Penguins A to Z: Philip Tomasino can score but he'll need to provide more

With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 58 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.

Starting with Noel Acciari and going on through to Philip Tomasino (regrettably, there is no Z on the payroll), every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.

Forward prospects Melvin Fernstrom and Mikhail Ilyin, who signed with the team in recent weeks, will be profiled on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

This series is scheduled to be published Mondays through Saturdays leading up until June 26, a day before the start of the NHL Draft. In the event of a transaction, that schedule will be altered as necessary.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Puckpedia.)

Philip Tomasino

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

Age: 23

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 190 pounds

2024-25 NHL regular season statistics: 61 games, 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists), 13:04 of average ice time per contest

Contract: Signed to a one-year contract with a salary cap hit of $825,000. Pending restricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

(Tomasino is eligible for arbitration.)

Acquired: Trade, Nov. 25, 2024

This past season: After re-signing with the Nashville Predators as a restricted free agent just prior to the start of training camp (Sept. 18), Philip Tomasino enjoyed a fairly productive preseason, posting three points (one goal, two assists) in four games.

But little of that momentum carried over into the regular season as Tomasino was seemingly in the doghouse of coach Andrew Brunette. Out of a possible 21 games, Tomasino was a healthy scratch for 10 contests. And of the 11 contests he did play for the Predators in 2024-25, he generated only one assist while averaging 11:18 of ice time.

Overall, the Predators — who entered 2024-25 with expectations of being a contender — got off to a lousy start, going 7-11-3 in their first 21 games. Needing to facilitate some change, Predators general manager Barry Trotz dealt away Tomasino — a first-round draft pick (No. 24) in 2019 — to the Penguins in late November in exchange for a ho-hum fourth-round draft pick in 2027.

That change offered immediate benefit for Tomasino who wound up generating four points (three goals, one assist) in his first five games with the Penguins, including two game-winning scores while primarily skating on the right wing of the second line.

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Philip Tomasino with 12:34 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Evgeni Malkin.

Boston: 1
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsBOS #NHLBruins #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/S7vgyhCzGn

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 30, 2024

Tomasino didn’t maintain that production but he showed an eagerness to shoot the puck as he averaged 7.2 shots per 60 minutes of ice time in five-on-five scenarios, one of the highest figures on the team (per Natural Stat Trick).

While his offensive contributions were sporadic, Tomasino managed to make his goals meaningful when he did find the back of the net. His six game-winning goals were second on the team behind forward Sidney Crosby (10).

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Philip Tomasino with 17:38 remaining in the 3rd period.

Pittsburgh: 4
New Jersey: 1#NJDvsPIT #LetsGoPens #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/LlHflWp5Xi

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 15, 2025

Ultimately, Tomasino posted 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 50 games with the Penguins while clocking an average of 13:27 of ice time.

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Philip Tomasino with 10:59 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Rickard Rakell and Matt Grzelcyk.

Pittsburgh: 5
Washington: 2#WSHvsPIT #LetsGoPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/502fArSW7f

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 18, 2025

The future: Tomasino is arguably the Penguins’ most prominent pending restricted free agent. Given his mostly satisfactory play with the team following the trade, he should receive a qualifying offer.

But there’s plenty of room for improvement, especially with regard to the defensive side of the game. Brunette wasn’t afraid to excoriate Tomasino’s deficiencies in that area while former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was diplomatic in suggesting Tomasino could improve his defense. For his part, Tomasino has acknowledged he can spruce up as a defensive entity.

This appears to be an ideal situation for Tomasino, who turns 24 on July 28. That’s to say he’s a player with pedigree who needs plenty of opportunity to refine his game and he’s with a non-contending team that can provide plenty of chances to players with something to prove.

Tomasino offered some scoring touch after joining the Penguins. He’ll need to provide more to stay with them.