Pittsburgh will be without Andrei Kuzmenko, Ben Kindel and Blake Lizotte when the 2026-27 NHL season opens in Philadelphia early next week. Kindel and Lizotte are week-to-week with injuries; Kuzmenko is not expected back soon.
The absences open short-term lineup opportunities for Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Hendrix Lapierre and Fillip Hallendar. Pittsburgh used 17 different forwards in at least 20 games and 14 in at least 40 during 2025-26; the article says more lineup openings may arise as the season progresses.
