Penguins Free Agency Recap

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Kuljit Parmar. Follow him on Twitter @ParmarKuljit

As we have entered the middle of July, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ management has made a lot of moves regarding the team’s outlook and preparation for the upcoming season, including making a trade for forward Reilly Smith, and the one-year signings of players the team has procured for a short-term solution in the depth play, where we will see more moves made come the 2023 NHL Trade deadline.

With all the acquisitions and re-signings, the fans shall see where the interim GM, Kyle Dubas, picks up from here and makes more moves accordingly. It is an interesting scenario, however, because of the handful of one-year signings.

The acquisition of Reilly Smith gives the team more flexibility to work with on the top-six line and allows the core 3 to adjust their game accordingly, which will give management more time to re-evaluate the roster in general and find pieces that will help contribute to the core needs.

The additions to the bottom six gives them ample room to maneuver players and see where they fit into the club and present more opportunities to score goals in crucial moments from players outside of the top lines.

Re-signing goaltender Tristan Jarry is the most important signing for the Penguins in my opinion. Dubas has seen the potential of the goaltender firsthand and did not make a move to acquire another star netminder. Whether you trust him or not - he does. And if you feel strongly about him, you have got to have some confidence.

The defensive upgrades and trade rumors right now are what everyone is talking about.

Making a trade for Norris Trophy winner Eric Karlsson makes sense, especially, since he does want to play for the Penguins and give the core three a last chance at greatness.

Trading away defensemen, Jeff Petry, however, is a good bargain along with the assets the team has stowed away at the moment.

For the Penguins team, overall, this will be a huge test for the club this upcoming season to tweak out the problems and learn from last year, where they had struggled down the stretch.

In terms of the last few seasons, this is by far the best opportunity for the team to learn and adjust their game to the prime depth Kyle Dubas has accumulated and help deliver answers to results in their gameplay.

This is a small-scale rebuild, but management will help secure a playoff-worthy team and bring back the glory days the fans remember.