Penguins announce season-opening roster

The Pittsburgh Penguins formally announced their season-opening roster Monday evening.

The group of 23 active players includes:

Forwards (13) — Noel Acciari, Justin Brazeau, Sidney Crosby, Connor Dewar, Filip Hallander, Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, Blake Lizotte, Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell and Philip Tomasino

Defensemen (8) — Harrison Brunicke, Connor Clifton, Matt Dumba, Caleb Jones, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Ryan Shea and Parker Wotherspoon

Goaltenders (2) — Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs

In total, five rookies — Brunicke, Hallander, Kindel, Koivunen and Silovs — are part of the active roster. Brunicke, 19, and Kindel, 18, are each eligible to return to their junior teams but can play up to nine NHL contests before the first year of their three-year entry-level contract is tolled.

The last time the Penguins had two junior-eligible players on their season-opening roster came in 2006-07 when defenseman Kris Letang and Jordan Staal made the team out of training camp.

Six injured players will open this season in inactive capacities.

Forwards Kevin Hayes (suspected left shoulder) and Bryan Rust (undisclosed) were placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, forwards Rutger McGroarty (undisclosed) and Tanner Howe (right knee), along with defenseman Jack St. Ivany (suspected right foot) and goaltender Joel Blomqvist (undisclosed), have been designated to the injured non-roster list.

According to Puckpedia, the Penguins are projected to open the season with $11,106,653 of salary cap space.

The #LetsGoPens opening roster has $11M projected Cap Space with 23 active (13F/8D/2G)

IR: Rust, Hayes
Season Opening IR: Blomqvist 342K, St. Ivany 230K, McGroarty 148K

With no roster moves, this can fit $51M annual Cap Hit @ Deadlinehttps://t.co/i3paCOYQqr

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) October 7, 2025

The Penguins are scheduled to begin the regular season with a road contest against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.