The Pittsburgh Penguins stayed out of the huge spending that surrounds July 1st. This was the prudent move for a championship team retaining almost all of their players. Barring any big trades the team will not be losing any significant pieces heading into the new season. As of right now the loss of Ben Lovejoy to the New Jersey Devils is the most high profile thing to happen to the Penguins.
Justin Schultz is a potential candidate to replace Lovejoy but he remains unsigned. If the team and Schultz cannot get together on the terms of a next contract Pittsburgh will have lost two right handed defensemen this offseason. So how will the team go about replacing Ben Lovejoy? As of right now it is looking like either Ian Cole or Derrick Pouliot will be playing the right side which is not the natural side for either player. There is also the fact that Derrick Pouliot is just as likely to be traded as he is getting a jersey on a nightly basis.
Given the Penguins don't have a ton of cap room what kind of option is feasible? There is a recent addition to the free agency market that might make sense if the situation calls for it
James Wisniewski has been a good player during his NHL career. He drives play and can create offense via assists. He is right handed and plays the right side. So why could he be on the Penguins radar? He's coming off a torn ACL he suffered at the beginning of last season in Carolina. His entire season lasted 47 seconds. The Hurricanes recently bought him out making him a free agent.
Wisniewski is currently 32 years old and there may be some teams wary of his knee injury. If that helps keep the cost down it may make him a potential candidate to replace Ben Lovejoy on the blue line.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»