This is the third part of a 30-part series taking a look at the seasons of players who spent significant time on the Penguins' NHL roster this season, presented in numerical order.
RYAN SHEA Position: Defense Age: 29 NHL stats: 6 goals, 29 assists, 80 games Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Ryan Shea entered this season looking like organizational depth on the blue line -- probably no better than a third-pairing defenseman, barring injuries ahead of him.
He finished the year playing 80 games, averaging nearly 19 minutes a night and establishing himself as one of the Penguins' more reliable defensemen, capable of playing top-four minutes.
The offensive production was perhaps the biggest surprise. Shea finished with six goals and 35 points after entering the year with just 13 career NHL points.
Shea killed penalties, averaging the second-most shorthanded minutes of their defensemen per game, just narrowly edged out by Parker Wotherspoon for the lead. Of the defensemen who spent the full season with the Penguins, Shea finished as the leader in percentage of on-ice goals for vs. against, at 58.33%. He fared well in a second-pairing role with Kris Letang, turning into a stabilizing presence on that pair.
The Penguins needed somebody capable of playing steady third-pairing minutes and chipping in offensively without becoming a problem defensively. Shea gave them that, and he didn't look out of place in an elevated role when on the second pair.
Shea is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, surely due a raise on his previous $900,000 cap hit. He's been clear about wanting to return. But also, at 29 years old, he's not quite in the mold of what the Penguins are looking for -- mid-20s players who could be here for years to come.
With the cap space the Penguins have, paying him isn't the issue. And looking at the unrestricted free agent market, he might legitimately be the best option available under 30 years old.
Kyle Dubas made clear on Tuesday that he plans on exploring trades to add the younger players the Penguins need. If the Penguins don't re-sign Shea, it's because they were able to fill his role with a younger player in a trade, ideally with more upside.
THE ASYLUM
Season review: Re-sign Shea?
This is the third part of a 30-part series taking a look at the seasons of players who spent significant time on the Penguins' NHL roster this season, presented in numerical order.
RYAN SHEA
Position: Defense
Age: 29
NHL stats: 6 goals, 29 assists, 80 games
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Ryan Shea entered this season looking like organizational depth on the blue line -- probably no better than a third-pairing defenseman, barring injuries ahead of him.
He finished the year playing 80 games, averaging nearly 19 minutes a night and establishing himself as one of the Penguins' more reliable defensemen, capable of playing top-four minutes.
The offensive production was perhaps the biggest surprise. Shea finished with six goals and 35 points after entering the year with just 13 career NHL points.
Shea killed penalties, averaging the second-most shorthanded minutes of their defensemen per game, just narrowly edged out by Parker Wotherspoon for the lead. Of the defensemen who spent the full season with the Penguins, Shea finished as the leader in percentage of on-ice goals for vs. against, at 58.33%. He fared well in a second-pairing role with Kris Letang, turning into a stabilizing presence on that pair.
The Penguins needed somebody capable of playing steady third-pairing minutes and chipping in offensively without becoming a problem defensively. Shea gave them that, and he didn't look out of place in an elevated role when on the second pair.
Shea is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, surely due a raise on his previous $900,000 cap hit. He's been clear about wanting to return. But also, at 29 years old, he's not quite in the mold of what the Penguins are looking for -- mid-20s players who could be here for years to come.
With the cap space the Penguins have, paying him isn't the issue. And looking at the unrestricted free agent market, he might legitimately be the best option available under 30 years old.
Kyle Dubas made clear on Tuesday that he plans on exploring trades to add the younger players the Penguins need. If the Penguins don't re-sign Shea, it's because they were able to fill his role with a younger player in a trade, ideally with more upside.
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