With training camp getting closer, the Penguins still have room to make another move or two in free agency. The roster has been through plenty of change already this offseason, but it still looks a little out of balance. If Pittsburgh wants a real shot at competing, it may need more help to round out the lineup before the season starts.
That’s especially true on the blue line, where the left side still has a clear opening. Right now, the Penguins only have Samuel Girard as the only reliable left-handed player on the back end, with Trevor Van Reimsdyk being a potential option to play on his opposite side. That leaves a hole that could use some attention, and one possibility is bringing in a second left-handed defenseman to help stabilize things.
A familiar name in that mix is Ian Cole. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins before building a steady career elsewhere, and while he isn’t going to wow anyone offensively, he’d fit as a dependable bottom-pair defenseman. Cole had some issues with the prior coaching staff in Pittsburgh, but with that situation altered, Cole could always return.
Another option is Carson Soucy, a defenseman whose game leans more toward the defensive side. He’s coming off an uneven stretch in his NHL career, but Pittsburgh could offer the kind of rebound opportunity that makes sense for both sides. Soucy wouldn’t solve every issue on the left side, but he would add competition for the bottom pair and bring the ability to handle big minutes, something he has shown he can do even through recent struggles.
If the Penguins decide to look beyond defense and add a winger, Eeli Tolvanen stands out as the most logical name. He’s still young and entering what should be the prime of his NHL career, and he likely wouldn’t require much money to sign.
Pittsburgh’s forward group is already crowded as camp approaches, and that could get even tighter if younger players keep pushing. Even so, Tolvanen is the kind of low-risk swing the Penguins have shown interest in lately: a former first-round pick with untapped upside and a chance to outplay a modest contract.
In Other News...
Penguins Suddenly Have A New Question Behind Their Veteran Core
The Penguins have spent the offseason with the same familiar veterans at the center of everything, but the real intrigue now sits around the edges of that core. Nick Robertson, Declan Carlile, Ville Koivunen and Andrey Kuzmenko are among the players drawing the most attention as Pittsburgh looks ahead, each bringing a different mix of past performance, current standing and possible fit as the roster takes shape.
For a team built around stability up top, the questions are shifting to the supporting cast, where roster spots are not yet clearly settled and development still matters. Koivunens trajectory, Kuzmenkos role, Carliles push and Robertsons place in the mix all speak to a Penguins lineup that may look familiar in some areas while changing in others, and the uncertainty there could end up shaping more than just the final spots on the bench. [Read more 🡒]