Penguins Wrap: The Incredible Expanding Depth Chart

Perhaps the past full week of July wasn’t quite as eventful as the one that preceded it — hey, it’s not often that one seven-day stretch includes a major trade and an NHL Draft — but the Pittsburgh Penguins generated a healthy share of headlines, anyway.

Many of them dealt with free-agent signings, as Kyle Dubas, the president of hockey operations and interim GM, followed through on his pledge to fortify the Penguins’ bottom-six (and, in the process, upgrade their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre) by signing a contingent of free agents.

Oh, and a guy who’s a pretty safe bet to hold onto a spot in the top-six paid an unexpected visit to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for a little on-ice training, too.

Here’s a look back at the past seven days:

Sunday

The Penguins are a much better team than the one Kyle Dubas inherited this spring.

Forward Radim Zohorna, who broke into the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has rejoined them as a free agent.

Monday

Sidney Crosby gets in a mid-summer workout at the Penguins’ practice facility.

Analyzing performances from the Penguins’ three-day development camp. (+)

The Penguins pick up a potential bargain on the third day of free agency by signing defenseman Will Butcher to a two-way contract.

Kyle Dubas took a big gamble when he gave Tristan Jarry a five-year contract, but did he really have much of a choice?

Tuesday

Defenseman Owen Pickering, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first-round draft choice in 2022, is making steady progress at a position that’s difficult to master.

Wednesday

Kyle Dubas turns his attention to filling out the Penguins’ hockey operations department.

Drew O’Connor is one of 22 players from around the league to file for salary arbitration.

Tristan Broz, a second-round draft choice who is entering his junior season at the University of Denver, believes he is on an accelerated timetable to turn pro. (+)

Thursday

Some Penguins prospects showed promise with their performances during training camp. (+)

Joel Blomqvist looks like he’s the Penguins’ goalie of the future. But how far into the future? (+)

Friday

The Pittsburgh Penguins have inquired about the availability of Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.

The Penguins pick up another free-agent forward, signing NHL veteran Vinnie Hinostroza.

Kyle Dubas didn’t stop with Vinnie Hinostroza. He also signed free-agent forward Andreas Johnsson.

Saturday

Public sentiment aside, there are some good reasons that the Penguins shouldn’t pursue a trade for Erik Karlsson.

You asked, he answered. A Q&A covering everything from Mikael Granlund’s future to some defenseman who’s been playing in San Jose for the past few years.