When training camp opens for the Pittsburgh Penguins one month from now - and with more youth talent in the organization than there has been in a long while - there will be a lot of positional battles on pretty much every front.
The acquisition of Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks, as well as the shipping out of Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks, makes the goaltending battle intriguing. Young forward prospects such as Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and Filip Hallander will be jostling for positioning in the top-12 forward group.
But one of the most interesting battles will come on the left side of the blue line.
Barring any other trades or major moves prior to puck drop against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton will more than likely populate the right side. In contrast, however, the Penguins do not really have a bona fide top-four defenseman for the left side, making that positional battle one that is wide open for the taking.
Here are some of the names who will be involved in that positional battle - as well as what to expect from each of them.
Parker Wotherspoon
Wotherspoon, 27, was signed to a two-year, $2 million contract right out of the gate on Jul. 1, when free agency opened. He was drafted in the fourth round (112th overall) by the New York Islanders in 2015, and he spent part of one NHL season with the Isles in 2022-23 before signing a two-year deal with the Boston Bruins.
There, Wotherspoon registered a goal and 15 points in 96 games split between two seasons. While he may not contribute much at all offensively, he was a solid shutdown preference on a bottom pairing for Boston despite the team's overall struggles.
The Penguins need to take a chance on as many shutdown guys as they can. Although he is likely best-suited for a bottom-pairing role, there is a very good chance he will occupy one of those spots in the top-four, should nothing drastic change between now and training camp.
A responsible defensive partner is something that is needed for both Karlsson and Letang, so expect Wotherspoon to be paired with one of them.
Ryan Graves
It's no secret at this point that Graves has struggled in a Penguins' uniform. After being signed to a six-year deal worth $3.5 million annually during free agency in 2023 - with high hopes of becoming a staple in the Penguins' top-four alongside one of the big guys - he has yet to play up to his contract value.
In fact, Graves was a semi-regular healthy scratch last season, even if there were times when he seemed to take small strides in his game.
The reality is that the Penguins are likely going to be anchored to Graves's contract for four more years, so the best thing for Graves would be to simply find a way to make adjustments and get the most out of his game in that time. The Penguins will have a new coaching staff this season under Dan Muse, and assistant Mike Stothers will helm the defensive unit.
Hopefully, Muse and Stothers can find a way to maximize Graves. But he certainly has to prove himself, so until he does, it's likely going to be much of the same for him with rotating in and out of the lineup.
Ryan Shea
Shea is returning to the Penguins on a one-year, $900,000 contract, and there were times last season when he found himself in the top-four - especially after Marcus Pettersson was dealt to Vancouver.
But that doesn't mean that Shea should be getting top-four minutes. Ideally, he is the Penguins' sixth or seventh defenseman, and he does fine enough in that role. But with increased minutes and responsibility last season came a noticeable lag in his play.
Shea will more than likely be on the opening night roster - and he may be in the mix for a top-four role - but, ideally, he's earning most of his minutes in a more sheltered role.
Owen Pickering
Pickering, 22, is one of the Penguins' top prospects, and he showed - at times - in a 25-game sample last season that he is capable of handling the NHL game. His play did drop off a bit prior to being re-assigned to the AHL midseason, but the Penguins are banking on this guy being a big part of their future.
Pittsburgh is also at a point where they need to start seeing what they have in some of their young prospects with promise. With the focus now on youth and development, Pickering absolutely should be on the roster, and - hopefully - have some runway in a bottom-pairing role where he can learn to fully adjust to the NHL.
But he isn't simply going to be gifted the opportunity. There are a lot of options on the left side for the Penguins heading into training camp, and the competition for all three spots is going to come down to the wire.
At the end of the day, Pickering will need to have a "prove-it-to-me" kind of camp to solidify a starting position on the left side. If he doesn't earn that spot out of camp, he will likely begin the season in the NHL - as the Penguins probably won't want to have him warming the bench at the NHL level.
Alexander Alexeyev
The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Alexeyev was one of the more interesting signings of the offseason by the Penguins. The 25-year-old Russian blueliner - a first-round pick (31st overall) in 2018 by the Washington Capitals - has spent parts of the last four seasons with the Capitals, totaling a goal and eight points in 80 career NHL games.
He did appear in 10 playoff games for the Capitals last season, getting his teeth knocked out in the process and turning in a solid performance. Despite his playoff appearances, however, Alexeyev didn't get much of an opportunity with the Caps throughout the regular season last year, and he was non-tendered in the offseason.
He does also have some familiarity with new Penguins' assistant coach Todd Nelson, who briefly coached Alexeyev when both were members of the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate.
There is definitely some upside with Alexeyev, but his ceiling is a bit limited. The Penguins need big bodies and physical, hard-to-play-against defenders on their blue line, and if all goes well, Alexeyev could fit the bill.
He is eager to have an open door-type opportunity in Pittsburgh, but he will have to outcompete Pickering, Shea, and a few others to seize that opportunity.
Caleb Jones
Jones, 28, was drafted in the fourth round (117th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. After spending three seasons with the Oilers from 2018-21, Jones has made his rounds the past several seasons, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings.
His best seasons came with Chicago from 2021-23, when he put up nine goals and 31 points in 124 games. Jones can contribute offensively on occasion, but his value has dwindled the past few seasons.
Jones signed with the Penguins for two years at $900,000 annually, and he has some things to prove. He is a decent depth option for the Penguins, but - more likely than not - he will find himself on the outside looking in for an NHL roster spot out of camp.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Mr. Devil on the Bench: Ken Daneyko Leads NJ/NY 3ICE Team to Final FourFormer New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko has taken on a new role this summer, coaching the 3ICE NJ/NY team.
Keith Kinkaid Eyes NHL Return After Strong 3ICE PerformanceFormer New Jersey Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid is aiming for an NHL comeback this season.
