Insider: Penguins Defenseman Looking for New Team

A key Pittsburgh Penguins blue liner may be ready for a fresh start after a tough season.

PITTSBURGH – It hasn’t been an easy year for most of the Pittsburgh Penguins blue liners. Whether it’s massive struggles with a new team or just a string of bad luck, Penguins defensemen have had it rough.

One blue liner in particular, however, seemed as good as gone at the trade deadline, but he was never moved. According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, P.O. Joseph was on the Penguins trade block and everyone seemed hopeful for something new.

“It’s been pretty common knowledge they were looking to move him,” Friedman said. “I think potentially he too was looking for a fresh start.”

After earning his first full season in the NHL lineup last year, Joseph has seen that his role with the Penguins is not set in stone. Going from 75 to 46 games played, he has bumped up and down the lineup as well as being healthy scratched for a good chunk of the season.

Joseph scored his second goal of the season against the Washington Capitals, proving that he’s played well on the first pairing in recent games. Regardless of his play, Joseph is in a tight spot on the Penguins right side of the blue line.

They have a bit of a surplus of NHL talent there and it’s possible another roster rebuild is right around the corner for the Penguins.

“It didn’t happen before the deadline,” Friedman said. “We’ll see what happens this summer.”

With the deadline in the rearview mirror, Joseph may have grown past looking for a fresh start, but a move might be likely this offseason.

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