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Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak and New York Rangers defenseman Scott Morrow chase after the puck (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

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Penguins Need More From Tommy Novak

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Sylvie McCarthy | Last updated May 16, 2026 1:25 PM ET

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The Pittsburgh Penguins’ season was full of ups and downs. Several players had standout performances, and the team returned to the postseason for the first time since 2022. Even though they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Flyers, there is plenty for general manager Kyle Dubas to build off of during the offseason. Tommy Novak has one more year left on his current contract, but did he do enough during the season to be a part of the team moving forward?

Novak Struggled to Find Consistency

Novak came to Pittsburgh in March 2025 via trade from the Nashville Predators. He played in all 82 games this season and recorded 16 goals and 42 points. He was the only Penguins player to skate in all 82 games, and he spent the majority of the season playing in the top six with Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov. Overall, he put together a solid body of work, but it’s hard not to wonder if he has more to give.

There is no denying Novak’s talent, but inconsistencies plagued his season. He is a natural playmaker, and he is good at setting up his teammates to score goals. He had a slow start to the season and suffered a five-game point drought in mid-November. He also did not score a goal in twelve straight games from March 16 to April 9.

However, he had a knack for showing up in big moments when his team needed him. On March 8, Novak scored in overtime against the Boston Bruins to give the Penguins the 5-4 victory. On March 14, he scored a big goal against the Utah Mammoth when his team was down by one in the second period and ultimately helped them get the 4-3 win. On April 9, he scored a goal in the second period in the game against the New Jersey Devils to help Pittsburgh clinch a playoff spot.

Penguins Will Need to See More From Novak

There is a chance Dubas could use Novak as trade bait this summer. However, if he is on the team next season, the Penguins will need more from him. For much of this season, he was paired with Malkin and Chinakhov, so asking him to score 20 goals in a season is not a stretch.

Novak also struggled in the postseason, which, even though the sample size is small, is starting to look like a trend for him. During the 2024 postseason, when he was with the Predators, he recorded zero points in six playoff games. This season, during the Penguins’ playoff series with the Flyers, he recorded two assists in six games.

This season, Novak recorded the third-most points he has ever put up in his career and the third-most goals. He is a versatile forward who can drive possession, and he is on an extremely affordable contract. He had good chemistry with Malkin and Chinakhov this season, and he is a true playmaker with good vision. There are a lot of positives about his game, but do they outweigh the negatives?

Novak did not play poorly this season, but he did not play well enough to be a top-six forward. He has talent, but does he have enough to be a constant difference maker? Pittsburgh may get more out of him if they move him to the bottom six. He may find more success on the third line next to Ben Kindel or Elmer Soderblom. He was by no means a liability this season; however, he could turn into one if the Penguins do not put him in a position to succeed.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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