Who Is Safe on the Penguins Defense?
The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't done making moves, but which defensemen should feel safe with their spot on the roster?
The early rush of free agent signings is over, and the Pittsburgh Penguins added nearly a dozen new faces to the organization. While the Penguins are $1.5 million over the NHL's salary cap, President of Hockey Ops Kyle Dubas may not be done restructuring the roster.
Whether the highly anticipated Erik Karlsson trade comes to fruition, the Penguins seemingly have more changes coming in the foreseeable future. However, with the team already over the cap, they will have to shed salary to make any more changes.
Most of the Penguins' forward core is seemingly set and unlikely to be moved, except Mikael Granlund. That leaves the defense as the likely position group to have multiple names on the proverbial trade block, but which players are off the table for the Penguins?
Let's get the obvious name out of the way early, Kris Letang. Letang is not somebody that the Penguins would have any interest in moving, and even if they did, his contract contains a full no-move clause through the 2025-26 season. The lone pillar remaining from the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning defenses, Letang is likely to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
With the ink still drying on their new contracts, it's safe to assume that Ryan Graves and Will Butcher are also not in danger of being included in any deals.
Marcus Pettersson, however, is no stranger to trade conversation. The 27-year-old Swede has been rumored to be available on several occasions during his time with the Penguins, with the latest being his potential involvement in the Karlsson trade package.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, "The Penguins really believe in him (Pettersson) as a player, and they're really hoping that he can be as impactful as he has been in the past." Pettersson's contract contains a modified no-trade list, leaving him open to potential movement. But with the Penguins emphasizing defense over the past week, Pettersson remains a pivotal piece for the team's future.
Apart from those four defensemen, the Penguins' blue line is up for sale. Jeff Petry has been mentioned in trade rumors over the past few weeks. Jan Rutta performed below market value last season but remains a decent candidate for potential trade partners.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Ty Smith could either be part of a bigger deal, cue Erik Karlsson's music, or stockpile extra assets while unclogging a packed defensive depth chart. With the addition of Butcher bolstering the depth on the Penguins' left side, one of Joseph and Smith could be up for grabs.
The offseason is slowing down, but the Penguins have plenty of work left to do before training camp opens in September.
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