Penguins Notebook: Easy UFA Decisions and Unforeseen Negative
The restricted free agents awaiting qualifying offers and contracts from the Pittsburgh Penguins are a useful lot and, on the whole, present some opportunity for the coming few seasons. That group of young players with some talent and potential stands in direct contrast to the team’s group of replaceable unrestricted free agents.
While we spent considerable time analyzing the RFAs and their potential contracts, the unrestricted group will largely be cast out into the hockey world, dispersed like pollen in the wind.
Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is the notable member of the class. Still, he will be quickly replaceable, perhaps with a more fitting, larger stay-at-home defenseman capable of balancing Erik Karlsson’s circus act–sort of like Ryan Graves was supposed to be.
Read More:Â PHN Debate: Matt Grzelcyk Future, Sign or Skip?
Matt Nieto: Gone. A star-crossed two-year tenure in which he underwent multiple knee surgeries should come to a close.
Joona Koppanen: A nice depth option who has played well for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and solidly for the NHL club in 11 games, but netted just one goal. He’s a natural winger but pressed into center duty due to the organization’s dearth in the middle. He could be re-signed, but with minor league expectations.
Boko Imama: It would seem to be an easy decision, but in this case, it would be to re-sign the heavy-handed forward who doesn’t mind keeping opponents in line or jolting the bench with a good scrap. However, roster space will be limited, and he may want to flex his muscles for a team with a greater opportunity for more NHL space.
The remainder of the list are minor leaguers.
Filip Kral: Already signed back home in Czechia.
Jimmy Huntington: Played just four games before suffering a season-ending injury. Career minor leaguer.
Mathias Laferriere: Acquired at mid-season in a minor league trade. Not a threat to impact the NHL roster.
Marc Johnstone: A season plagued by injuries and an AHL roster with too many veterans. He’s a speedy and worthwhile depth piece in the organization. If the situation requires it, he can play a few games in the NHL, but he is a light-scoring, checking forward even in the AHL. He may re-sign, but it would be a depth option for WBS.
Kasper Bjorkqvist: The Penguins’ 2016 second-round pick has played the last three seasons in the Finnish Elite League. He had just three points in 35 games this season and will finally be free of the Penguins’ rights, though it is unlikely to matter.
Nate Clurman, Colton Poolman: Minor league jouerneymen.
Mac Hollowell: A nice depth piece, and general manager Kyle Dubas indicated at mid-season that had Hollowell been healthy, he would have gotten his second NHL call-up. Hollowell is a solid AHL defenseman, and if he’s willing to re-sign, it would also be an easy decision to keep. However, he may want
The Penguins could let the entire lot go, and it would have almost no effect on the NHL roster. The bigger decisions will fall on Penguins AGM/WBS Penguins GM Jason Spezza to re-sign a few, starting with Hollwell.
Negative Effects?
Irony.
The Penguins own the New York Rangers’ 2025 or 2026 first-round pick. The 2025 first-rounder is protected because it’s 12th overall. If the Rangers keep it, the Penguins get the 2026 pick, which is unprotected.
And so it’s with a little bit of hockey serendipity that the Rangers hired Mike Sullivan, whom the Penguins fired two weeks ago.
Sullivan needed a fresh start just as much as the team. There’s little doubt Sullivan is a good coach, and if he’s able to reset with the Rangers, the roster has enough talent to be a Stanley Cup contender next season, and being a contender necessarily means their 2026 first-round pick would be a later first-round selection.
Irony. Finally moving on from Sullivan could significantly weaken the asset they acquired in the Marcus Pettersson/Drew O’Connor trade and cost them a second shot at phenom Gavin McKenna at the top of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas undoubtedly knows that the value of the Rangers’ pick took a hit when they hired Sullivan. Perhaps it will become a valuable trade chip instead, if not immediately, but by the middle of next season, if or when the Rangers show they will not be a mediocre team with a lottery pick.
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Let’s be careful with a contract spot for that crew. You only get 50.
Agreed. Dan couldn’t even finish his thoughts on Nieto. 🙂 Not that I blame him.
Amy, do you know Nathan?
I would consider Griz on a low-dollar contract if the Pens get rid of EK65. He could have a role similar to Gostisbehere on the third pair. Everybody else is AHL depth.
Gryz is getting mutliple years somewhere. I’d take him back on a one-year term, even at higher dollar, but he’ll have better offers.
I see it just the opposite. Hiring Sully pretty much guarantees that the Rangers will suck next season. I hope they keep the 25 pick.
Hope they keep Boko..
I second that. He’s not a goon. He can actually play but he has to be given more minutes. He was a + with the limited time he was given, isn’t a defensive liability, good on the forecheck, will drop the gloves when needed, and the locker room loves the guy.
Not really worried about how high up the pick from the rangers is. The point is that they still get an extra 1st round pick. Dubas could also use that pick in a trade. Either way, it is an asset.
Let them all go. Truly turn the page and start fresh.
Correct, don’t need anyone back except if they want to sign Halloway for WB.
Another person on the hit list. Come on Dan! Get the tech guys to figure out how to block this crap!
There’s not a lot we can do. We’ve traced it to a bot farm in Pakistan, but you’ll notice they are using AI to avoid our filters as the word choices keep changing. We block every DNS address they use, but they’ve got a lot.
Keep Boko!!
It’s time for the organ-i-zation to do something wise and popular for a change — hire Tocchet as head coach. And have him bring UFAs Boeser and Suter with him.
I would also like to see Clurman given more of a chance. Thought he acclimated himself quite well for the one game he was up here for. No glaring mistakes, unlike literally every other dman.
Lots of demeaning references to AHL level players on this site. Query: Once Atlanta gets its new team with its roster absorbing 50 players, how will the dregs be redistributed? Solution: Remedy the diluted talent level by simply merging the two leagues. Sure, the level of talent will plummet like a jet attempting a blind landing at Newark or an F18 rolling off the deck of a carrier but it won’t sound so hurtful when a player is described as AHL level cuz that will be everyone. Heard on the street….Commissioner Bettman has secretly been in meetings with city officials… Read more »
Good Piece Dan, I would let them all walk – one word comes to mind for me – replaceable. Not one guy isn’t and none are top 9 or top 4 players, including Matt Grzelyk.
Between Instagram and comments on these articles, you’d think Gryzlyck was hiding behind the water boy. So much dislike. I kept an eye on his play and thought he was pretty responsible, quick, and held his own against much bigger guys. Notice how the PP went from abysmal to like 6th highest after putting Gryz at the point?
No way on Grzelcyk for any price.
Has never been a goal scorer, probably the lowest shooting % of any defensiveman at 1.1, does not check…ever. Has zero effect on clearing net front and bad 5×5 play.
Way to many defensive liabilities to justify 0-2 minutes of sometime positive power play time a game.
Pens are going to need somebody soon to take over running the power play and should be looking soon for the right guy. Grzelcyk is definitely not that guy.