An important area where the Pittsburgh Penguins struggled last season was defense, and they had a pretty quiet low season. There is still time for general manager Kyle Dubas to make changes before the season starts, but if he doesn’t, how does the team go on the way to 2025-26 on the defensive side of the Puck?
Can the penguins repair their defense?
It is at the end of August, and if things remain how they are now to start the season, the defense of Pittsburgh will not look much different. Erik Karlsson has been central to trade rumors for months, but if he is still with the team when the season starts, he is expected to be on the top pairs.
Since he has been taken over through trade, Karlsson has not met expectations; However, he is still the best option for the best minutes. He moves the puck well and has a good attacking game. His defensive game has been wild inconsistent in recent seasons, but hopefully a new coaching staff can get more out of him.
This season Kris Letang is celebrating for 20 years in the NHL, all with the penguins. He is the best defender in the history of franchis; Last season, however, was one of his worst. His attacking game left a lot to be desired and he was not much better in the defense. He has had countless health problems over the years and at the age of 38 he is simply not the player he used to be. If he can adjust his game, he could still be a valuable player in the defense. He will be more than likely to be the second combination this season, but the Penguins will need him to perform in a large way.
Connor Clifton was traded by the Buffalo Sabres to Pittsburgh in exchange for Conor Timmins on June 28. Last season, Clifton had 16 points in 73 games for the Sabres, and the Penguins hope that a change in the environment will cause its game. He is a competitive, physical player who could make a huge contribution to the defense. It will be interesting to see if the team combines him with Letang to start the season or move him to the bottom couple.
Matt Dumba came to the Penguins on July 10 after an exchange with the Dallas stars. Last season he had ten points in 63 games and 60 blocked shots. He was a healthy scratch during the play -off run of the stars and needs a new start. He is good at stopping the hurry, but his attacking game is not great. With another year left on his contract, the plan can be used to increasing its value as much as possible and acting away from the trade deadline.
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It is quite possible that Harrison Brunicke one Part of the blue line of the penguins season. He was very close to making the selection last season, but was sent back to the Western Hockey League (WHL) to continue his development. His skates has improved compared to last season and he has good attacking instincts. Pittsburgh has quite a few defenders on the right; Brunicke, however, was a peak in the development camp in July and will fight to win a full -time place in the Roster.
Dubas who are preparing for the season
The penguins are still sorting things out and probably don’t have a very good season. Dubas, however, has the team in a good position with the concept choices he has stored and all the young prospects that the ranks come. If he can solve the problems in the field of defense, or the boys can take a step internally, his team will be in a much better place.
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