Right before the NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Tommy Novak from the Nashville Predators. However, Penguins fans did not get much of a chance to see him play following the move. The 28-year-old forward appeared in just two games for the Penguins before suffering an injury in early March that ultimately ended his season.
In his two games with the Penguins following the trade, Novak posted zero points, four shots, and a minus-2 rating. This was after he had 13 goals and 22 points in 52 contests with the Predators this season before the move. While he had a bit of a quiet season overall, Novak has the potential to be a real surprise for the Penguins in 2025-26.
Before the 2024-25 season, Novak put together back-to-back solid campaigns with the Predators. In 71 games with the Predators in 2023-24, he set career highs with 18 goals, 27 assists, and 45 points. This was after he had 17 goals and 43 points in just 51 games with the Predators in 2022-23 season. With numbers like these, Novak has the ability to be an impactful offensive contributor, and it will be fascinating to see if he can be just that for Pittsburgh next season.
It is no secret that the Penguins need more offensive production if they hope to turn things back around in 2025-26. Thus, the Penguins will be hoping the change of scenery helps Novak bounce back. If he does, he will become a nice part of the Penguins' middle six next season.
Recent Penguins News
Will Joel Blomqvist Be On Penguins' Opening Night Roster?
Between injuries and inconsistency, the 2024-25 season was one of ups and downs for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist.
3 Amazing Stats Penguins' Sidney Crosby Can Hit Next Season
2 Prime Penguins Breakout Candidates For 2025-26 Season
Penguins Have Big Decision To Make With Defenseman
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Radim Mrtka
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Photo Credit: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images