The Penguins don't want to be pushed around anymore

There has been a clear focus for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins to begin the NHL offseason. They want to become bigger and tougher to play against.

Over the last several years, the Penguins have been too easy of an opponent for other teams around the league. That's not just because of the results on the scoreboard, but rather the lack of physicality and pushback.

Far too often it's Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Kris Letang getting into the scrums and having to stand up for themselves, which shouldn't be the case. It was great to see Boko Imama step in as enforcer down the stretch last season, and it appears as if the organization is continuing to put an emphasis on that area of the game.

Look no further than this weekend's 2025 NHL Draft. Four of the Penguins' seven selections over the first three rounds are 6'2" or taller and known for their work ethic and physical play. Bill Zonnon, Will Horcoff, and Peyton Kettles, in particular, bring a combination of size and tenacity that could be a handful for the rest of the league to deal with in the future.

Connor Clifton adds much-needed physicality to the blue line

Kyle Dubas and the front office didn't stop short at just the draft when it came to addressing the team's toughness. Pittsburgh acquired bruising defenseman Connor Clifton as part of the trade that sent Conor Timmins to Buffalo.

While Clifton may not be a perfect player, he should slot in nicely in a bottom-pairing role on the right side behind Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang (assuming they're still around). The 30-year-old's 208 hits in 73 games in 2024-25 would've led the Penguins in that category.

Don't be surprised to see even more size and toughness added in the coming days and weeks as the Penguins look to ensure they're no longer a pushover.