Penguins Added David Gustafsson to Opening Roster
The team integrated the forward into the lineup following a summer trade with the Winnipeg Jets.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Hockey
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The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially included David Gustafsson on their opening NHL roster. He joins the squad after being acquired in a late-June trade that sent Jack St. Ivany to the Winnipeg Jets.
Why it matters
The move addresses roster vacancies caused by early-season injuries to forwards Justin Brazeau, Ben Kindel, and Bryan Rust. Gustafsson is valued for his reliability on the defensive side of the puck.
Gustafsson holds a 51.2% career NHL faceoff win percentage and carries an $850,000 salary cap hit on his current one-year, two-way contract. He measures 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds.
The players
David Gustafsson
He is a professional hockey player from Sweden who has appeared in 149 NHL games.
Pittsburgh Penguins
This is a professional NHL team based in Pittsburgh that competes in the Metropolitan Division.
Winnipeg Jets
This is a professional NHL team based in Manitoba that previously held Gustafsson's contract.
The details
After the trade on June 29, 2026, Gustafsson signed his one-year deal on July 5. Despite his inclusion on the roster, he is expected to be a healthy scratch for the season-opening road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Timeline
David Gustafsson was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Gustafsson on June 29, 2026.
Gustafsson signed his contract with the team on July 5, 2026.
The season-opening game against the Philadelphia Flyers occurs on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The addition of Gustafsson provides depth for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they manage a depleted forward group during the start of the regular season. This move stabilizes the bottom-six rotation while the team awaits the return of injured key players.
Gustafsson is expected to be a healthy scratch for the season opener, meaning he will not immediately impact the team's on-ice performance against Philadelphia. His $850,000 cap hit provides the Penguins with manageable financial flexibility as they navigate early-season injury absences.
The takeaway
The Penguins are prioritizing defensive reliability and cap efficiency by bringing in experienced depth players like Gustafsson. Fans should monitor the injury status of the team's forward corps, as these health updates will dictate how often he rotates into the active lineup.
Further reading
For more on the current team lineup and developments, visit Pittsburgh Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TribLIVE.
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