Pittsburgh Penguins off to surprise hot start: ‘Something to prove’

TORONTO – Sidney Crosby was answering uncomfortable questions about his future. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar sat down with a small group of reporters in Las Vegas at the NHL’s player media tour in September. 

He acknowledged rumours about the potential for an eventual trade away from the only franchise he’s ever known — one pivoting toward a full rebuild following three straight springs outside the playoffs. 

“I understand it,” Crosby said at the time. “It’s not something that you want to discuss.”

Less than two months later, the tone has changed dramatically with the Penguins off to a surprising start, at least to those outside their locker room, under rookie head coach Dan Muse.

A roster with Hall of Fame talent in the twilight of careers coupled with peach-fuzzed youngsters, role players and journeymen has powered Pittsburgh to an 8-4-2 record, good for second in the Metropolitan Division and third in the Eastern Conference heading into Wednesday’s action.

“We’ve been going into every game probably with something to prove,” Crosby said this week. “The expectations weren’t that high for us coming in. We’ve competed hard, we’ve given ourselves a chance.”

Muse replaced Mike Sullivan behind the bench following the 2024-25 campaign after the two-time Stanley Cup winner and the Penguins mutually parted ways.

The 42-year-old from Canton, Mass., previously worked five seasons as an NHL assistant, and has also coached in the NCAA, USHL and with U.S. National Team Development program.

“You’re seeing contributions throughout the lineup,” Muse said. “We’ve found different ways to win games. Even in the games that haven’t gone our way, they’re fighting right to the very end.”

The Penguins suffered their worst moment of the young season Monday when the Toronto Maple Leafs erased a 3-0 deficit in the third period before picking up a stunning 4-3 victory, but Muse has been focused on the process.

“We want to continue, just each day, trying to find a way to get a little bit better,” he said in the hours prior to that blown lead. “The players have really bought into that. We still have a lot of work to do. We have things that we know we can continue to be better at. We want to continue to add layers.”

The mandate from Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was to create a growth environment for the group.

“A lot of collaboration,” Muse said. “We have players that are future Hall of Famers — legends of the game — combined with some guys that weren’t even born when some of these guys were first playing in the league.”

Pittsburgh great Evgeni Malkin has turned back the clock under Muse, sitting tied for fourth in the overall scoring race with 19 points in 14 games through Tuesday’s play, while Crosby is in a group sitting on 17. 

The Penguins are also getting unexpected contributions, including from 18-year-old rookie forward Ben Kindel, who has already has five goals. The power play ranks second overall and the penalty kill is 10th under Muse.

“He’s done a good job in asserting himself and the way that he thinks the game should be played,” said veteran defenceman Erik Karlsson. “And at the same time, looking at the personnel that we have here and the guys that we have and what each individual can contribute with, and try and maximize that.”

Fellow blueliner Kris Letang said there’s a “different energy” around the Penguins, with more battle drills at practice among the changes.

“Everybody is accountable,” Letang added of in-game systems. “There’s no way around it.”

And like Crosby, he said there’s motivation after Pittsburgh was projected to be in the running for the No. 1 pick at the 2026 draft — not sitting among the NHL’s early surprises.

“You don’t want people to think that way,” Letang said. “You want to prove them wrong.”

The Penguins have certainly done that to this point. Now the task is to keep it going.

“It takes time to work things out,” Crosby said. “But everyone’s contributed … that’s huge.”

HALL CALL

The Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 is set to be enshrined Monday. Joe Thornton, Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker will enter in the player category. Jack Parker gets the nod as a builder.

OLYMPIC DREAMS

Karlsson and Toronto centre John Tavares — both 35 years of age — have each played at just one Olympics. And both are eager for another shot when the NHL returns to the Games for the first in more than a decade in February.

“One of the most fun experiences,” Karlsson said of the 2014 Olympics when suited up for Sweden. “Hopefully get a chance to be there.”

Tavares was part of Canada’s podium-topping team at those Games, but suffered a knee injury in the quarterfinals that cost him the rest of that season.

“You want to be a part of that,” he said of the 2026 squad. “It’s a really unique and special opportunity.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2025.