Hayes will replace Philip Tomasino in the lineup on Saturday, making his season debut on the third line and PP2. Hayes had 13 goals and 10 assist (23 points) in a depth role for the Penguins last season.

The Penguins announced on Friday that Hallander is expected to miss a minimum of three months with a blood clot in his left leg. His move to IR opened up a roster spot for Kevin Hayes to be activated ahead of Saturday's game.

Hayes was a full participant in Friday's practice and appears set to make his season debut on Saturday. The 33-year-old veteran centre, is expected to start on the third line and second power-play unit. He had 13 goals and 10 assists (23 points) in 64 games last season.

Hayes has not played yet this season, recovering from an upper-body injury, but could make his season debut this weekend against the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old Hayes recorded 23 points (13G / 10A) while playing 64 games in his first season with the Penguins in 2024-25.

On Friday, the Penguins announced that Filip Hallander has a blood clot in his left leg and will sidelined for at least three month. The 25-year-old Hallander has already played a career-high 13 games this season and has four points (1G / 3A) this season.

Koppanen split his 2024-25 season between the NHL and AHL, but spent most of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), where he had 23 points (8G / 15A) in 56 games. Koppanen has just one goal and one assist in 20 career NHL games since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Hallander left Wednesday's practice early with an undisclosed injury and will not play on Thursday. Hallander has spent parts of the 2025-26 season playing alongside Sidney Crosby, and has tallied four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games. With Hallander unable to suit up, expect Ben Kindel to take his spot on Pittsburgh's top line.

With Tristan Jarry (lower-body) out week-to-week, Silovs will be the go-to option between the pipes for the Penguins, beginning with Thursday's contest against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Silovs struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but has otherwise been solid, boasting a 2.66 GAA and .913 SV% in seven games (3-2-2). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as slight -103 home underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a dominant 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues last night.

Connor Clifton will draw back into Pittsburgh's lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, sending Brunicke to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 19-year-old Brunicke is averaging 15:43 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) through nine games in his first NHL season.

Clifton has been limited to only three games this season, last playing on October 25th, and will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 17:34 time-on-ice, recording zero points, nine blocks, and 16 hits.

Graves started the season in the AHL, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in 10 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but will suit up for his season debut with Pittsburgh on Thursday. The 30-year-old defenseman has 118 points (32G / 86A) in 433 career NHL games.

With Tristan Jarry (lower-body) out week-to-week, Silovs will be the go-to option between the pipes for the Penguins, beginning with Thursday's contest against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Silovs struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but has otherwise been solid, boasting a 2.66 GAA and .913 SV% in seven games (3-2-2). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as slight -103 home underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a dominant 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues last night.

Koivunen has been back and forth from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season, but could get another shot to draw into Pittsburgh's lineup after being recalled on Thursday. The 22-year-old Finnish forward has a whopping 11 points (4G / 7A) in six AHL games, but only one point (0G / 1A) in seven games at the NHL level.

Hallander has spent parts of the 2025-26 season playing alongside Sidney Crosby, and has tallied four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games. It's unclear if Hallander will be able to play when the Penguins return to action on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. If Hallander is unable to suit up, expect Ben Kindel to take his spot on Pittsburgh's top line.

The Penguins have evenly alternated goalie starts through 14 games this season, but will rely on Arturs Silovs for at least the next three weeks, as Jarry has been placed on Injured Reserve due to a lower-body injury. Jarry has played well this season but had a forgettable outing on Monday, allowing four unanswered goals in the third period en route to a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in seven games this season (5-2-0).

Acciari was limited to two shifts in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, exiting the game in the first period after only 1:10 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old bottom-six forward will be sidelined for at least three weeks after being placed on Injured Reserve. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games this season.

Brazeau was off to an outstanding start to the season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in 12 games. The 27-year-old journeyman was en route to proving he belongs in the NHL, but has been sidelined for the previous two games due to an upper-body injury and will miss at least the the next four weeks after being placed retroactively on Injured Reserve.

Brazeau was off the an outstanding start to the season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in 12 games. The 27-year-old journeyman was en route to proving he belongs in the NHL, but has been sidelined for the previous two games due to an upper-body injury and will miss at least one more after being placed retroactively on Injured Reserve.

Acciari was limited to two shifts last night, exiting the game in the first period after only 1:10 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old bottom-six forward will be sidelined for at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games this season.