Penguins' Must Sign Free Agents This Summer

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Kuljit Parmar

With the postseason slowly coming to an end, it is safe to say that we can begin looking ahead at the upcoming NHL free agents – and the teams they dare to sign with. For the Penguins, let’s start with the defensive makeup of the squad, especially this year's candidates list who can really assist to build a well-systemized solution for the back end.

Who comes to mind when thinking of this theory and what players are available you ask?

I’m going to be running down a list of unrestricted Free Agents who either can resign with their teams, or move on to a new location, while also anticipating that the team re-signs Kris Letang to get the ball started.

For the first pick to assist Kris Letang on the first blue line, is an upcoming star defenseman:

Calgary Flames’ Nikita Zadorov.

Zadorov is a perfect fit because he is coming off a stellar team and has a winning advantage with teams he’s played for. He’s due for somewhat of a pay raise and he’s shown to be an improved, evenly matched linemate, who can step over that hump to be a star type defenseman.

He’s huge - checking in at 6’6 and 235 pounds. He can be an ideal and ample grit level player that can use his size to move the puck, produce scoring opportunities with his physical ability, and create havoc in front of the net.

Having six years under his belt is enough experience to land him that role and definitely help him mature as a player.

He’s played alongside Nick Leddy, who is a reliable point getter and playmaker, with the ability to skate at both ends of the ice. Zadorov would give the Pens an added edge to their roster, pairing him with Brian Dumoulin potentially if the Letang pairing doesn't work out.

With the cap space just under $24 million dollars for the Penguins, signing four players should not cost them more than $15.75 million in annual average salary -- and would be a huge boost for the top-four defensive corp, providing that extra comfort in case of turnovers on the front-end in tight games.

For the front-end of the ice, the team should look to sign a winger and possibly a centerman with an added depth level size and grit, with the ability to move the puck consistently.

The first name that comes to mind is Reilly Smith, who plays as a right winger, and would complement as a top-four forward that would be flexible on the first or second line.

His scoring ability and speed, coupled with his experience, would be an added addition of dangerous sniping. 

He averages around $5 million dollars a year, bringing the estimated cap total to $20.75 dollars on the average yearly cap space. With the remaining $3.25 million dollar cap space, the best type of player to go with this combination of players would be in my opinion:

Ilya Mikheyev.

He is due for a pay raise and demonstrated this past season that he is a talented player, who can skate to the net with determination and make moves accordingly. Coming off a career year, his ability to improve the Penguins as a top-four line player as well would be huge, giving him the opportunity to grow and develop more into a role player, also while assisting on the third line, giving him the flexibility to work with most players.

With Malkin poised to walk, and a couple of other players to test the market, opening up some room to work with, it would be interesting to see if the Penguins can add someone in this lineup of players I just reviewed.

With already a scary tandem of forwards, it is far more than a gamble to overlook any of these names to add.