Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is only about a month away from starting, and a lot of eyes will be on the defensemen since the Penguins aren't expected to be a strong defensive team this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is only about a month away from starting, and a lot of eyes will be on the defensemen since the Penguins aren't expected to be a strong defensive team this year.
There will be some good battles on the left side, but fans shouldn't forget about the right side, either. The Penguins made a couple of moves to try and change things up on that side earlier in the offseason, and could still make another if teams get more aggressive trying to pursue Erik Karlsson. However, as of August 17, he is still a Pittsburgh Penguin.
Here's a look at the options the Penguins have on the right side going into this upcoming season.
Erik Karlsson
Karlsson is expected to get the top-pairing minutes on the right side for the 2025-26 season, assuming he doesn't get dealt before training camp, and for good reason. Despite his many critics, he can still move the puck up the ice with authority and generate a lot of offense. He was tied for fifth among all defensemen in 5v5 points last season with 33.
He gives a lot back defensively, which isn't surprising given he hasn't been good defensively in a long time. The Penguins got him to push the pace of play, and that's precisely what he will do this upcoming season.
There's hope that a new coaching staff can get a bit more out of him than Mike Sullivan and Co. did these last two seasons. Karlsson has two years left on his contract and a full no-move clause.
Kris Letang
The 2025-26 season will be Letang's 20th season in the NHL, all with the Penguins. He's the best franchise defenseman in the history of the franchise and still has three years left on his contract at $6.1 million per season.
Letang had a rough go of things last season. His offense deteriorated, and he wasn't much better in his end. Despite being 38, he still wants to prove he can play at a higher level than he did last year and has been training his butt off all offseason.
He may have to accept a slightly lesser role for next season since Karlsson can do more offensively. Letang's time on ice per game last season was 23:31, and if the Penguins can shorten it by two or three minutes, it will be mutually beneficial for them and the player.
Connor Clifton
The Penguins acquired Clifton during the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 28, along with the No. 39 overall pick, for defenseman Conor Timmins and forward prospect Isaac Belliveau.
Clifton will try to win that bottom-pairing spot after going through a tough season last year with the Buffalo Sabres. Clifton told reporters after the trade in July that he felt he "lost himself" and is stoked to be a Penguin.
"I feel like I kind of lost myself. The change of scenery, I got that call that I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, and I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self, and how I play, and the impact that I have on the game. It was a couple of mental battles… but, you just try to simplify and be who you are, I guess," Clifton told reporters during a media session in July.
Clifton spent the last two seasons with the Sabres after spending the first five years of his career with the Boston Bruins. He has one year left on his contract.
What Will The Penguins' Left Side Look Like In 2025-26?When training camp opens for the Pittsburgh Penguins one month from now - and with more youth talent in the organization than there has been in a long while - there will be a lot of positional battles on pretty much every front.
Matt Dumba
Dumba got traded to the Penguins along with a 2028 second-round pick on July 10. The Dallas Stars were in salary cap hell, and the Penguins were happy to help out since they're not trying to contend this year.
Like Clifton, Dumba has a year left on his contract and needs a significant bounce-back after being a healthy scratch throughout the entire playoffs for the Stars. He was limited to 63 games during the regular season, compiling one goal and 10 points.
Harrison Brunicke (maybe)
Brunicke was very close to making the Penguins' opening night roster last year before he was sent back to the WHL at the end of training camp. He did a lot of good things, but the Penguins believed he was best suited to continue developing at the junior level.
The Penguins may have a surplus of defensemen on the right side right now, but that's not going to stop Brunicke from going out there and trying to win a full-time roster spot.
It could be similar to what happened in 2019 when John Marino came out of nowhere to win a roster spot after an excellent training camp. It's not a guarantee, but Brunicke may give the Penguins' decision-makers quite a bit to think about again in September.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Category: General Sports
