Roster movement this summer by former Penguin players

Keeping some tabs on the comings and goings by former members of the Penguins this offseason.

We’ll start off with the most recent group of players that officially departed this offseason.

Noel Acciari (Flyers, 2 years, $2.8m cap hit): Acciari getting a better contract than Connor Dewar reinforces the notion the Pens got a good deal there.

Ryan Shea ($4.0m AAV, five years) is Edmonton bound to help fill in for Darnell Nurse.

Connor Clifton is shipping off to Boston, the organization he played for from 2017-23. They drop pretty decent coin to him in a two-year deal worth $2.25 million.

Stuart Skinner will be waiting in the wings for whatever happens with the Connor Hellebuyck situation to help provide depth to Winnipeg after signing a two-year contract with a $2.75 million cap hit.

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For some others whose stints ended a while ago:

Ian Cole, 37, left the Penguins in 2018 after winning two Cups. He’s played for seven teams since then, well let’s make it eight. Chicago grabs Cole for a one-year deal worth $4 million. Shockingly long career for Cole, who keeps finding employment and plugging along.

Speaking of defensemen working on impressively long careers, Erik Gudbranson is sticking around with Columbus on a one-year deal for 2026-27 at $1,75 million. Similarly, Jamie Oleksiak jumps over to Vancouver for two years at a $5.0 million AAV (we sure that Jim Rutherford isn’t still in control there?)

Injuries limited Teddy Blueger to only 35 games last year, but a hot-streak helped him tie his career-high in goals (nine) when he did play. That plus a reputation for solid two-way play was enough to get a two-year contract with a $2.5 million AAV to help with whatever is going on in Toronto these days.

Veteran Conor Sheary is headed back to Buffalo, where he played from 2018-20 on a one-year deal for the minimum ($850k). Sheary is coming off a somewhat successful season with the Rangers (7G+11A in 62 games) after playing most of the previous season in the AHL.

Lars Eller is also at the ‘play for minimum’ stage of his career at age 37 and joined up with Florida.

Vladislav Kolyachonok might end up in the AHL making NHL money this year, but credit to him for getting a one-way contract from the Devils after only playing 13 NHL games last season.

Two-way contracts

The following players will be fighting for a roster spot and getting that NHL-level salary in their paycheck.

Jansen Harkins is taking his game to Tampa’s organization on a one-year deal. Harkins spent the last two seasons in Anaheim.

Acciari going to Philadelphia made some headlines, another former Penguin semi-cult hero will join him there, Zach Aston-Reese. Aston-Reese spent 27 games in the AHL last year and 27 with NHL Columbus, looks like he’ll have a chance to stick on the fringe of the Flyer roster or get some games as a potential injury call-up.

Like Aston-Reese, Vinnie Hinostroza got a two-year commitment, from the Colorado Avalanache in his case.

Phil Tomasino caught on with Ottawa with a one-year, two-way contract. Sam Lafferty and Boko Imama will bring their efforts in the same division to Florida.

Sam Poulin is headed back to Quebec with a one-year deal with the Canadiens that will likely have him playing for AHL Laval.

Still looking

These players are not yet signed and remain as free agents

Anthony Mantha, interestingly enough, is still out there on the free agent market awaiting to join up with a new team. So too is Michael Bunting, coming off a season where he scored 31 points in 61 games with Nashville, then didn’t make much of an impact on a deadline trade to Dallas (three points in 14 total games).

There was some talk that Detroit might re-sign David Perron, yet it hasn’t been finalized.

Matt Grzelcyk turned a tryout into a contract with Chicago last season, he might have to go that route again this fall with a new team.

Vegas announced they weren’t going to bring back Reilly Smith, the 35-year old will have to find a new spot or could be looking at the end of his playing days. Jeff Petry, 38, is another veteran who might be at the end of the line this cycle. The situation looks the same for 39-year old Ryan Reaves, who is just 38 games from getting to 1,000 in his career.

Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes and Tanner Pearson are all out there too, as is P.O. Joseph who wasn’t qualified by Vancouver.

Andrew Agozzino has ventured onto play in Switzerland next season

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