The Pittsburgh Penguins have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Some of the players they brought in this summer include Anthony Mantha, Matt Dumba, Justin Brazeau, Arturs Silovs, Connor Clifton, and Parker Wotherspoon. Overall, the Penguins have added to their depth so far this summer.
While this is the case, it is clear that the Penguins have a clear roster need to address if they hope to be more competitive – adding another top-four left defenseman.
When looking at the Penguins' left side, it is clear that it could use some work. While they have options like Wotherspoon, Ryan Graves, Alexander Alexeyev, and Ryan Shea, expecting them to be true long-term answers for the top four may be a stretch. Thus, if an opportunity presents itself to bring in an upgrade to their left side, the Penguins should act on it.
However, with it being so deep into the off-season, it will be harder for the Penguins to address this need before the season starts. Top unrestricted free agent (UFA) Vladislav Gavrikov ended up signing a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers once he hit the market. Meanwhile, former top left-shot defenseman trade candidate K'Andre Miller was dealt by the Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes and immediately signed an eight-year, $60 million contract with the Canes.
Bowen Byram could be an interesting player to keep an eye on as a potential trade target for the Penguins. While he recently re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres for two years, he has still been discussed in the rumor mill. The 24-year-old blueliner would certainly boost their blueline if acquired, as he is a young and proven top-four defenseman. However, he can become a UFA once his new deal expires after the 2026-27 season, so the Penguins acquiring him would also come with some risk.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Penguins can find a way to boost the left side of their defense from here. If not before the season, this should be an area they work to improve during the campaign.
Penguins Made Good Move Trading For Former Canucks GoalieThe Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy off-season, as they have brought in multiple new players. One of them is goaltender Arturs Silovs, as the Penguins acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick earlier this month.
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