The Pittsburgh Penguins make 3 new signings

After Chad Ruhwedel was traded late in the season, Jack St. Ivany became an important contributor. St. Ivany, who entered the bottom pairing on the right, performed admirably, finishing with a 51.53 xGF% in 160 minutes. The Penguins made a wise decision in signing him since there isn't much danger involved. If all goes wrong, St. Ivany will go back to WB/S. His three-year contract at the league minimum presents an opportunity to be a reliable bottom pairing defenseman at a lower cost than recent overpayments for comparable roles such as Jan Rutta.

In addition, the Penguins signed depth forward Jon Gruden to a contract that was one year shorter than St. Ivany's. Though there are differing views on this deal, Gruden is anticipated to be a dependable call-up option in case of several injuries. Because of him, younger players at WB/S may get a lot of playing time without constantly being called up and demoted. Gruden will probably only be a stopgap, switching back and forth between Pittsburgh and WB/S as required.

Filip Kral, a former member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, is the third addition. In 46 games as a defenseman in the SM-Liiga last season, Kral demonstrated his attacking prowess. This accomplishment is equivalent to an anticipated 30 points over the course of an 82-game NHL season, according to NHLe. Kral's signing, however little known, may provide the Penguins' defense much-needed offensive depth.

All things considered, these acquisitions are sensible, low-risk choices that provide the Penguins' roster much-needed depth. Without making large financial commitments, each player has the ability to boost the team's roster in a variety of ways.