Penguins defense continues to improve early in 2025-26 – Hockey Writer – Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a great start this season, and that has a lot to do with the infusion of young talent. Their core is still performing at a high level, but the addition of players like Ben Kindl and Filip Haaland to the roster has given them a huge boost. The addition of Parker Wotherspoon on defense also proved to be a positive move. There were a lot of questions about Pittsburgh’s defense entering the season, but so far, it has exceeded expectations.
Penguins defense looks strong to start season
The Penguins defense wasn’t perfect to start the season, but it’s certainly improved from last season. Wotherspoon played an important role in this. He’s their first free agent signing this summer and so far, he’s been a good fit. He currently forms a first pairing with Erik Karlsson, which seems to be helping Karlsson improve his game.
Wotherspoon provides stability on the left side that the Penguins have lacked for a long time. In a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 16, he played well in all three zones and, for the most part, was in the right place at the right time. He’s great at making the right reads and stopping things in his own zone. He’s also been a very stable and consistent partner for Carlson, who didn’t live up to expectations in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh.
The truth is, Carlson hasn’t had a good defensive partner since arriving in Pittsburgh. He is an offensive defenseman, so he needs a partner with a strong enough game to support him. Wotherspoon plays a simple and consistent game, while his partner is the exact opposite. Perhaps it is precisely because of the contrast that the two complement each other so well.
The third defensive pairing has encountered some problems this season. Matt Dumba joins Harrison Brunicke and Connor Clifton, and the Penguins just recalled Owen Pickering from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Pickering played 25 games in Pittsburgh last season, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists. Brunik started the new season strong, scoring his first goal on October 9 against the New York Islanders. His production has declined since then, and at 19 years old, he may not be ready to compete at the NHL level.
RELATED: Flyers beat Penguins in chaotic shootout
In seven games with Wilkes-Barre this season, Pickering has scored one goal and provided three assists. He’s expected to add stability to the Penguins’ defense on the left side. He and Brunik did spend a lot of time together in the preseason and seemed to work well together. If Pittsburgh can address its third pairing issues, they will have a solid defense.
Penguins are making progress
No one expected the Penguins to accomplish much this season, let alone a record of 7 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in their first 11 games. In their win over the Kings, they trailed by two goals entering the second period. They got back into the game by staying aggressive and sticking to their game plan. It’s never too early to start talking about the playoffs, because even if you don’t make it to the playoffs in October, you’re probably going to miss it. November will bring some stiff competition, including the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils. Whether Pittsburgh can stay consistent remains to be seen, but they have proven they are capable of winning.
