What happened: The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired the rights to forward Oliver Okuliar from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Emil Pieniniemi. The trade occurs months after Okuliar made headlines for publicly criticizing Panthers alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk following a heated Olympic matchup.
Why it matters: Okuliar’s relationship with the Florida organization likely became untenable after he called the Tkachuk brothers "scumbags" during the 2026 Winter Olympics. For Pittsburgh, the deal adds a productive 26-year-old Oliver Okuliar who recently helped lead Skellefteå AIK to an SHL championship.
By the numbers: Okuliar (SHL 2025-26): 29 PTS, 46 GP. 2026 Olympic result: USA 6, Slovakia 2.
What to watch: The Penguins will look to sign Okuliar to an NHL entry-level contract for the upcoming 2026-27 season.