Before you ask, the Penguins did not make a big splash by acquiring a guy like Phil Kessel during this year's first day of Free Agent Frenzy, but they did add a few depth pieces.
On Friday and Saturday, while big name superstars like defenseman Torey Krug and goaltender Braden Holtby found new homes, the Penguins picked up two players with considerable NHL experience.
On Friday, the team announced the signing of center Mark Jankowski to a one-year, $700,000 (league-minimum) contract, following Jankowski's three-plus year tenure with the Calgary Flames.
Jankowski, a 2012 first round draft pick of Calgary, made his NHL debut by playing in just one game during the 2016-2017 season. In his first full season of 2017-2018, Jankowski registered 17 goals and eight assists in 72 games, which he followed with a 14 goal/18 assist season in 2018-2019.
This past season, was not one of much note for Jankowski, as he recorded just seven points (5 G, 2 A) throughout 56 games in a shortened regular season, but Jankowski can add bottom-six depth to a roster desperate for it.
Early Saturday morning, the team also announced the signing of center Frederick Gaudreau, who was also signed to a one-year, league-minimum deal.
Gaudreau, did not appear in a game for the Nashville Predators during the 2019-2020 regular season, but he did record 28 points (11 G, 17 A) with the Milwaukee Admirals, the team's American Hockey League affiliate
Gaudreau, 27, has scored just three goals and five assists in 84 career regular-season games. However, he burst onto the scene for Nashville in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final versus Pittsburgh, scoring three goals in a series that the Penguins would ultimately win in six games.
These moves aren't glossy or pretty, but they are necessary building blocks for the Penguins moving forward.
The two moves made by the team are smaller steps in the larger process of retooling a team that following back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, has lost nine of their last ten Stanley Cup Playoff games.
In August, the team reacquired right winger Kasperi Kapanen from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In September, Pittsburgh dealt longtime forward Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Mike Matheson and center Colton Sceviour.
In the past week, there has been even more of a dramatic roster shift. The team dealt goaltender Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators, while also letting defenseman Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz sign with the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals, respectively.
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