Reasonable Forwards the Penguins Should Target in Free Agency
Free agency is about to begin and the Pittsburgh Penguins need solid help with depth forwards.
While Kyle Dubas stated he doesn’t plan on taking big swings in free agency, there are still multiple players on the open market that would make sense for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Trades may be prevalent from Dubas and the Penguins, but there are certainly options that could bolster the lineup.
Dubas said he wants to focus on improving the depth beyond the top-six forwards; the free agent class isn’t outstanding, but there are plenty of reasonable options to help in that particular are of the game.
Matt Duchene
A recent entrant into the free agent pool after a surprising buyout from the Nashville Predators, Matt Duchene is older than fans may want, but he would be an improvement to the third-line center position.
At 32-years-old, Duchene is closing in on his final years in the NHL, and could be looking to show what he has left in the tank.
Duchene isn’t far removed from a 43-goal season and likely won’t touch that number again, especially in a reduced role, but that kind of firepower is useful on the third line.
Daily Faceoff projects Duchene will pen a three-year contract at $3.38 million per; if that’s the number he lands, that’s more than affordable for the Penguins.
Michael Bunting
This is the exact type of player the Penguins needed last season, and a possible familiarity with Dubas could bring Michael Bunting to Pittsburgh.
Bunting broke out two years ago playing alongside Auston Matthews, but has settled in as a solid, rough-housing depth forward.
The Penguins were pushed around too much in 2022-23, to the point where Jason Zucker did much of the dirty work.
Finding a guy like Bunting who can not only get in the dirty areas, but also record offensively would be perfect for the Penguins.
Especially if Zucker is on his way to free agency, as well, the Penguins need Bunting.
Morgan Geekie/Daniel Sprong
Two parts of one of the most productive fourth lines in the NHL, the Seattle Kraken decided to not extend qualifying offers to either Morgan Geekie or former Penguin Daniel Sprong.
If Dubas wants to fill out the Penguins depth, these are a perfect pair to look in to; perhaps Geekie more than Sprong considering how Sprong never took off with the Penguins.
The moment he left Pittsburgh, however, Sprong began to reach his potential; in 226 games since being dealt by the Penguins, he has scored 107 points (63G-44A).
Geekie, on the other hand, makes more sense for the Penguins; he can produce in the bottom six and there isn’t a bad taste left in anyone’s mouth.
Last season, Geekie recorded a career-high in scoring with nine goals and 19 points in 69 total games played.
Either one would be cheap options, but 24-year-old Geekie might have more upside as he soon enters the prime years of his career.
The Penguins have the cap room to play with in free agency, especially if Dubas is reserving their big additions for trades.
Other free agent options within the Penguins needs and reach include Max Comtois, Max Domi, and Tyler Bertuzzi is they wanted to swing for the fences.
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