Pittsburgh Penguins: 5 Potential Free Agent Targets

Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford was clear and concise in his first offseason media address and stated that he would likely have to acquire a top-six wing via trade.  There simply isn’t enough talent in this summer’s free agent class, which is going to lead to a lot of overpaying for mediocre talent.

There are players that could be major assets to the Pittsburgh Penguins, such as Drew Stafford, but he’s going to come with a hefty price tag and a bidding war.  Given the current cap situation in Pittsburgh, there’s room to play, but not enough room to overpay good players as if they are great players.

Also, contrary to popular belief, the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t in dire straights when it comes to top-six talent.  While David Perron struggled down the stretch, he’s a very talented player and a good finisher.  Patric Hornqvist is another legit top-six wing. Throw Kasperi Kapanen into the mix and you have a pretty solid stable of wingers to build from.

The biggest area of concern for me remains the bottom-six, and defense is a bit of a question mark considering Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff will likely depart via free agency.  If they stand pat, the Pittsburgh Penguins could have a solid, young, and inexpensive defensive corps.  But, that youth could also catch up to them if guys like Scott Harrington and Brian Dumoulin aren’t quite ready for a full NHL season.

Lets visit some possibilities for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Mar 1, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals right wing

(16) skates with the puck in front of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman

(12) in the first period at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Fehr

If the Pittsburgh Penguins are planning to add top-six talent via trade, there’s a strong possibility Brandon Sutter will be on the move.  I’ve already touched on this a few times, mainly in an article located here, but Sutter has the most value and will fetch the best return of players that Jim Rutherford would be willing to part ways with.  That means they’ll have a void at third-line center.

There isn’t much indication on what the Washington Capitals are planning to do with Fehr, as their focus is obviously on the playoffs at the moment.  But, when you consider that they’ll be looking at signing Joel Ward and Mike Green this offseason, it’s possible that Fehr becomes the odd man out.

Eric Fehr finished the 2014-15 regular season with 33 points (19g, 14a).  He also exhibits the type of possession numbers you’d like to see from your third-line center with a 5v5 corsi-for percentage of 50.4 while taking 34.5% of his faceoffs in the defensive zone.  And, unlike Sutter, he led his team in shot suppression statistics while killing penalties.

If Fehr decides to test free agency, he’s a perfect fit for what the Pittsburgh Penguins will need in the event that Brandon Sutter gets traded.  He’ll require a raise from his $1.5 million that he’s currently making, but he’s also only 29 and can be effective on a multi-year deal.

May 3, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing

(39) follows through on a shot attempt against the Calgary Flames during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Beleskey

Beleskey is one of the youngest unrestricted free agents available this year, and he’s coming off a very strong season with 32 points (22g, 10a) in 65 games played.  He is definitely going to require a raise from his current $1.35 million cap hit, but he has produced while playing second line minutes all season alongside Ryan Kesler and Kyle Palmieri and could fill the Pens’ top-six void nicely.

The knock on Beleskey in the eyes of Pittsburgh Penguins critics is that he isn’t a natural scorer, and plays a grinder-style game. But, his production this year shows that he can be effective with top-tier talent and while he may not be a sniper, his work ethic and ability around the goal crease is superb.

I mentioned Palmieri as a possible trade target in an article found here, as Anaheim may be willing to deal him this summer considering the UFA’s and RFA’s they have. However, it’s more likely that Beleskey will walk and test the market considering they have Palmieri signed for another year at $1.6 million.

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford made it clear that this team needs to get younger and faster.  If he’s true to his word, he’ll kick the tires on Matt Beleskey.  While Beleskey will likely spark a bidding war, he could turn out to be a long-term solution.

Mar 24, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward

(91) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Jiri Tlusty

I was a bit baffled when the Winnipeg Jets traded for Jiri Tlusty this past season, as he doesn’t quite fit the mold for their style of play.  In turn, the Jiri Tlusty experiment didn’t pan out very well and he’s likely to hit UFA status on July 1.

Tlusty is essentially the opposite of Matt Beleskey, but still a good fit for a team like the Pittsburgh Penguins.  He’s been noted as a soft player that lacks the willingness to hit the dirty areas, but he’s a strong skater, creative, and a good finisher.  The fact that he can play both wings is a bonus, as I could see him fitting on the left side of Sidney Crosby with Patric Hornqvist playing on the right.

The biggest concern I have with Jiri Tlusty is that he has boom or bust written all over him.  He’s fairly reliable defensively, but he isn’t physical enough to be in a shutdown role.  If he isn’t scoring he isn’t going to warrant the $4 million+ that you’ll likely have to pay him.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were rumored to be interested in acquiring Tlusty this past season.  Jim Rutherford obviously knows him very well having been the GM in Carolina. This is going to be a guy to watch this summer.

Mar 31, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman

(44) after a goal during the first period agains the Vancouver Canucks at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Cody Franson

Before you say it, I understand that the Pittsburgh Penguins have a ton of young defensemen.  But, how much can we rely on them to carry the burden throughout the entire season and playoffs?

I’m a huge fan of Cody Franson’s game, and he would compliment Kris Letang very well.  This is a guy that should be near the top of Jim Rutherford’s list this summer, despite having the surplus of young defensemen in the system.  Also, if the Pittsburgh Penguins do acquire top-six talent in a trade as Rutherford said, there’s a good chance a defensive prospect will be moving out in that deal.

Franson, with his mix of size, puck skills, and average physicality provides the Penguins with a more talented and more groomed version of what they traded away in Simon Despres.

I was disappointed when the Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t make a valiant effort at acquiring him in a trade this past season.  Maybe this time they’ll come through for me.