2026-27 Pittsburgh Penguins Player Projections: Elmer Soderblom

The Pittsburgh Penguins were mostly quiet on trade deadline day this past season, except for an acquisition of former Detroit Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom. 

The Penguins gave up a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for Soderblom and wanted to see how he’d benefit from a change of scenery. He had spent the last three seasons with the Red Wings after they selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, but he wasn’t able to secure a consistent lineup spot.

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He played in 86 games for the Red Wings, compiling 11 goals and 22 points. He got an immediate opportunity with the Penguins and used it to his advantage, racking up five goals and 10 points in 20 games.

Soderblom was good around the net and showcased some nice moves with the puck in that area. He protected the puck along the boards extremely well and it was hard for defenders to handle him. 

He played in five of the six Penguins playoff games after doing enough to secure a spot in the lineup and scored one goal. He opened the scoring against the Philadelphia Flyers early in Game 5, a game that the Penguins won 3-2 before they were eliminated in Game 6.

He is signed through the 2026-27 season at a cap hit of $1.125 million, so he’ll have plenty of time to impress the coaching staff and management. He’s the exact type of player that Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas has been acquiring for the past couple of years.

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Even though it was a small sample size, I want to see him carry that momentum into this season and earn a spot in the lineup. It’s going to be a competitive camp, but I think he has what it takes to make the team and be the 12th forward. 

Top-20 Penguins’ Prospects 2026, No. 6: Scoring Winger’s Dominant NCAA Season Only The BeginningNext up on our 2026 THN Top-20 Penguins’ Prospects list is a sniping winger who, if he can build out a more all-around game and continue to score goals at a torrid pace, could be a long-term top-six solution for the Penguins in the future.

I want him to keep using his 6’8 frame, especially behind the net and along the boards when he engages in those puck battles. If he does that and continues to have more of a scoring touch, he’ll have the chance to score double-digit goals this year. 

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It’ll be interesting to see if Penguins head coach Dan Muse utilizes his long reach and big frame on the penalty kill. He got a few minutes on that unit after the trade (3:43) after spending a combined 31 seconds on the PK in three seasons with the Red Wings. It’s at least a potential option for Muse. 

Again, nothing will be given to Soderblom, but he has the potential to be a strong replacement for Noel Acciari on the fourth line this year. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick).

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