There’s no question the Penguins’ first-round exit at the hands of the hated Flyers put a damper on what was for the most part a resoundingly upbeat season. However, on the plus side of the ledger, there are positive developments aplenty down on the farm.
Namely, the guys you want to have producing for the Baby Pens are, in fact, producing. Center Tristan Broz notched three assists in Tuesday night’s Game Three triumph over Hershey. Ville Koivunen collected two assists. Russian import Mikhail Ilyin and defenseman Harrison Brunicke each tallied their first point of the series, a goal for the former and an assist for the latter. Rutger McGroarty scored the game-winner at 5:02 of the first overtime.
In last night’s series-clinching Game 4 victory over the Bears, Koivunen and Brunicke each potted their first goal of the playoffs, the former thanks to a slick net-front setup from Ilyin. Broz chipped in with his team-best fourth helper on the play as well.
Spitfire Avery Hayes scored two goals during the series. Aidan McDonough likewise netted a pair. Atley Calvert, Gabe Klassen and Owen Pickering, one each.
Of course, it’s just as important to stop ‘em as it is to score ‘em. Projected goalie-of-the-future Sergei Murashov shone like a diamond, posting a sparking .937 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average, including a spectacular 37-save (on 38 shots) effort in Game 4.
It certainly bodes well that so many kids are coming up large on the Calder Cup stage. After all, one or (hopefully) more may challenge for full-duty with the Pens next season.
Off hand, I’d say Brunicke, who’s drawn praise from coach Kirk MacDonald, has a pretty fair shot at opening next season as our No. 3 right-side defenseman, supplanting UFA-to-be Connor Clifton. I would also think Hayes (the Avery variety) is pretty much a lock to replace Noel Acciari on the fourth line.
If I squint real hard (and conveniently ignore the fact that we may not re-sign Evgeni Malkin), I can see Ilyin, an excellent playmaker, joining forces with Geno and rising star Egor Chinakhov on a “Comrade Line.”
From the looks of it, Murashov appears to be all-but-penciled in as the starter in goal.
A bit murkier? The futures of McGroarty, Koivunen and Broz. Although they lit up the AHL, neither McGroarty or Koivunen progressed the way Kyle Dubas & Co. would’ve liked at the big-league level. Based on this season’s performance, Koivunen doesn’t appear to possess the physical tools to thrive in the NHL. Although McGroarty generally showed well, he may lack the speed and high-end skill to be a top-sixer.
As for Broz? He seems to be a victim of his position. There just doesn’t seem to be an obvious opening for him down the middle, unless Dubas plans to peddle Tommy Novak or shift him to wing and elevate Ben Kindel to second-line center.
Still, Tristan’s well-earned reputation for coming through in the clutch, as he did in Games 3 and 4, would seem to hold him in good stead.
Although Pickering has evolved into solid AHL defenseman, he flunked an early season cameo with the Pens and was quickly dispatched to the minors, with nary a recall. Even when it meant turning to a largely ineffective Ryan Graves when injuries struck.
It doesn’t speak volumes for how the former No. 1 pick is viewed by the higher-ups, to say nothing of the fact that he was a Ron Hextall pick. As a rule, Dubas hasn’t exactly warmed to players procured during the previous regime, Murashov and Broz being the notable exceptions.
Still, it’s a good sign that so many kids are doing well.
Gauthier, Too
While Murashov, Arturs Šilovs and Joel Blomqvist are generally regarded as the team’s goaltending future, another netminder is quietly enjoying a sensational postseason.
Backstopping the Wheeling Nailers to a five-game conquest over Reading in the opening round of the ECHL playoffs, Taylor Gauthier posted some truly extraordinary numbers, including a microscopic 0.71 goals against average and equally stunning .974 save percentage, not to mention three shutouts!
Nor is this an isolated spurt for the Calgary native. Over his past three seasons with the Nailers, the 25-year-old silly-sider (catches right) has posted a 2.13 goals against average and .927 save percentage.
Given the state of goaltending around the league, you wonder if some team (hello Oilers) might take a flyer on the UFA-to-be.
The Other Rick
First, on Kindel, I disagree with your assessment. In my opinion, Kindel may have looked a little worn down at times, but I believe that had more to do with the adjustment to an 82-game schedule and the increased physical demands at the professional level. To me, Kindel earned his spot out of training camp and has already shown the tools to eventually develop into a quality second-line center.
What stands out most is that he’s willing to play in the hard areas. He competes physically, gets to the front of the net, and owns an excellent release on his shot. Those are traits that translate well at the NHL level.
With Broz, I’m not nearly as high. He’ll turn 24 this October, while Kindel won’t turn 20 until next April, so there’s a significant difference in development curve and long-term upside. Watching Broz, I see more of a playmaking center with solid hockey IQ, but I question whether he’ll consistently generate offense and finish plays at the NHL level.
Kindel, on the other hand, already showed he can be an effective two-way player while producing 17 goals as a rookie. When I evaluate Broz within the Penguins’ overall depth chart, I see his ceiling more as a third- or fourth-line player, and that creates a concern for me organizationally. Personally, I’d much rather see a player like Tanner Howe centering one of the bottom two lines because his style projects more naturally into that role.
I’ve mentioned this in previous blogs over the years — one mistake the Penguins have made at times is placing players on the third or fourth line simply because they couldn’t secure a top-six role. The problem with that approach is that not every top-six style player is built to succeed in a bottom-six role. Those lines require a different identity, skill set, and mentality. Right now, I see Broz potentially falling into that category.
I do believe Broz is more physically mature at this stage of his development, but I also think the experience Kindel gained this season — both during the regular season and throughout the playoffs — will pay major dividends down the road. There’s tremendous value in a young player going through the grind of a full NHL season at such an early age.
Beyond the on-ice development, simply being in the locker room and on the bench alongside a player like Crosby for an entire season is invaluable. Learning the day-to-day habits, preparation, leadership, and professionalism from one of the game’s elite veterans is worth its weight in gold for a young center trying to establish himself at the NHL level.
Hello Mike.
Extremely well-stated, and I agree 100 percent on Kindel/Broz. Also agree with your comment about trying to shoehorn failed top-sixers into bottom-six roles. Like trying to pound the proverbial square peg into a round hole, that almost never works. Which is why I’m very dubious about Koivunen. He may not have the size, speed and sense of timing to make it as a top-sixer in the NHL, and he sure as heck isn’t going to cut it in a more grinding/defensive role.
Rick
Mike and Rick B.
I realize that I will not change your opinions, nor am I going to try. I simply stated my opinion, based on what I observed. Yes, I did see Kindel try and go to the dirty area’s at times and summarily get tossed around like a rag doll. I also witnessed his ineffectiveness when he wasn’t being given time and space from being out their with Mantha and Brazeau. When opponents got in his face, like any young kid, I watched him disappear, like he did in the playoffs.
He looks as if he will eventually be a good middle-six player. He even looks as though he may eventually earn an A or C on his jersey. However, he should have been given another season in the juniors. He is lucky he didn’t suffer a serious injury – probably due to playing the bulk of the season with two wide bodies.
Moreover, the team should have taken Aitcheson with their first pick. You do not leave a player like that on the board. Worse, you don’t let a division rival take a player like that. NYI not only scored Schaeffer but got Aitcheson. The Pens could have still taken Kindel with their second pick instead of Zonnon. And any discussion of about some team taking Kindel early was more than likely gamesmanship, manipulating the Pens into blowing their chance at Aitcheson, just like when GMs kept trying to manipulate the Pens into taking Kirk Mueller rather than Mario in 1984. Aitcheson will not impact the league like Mario, nor will Kindel be the next Mueller. But then again, the Pens didn’t listen to the chatter in 84 like they did last season.
You can argue if you want and that is fine. Mike, you were right when you argued with me over Matheson (my saying he would be a give away machine but he wasn’t) but my track record is pristine other than that, so I am not likely to change my mid either.
In my defense on Matheson, he returned to being a give away artist once he left Pgh. The time he spent here was an anomaly in his career – perhaps the only person who thrived in Sully’s system.
The Other Rick
I don’t see where Matheson has turned into a “giveaway artist” since leaving the Penguins doesn’t really hold up when you examine the numbers in proper context. In his four seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, only one year — the 2024-25 season — produced what I would consider a notably high giveaway total at 107. Even that figure would still rank just third-highest on the current Pittsburgh Penguins roster.
This season (2025-26), Matheson finished with 94 giveaways, while posting 76 and 73 respectively in his first two seasons with Montreal. Considering his role and workload, those numbers are far from alarming. During his time in Pittsburgh, he averaged roughly 18 minutes per game. Since joining Montreal, however, he has been utilized as a true top-pair defenseman, averaging approximately 24.7 minutes per game over four seasons.
That distinction matters. Defensemen — particularly puck-moving defensemen who log heavy minutes, quarterback breakouts, and consistently handle the puck under pressure — naturally accumulate higher giveaway totals than forwards. The only forwards who routinely post comparable giveaway numbers are elite, high-usage offensive players such as Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid, who dominate possession and create offense through constant puck touches.
When evaluating Matheson’s giveaways, context is critical. Increased ice time, expanded responsibilities, tougher matchups, and significantly more puck possession opportunities all contribute to higher raw totals. Viewed through that lens, his numbers are much more reflective of usage and role than poor puck management.
Mike,
It is interesting how you call Malkin out for Gv but defend Matheson. Anyhow, I do agree that when a player carries the puck more often, just by the nature of carrying the puck, he will have a higher Gv total than if he wasn’t active on the ice. I have used that very argument with Malkin, Geno always has high Tk, Hits Taken, iCF etc totals, indicating that he is always in the center of the play when on the ice. Unfortunately for Matheson, his TOI is up but really only his Gv is really up from his Penguin days. Matheson’s 73 Gv in 2022-23 came in only 48 GP, that is 125 Gv in an 82 GP season. His Gv dropped to 76 Gv, not as horrible but certainly higher than his 66 Gv in 118 GP for Pgh. By comparison, he has 350 Gv in 288 GP in MTL, that is high in my book.
In his time in Pgh, Matheson’s Gv/60 was 1.79, in Mtl it is 2.94, that is a huge jump.
Malkin’s Gv/60 at the same age was only 2.66, yet you do complain about his Gv.
This is why I said what I said
The Other Rick
Of course we could go back and forth all day. To me the bottom line is Matheson had
66 giveaways while playing 18+ minutes a game with the Pens. He had 76 with Montreal while his
minutes jumped substantially to 24+ minutes a game and then to 25+ minutes a game.
This is the main reason his giveaway totals increased.
I’m moving on the the next topic – 2026 NHL Draft. It would be great if Rick could some how set up
a draft page where when we wanted to post rumors, suggest a trade or talk about our position on
some of the eligible Prospects. I have no ideal what that would involve, but i think it would be fun.
Rick,
In a grad school class in research, there was a discussion concerning the pitfalls of blindly following what the “Experts” said. The most important point was that best practice was to evaluate the evidence yourself and not be afraid to challenge existing paradigms. If much of the media and hockey fans were faced with Copernicus they would have dug their heels in with the rest of Ptolemy camp, holding fast to an earth centric view of the galaxy rather than a heliocentric truth.
During training camp, anyone who watched and didn’t feast on the pabulum the organization was dishing out would have clearly seen that Blomqvist and Murashov, beat out by a country mile Jarry and Silovs for roster spots; yet it was the latter rather than the former that Dubas chose to start the season. I did get and agreed with the idea of trying to regain some sort of trade value for Jarry and jettisoning that flotsam for the best return that could be had, particularly in the wake of Blomqvist getting injured.
In a similar vein, Broz and A. Hayes also stood shoulders above several other players in the bottom six mix, but they too were banished. Many fans and media types have and will continue to blind themselves to the weaknesses of Kindel; he was one of the players who really didn’t earn his roster spot. He struggled greatly at the start of the season with every line combination in Oct-Dec, dragging his line mates down. He was too physically immature to be playing in the NHL. It wasn’t until Muse moved Mantha and Brazeau to his flanks, twin towers to bolster the kid. The move did pay dividends for Kindel but at the expense of Brazeau. When Mantha and Brazeau flanked Geno, all three soared to incredible starts.
In the playoffs, Kindle disappeared because of his statural deficiencies.
Broz should have came out of training camp as the third line Center. He not only showed that he could play well in any role he was given, Even Strength, PP, and PK, he was and is older and physically more mature. The organization, dished out more offal for those not willing to actually evaluate for themselves or too star struck to question what they were told; retrograde blather about Broz backsliding in the last game after hailing him as a lock for a spot on the roster.
Worse for Broz, he sustained a protracted injury soon after he was demoted, and is only now starting to get back to form.
As for A. Hayes, the worse thing that could happen for him was that he scored two Goals in his first game as an NHLer. Scoring two Goals in his debut set an expectation of Hayes as a Goal Scorer, when the kid is a bottom six; he is the little engine that could. Now, many individuals, talking heads and fans alike have soured on the kid – at least a little.
I have no idea how the Calder Cup playoffs or the Kelly Cup will play out, but the play of several players right now certainly highlight the organizational mistakes of October, including the passing over of giving Gauthier a new contract at the beginning of the season.