3 Penguins Defensemen That Could Be Given A Chance While Team Deals With Injuries

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been hit pretty hard by injuries as of late and have to continue calling players up. On defense, they have a very inexperienced duo in Ryan Shea and John Ludvig, but there are three arguably better options in their AHL they can put in the lineup for the time being to help the team win.

The first is Ty Smith who has never really been given a chance since being acquired from the New Jersey Devils before last season. At 20 years old, the defenseman finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting and produced seven goals and 43 points in 114 games in New Jersey. He got to play in only nine games for the Penguins all of last season and scored one goal and four points. Instead, he was stuck in the minors and recorded seven goals and 24 points in 39 games. He is more than NHL ready and can provide scoring from the third pairing. He can also be seen as a future piece on the team that is going to waste at the moment.

The second option is a defender acquired earlier this season in Jack Rathbone. He couldn't stick around in Vancouver even though he has the skill. The Canucks traded for Mark Friedman, a more established NHL defenseman that can play a role, for Rathbone. The 24-year-old has only played in 28 NHL games spread across three seasons, but is another player that could be a good piece for the Penguins soon. He is no stranger to producing offense and could be seen as an option for the left side of the third pairing right now with the open space.

The third and final good option for the Penguins is Dmitry Samorukov. He was just recently added to the roster after being signed by the Penguins. The 24-year-old former third round pick has been limited to just three NHL games and not a lot of ice time. He was a strong prospect two seasons ago for the Oilers and was deserving of the call-up, only to have them do him dirty and sit him for the entire game after two mistakes. He's played 15 games for the Penguins' AHL team this season and his play has warranted the first opportunity of the three names mentioned.