Looking at some bounce-back candidates for the 2026-27 Penguins
There are not many Pittsburgh Penguins that need to bounce-back, but here are four that could really use it.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images There were a lot of things that contributed to the Pittsburgh Penguins strong 2025-26 performance and their return to the playoffs, and one of the biggest was the number of players that exceeded individual expectations. In some cases, it was not just a case of exceeding expectations, but having career years.
When that happens across an entire roster you do not have many bounce-back candidates for the following season. There are, however, still a handful of players that the Penguins will be hoping for a bounce-back performance from during the 2026-27 season. So let’s take a look at a few of them and how likely it will be for them to perform better on an individual level.
Most-likely bounce-back: Sam Girard Girard’s brief time with the Penguins has produced some mixed results, and I would say the majority of those results have been on the disappointing side. He initially struggled after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche in the trade for Brett Kulak. His work alongside Kris Letang produced some ugly moments in both the regular season and playoffs.
Early on, he looked like a player that was doing more thinking on the ice than playing. Sometimes he seemed more interested in just spinning around with the puck than making a decision with it. But for all of the negatives there were still some flashes of strong play (both with and without Letang) and some games where he truly did shine.
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