The defence group of the 2024-25 Pittsburgh Penguins was dreadful, leading to a bottom-ten finish overall in the league. Unfortunately, the 2025-26 group, so far, doesn’t look much better. In a draft year with highly-touted prospect Gavin McKenna sitting at the top, the Penguins have established the intention to get worse. This isn’t just evident in the moves they’ve made so far. General manager Kyle Dubas has reportedly been in talks with teams on an Erik Karlsson trade, dating back to the 2025 trade deadline. An Erik Karlsson trade would serve to make this anemic defence even worse. Even without the move, the acquisitions so far highlight the ethos of the Penguins this year.
Conor Timmins for Connor Clifton
Pittsburgh made a significant trade for their blueline on the second day of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. They moved defenceman Conor Timmins to the Buffalo Sabres. In exchange, they received pick #39, alongside defenceman Connor Clifton. The Penguins acquired Conor Timmins from the Toronto Maple Leafs just months earlier, along with Connor Dewar, in exchange for a fifth-round pick. A former second-round pick, Timmins showed a ton of promise in his limited time with the Penguins. He scored a goal and seven points in 16 games, acting as a significant contributor during the team’s best stretch of the season. At 26 years old, Timmins exists in a weird space for the team. Too old to establish himself as a top-four stalwart. Yet, he’s too young and inexperienced to act as a mentor to the next generation. As such, the Penguins traded him for Connor Clifton and a pick.
Connor Clifton has an extensive history in the NHL. The 30-year-old right-shot defenceman is entering his eighth season in the NHL. He’s appeared in 384 games with the Sabres and Bruins. As a primarily defensive defenceman, his 77 points aren’t eye-popping. However, his tenacity and skill as a shutdown defenceman are evident. As the roster is currently constructed, Clifton slots behind Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang on the right side. He’s on the final year of a three-year contract with a $3,333,333 average annual value, making him a potential trade asset at the deadline. Clifton will likely receive favourable minutes and matchups in Pittsburgh to show his skills off for potential suitors as the season goes along.
Adding Size in Parker Wotherspoon
Left-shot defenceman Parker Wotherspoon signed a two-year contract at a $1M AAV with Pittsburgh. The 6’1″ defenceman has played in three NHL seasons, suiting up in 108 games with the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders. A former fourth-round pick, he scored one goal and seven points through 55 games with Boston last season. Wotherspoon’s addition to the lineup helps insulate younger defencemen like Owen Pickering as they make their way into the NHL. On a low-value, two-year contract, the veteran defenceman will be a solid presence without adding too much on-ice for a team looking to finish low in the standings.
An Intriguing Skill Signing and Alexander Alexeyev
Former first-round pick of the rival Washington Capitals, Alexander Alexeyev, signed a one-year deal with the Penguins at an AAV of just $775k. Picked 31st overall in 2018, Alexeyev has struggled to translate his offensive game to the NHL. Over four seasons with Washington, he’s played 80 games, recording just one goal and eight points. There aren’t many expectations on Alexeyev, as with Wotherspoon, he will be looked at more as a veteran insulator for the younger prospects than a player that has to produce for a contending team. A change of scenery could end up being good for the former first-round pick, as a season with improvement in his production could boost his value into a trade deadline asset.
An Anemic Defence for a Rebuilding Penguins Squad
The defence group of the Pittsburgh Penguins is dreadful on paper. Struggling veterans Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang surround themselves with projects like Alexeyev and prospects like Owen Pickering. Many of general manager Dubas’ moves have followed an ethos of getting bigger, younger, and worse. The additions of Clifton, Wotherspoon and Alexeyev makes finishing bottom ten in the league far easier. The potential gains from these moves, both from trades and a worse finish in the standings, could help transform this struggling franchise into a contender once again.
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images
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