Upcoming UFA's Hope to Remain Penguins
With the off-season here, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a few free agent decisions to make.
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to embark on one of the most crucial off-seasons in recent memory.
Everyone thought last summer was going to be tough with contracts expiring for multiple key pieces, but this year might see more turnover within the Penguins locker room.
Fenway Sports Group has given themselves the task of finding a new front office staff, and it’ll be up to those new faces to construct a fresh roster.
The Penguins have seven players that are set to become unrestricted free agents; forwards Jason Zucker, Danton Heinen, Josh Archibald and Nick Bonino, defensemen Brian Dumoulin and Dmitry Kulikov, and goalie Tristan Jarry.
Of those names, a majority of them are likely not to return, but whoever takes over as Penguins’ general manager should look to re-sign a certain few.
Zucker comes to mind right away, and like many players will say at the end of the season, he wants to stick around.
“This is a place I want to be,” Zucker said. “I love it here and I want to be back.”
Zucker noted that the decisions are mostly out of his control, but he made it pretty clear he wants to continue his NHL career in Pittsburgh.
Jarry and Dumoulin are in a different boat as Zucker, however; it’s not that they want to leave the Penguins, but they might not have a choice.
Those two just didn’t perform at the level that would warrant an extension by the team.
Jarry started off the season pretty well and caught fire after the first seven-game losing streak, but injuries and inconsistencies hampered his entire season.
“It’s something that obviously crosses your mind,” Jarry said. “It’s frustrating missing games and missing playing time. That’s obviously what you get your contract on.”
Jarry noted that discussions regarding a new deal are tough at the moment as the Penguins don’t have anyone in place to head those conversations.
Regardless, while Jarry and his camp wait on the front office, the All-Star goalie is hopeful he stays in Pittsburgh.
“Obviously, my goal is to stay here,” Jarry said. “I’ve only been a Penguin and I only want to be a Penguin.”
Dumoulin got off to a rough start this season, but found some footing down the stretch.
The writing may have already been on the wall, though, as Dumoulin discussed his possible fate this offseason.
“Without a doubt, I love this group,” Dumoulin said. “This is family to me. These are guys that I’ve gone through a lot with.”
If Dumoulin’s time is up with the Penguins, he deserves to be remembered as one of the best defensive defensemen the franchise has ever seen.
The last few years haven’t been as quality, but Dumoulin has a pair of Stanley Cup rings that can’t be taken away from him.
“It would be kind of hard to leave.”
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