5. Fix the Fourth Line
The Pittsburgh Penguins fourth line was horrific this season. It featured a revolving door of players, including Matt Cullen, Riley Sheahan, and Garrett Wilson. But once Teddy Blueger got called up, it got a bit better.
On paper, his 48.72% expected goals share doesn’t look good. But when you consider Blueger spent a good portion of his limited minutes playing with the likes of Cullen and Wilson, it’s not too shabby.
He will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Penguins have no reason to get rid of him. Blueger is at worst an extremely competent depth forward who can produce in the AHL. He could be even more.
Short-term, Blueger should at least be the Penguins fourth-line center next season. If Pittsburgh can surround him with the right guys, he has what it takes to lead a line. Long-term, Blueger could be a third-line center.
He represents the guys the Penguins should be going with. The kind of players the Pens won back-to-back Stanley Cups with. Blueger gave the Penguins bottom six a nice boost last year in limited minutes. It’s time for him to get more minutes because he could be their answer for their fourth forward line.