Rem Pitlick was a throw in with Erik Karlsson, but could be useful for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Heading into the summer of 2023, the Pittsburgh Penguins organization had a laundry list of objectives that needed to be addressed. From finding a new general manager, to working out how to construct a vastly improved roster, the Penguins were in for a busy couple of months. With the opening of training camp just over a month away, it’s safe to say the offseason to-do list is just about completed. Let’s take a look at what tasks have been completed since the final buzzer rang on the 2022-23 season and what projects, if any, may be left. FINDING A NEW FRONT OFFICE The Penguins held a vast search for their new general manager, and eventually landed on the best possible options. Kyle Dubas was brought in as president of hockey operations and later appointed himself as general manager. Since his hiring, Dubas has done nothing but find great ways to improve the team. BOOST DEPTH FORWARDS One of the biggest issues surrounding the Penguins last year was their group of depth forwards struggling to do anything consistently. The group couldn’t score or play phenomenal defense and that needed to be addressed. Dubas added a ton of defense with his depth forward moves, but not exactly a huge increase in offense. It’s a step in the right direction, however, and maybe some faces will see new levels of scoring under a new roof. COMMIT TO GOALTENDING Dubas put all the chips on the table when he handed a five-year contract extension to Tristan Jarry. While the Penguins could have been in the market for a new netminder via trade or free agency, they decided to stick with their guy. After signing Alex Nedeljkovic and trading away Casey DeSmith, the backup situation became clear. All eyes will be on the goaltending duo in Pittsburgh as both Jarry and Nedeljkovic will look for rebound seasons. SOLIDIFY DEFENSE (A.K.A ACQUIRE ERIK KARLSSON) Long before a job opportunity was open for Dubas in Pittsburgh, he had his eyes on Erik Karlsson. Upon being hired by the Penguins, Dubas brought that same ambition and was finally able to land the three-time Norris Trophy winner. It just so happened that the Penguins had a log jam within the defensive position that needed to be sorted out, as well. Dubas not only added a huge punch of offense and star power to the Penguins’ blue line, but he also found a way to relieve the congestion at the position. There still may be a battle or two for a spot with the big league club, but there is at least more opportunities this time around. UNLOAD THE EXTRA BAGGAGE Last time we checked in on the list, [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/remains-pittsburgh-penguins-offseason-checklist] decisions needed to be made on anchor contracts like Mikael Granlund and Jeff Petry. In one single move, Dubas not only added a future Hall of Famer in Karlsson, but he managed to drop the Granlund contract completely, find a new home for Petry, and threw in Casey DeSmith and Jan Rutta for extra space. Dubas figured out a way to unload most of Ron Hextall’s unsuccessful deals while adding a $10 million contract and still gaining cap space. WHAT’S LEFT? The only big issue that still sits around for the Penguins is figuring out a contract extension for Jake Guentzel, who is about to enter the final year of his current deal. The Penguins likely want to keep Guentzel around, and would be wise to jump on an extension early, but an ankle injury may have gotten in the way. Guentzel is slated to miss the first few weeks of the season after undergoing ankle surgery, and his absence may have added one more item to the to-do list. FILLING THE GUENTZEL GAP? Dubas doesn’t plan to place Guentzel on long-term injured reserve, but could he still look for a part time option to fill the void? Tomas Tatar has been rumored to be of interest and would likely demand more than just a tryout contract, but that’s a player who could add a layer to the depth scoring. The most likely solution to filling Guentzel’s spot will come from within; between prospects, recent signings, and acquisitions, there are plenty of avenues that can be explored. Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins [http://insidethepenguins.com/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. Three PTO Options for the Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/three-professional-tryout-options-pittsburgh-penguins] Former Penguins Defenseman Jeff Petry Traded to Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/former-pittsburgh-penguins-jeff-petry-traded-detroit-red-wings] Penguins Have Multiple Bounce Back Candidates for 2023-24 Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/pittsburgh-penguins-bounce-back-candidates-2023-24] Penguins President Kyle Dubas Makes Statement Following Passing of Rodion Amirov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-kyle-dubas-statement-passing-rodion-amirov] Penguins Show Interest in Free Agent Tomas Tatar [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-interest-tomas-tatar] * undefined * undefined
