Penguins Roster Shake Up Encasuplated

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Kuljit Parmar

With the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline out of the way, it is safe to say that the entertaining spectacle took flight well into a month before it ended, and it was a roller coaster for the teams in the league and the players at hand. 

I think the Penguins generated a bit of a lift due to the acquisitions that were made, solely due to the results it implicates down the stretch of 20 games or so and the fact that the team is generally improved. We will see how the team responds to these changes.

The addition of forward Mikael Granlund gives the Penguin's lineup a steady balance of offense and defense according to his stats and gameplay description.

Re-acquiring Forward Nick Bonino will give the Penguins that added comfort of physicality and playmaking, with goals coming due to heavy forechecks in the offensive zone. An edge the Penguins already possess, but have made stronger and more primed to play against.

The most important acquisition in my opinion was defenseman Dimitry Kulikov because of the versatile presence he will bring as an offensive defenseman, one the Pittsburgh Penguins desperately needed to its defense corps.

Looking at the defense for the Pittsburgh Penguins, you have Kris Letang, Jeff Petry, and Dimitry Kulikov, who will bring out the balance and ever-so-needed depth in the defensive game for the Penguins, much as I had referred to in the past articles on Yinzer-Crazy.com/penguins.

With the defensive side adjusted, the Penguins can now need to focus on the offensive forefront that will enlist scoring as many goals in the games played now till the end of the season to come out as playoff contenders.

With the heavy offensive output, it will give the team the dominant look throughout the league and the added comfort of playing regularly in a game with grit and success on both sides of the ice.

Not to mention the fact that this team will be in a battle come post-season in the first round which will be their biggest test.

GM Ron Hextall, in my opinion, did a fair job of making acquisitions in which remembering the team needed depth, not star power, even though those deals did not go through, unfortunately. The outlook of the Penguins team will be decided by the number of games the team can win and by remaining in a playoff spot. 

As a fan, you can imagine the excitement coming down the stretch of within the last month of regular season, and then the beginning of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, in the first week of April.