The Pittsburgh Penguins risk losing former first round pick for nothing

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Andrew Loftus
October 6, 2022 (9:52)

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The Pittsburgh Penguins informed all NHL clubs that defenseman Pierre-Oliver Joseph is on the trading block. The former twenty third overall pick in 2017 has spent most of his career in the American Hockey League in Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Joseph was part of the return for sending Phil Kessel to Arizona.

https://www.pensburgh.com/2022/10/3/23385763/pens-risk-of-losing-a-defensemen-have-offered-p-o-joseph-in-trade-waivers-penguins-nhl-roster-moves

Joseph has not seized the opportunity to take ahold of a full-time position on Pittsburgh's back end. Now with nine defenders currently skating with the club in preseason someone has to go and it appears it could be Joseph. Since offering Joseph to the entire NHL, it seems like most teams did not want to pay what Pittsburgh was asking. That might seem a little surprising because there are always NHL clubs looking for an extra defenseman nowadays. Especially with some of the multiple injuries teams are facing on the back end. However, most NHL clubs realize Pittsburgh will have to put someone on waivers. Why give away an asset when you might put in a waiver claim and get Joseph or another defender for free? That's the tough part for Pittsburgh and it looks like that is the strategy of the rest of the NHL teams.

Based on the veterans Pittsburgh has on defense it wouldn't be surprising to see Joseph head towards waivers. Letang, Petry, Smith, Ruuta, Dumoulin, Pettersson, and Ruhwedel gives Pittsburgh seven defenseman already. The good news for Joseph is that NHL clubs are usually willing to take a risk on former first round pick. It wouldn't be surprising to see Joseph claimed on waivers and given a fresh start with a new organization who needs help on defense. Time is starting to run out on Joseph who needs to make the most of his opportunities to make it full time on an NHL club.