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The Ryan Shea opportunity story that Penguins fans didn’t expect
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Ryan Shea says the Pittsburgh Penguins finally let him be himself, and the playoff race is riding on that comfort.
Shea isn’t talking in clichés, either. He’s talking about minutes, trust, and a role that feels like his.
He’s 29 now, a 2015 fourth-round pick, 121st overall, drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks.
On the season, Shea has quietly put up 3-19-22 with a +21 in 56 games, while averaging around 19 minutes a night.
That’s not superstar stuff, but it’s real third-pair value that can slide up the lineup when things get messy.
The quote that keeps sticking came via Seth Rorabaugh’s post, and you can hear the relief in it.
“Pittsburgh’s been the one spot that’s given me opportunity and kind of let me grow in my position. ... This is the spot that I want to be, and this is the spot that allowed me to play to myself.”
- Ryan Shea
- Ryan Shea
Pittsburgh is 29-15-12, and that’s a record built on surviving nights when the margin is thin.
For a depth defender, “finding your spot” usually means you stopped playing scared.
Ryan Shea gives the Pittsburgh Penguins breathing room
Honestly, Penguins fans have been burned by “nice story” defensemen before, so the skepticism is natural.
But Shea’s calm puck touches matter when the forecheck ramps up and your forwards are cheating for offense.
His contract situation adds context, too. He’s on a one-year deal at a $900,000 cap hit that expires after 2025-26, with UFA status next.
That’s the kind of number a team can live with, and the kind of security a player can actually breathe in.
When Shea says Pittsburgh “let me grow,” it sounds like a coach finally picked a lane with him.
It also sounds like a player who knows exactly what his game is between the dots.
If the Penguins keep him in a steady rotation through the break, it can stabilize pairings and protect the rest of the blue line.
And if the minutes climb again in the next game, you’ll know the room heard that quote loud and clear.
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