Pittsburgh Penguins News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

3 Free Agents the Penguins Didn’t Need to Sign

Trevor van Riemsdyk, Washington Capitals (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Add us as a preferred source on Google

3 Free Agents the Penguins Didn’t Need to Sign

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Sylvie McCarthy | Last updated Jul 8, 2026 4:00 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Free agency opened on July 1 and the Pittsburgh Penguins added some new faces to the organization. Pittsburgh surpassed expectations last season, however they went into the offseason with some problems that needed to be addressed.

The Penguins might not be Stanley Cup contenders next season, but general manager Kyle Dubas would still like his team to remain competitive. Will these three free agents help with that in 2026-27?

Andrei Kuzmenko

Pittsburgh signed Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year contract worth $5 million on July 1. Kuzmenko played in 52 games for the Los Angeles Kings last season, scoring 13 goals and adding 12 assists. He is not the best skater, but he is a decent depth scorer. At 30 years old, he has only been in the NHL since the 2022-23 season after spending eight years playing in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

However, he burst onto the scene in his first NHL season, scoring 39 goals and adding 35 assists in 81 games with the Vancouver Canucks. He has not been able to replicate that level of production, but his offensive skills should fit perfectly on the Penguins’ second or third line. It may just be that a change of scenery is all he needs to find his game again.

The issue is that he prefers to play on the left side, which is currently overcrowded with Rickard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov, and Connor Dewar. Some of those players can play on the right, but finding the right positions for players to succeed will be vital to the team’s success. If it doesn’t work out, Dubas can flip his new addition for assets at the 2027 Trade Deadline.

Trevor van Riemsdyk

Dubas recognized that Pittsburgh’s defense needs to be better next season, and Trevor van Riemsdyk might be able to help. The Penguins signed him to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4 million. He turns 35 this month and has spent the past six seasons with the Washington Capitals.

Van Riemsdyk has mostly played on the right side, but he can also play on the left, which is where he is needed. He is steady in his own zone and good along the boards, but he is not going to provide much offense. He is rather a veteran option who can provide a little insurance on the blue line.

Declan Carlile

Also on July 1, the Penguins signed left-handed defenseman Declan Carlile to a two-year deal with a $1.5 million AAV. Last season, he played limited minutes with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he performed well when called upon. He works hard, plays an aggressive game, and will add depth on the left side.

Carlile’s contract is affordable, and the Penguins will be able to move him before it expires, even if they won’t get much in return for a defenseman heading for 30. The real problem is that defense prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are expected to make their case for a full-time spot in the lineup this season. It seems like Dubas has prioritized quantity over quality when it comes to the defense.

Penguins Still Focused on Short-Term Fixes

Pittsburgh shocked the hockey world last season by making the playoffs. While their rebuild is ahead of schedule, so far, Dubas seems to be following the same pattern as last summer by signing players short-term to help the team continue to tread water. It’s possible management won’t fully commit to the rebuild until the veteran core is gone, but it’s unlikely they will win another championship with additions like these.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: