NHL EDGE stats 2026-27 season outlook for Pittsburgh Penguins

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, we will identify key NHL EDGE stats for each team to preview the 2026-27 season. Today, three advanced metrics trends surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins.

1. High-danger prowess

The Penguins ended a three-season Stanley Cup Playoff drought last season under first-year coach Dan Muse, and their high-danger metrics were a huge reason for their resurgence. Pittsburgh led the NHL in high-danger shots on goal last season (740) and ranked fourth in high-danger goals (144). But considering Pittsburgh’s leader in high-danger goals last season was wing Anthony Mantha (24; tied for fifth in NHL), who signed a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 15, the Penguins could rely even more heavily on their veteran core of forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang.

Among returning Pittsburgh players, Crosby and Rickard Rakell were tied for their most high-danger goals last season (16 each), while Rakell led the team in high-danger shots on goal (90; 97th percentile among NHL forwards). Crosby, who turned 39 years old on Aug. 7, was also among the forward leaders in offensive zone time percentage last season (46.2; 94th percentile). The Penguins, as a team, also ranked in the top 10 in key advanced metrics like mid-range goals (90; tied for sixth), mid-range shots on goal (698; tied for eighth) and offensive zone time percentage (41.4; 10th), helping them finish among the regular-season leaders in both goals per game (3.54; third) and power-play percentage (24.1; seventh).

On the goaltending side, Arturs Silovs was a standout during the postseason when called upon; despite the Penguins losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games during their Eastern Conference First Round series, Silovs led the entire playoffs in high-danger save percentage (.909). The 25-year-old helped Pittsburgh win two of his three postseason starts and allowed a total of five goals in those games (77 saves on 82 shots faced; .939 save percentage). After Stuart Skinner signed with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1, Silovs has a chance to be Pittsburgh’s No. 1 goalie this season. It’s also worth noting rookie Sergei Murashov was a standout in high-danger save percentage in a small sample size last regular season (.870 in five games; 99th percentile).

2. Karlsson’s robust advanced stats

Karlsson, who’s 36 years old, is among the most well-rounded defensemen in the NHL in terms of underlying stats. Karlsson, who ranked eighth among NHL defensemen in points last season (66 in 75 games), was in the 90th percentile at his position in the following advanced metrics: 

• Max skating speed: 23.74 (99th percentile)
• 22-plus mph speed bursts: 19 (99th percentile; fourth among defensemen)
• 90-100 mph shot attempts: 40 (99th percentile; fourth in NHL)
• High-danger shots on goal: 14 (95th percentile)
• Mid-range goals: 6 (94th percentile)
• Mid-range shots on goal: 44 (96th percentile)
• Long-range shots on goal: 81 (94th percentile)
• Long-range goals: 6 (98th percentile; tied for fourth in NHL)
• Power-play skating distance: 34.41 miles (96th percentile)
• Offensive zone time percentage: 45.4 (93rd percentile)

Karlsson, entering his 18th NHL season, is a three-time Norris Trophy winner (2012, 2015, 2023) but has never won the Stanley Cup. Together with the rest of the Penguins’ veteran core, which has plenty of championship experience (Crosby, Malkin, Letang each won three Stanley Cup titles together with Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016 and 2017), Karlsson hopes to keep the Penguins in contention with the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes and much-improved Washington Capitals for postseason positioning in the Metropolitan Division.

3. Chinakhov’s eye-opening shot speed

Forward Egor Chinakhov, acquired by Pittsburgh in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, 2025, ranked third on the Penguins in goals (18) and was tied with Mantha for their most even-strength goals (16 each) over the span from his Pittsburgh debut (Jan. 1) to the end of the regular season. Chinakhov’s flashes of brilliance were backed by elite shot speed metrics, along with other outstanding performances in key advanced stats categories.

Chinakhov led NHL forwards in average shot speed (65.49) among those who had at least 100 shot attempts last season (he had 282). He also ranked fifth among NHL forwards in hardest shot (99.03 mph), helping him rank highly among forwards in various shots-by-location categories despite being limited to 72 games last season; he was a standout in long-range shots on goal (29; 96th percentile), mid-range goals (11; 94th percentile) and mid-range shots on goal (51; 84th percentile).

Together with Chinakhov’s skating speed (193 speed bursts of 20-plus mph; 94th percentile among forwards), the 25-year-old quickly became a difference-maker in the Penguins’ top six and has clear breakout potential for his first full season with the team.