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Why Kyle Dubas may have no choice but to extend one Penguins defenseman now
Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Ryan Shea is creeping into «must-sign» territory for the Penguins, because the pipeline behind him is not saving anyone.
Pittsburgh is 25-14-11, and the standings say contender.
The blue line still feels like it is surviving, not thriving.
That is why Josh Yohe's takeaway matters.
He basically said the lack of defense talent in the system could force Pittsburgh's hand.
Shea is the kind of player you lose once, then spend all summer trying to replace.
Right now he is giving them calm minutes and cheap value.
Shea has 2-16-18 in 50 games, plus-18, while averaging 18:58 a night.
That is not flashy, it is functional.
And functional defensemen get paid when they hit the open market.
The Penguins already know what July looks like when you are shopping for third-pair stability.
They also know how fast injuries can turn depth into a crisis.
Shea's cap hit is $900,000 on a deal that runs through 2025-26, and that number is a gift for what he is providing.
Ryan Shea keeps the Pittsburgh Penguins from scrambling again
You can feel the fanbase bracing for the same old blue line panic, so the idea of keeping a steady piece actually sounds comforting.
Shea was a 2015 fourth-round pick, 121st overall, drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, and he had to earn every inch of trust.
That matters, because players who arrive late tend to price themselves like they will never be ignored again.
If Kyle Dubas waits and Shea pops another strong two-way stretch, the number goes up.
If Dubas moves early, the Penguins buy cost certainty and avoid another offseason patch job.
It might not be exciting, but it is the kind of move contenders make to protect the floor.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
The Penguins did one thing vs. Oilers that turned heads fast after the game
The Penguins did one thing vs. Oilers that turned heads fast after the game
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 24|162 ANSWERS Why Kyle Dubas may have no choice but to extend one Penguins defenseman now Should the Pittsburgh Penguins extend Ryan Shea before he hits the market? | ||
| Yes | 136 | 84 % |
| No | 26 | 16 % |
| List of polls | ||