the Pens to import a heavyweight who isn’t a particularly good fighter.
Anyway, enough side-show ramble. Here’s a link to the roster.
