Without sounding like a broken record, everyone knows the Pittsburgh Penguins has the oldest roster in the NHL.
Regarding the age of the current defender on the squad, Kris Letang is the elder statesman at 37, with Erik Karlsson (34) and Matt Grzelcyk (30) the other members of the club over 30.
Ryan Graves is 29, Marcus Pettersson and Sebastian Aho are 28, and John Ludvig is the youngest NHL-ready defenseman on the payroll at 23.
While it’s safe to say the Penguins’ top four seeds are set in stone heading into training camp, there will be battles for the final two spots on the third pairing, and of course, a potential contender could have an excellent field and earn a spot.
However, injuries and subpar play are almost certain during an NHL season, so Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas must always be on the lookout for reinforcements.
One of those potential players could be the Anaheim Ducks defenseman Gustav Lindstroma restricted free agent who was not offered an extension.
Ultimately, this means the 25-year-old Swedish defenseman is available, and the asking price would be relatively low considering he is getting out of a contract that paid him $950,000.
Last year, Lindström split time between the Montreal Canadiens and Ducks, recording 10 points in 46 games and finishing the campaign with 12 more, which is impressive considering he played for two of the league’s bottom teams.
In five seasons, he scored five goals and 35 points. Lindström began his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 2019-20.
In the summer of 2025, the Penguins could lose Pettersson, Grzelcyk and Ludvig. Considering the club signed Aho at a league-minimum $775,000, there is room for Lindström.
Of course, he’s not going to come to town and steal a top-four spot, but over the course of his career, he’s averaged over 15 minutes a night and isn’t as much of a defensive liability as some other options still available on the market. .
If you browse social media today, you will learn that some suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs are considering acquiring him. If Lindström is returning to the Eastern Conference, why shouldn’t the Penguins give him a chance?
