Penguins Most Underrated Move of Summer
The Pittsburgh Penguins could see great benefit from an under the radar PTO signing
It didn’t take long for the Pittsburgh Penguins to make big changes to their front office and lineup after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
In pretty short order, the Penguins hired Kyle Dubas as president of hockey operations and a number of moves were made to subtract dead weight and add star power.
Among Dubas’ first handful of moves his new position included adding Reilly Smith and Erik Karlsson via trades, and key free agent signings like Ryan Graves and Noel Acciari.
Even with adding Karlsson, Dubas managed to retain useful defensemen like Marcus Pettersson, P.O. Joseph, and Ty Smith.
While the headline moves will draw plenty of attention, there is one under the radar signing that might pay off in a huge way for the Penguins.
This underrated signing doesn’t even have a full contract, either, as Mark Pysyk will enter training camp on a professional tryout offer.
If Pysyk is able to crack the lineup after missing all of 2022-23 with a lower-body injury, then he solidifies the final opening on the Penguins defense.
As it stands, the Penguins have five obvious blue liners set for the roster; that final role, however, is jump ball between numerous players.
Pysyk is right in the middle of the battle but has a great chance to bring steady play to the lineup.
Chad Ruhwedel was the likely recipient of the final defensive spot before the PTO signing, but something about Pysyk seems more desirable.
Pysyk is a fresh face with far more NHL experience, despite missing a season and being two years younger.
Ruhwedel has always performed best as the seventh option and that can continue to be his role behind Pysyk in 2023-24.
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