The Pittsburgh Penguins' newest forward addition - previously an unsigned RFA - is joining the organization next season despite being under contract in the SHL.
On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins made their first trade of the 2026 offseason, sending defensive prospect Emil Pieniniemi to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Oliver Okuliar, who is under contract with the SHL's Skellefteå AIK for one more season.
However, it looks like the unsigned restriced free agent could be on his way back to North America to join the Penguins next season instead.
First reported by Swedish outlet Expressen and later announced by Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas, Okuliar and the Penguins finalized a contract that will bring the Slovakian forward to the organization in 2026-27, nullifying the final year of his current contract with reigning SHL-champion Skellefteå. The deal is a one-year, two-way contract that runs through the end of next season and is worth $850,000 at the NHL level.
The 26-year-old was Skellefteå's best player en route to their title, amassing six goals and 13 points in 15 playoff games, which tied him for first and landed him in second for those categories, respectively, in the SHL playoffs.
In 46 regular season games with Skellefteå, Okuliar had 15 goals and 29 points. Last season followed a 2024-25 AHL campaign with the Charlotte Checkers that included 19 goals and 41 points in 69 games.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound undrafted center has yet to appear in an NHL game, as he has bounced between North America and Europe for most of his playing career. He spent a few seasons in the QMJHL and WHL before returning to Czechia, sprinkling some time in Finland and Sweden as well. He returned to the AHL with the Panthers' organization in 2024-25, went back to Sweden, and is now an unsigned RFA.
Okuliar has also represented Slovakia on several occasions internationally, most recently during the 2026 Winter Olympics - where he registered one goal and two points in six games - and at the 2026 World Championship in Switzerland, putting up two goals and five points in seven games.
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