With the NHL offseason winding down and training camp starting approximately a month down the line, most of the activity on the free agent and trade markets has already occurred.

And the Pittsburgh Penguins were definitely an active team. They have made 10 signings - whether unrestricted free agents (UFAs), restricted free agents (RFAs), or draftees - and three trades since Jul. 1, and there has been speculation about some of their top players in Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson. 

In other words? Don’t be surprised if they’re not quite done. 

While the aforementioned three big names on the trade block have dominated conversation surrounding the Penguins and potential deals - as well as their status as a team in transition - it’s fair to assume that they may not be looking to add to their roster at this juncture. But that doesn’t mean GM/POHO Kyle Dubas and the Penguins wouldn’t if the right deal came along.

And there is a player they should be looking at. 

The 2024-25 season was one full of ups, downs, and inconsistencies for 21-year-old Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov. The young blueliner put together a disappointing sophomore campaign after impressing in his rookie season that featured four goals and 28 points in 63 games and him improbably cracking the roster out of camp, as he recorded just five goals and 19 points in 68 games last season and did not make any tangible strides on the defensive side of the puck. 

His disappointing performance actually ended up leading to some lineup scratches, being buried on the third pairing, and a few other guys passing him up on the left defensive chart. Jackson LaCombe had an excellent season, and Olen Wellweger is showing good promise.

At the end of the day, if these guys continue to grow as NHL players, that doesn’t bode well for someone like Mintyukov, who is entering the final season of his entry-level contract. But the potential for the 10th overall pick in 2022 to blossom into a dynamic threat from the offensive blue line still lurks.

He certainly has the upside. Mintyukov profiles as a dynamic puck-moving defenseman, as his playmaking smarts and puck skills serve him well. He has great offensive instincts, isn't shy about activating, can run a power play, and is an effective play-driver at five-on-five. If he can improve his decision-making and round out some of the defensive details in his game, he could be a valuable top-four asset to any contending team moving forward. 

And if there’s an example of a team that could use some help on the left side? The Penguins are certainly one of them. 

As of now, Pittsburgh has no definitive takers on the left side, especially not in the top-four. They lost Matt Grzelcyk to unrestricted free agency last season, and they went out and grabbed a bunch of guys who have potential to thrive in third-pairing roles but aren’t equipped for top-four roles. Prospect Owen Pickering may be the one exception, but even he is going to need some time to learn and grow in sheltered minutes on the third pairing.

Aside from that? Parker Wotherspoon, Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, Caleb Jones, and Alex Alexeyev are going to be fighting tooth and nail for those three spots. By adding a young player like Mintyukov into the mix, it should only fuel the competition, and the team’s rebuilding status should give him the space to figure things out.

Mintyukov's pending-RFA status would also motivate him in a "prove-it" year with the Penguins, and he would have two of the best offensive defenseman in the last generation in Karlsson and Letang as mentors.

But, of course, it all depends on the ask. The Penguins could sure use some more high-upside talent on their left side, but they aren't exactly in a position to be sacrificing too many futures right now. Mintyukov's status as a former first-round pick will keep his value relatively high, and the Ducks probably aren't too eager to part with him yet.

If the price is right, however, this is a player Dubas and the Penguins should be all over.

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