The Penguins need to improve their defensive depth, and they can address that need in free agency.
As the NHL free agency period officially begins, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a very new position as they possess around $15 million in cap space. With various holes still needed to be filled, Kyle Dubas has stated the Penguins won't make any major moves in free agency. Instead, they may look towards some lower cost options that could bolster their depth.
This is especially true on defense, as the free agent class contains only a small handful of top four defenseman. With that in mind, here are some quality players the Penguins could target without breaking the bank on the first day of free agency.
Scott Mayfield
A player the Penguins, especially Sidney Crosby, know very well, Scott Mayfield is a defensive defenseman known for being difficult to play against. He's 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, and plays with a nasty edge. He played in all 82 games last season for the Islanders and chipped in a career high of 24 points.
While defense is Mayfield's calling card, he has the mobility to play the type of system coach Mike Sullivan wants to employ. If the Penguins do move on from Jeff Petry, they will need a second pairing defender on the right side, and Mayfield would fit perfectly.
2022-23 Stats: 82 GP, 6 G, 18 A, 24 P
Troy Stecher
If the Penguins want to add a mobile defenseman who can reliably play defense and carry the puck out of the zone, they could look into nine year veteran Troy Stecher. He's not flashy, but he can provide versatility and an ability to play up and down the defensive pairs. He's coming off of a more than reasonable one year, $1.25 million deal and could most likely be signed for a one to two year deal for less than $2 million per season. He makes a lot of sense for a team that needs creative and cheap solutions to their depth issues.
2022-23 Stats: 81 GP, 3 G, 11 A, 14 P
Carson Soucy
Along with Mayfield, Carson Soucy is no doubt receiving more attention due to the lower quality of free agent defenseman. It's rumored that several western conference teams are heavily pursuing him, and the Pens should stay clear of a bidding war.
However, if the rumors are just that, he could be a perfect piece to bolster the team's defensive woes. He's massive at 6-foot-4, plays a heavy game, skates impressively well, and can give you 15 points a season. He could play on any pairing on the left side, and would be a vast improvement on the penalty kill over the likes of Brian Dumoulin.
2022-23 Stats: 78 GP, 3 G, 13 A, 16 P
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