League: NHL Sport: Hockey Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Pittsburgh Penguins explore Chinakhov-Crosby pairing for next season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 10, 2026, 5:50 PM

Last updated Aug 10, 2026

Pittsburgh Penguins explore Chinakhov-Crosby pairing for next season

Summary

The Pittsburgh Penguins are considering continuing the partnership between Egor Chinakhov and Sidney Crosby for the upcoming NHL season. Following a successful late-season run, where they recorded strong scoring results, the duo played together for a substantial stretch towards the playoffs. Coach Dan Muse praised Chinakhov's contributions, especially away from the puck, indicating a potential for further development. With Crosby and Bryan Rust not fully healthy at the end of the season, the right deployment of Chinakhov could also enhance the performance of secondary lines, contributing to overall team depth. The Penguins' strategy remains adaptable as they prepare for next season's lineup.

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Status Watch

•Crosby and Chinakhov logged significant ice time together in late games.
•Chinakhov scored 3 goals and 5 assists in final eight contests.
•Muse highlighted Chinakhov’s effectiveness away from the puck.
•Penguins consider rotating Chinakhov with Malkin for depth.
•Rust's health may influence forward line configurations.

Latest Updates

5:50 PMYahoo Sports — Building the Pens’ top-six next year: more Chinakhov-Crosby?

What they're saying

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One of the more interesting tactical changes for the Penguins came in their March 30th key game against the Islanders. The Pens would win 8-3 on the road, go beat Detroit 5-1 the next night and never look back on their way to a comfortably qualifying for playoff berth. It was a critical time in […]
— Yahoo Sports

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