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5 Free Agents the Pittsburgh Penguins Must Target This Offseason

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Bruce Bennett - Getty Images

5 Free Agents the Pittsburgh Penguins Must Target This Offseason

Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks
Bruce Bennett - Getty Images

This isn't as good a year for free-agent shopping as next year will be, or at least, as far as the Penguins are concerned, not a good year for budget shopping. If they want to do the feel-good thing, they'll make a hard push for restricted FA and native son Brandon Saad. Doing the responsible thing, however, would make a lot more economic sense.

As they try to build a better future, here are five other options the Pens should explore instead.

5. Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings

Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings
Dave Sandford - Getty Images

5. Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings

Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings
Dave Sandford - Getty Images

Although this would fly in the face of the Penguins' need to get younger, it would help meet their need for forwards who have proven they can perform in high-leverage situations.

This winter, it became semi-popular to toss Williams' name around in trade rumors involving Paul Martin. The Pens will soon rid themselves of salary, including Martin's, anyway. Using a chunk of that to lure the erstwhile playoff MVP would be an immediate upgrade.

4. J.T. Miller, New York Rangers

J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
Jared Silber - Getty Images

4. J.T. Miller, New York Rangers

J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
Jared Silber - Getty Images

If the Pens want to respect for local talent without taking leave of what sporadically good judgment their front office has shown, they could send an offer sheet to Miller, a restricted FA bound to be much cheaper than Saad.

The odds of the Rangers letting such a player slip away to a division rival generally aren't good. But the Pens saw in the playoffs what Miller can do, and with his whole career in front of him, he'd be a noble pursuit.

3. Blake Comeau, Penguins

Blake Comeau, Pittsburgh Penguins
Joe Sargent - Getty Images

3. Blake Comeau, Penguins

Blake Comeau, Pittsburgh Penguins
Joe Sargent - Getty Images

It's just as important for the Pens to take care of the players who have taken care of them as it is to make splashy moves of any kind. If they're serious about finding players who can bolster Evgeni Malkin's productivity, why not re-sign someone who was already a fixture on his line?

Despite a wrist injury that prevented him from enjoying a career year, Comeau proved to be a nice get by general manager Jim Rutherford in 2014-15.

2. David Booth, Toronto Maple Leafs

David Booth, Toronto Maple Leafs
Graig Abel - Getty Images

2. David Booth, Toronto Maple Leafs

David Booth, Toronto Maple Leafs
Graig Abel - Getty Images

His price tag is small, and one can only imagine how big his desire might be to leave the dysfunctional Leafs, even after their bold hire of Mike Babcock.

As is the case with Williams, being on the wrong side of 30 is a concern, as is his coming off an injurious season. As a secondary scorer and occasional veteran power play aide, however, he couldn't do much worse than what Pens coach Mike Johnston has had to work with.

1. None of the Above

Pittsburgh Penguins, Jim Rutherford
Dave Sandford - Getty Images

1. None of the Above

Pittsburgh Penguins, Jim Rutherford
Dave Sandford - Getty Images

Don't be surprised if the biggest move(s) the Penguins make this summer is made in the form of a draft-day trade. Third-line center Brandon Sutter's days are rumored to be numbered, and Rutherford has already gone on record saying the Pens would examine trade possibilities this offseason.

Dealing Sutter, among others, could give Pittsburgh some of the offensive help it needs, lessening its need to explore the 2015 free-agent market.

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