Jim Rutherford made one the most shrewd moves of his Hall of Fame managerial career when he acquired the rights to a Harvard defenseman named John Marino from Edmonton for a sixth-round draft choice last summer.
Good luck replicating that feat during the offseason that began a few days ago.
Or ever.
But while he won't match the alchemy of transforming a late-round pick into a potential cornerstone defenseman, it's entirely possible that Rutherford will spend a lot of time during the next few months contemplating changes to the group whose primary responsibility is preventing goals, not producing them.
While it's hard to predict precisely how bold or aggressive he'll be -- especially when a lot of clubs might be hamstrung by the stagnant salary-cap ceiling and the loss of revenue caused by the pandemic -- it seems safe to assume that one goaltender and at least one top-six defenseman will be moving on.
Here's a thumbnail look at the defensemen and goalies who played for the Penguins in 2019-20, or who might be on the team next season:
DEFENSEMEN
Kevin Czuczman -- The kind of guy who's great to have in the organization if the parent club suffers a series of injuries to its defense corps, but he's not likely to grab a long-term spot on the major-league roster.
Brian Dumoulin -- Never really seemed to completely get over the severed ankle tendon that sidelined him for about three months and had a tough series against Montreal, but no one should bet against him getting his defensive game back to the level that had made him an ideal partner for Kris Letang on the No. 1 pairing.
Jack Johnson -- If he was anymore of a lightning rod, he'd have a copper rod running down the back of his uniform. Johnson put together a solid regular season, especially as a penalty-killer, but a miserable series against Montreal assured that he will remain the subject of much fan discontent during the offseason. Tha's assuming Rutherford doesn't find a taker for his contract, as he nearly did last summer before Phil Kessel vetoed a trade that would have sent the two of them to Minnesota.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Easily the most franchise's highly regarded defense prospect, although that might say as much about their organizational depth as it does his considerable potential. He made a lot of progress in Wilkes-Barre during the past season and could challenge for a spot with the Penguins, although management should guard against force-feeding the league to him before he's ready.
Kris Letang -- His future might be the most intriguing issue facing Rutherford before next season. He can, at times, be as good as any defenseman in the league. At others, he's guilty of poor decisions and worse execution. The merits of trading Letang might well hinge on what kind of return he could bring, although the Penguins must guard against gutting the right side of their blue line. And it can't be ignored that Rutherford insisted Tuesday that he's not looking to move him.
John Marino -- If Letang is deemed expendable, it will be because of everything Marino did during his first pro season. He handled every duty he was given with exceptional poise and efficiency, and looked very much like a guy who will be a No. 1 defenseman. The only question is whether he's ready to take on that role this early in his career.
Marcus Pettersson -- He teamed with Marino to form a strong No. 2 pairing, one that should get better as those two gain experience. Pettersson is about 15 pounds shy of being able to cast a shadow when he turns sideways, so adding a little muscle to fill out his 6-foot-3 frame would be to his benefit.
Juuso Riikola -- Why he seems to be out of favor with the coaching staff is a mystery. Yes, he has some defensive deficiencies and makes some unforced errors, but he's young (22) and can skate and move the puck well. Riikola, a restricted free agent, looks as if he's the kind of guy who might fit nicely in Sullivan's system if he'd ever get an extended chance to prove it.
Chad Ruhwedel -- The Penguins couldn't ask for a better guy to have ready to step in when there's an opening on the blue line, especially on the right side. He's experienced, responsible at both ends of the rink and accepts his role. How his game would respond to him being in the lineup on a regular basis is hard to say, however.
Justin Schultz -- He resuscitated his career after being acquired from Edmonton in 2016, and played a prominent role in the Penguins' Cups that spring and in 2017. But after two subpar seasons -- regardless of the role serious injuries played in his performance -- and with his contract expiring, it's time to let Schultz move on. He's only 30, so perhaps Schultz will be able to get his game back to where it was a few years ago, but with cap space so precious, the Penguins won't gamble on it happening here.
Zach Trotman -- When it comes to his place on the depth chart and in the organization's plans, think of Trotman as a right-handed Czuczman.
GOALIES
Casey DeSmith -- He was a popular choice before training camp to serve as Matt Murray's backup in 2019-20, and seems likely to take on those duties next season, assuming the Penguins part with one of their two incumbent goalies, both of whom are restricted free agents.
Tristan Jarry -- The prevailing sentiment a year ago was that, if the Penguins couldn't find a team interested in trading for him, Jarry should spend the winter refining his game in Wilkes-Barre. Well, there were no takers, and Jarry played so well during training camp that he forced his way onto the major-league roster. He was the Penguins' better goalie over the course of the season, and has earned the right to be their go-to guy in future years.
Matt Murray -- Mike Sullivan has been fiercely loyal to Murray, and understandably so. The guy's a big part of the reason Sullivan has a couple of Stanley Cup rings. But Murray's game has slipped out of synch -- his glove hand inspires almost as much derision among some fans as Jack Johnson's very existence does -- and it couldn't have been more telling when Sullivan opted to start Jarry in Game 4 against Montreal, when the Penguins were playing to extend their season. Murray's contribution to the Penguins' two most recent Cups should never be understated, but it is best for all concerned if he tries to get his play back to its earlier, exceptional level with another team. It very possibly will happen. There's just little reason to think he'd do it here.
Previously: The forwards
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