The Pittsburgh Penguins defence has received a lot of focus as an area of concern following another playoff miss. General manager Kyle Dubas has spent much of his time in Pittsburgh so far making various tweaks to the defensive group. However, defence as a whole has been a weak point for the Penguins organization. This was made more apparent in a high-octane, high-scoring Eastern Conference throughout the 2024-25 campaign. The result of the lacklustre make-up of the defensive group led to the Penguins’ worst finish in the standings in over a decade.
The Defence Roster at the Start of the 2024-25 Season for Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins opened the year icing a recognizable, if not uneven, mix of experience and potential on the backend. Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang returned to anchor the group, both playing on the right side. Alongside the pair, long-time Penguin Marcus Pettersson was present as a stalwart on the left side. Filling out the defence included a unrestricted free agent signee in Matt Grzelcyk, and the highly controversial Ryan Graves. Inexperienced defencemen Ryan Shea and Jack St. Ivany filled out the rest of the group.
The defensive group already looked weak on paper, with age and stylistic overlap being immediate concerns. Together, Letang and Karlsson fill very similar roles as high-scoring, right-handed defencemen. Their age, 38 and 35, respectively, was a huge concern for an aging team. While both are still fast, their aging was apparent when pressed by teams with aggressive forechecks. The organization also entered camp with a couple of interesting prospects. Second-round pick Harrison Brunicke had an impressive showing. He nearly earned a try-out during the regular season before ultimately being sent back to the CHL. Former first-round pick Owen Pickering struggled during camp. However, he had a better showing later in the year when he got to play minutes at the NHL level.
A Number of In-Season Tweaks
The season quickly turned sour for Pittsburgh Penguins, and their defence didn’t help. Many new additions struggled to make their mark early, and the team fell in the standings. Heading into February, the Penguins sported a 21-24-8 record, good for seventh-last in the league. Being so far out of the playoffs, Kyle Dubas shifted his focus to selling. Long-time Penguins defenceman Marcus Pettersson was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, alongside forward Drew O’Connor for a package including a first-round pick belonging to the New York Rangers. A month later, Pittsburgh traded Michael Bunting for Luke Schenn and Thomas Novak. The defenceman Schenn was promptly traded to the Winnipeg Jets for second and fourth-round picks.
Alongside these moves, Pittsburgh sought to get younger. Former Penguins defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph was reacquired from the St. Louis Blues. At the trade deadline, Conor Timmins was brought in with Connor Dewar for a fifth-round pick. These two defencemen got extended playing time with the Penguins. Much like his first stint with Pittsburgh, Joseph struggled in his second, scoring just one assist in 24 games. Conor Timmins, however, had much more success. He scored a goal and six assists for seven points through 17 games with Pittsburgh. These defencemen could figure into the long-term plans for Pittsburgh, and fit the mantra Dubas has repeated of wanting younger talent on the roster.
The Defensive Group Going into the 2025-26 Offseason
There are a number of question marks in the Pittsburgh Penguins defence group heading into the 2025-26 offseason. Erik Karlsson was involved in trade talks throughout the year. With just three years remaining on his contract, the Penguins could look to retain a significant portion of his deal for a return of more futures, such as with the Pettersson and Schenn trades. Ryan Graves has struggled defensively and makes a lot more money than he is worth, with an average annual value of $4.5 million for the next four seasons. He could also be on the move. With Timmins, Joseph, Pickering and Brunicke all hoping for spots in the lineup, there could be significant competition in the organization.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has a limited number of defensive contracts expiring. The biggest name is Matt Grzelcyk. Grzelcyk is not usually a defenceman who produces a lot of points, with his career high prior to Pittsburgh being 26 points with the Boston Bruins. However, the pending UFA scored a career-high of 40 points in 82 games this season, quarterbacking the powerplay at times when offensive stars Karlsson and Letang struggled. He is a solid two-way defenceman who could be a hot commodity in free agency. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Jack St. Ivany, known for his rugged play style, is a pending RFA this off-season. He’s unlikely to command much on a new contract, and could receive a new deal to come back to the Penguins in a third-pairing role.
Important Decisions Ahead for the Pittsburgh Penguins Defence
The defence of the Pittsburgh Penguins is currently a significant liability. The current group is made up of a mix of aging veterans and inexperienced younger players, with little to bridge the gap between the two groups. As the Penguins look to sell and miss the playoffs again next season, expect Pittsburgh t bring in cheaper defencemen that can increase their value over the course of a season. With Karlsson and Letang leading the group, the focus for Pittsburgh should be on the development of their younger defensive prospects. Namely, Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke, as both players have shown top-four potential. This will be a pivotal off-season in shaping the next 2-3 years of the team before Sidney Crosby’s retirement. Expect notable changes to the defensive group as a result.
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The post Reviewing Pittsburgh Penguins Defence Corps Heading Into 2025-26 Offseason appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.