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Because the Pittsburgh Penguins put together for his or her season opener in 30 days, a number of free brokers are nonetheless on the lookout for a chance. Many may very well be excited by competing for knowledgeable tryout (PTO).
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Though the Penguins are proper up towards the cap, with lower than $250k in house to make any roster changes, there isn’t any assure that everybody on a two-way deal makes the opening night time roster out of coaching camp.
That is why nothing is ready in stone, and somebody on a PTO might out-compete an incumbent and earn a spot.
Related: Crosby on Pending Extension: “I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to get done.”
With that in thoughts, listed below are three unrestricted free brokers that Pittsburgh might think about bringing in for coaching camp.
Gustav Lindstrom (25 years outdated)
The Penguins make use of 4 top-pairing defensemen: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Ryan Graves, and Marcus Pettersson. Regardless of including Matt Grzelcyk and Sebastian Aho, they’re fairly skinny outdoors the highest 4, even with John Ludvig within the lineup.
Realistically, Pittsburgh’s finest defenders underperformed in 2023-24, and now Karlsson, Letang, and Graves are a yr older. In the meantime, Pettersson is on the verge of free company and will need to have the perfect yr of his profession.
However the two new additions, Grzelcyk and Aho, will not skate in 70-80 video games, which means there are nonetheless alternatives to get into the lineup often. That is why the Penguins ought to signal Gustav Lindstrom.
Final yr, Lindstrom scored 10 factors in 46 video games between the Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens and was plus-12 regardless of enjoying on two bottom-ranked groups. He is simply 25 and has 174 video games of expertise.
He wants a chance to skate and keep his 15-minute-a-night common, one thing he might obtain in Pittsburgh.
Kailer Yamamoto (25 years outdated)
Kailer Yamamoto could have scored 20 targets whereas enjoying alongside Connor McDavid, however he is nonetheless a seven-year NHL veteran who has performed over quarter-hour as a depth ahead.
Initially a first-round choose of the Edmonton Oilers in 2017, Yamamoto has 134 factors in 303 video games, most just lately enjoying with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24, scoring simply 16 factors in 59 in a restricted position.
Despite the fact that the Penguins could also be stacked in any respect ahead positions, accidents and slumps typically occur at worse instances. If Yamamoto exhibits as much as camp and outworks different depth forwards, head coach Mike Sullivan might discover a spot for him.
He would not take many penalties and is not a legal responsibility on the ice. With a profession plus-20 ranking, he additionally has extra takeaways than giveaways.
James van Riemsdyk (32 years outdated)
The Penguins are already one of many oldest groups within the NHL, and if it is not damaged, why repair it? Though no membership in historical past with a mean age over 30 has ever gained the Stanley Cup, there are worse free-agent choices apart from James van Riemsdyk.
Final yr with the Boston Bruins, van Riemsdyk had 38 factors in 71 video games, together with 11 targets. For perspective, he was the Bruins’ ninth-leading scorer, the identical spot he would have occupied on the Penguins.
Though van Riemsdyk was hit or miss for therefore many stretches in 2023-24, he picked up 12 energy play factors thanks to 6 targets and 6 helpers. Since Pittsburgh introduced in David Quinn to transform the facility play, having a veteran like van Riemsdyk might assist re-establish a as soon as dominant man benefit.
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