Penguins have options with their bottom-6 forwards

During the 2023 offseason, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas stressed improvement to the team’s group of bottom-six forwards.

His most prominent free agent signings toward that pursuit were forwards Noel Acciari, Lars Eller and Matt Nieto. Also included in the mix were reserves such as Vinnie Hinostroza, Colin White and Radim Zohorna.

After missing the playoffs this season, the Penguins will likely try to address their bottom-six forwards again.

Here are their internal options in alphabetical order:

Noel Acciari, center – The “crown jewel” of Dubas’ overhaul of the bottom-six forwards last offseason, Acciari was primarily deployed as the fourth-line center and offered most of the things fourth-line centers are expected to provide with regards to defensive zone draws, penalty killing duties and some level of physicality. A lack of offense limited his impact and a steady battle with injuries pockmarked his first season with the team.

Emil Bemstrom, right winger – Acquired via a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in February, Bemstrom rarely offered much that impressed management. He even was a healthy scratch in the final weeks of the season when the team was dealing with several injuries up front. A pending restricted free agent, he might be granted unrestricted status by management.

Lars Eller, center – Signed to a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2.45 million last offseason, Eller was one of the team’s most successful free agent additions. The 34-year-old appeared in all 82 games and posted 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) while primarily serving as the third-line center. Utilized on both special teams units, Eller contributed in seemingly every aspect of the team’s play. He’ll continue to be part of the solution.

Jonathan Gruden, left winger – In his fourth season with the organization, Gruden was recalled to the NHL roster several times this season and appeared in a career-best 13 games (with one goal). A steady, reliable and energetic player with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has yet to translate that success to the NHL level in a meaningful fashion. He is a pending restricted free agent.

Jansen Harkins, left winger – Claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets in October, Harkins carved out a role as a trusted fourth-liner skating alongside Acciari and the recently retired Jeff Carter. A right hand injury suffered in March landed him on long-term injured reserve and limited him to only a smattering of games down the stretch. A pending unrestricted free agent, he is hardly a priority for management.

Vinnie Hinostroza, right winger – A journeyman who has played six NHL teams, there is little to suggest Hinostroza won’t be joining a seventh after an unimpressive 2023-24 season. In limited looks at the NHL level with the Penguins, Hinostroza did little to distinguish himself as he scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 14 games. He is a pending unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Joona Koppanen, center – Penguins management signed Koppanen to a two-year contract last offseason that is two-way in the first season and one-way in the second season. Sporadically recalled to the NHL roster in 2023-24 anytime injuries created an opportunity, Koppanen was difficult to notice in the four games (with no points) he played with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he has been a steady presence in that team’s group of bottom-six forwards, scoring 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 58 games.

Matt Nieto, left winger – Opening the season on the fourth line, Nieto looked like a perfectly reliable fourth-line energy winger with his skating. But a right knee injury he suffered in November led to surgery by January and ended his season. Questions remain if he’ll be able to make a full recovery.

Drew O’Connor, left winger – After three seasons of showing some potential, O’Connor broke through this season, especially after he was promoted to the top line following the departure of Jake Guentzel in a March trade. O’Connor set career highs in games (79), goals (16) and points (33). Ideally, the Penguins find a different option for the top line and allow O’Connor to slide down to a third-line role.

Sam Poulin, center – The Penguins’ first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in 2019, Poulin rebounded well in 2023-24 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after missing much of the previous campaign to address his mental health. While he did see three NHL games this season, he might have participated in more if injuries and illness didn’t sideline him at inopportune times when absence cropped up on the NHL roster. A pending restricted free agent this upcoming offseason, he remains part of the team’s future.

Vasili Ponomarev, center – Acquired on March 7 in the blockbuster trade that sent Guentzel to Carolina, Ponomarev would have seen some NHL time following the transaction were it not for a high ankle sprain he suffered a few weeks into his tenure with the Penguins. A skilled, confident player, Ponomarev figures to be this team’s No. 3 center of the future.

Jesse Puljujuarvi, right winger – Following surgery to correct each of his hips in June, Puljujarvi went unsigned until the Penguins took a chance on him in February, agreeing to a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $800,000. During his brief tenure with the Penguins, Puljujarvi looked exactly like a player trying to recover from major surgery with little to no offseason training. Presumably, a fully healthy summer will allow him to be a better chance to compete for playing time.

Valtteri Puustinen, right winger – After leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in scoring over each of the previous two seasons, Puustinen broke through as a steady NHLer this season, primarily inhabiting a middle-six role while also garnering some time on the power play. By season’s end, he found some traction on the third line with Eller and left winger Reilly Smith. In 52 games, Puustinen posted 20 points (five goals, 15 assists). He is a pending unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason, and all parties involved seem interested in maintaining the marriage.

Reilly Smith, left winger - Acquired via a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in June, Smith started out well on the second line skating alongside Evgeni Malkin and posted 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his first 10 games. But that production waned and Smith eventually found himself on the third line. Skating with Eller and Puustinen, he found ways to contribute in that deployment. But given his history and salary cap hit ($5 million), it’s difficult to see management sated by utilizing him in a third-line role.

Radim Zohorna, right winger – An intriguing project when the Penguins plucked him out of Czechia in 2020, Zohorna returned to the nest as a free agent signing and seemed poised to claim steady work at the NHL level after a strong 2023 preseason. After some early success on the third line with Eller and O’Connor in October, Zohorna never really sustained that momentum and wound up spending most of the campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He is a pending unrestricted free agent.