3 Former Penguins Forwards Worthy of Bringing Back
The Pittsburgh Penguins offseason is one month old as of Sunday, and the NHL free agent frenzy is less than six weeks away, as the hockey world enjoys the bruising calm before the storm known as the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final, which will extend over the next four weeks.
Over the past couple of offseasons, the Penguins have experienced a surprising amount of roster turnover, even as the situation seems static because the roster foundation remains the same.
The Penguins’ roster is largely set as of now. The team will need to deal with Jeff Carter’s retirement, which means they’ll need a combination of scoring, penalty-killing, and right-handed faceoffs.
Finding a player who can fill a little bit of the leadership void created by Carter’s departure wouldn’t be a terrible idea, either.
However, those types of players are not easy to find. Since the Penguins have not found the results they needed with a player like Carter, perhaps they can improve with different talents in the lineup.
On paper, the Penguins have only one spot in their four lines, as Noel Acciari is under contract for two more years, and Jesse Puljujarvi is also under contract for another season at $800,000.
However, Reilly Smith’s future in a Penguins uniform seems tenuous. He has just one season remaining on a contract with a $5 million cap hit, and he significantly underperformed last season. Valtteri Puustinen’s lagging performance of 20 points in 52 games with limited contributions in other parts of the game should not guarantee a roster spot, possibly creating more space in the Penguins lineup.
As Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas prepares his shopping list to try to return the 204-25 Penguins to the playoffs after a two-year absence, a few former Penguins forwards might be suitable additions. The list also includes a surprise who could help the Penguins power play and one who could bring grit and scoring to the bottom six.
There are a handful of former Penguins who will be free agents. The most notable is the recently traded Jake Guentzel, but it remains highly unlikely, if not a guarantee, that the Penguins will not bring him back. So, he’ll not appear on the list.
3 Former Penguins to Reconsider
Jason Zucker, LW
Zucker, 32, might find himself again without a big-money, long-term contract. He signed a one-year deal with the now-departed Arizona Coyotes last July. His speed, straightforward offensive game, and personality fit well with the Penguins’ top six and locker room.
Zucker would shuffle several lineup spots. Drew O’Connor, Rickard Rakell, and Puustinen would be shuffled to a different side or lower spot in the Penguins lineup. Zucker would take a LW spot, moving O’Connor to the right side, perhaps Rakell to the third line with Lars Eller, and Puustinen to the fourth line.
Of course, O’Connor could take the third-line spot, keeping Rakell in the top six, too.
I won’t lie, dealing with the daily Zucker-Bryan Rust locker room roast would make going to work a bit more fun, too.
Zucker had a less-than-desirable statistical year split between Arizona and the Nashville Predators, scoring 14 goals with only 32 points in 69 games. Zucker has a lot more to give, and the Penguins could swipe a top-six winger at a comparative bargain price, leaving funds for other needs, if the two sides are open to a reunion.
Daniel Sprong, RW
The 27-year-old was the Penguins’ 2015 second-round pick (46th overall) but never stuck in the lineup before former GM Jim Rutherford traded him to Anaheim for Marcus Pettersson.
Since that 2018 trade, Sprong has floated from Anaheim to Washington to Seattle and Detroit. This season, Detroit relegated him to the bottom of the lineup, and he averaged just 12 minutes per game.
Oh, Sprong’s game has black holes large enough that it would take a Stephen Hawking equation to define them. However, Sprong had 18 goals in 76 games and 21 goals last season with Seattle despite playing just 11:25 per game.
Some estimates placed Sprong’s next paycheck over $3 million per season, but the transient nature of Sprong’s career looks more like Danton Heinen, who consistently signs one-year deals close to $1 million, than that of a consistent 20-goal scorer. The winger could add some offense to the sandy, barren Penguins’ fourth line.
Sprong could also add some scoring punch to the Penguins’ second power-play unit. If the cost is commensurate with a fourth-liner who can score, it would make sense.
Stefan Noesen, LW/RW
He was briefly a Pittsburgh Penguins forward but more so a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward. Noesen played only six NHL games and 22 games in the AHL before the San Jose Sharks snagged him off waivers in December 2019.
Read More: The Penguins Waive Noesen, But Why Now?
Noesen has played two full seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes without the up-and-down shuttle to the AHL and has performed well. He scored 13 goals last season and 14 this season, with 36 and 37 points, respectively.
Noesen, 31, is a poor man’s sniper or a solid bottom-six scorer. In the past, his defensive awareness was called into question, but if he can hang in the Carolina system, that should put to rest any doubts about his ability to play on the tough side of the blue line.
Carolina has a bevy of free agents, including Guentzel, which will swallow their salary cap space.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Free Agent Targets
“…So we need to have players at the bottom of the lineup, the third and fourth lines, that can add certain utilities — talent being some, penalty-killing being others, speed, youth.”
Kyle Dubas April 10,2023
Dubas was hired by the Penguins June 1, 2023. SO that quote must refer to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Typo Aug 2023
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/breaking-down-kyle-dubass-bold-retooling-of-veteran-penguins-roster/#
Maybe to Zucker and Noesen, if the prices are right.
I would prefer the Penguins get a 2c or 3c and bump Eller down to 4c with Acciari moving to rw.
Sprong isn’t defensively responsible enough to play in the bottom 6, in my opinion. Kyle needs to bring in more 2 way threats.
Exactly
I’m in…
Sprong and Zucker.
(You got to be kidding.)
Only if you even up by trading Letang and Malkin for them.
We would come out ahead. Turnovers and $$$.
I see what you did there!
Nope, nope aaanddd … nope.
The only previous Penguins worth taking back would be of course Jake Guentzel, but I guess he will re-sign in Carolina or with another contender. I would love to have him back, but at one point it’s just nostalgia, and we have a lot of that already.
Just what the Penguins need… 2 more 30+ year olds, and a guy who’s might end up playing on 1/2 the teams in the league before he’s done…. No thanks to all 3
Kyle has to make trades to get younger. The only other option to get younger is for a few of the penguins prospects to develop leaps and bounds over the summer and make the team at camp. The chances of either of those happening are slim. Players don’t hit free agency at a young age, so if there are free agent signings by the penguins, it will be players in the 27-33 age range because that is what will be on the ufa market.
With availability in assets/NHL players they need to focus on younger RFA who might be available without swinging for the fences NJ-Dawson Mercer – (C) loves the front of the net (Bunting 2.0), Tor – Timothy Liljegren – D (blocks shots, tough in the corners), LAK- Carl Grundstrom – RW (bottom 6). Plenty of others they just will cost more.
Dan, are you using AI? Pretty sure the Dan I’ve been reading would laugh at those suggestions . . . especially Sprong! I remember the real Dan Kingerski derisively saying “Daniel Sprong has never solidified anything in his entire career.” Sprong and two guys in their 30’s? Seriously, Zucker and Noesen would be ok, I guess, if they would take bargain deal contracts but why would they? That’s the UFA equivalent of “all our bad guys for all your good guys.” Sprong? I think you are just checking to see if anyone is paying attention to what you write in… Read more »
Wow! I’m surprised Dominic Simon didn’t make this list (although technically not a UFA). 😉
And if I had to bet on which UFA Dan knows would like/love to come back to Pittsburgh, I’d almost bet the ranch on Zucker. I mean, why wouldn’t it be him? I guess it could be JJ. Heh. Nah, bet not.
Twas hoping the article was the 3 ex penguins Oleksiak, Tanev, and Lafferty
Lafferty played himself out of the lineup here and in Vancouver and he should have sat last year when he whiffed on Reinhardt in TO’s OT loss…
Frankly, I’d like to see him sign ZAR and put him with Acciari and Eller…
Speaking of which…. brutal penalty by Lafferty in that last Vancouver game
These would all be perfect additions to Sully’s system of losing!
Daniel Sprong, RW
O ayche ee double toothpick to the no…
No, no, and no.
There are soooo many better choices out there. It appears that people get stuck in what they know.
Let’s not overcomplicate this.
We need to move two or three players. We need a better LD partner for Karlsson to turn him loose.
We need a second-line center, preferably right. To play with Malkin and Bunting, which can help Malkin for the next 2 years and replace him after.
We need another third line 20 gaol + scorer. Also, capable of playing center so we have 3 scoring lines.
Winger to go with Sid and Rust?
DOC has improved every year. If he takes another step next season, he will fit right in with 17 & 87. I think Pens have bigger immediate priorities at 2C, LD, and bottom 6. Top line, with DOC, wasn’t the reason they missed the playoffs. Sure, an upgrade would be nice, but would there be enough money left after plugging all the more urgent holes?
DOC isn’t the answer on the first line, but he should fill in adequately until another answer presents itself. I agree there. I was just adding to the laundry list of needs that the penguins have.
It will be interesting to see what the plan is to fill all these needs.
None of these guys move the needle for me. I get the romanticism with Zucker. The guy is still a risk for me, didnt play 70 games this year. Until that last season, fans were looking to move on from him. Hopefully they don’t allocate any cash to these 3, and look elsewhere, perhaps a trade or some other FA options, or maybe an RFA via trade.
Idk, if any of them accepted less than 3 mil on a short term contract, i would give them a shot!
Zucker maybe, Noesen maybe, Spring no. Easy way to replace Carter and ehat he did is to talk him out of retirement. Why not make him a player-coach.
Last time I saw a player/ assistant coach was in Wheeling, 2006. I don’t recall an NHL player/coach in my lifetime, but let’s go full Reg Dunlop!
Only if lily braden and the dog comes along!
What about Brian Trottier?
But Trottier told Penguins general manager Craig Patrick that he missed playing and, after being offered a coaching job, convinced Patrick to let him report to training camp. He will also retain the title of assistant coach.
None of the above. The Pens need to get younger not bring back old re-treads.
You might be overestimating the ability to get younger via free agency, which doesn’t start until about 27 years old.
True but Zucker is 32 and his odometer has mostly city miles on it. Love his style of play but it isn’t conducive to longevity.
Zucker?!
Returning to the Penguins?
No thank you!
Ewww… Sprong? Then you compare him to Heinen who can actually play D? No way would Sully play a guy like Sprong.