The offseason has hardly begun, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have already established a pattern. Kyle Dubas has spent this month locking up a handful of players who have an opportunity to make a significant impact over the next few seasons.
The Penguins latest additions to that growing list are defenseman Jack St. Ivany and forward Jonathan Gruden.
St. Ivany may be the most significant signing of the offseason so far. He quickly stabilized the Penguins’ third defense pair following his NHL debut in late March. St. Ivany and Ryan Shea became a shutdown pairing down the stretch as the Penguins fought back into contention for a playoff spot.
The 24-year-old blue-liner is expected to reclaim that role next season, and re-signing him for three years solidifies the right side of the Penguins defense for the foreseeable future.
Gruden also received his first extended stay at the NHL level this past season, scoring one goal in 13 games. Despite his lack of scoring with Pittsburgh, Gruden had a visible impact on the ice, collecting 35 hits and his first fighting major on March 26th against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Penguins may not have made any significant on-ice changes yet this offseason, but locking up impact players like St. Ivany, Gruden, Sam Poulin, and Valtteri Puustinen to league-minimum contracts is a great start for the organization.
