Believe it or not, the Pittsburgh Penguins have actually had a relatively active offseason – but you’d never know it.
Although the organization has made a flurry of moves this offseason, many were peripheral, low-impact moves that likely won’t move the needle very much for the Penguins. That’s not to say there aren’t more moves on the horizon – general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has suggested that he still wants to add some younger talent to the roster – but there aren’t many left, if anything.
Here’s a mini-refresher on each Penguins’ offseason moves in chronological order and their likely impact on the NHL roster:
Signed forward Tristan Broz to a three-year, entry-level contract:
Impact: Low. Has a shot at cracking the NHL roster this season, but he likely begins the season in the AHL.
Signed forward Sam Poulin to a two-year, two-way, $1.55 million deal:
Impact: Low. Will battle for a roster spot, but likely begins season in the AHL.
Signed goaltender Filip Larsson to a two-year, two-way, $1.55 million deal:
Impact: Low. Will likely spend the season in the AHL.
Signed forward Valtteri Puustinen to a two-year, $1.55 million contract:
Impact: High. Puustinen will be on the NHL roster barring any major changes, and he could challenge for a spot in the top-six if the Penguins do not acquire anyone else to fill that hole. He showed flashes of being an impact player last season:
Valtteri Puustinen’s finishing struggles for most of the season have less to do with his actual ability and more to do with not having enough time/space to unleash his shot.
When he does have enough time/space … pic.twitter.com/sNldq5vLxg
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) March 17, 2024
Signed defenseman John St. Ivany to a three-year, two-way, $2.33 million contract:
Impact: Medium. St. Ivany looked pretty good in a small sample size last season, and he will challenge for a regular role on the Pens’ third pairing. He’s likely on track to compete against John Ludvig for the sixth or seventh defensive spot.
Signed forward Jonathan Gruden to a two-year, two-way, $1.55 million contract:
Impact: Low. Gruden figures to begin the season in the AHL.
Signed defenseman Filip Kral to a one-year, one-way, $775,000 contract:
Impact: Low. This is an AHL contract.
Signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $5 million extension:
Impact: High. This is the one move that, albeit a bit puzzling, could potentially have significant ramifications. Starting goaltender Tristan Jarry…