Penguins Blog: Projecting New Lines, Inside Numbers

Dan Kingerski Tue, October 27, 2026 at 11:14 PM UTC

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Dan Muse has done more experimenting in the early going of the 2026-27 season than Thomas Edison on a square rush. Some of the Pittsburgh Penguins coach’s line shuffling has been forced by injury, some of it by ineffectiveness, and some of it has been exploration.

For all of the preseason talk of an overstuffed roster, thus far only Filip Hallander was lost, but general manager Kyle Dubas managed to snake steady defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Edmonton Oilers in the exchange. While Hallander flashed solid potential in a Penguins sweater, Stastney has improved the team’s blue line, which was sorely … SORELY needed.

Indeed, short-term injuries have allowed Dubas to keep his bountiful forwards crop largely intact, but also kept Muse busy with forming and finding and trying new lines.

Tuesday, one of the lines many fans have clamored for took shape. As Ben Kindel returned from his recent health scare, Muse used the extra day of practice to slot him between Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin.

“We’ve still got to check some boxes, in terms of some of the guys that are coming back, making sure where they’re at, how they’re progressing, and I think that can dictate things a little bit for lines,” Muse said. “But that was the thought today, obviously (Malkin and Chinakhov) have played together in the past. I think (Hendrix Lapierre and Ville Koivunen) have been playing very well together, and so we’ve got some pairs there that we’re looking at building some lines off of.”

Thus far this season, Kindel has been the middle of a transient line. He has played with almost every Penguins winger, except Chinakhov and Malkin. However, the trio did have some time together last season. And, it might surprise some, but their time did not go well.

It’s a very small sample size, but in just less than 24 minutes together, the line had a 38% Corsi, a 32% expected goals-for, and a 21% high-danger ratio. But despite being caved in, the line did have a goal without allowing one.

Of course, Kindel expanded his game for this season, and Malkin is flying. The line does have a chance, but it will be fascinating to see the Canadian kid between the Russian wingers and what comes of it.

Hendrix Lapierre

The Penguins may have found something with Lapierre, but his usage dictates efficacy. Lapierre has had significantly more success at center than on the wing. Actually, he’s had his only production in a Penguins sweater on in the middle.

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Lapierre admitted to PHN that while he’s happy to play anywhere, he is a natural center.

“I think less,” Lapierre told PHN about playing in the middle. “You know, like wingers probably think less when they’re on the wing.”

It makes sense.

The other pair Muse mentioned was Lapierre and Ville Koivunen. Interestingly, Lapierre’s advanced stats according to NaturalStatTrick.com show some tangible chemistry with Koivunen, but when either one is with Andrei Kuzmenko, the line goes south.

Lapierre and Koivunen have played 71 minutes together despite each serving as a healthy scratch for several games. They’ve posted an astounding 71% Corsi and 85% xGF. They have a 5-0 goals-for advantage.

Yet when Lapierre has played sparingly with Kuzmenko, it’s a 40% shot share and a mere 20% xGF. And when Koivunen and Kuzmenko have been on the same line, it’s a 40% shot share and 48% xGF.

Kuzmenko has not yet earned additional patience, registering just seven shots in eight games, but Muse also noted his skill, which has been more evident in recent games in which the Penguins have spent more time in the offensive zone.

” I think–how he looked, how he was with the puck–It takes some time (to get up to speed), and so I think there have been some games where I think he’s been in the offensive zone more and got a little bit more time with the puck,” said Muse. “You kind of get to see his game a little bit more in those games.”

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Source: “AOL Sports”