The Pittsburgh Penguins have been quite busy in the market, just like many of their counterparts in the ongoing offseason, while building up to the 2026-27 NHL season. During the first day of NHL Free Agency on Wednesday, July 1, the Penguins signed three unrestricted free agents (UFAs), namely Andrei Kuzmenko, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Declan Carlile.

NHL journalist Josh Yohe took to his official X account to give an in-depth insight into the business Pittsburgh has done in the entire offseason until Wednesday.

“They didn’t do anything dreadful from a long term standpoint, which is good. Losing Shea, Wotherspoon, and Mantha isn't a disaster in the big picture but will not make them a better team next season. Huge amount of forwards are under contract. I don't necessarily like that unless a trade is incoming. McGroarty, Hayes etc need to be NHL players at some point.”

He apparently felt that the signing of the three UFAs, including two forwards and one defenseman, won’t be a net negative for them.

After that, Yohe alluded to the three main departures of the Penguins, who will be very much missed in the upcoming NHL season.

“The blue line isn't very good. Lots and lots of blah players on it.There is no sensible partner for Karlsson at the moment. Other teams in the division got better in the past week. The Penguins did not. If they pull off a Robertson trade, that obviously changes things,” he remarked.

Notably, Ryan Shea and Parker Wotherspoon had their breakout seasons in the NHL with the Penguins on defense after playing 80 games each in 2025-26. While Shea accumulated 35 points (6G / 29A) and 92 blocked shots, Wotherspoon got 30 points (3G / 27A) and 112 blocked shots.

They also contributed an assist each in the six Stanley Cup Playoffs games against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the Eastern Conference, which they lost 4-2.

As far as Anthony Mantha is concerned, he played in 81 games last season for 64 points (33G / 31A), which are his career-high numbers across the board.

The forward also competed in the six playoff games and recorded an assist, just like Shea and Wotherspoon.

After commenting a bit conservatively on the offseason moves from the Penguins, Yohe was very critical about their entire playing line-up ahead of the 2026-27 season.

NHL journalist gives take on Pittsburgh Penguins’ overall roster construction

Josh Yohe sounded far from pleased about the overall roster construction of the Pittsburgh Penguins, as of Wednesday, July 1, the first day of the NHL Free Agency.

“Huge amount of forwards are under contract. I don’t necessarily like that unless a trade is incoming,” the NHL journalist wrote in his post on X. “McGroarty, Hayes etc need to be NHL players at some point.”

As per Puckpedia.com, the Penguins have the standard 12 forwards under contract on their main roster, including their captain Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and new arrival Andrei Kuzmenko. But the number increases substantially after adding up the 12 minor forwards on entry-level contracts, either playing in the AHL, SHL, KHL, or the QMJHL.

With that in mind, Yohe alluded to letting go of some of these players in a trade deal and promoting minor forward Rutger McGroarty and top prospect Travis Hayes into the NHL.

According to him, the blue line beyond right-handed defenseman Erik Karlsson, a three-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, isn’t quite shaping up to his liking at the Penguins.

“The blue line isn’t very good. Lots and lots of blah players on it. There is no sensible partner for Karlsson at the moment,” he explained.

Two left-handed defenseman Ryan Shea and Parker Wotherspoon exited the Penguins, while right-handed defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and left-handed defenseman Declan Carlile arrived on Wednesday. This kind of unbalances the left-right combination in defense in comparison to before, which is something Yohe might be alluding to in his comment.

Moreover, Karlsson got 66 points (15G / 51A) and 64 blocked shots in 75 games in the 2025-26 regular season and three points (1G and 2A) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. He did it while forming an impressive partnership in the blue line with Shea and Wotherspoon in particular.

“Other teams in the division got better in the past week. The Penguins did not. If they pull off a Robertson trade, that obviously changes things,” wrote Yohe to conclude his X post.

He seemingly wants Pittsburgh to sign forward Jason Robertson from the Dallas Stars after bringing his younger brother and forward Nick Robertson from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade deal on Wednesday.

Will the Pittsburgh Penguins improve their roster in the remainder of the offseason ahead of the 2026-27 season? Tell us your views in the comments.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi