Will the Pittsburgh Penguins find a way to thin their heard of goalies before the season?

Kyle Dubas has a big decision to make regarding goaltenders when he was hired as president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Tristan Jarry was coming off of a disappointing season that held the Penguins back in a number of different ways.

With it being the final year of Jarry’s contract, Dubas had to decide if the smartest move was to check the free agent market, make a deal for a new starter, or hold strong with the two-time All-Star.

Dubas chose to extend Jarry for five years, but he wasn’t done filling the crease.

Not long after the Penguins handed the new deal to Jarry, it was announced that they also signed goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

Meanwhile, Casey DeSmith was still on the roster, giving the Penguins three NHL-caliber goalies.

Dubas said following the first day of free agency that he likely wasn’t done looking into goalies and within 24 hours, 32-year-old netmidner Magnus Hellberg was signed.

The Penguins now had four goalies with NHL experience, but the organization still wasn’t satisfied.

Garret Sparks was later signed to a minor league contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins; sure he’s likely to stay in the AHL, but that’s a fifth goalie in the system with NHL time under his belt.

Are Dubas and the Penguins done adding goalies? The crease has gotten crowded at the professional level, and that’s not including a pair of prospects who have NHL aspirations.

Dubas discussed the idea of running a three-goalie system for 2023-24, but will that be the case? Is a guy like DeSmith on the chopping block?

The Penguins currently sit a few million dollars over the salary cap limit, and are eyeing a big name in Erik Karlsson.

DeSmith makes $1.8 million against the cap for another season; sure, he alone doesn’t solve the Penguins cap situation, but that does get rid of a high priced backup goalie.

Nedeljkovic is a perfectly capable backup for Jarry and Hellberg slots in as a quality third option.

Those three were all given new contracts at the start of free agency, making them extremely unlikely to be moved.

DeSmith’s name was brought up in trade rumors at the start of free agency, but nothing came from those; could he still be on the block?

Does DeSmith get shipped to the San Jose Sharks in a deal that brings Karlsson to Pittsburgh?

One way or another, Dubas might not be done making moves in the Penguins’ goalie room.

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