Welcome to part 3 of my series breaking down players the Penguins might be able to draft in the first round. If you haven’t read the previous parts, let me preface this by saying these are players who are presumably within the Penguins’ draft range, though obviously anything can happen on draft day...

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Welcome to part two of my breakdown, analysis, and review of the possible first-round options for the Penguins in the 2026 NHL Draft. For the most part, we’re going over players who are projected to be taken around the Penguins’ draft range — not necessarily who they will take. That said, I usually include at least one player I think the Penguins may actually be targeting based on the types of prospects Kyle Dubas and his scouting staff have gravitated toward in the past.

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During the 2025 Entry Draft, I confess I was bitterly disappointed at first when the Penguins selected smallish center Ben Kindel 11th overall. I very much wanted us to take bristling physical defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who went on to pile up 28 goals and 70 points in 56 games with the Barrie Colts this past season.

I still held out hope Kyle Dubas might take Aitcheson with the 12th overall pick, the one gleaned from the Rangers, until he promptly dealt the choice to Philly for the 22nd pick. When the Islanders swooped in to nab Aitcheson at No. 17, I was crestfallen, not to mention downright angry and frustrated.

Then Dubas selected power-forward Bill Zonnon with the pick gleaned from the Flyers, and my frown immediately turned upside down. I’d had my eye on Zonnon prior to the draft and had even written an article about the 6’2” 190-pounder while singing his praises. So this was a (very) rare instance where the Pens actually picked a player I held in high regard.

To digress for a moment, we all know how Kindel turned out.

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With the draft getting closer, it’s time to start looking at some of the players who should realistically be available when the Penguins are on the clock....

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A few days ago, Other Rick and I had an interesting discussion concerning the Penguins’ immediate future. One that shook me from my early summer lull and compelled me to put fingertips to keyboard.

Specifically, what happens next season if the Pens decide to fill their open spots with kids?

Some I think you can pretty much pencil in already. It’s practically a given that a kid goalie will share the net next season with Arturs Šilovs. While the consensus would appear to favor 22-year-old wunderkind Sergei Murashov, who’s enjoying a terrific playoff with the Baby Pens following a standout regular season, Kyle Dubas also mentioned Joel Blomqvist in his season-wrapping presser.

A word of caution. Like Šilovs, Murashov struggles with rebound control. He also tends to play in a very low crouch, leaving the top of his net exposed. In other words, I’d temper my expectations.

A good overall assessment for all the kids.

Unless Dubas pulls a complete surprise and re-ups 34-year-old player’s player Noel Acciari, Avery Hayes seems ticketed for fourth-line duty.

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There has been a lot of online speculation about who the Penguins might target and what Kyle Dubas might do. Most of it has honestly been focused in the wrong direction. Articles, sports media, and fans alike have all been talking about trading away the Penguins’ prized first-round pick for players like Jason Robertson, Robert Thomas, Brady Tkachuk, and even Auston Matthews.

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