Without sounding like a broken record, everyone knows the Pittsburgh Penguins have the oldest lineup in the NHL.
Regarding the ages of the current defenseman on the roster, Kris Letang is the elder statesman at 37, with Erik Karlsson (34) and Matt Grzelcyk (30) the other members of the 30-plus club.
Ryan Graves is 29, Marcus Pettersson and Sebastian Aho are 28, and John Ludvig is the youngest NHL-ready defender on the payroll at 23.
Although it is safe to say the Penguins’ top four 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 prospect could have an outstanding camp and earn a spot.
However, injuries and sub-par play are almost certain during an NHL season, so Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas should always be looking for reinforcements.
One of those potential players could be Anaheim Ducks defenseman Gustav Lindström, a restricted free agent who has not been offered an extension.
Ultimately, this means the 25-year-old Swedish defenseman is available, and the asking price would be relatively low, considering he’s coming off a contract that paid him $950,000.
Last year, Lindström split time between the Montreal Canadiens and Ducks, collecting 10 points in 46 games and finishing the campaign plus-12, which is impressive considering he played on two of the league’s bottom teams.
In five seasons, he’s scored five goals and 35 points. Lindström started his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 2019-20.
Heading into the summer of 2025, the Penguins could lose Pettersson, Grzelcyk, and Ludvig. Considering the club signed Aho to a league minimum of $775,000, there is room on the books for Lindström.
Of course, he’s not going to come into town and steal a top-four role, but throughout his career, he’s averaged over 15 minutes a night and isn’t a defensive liability like some other options still available on the market.
If you browse social media today, you’ll learn that some suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs consider acquiring him. If Lindström is coming back to the Eastern Conference, why shouldn’t the Penguins take a chance on him?
