PITTSBURGH — Examined individually, there's nothing that jumps off the page when it comes to the Penguins' moves this offseason to revamp their bottom-six or depth-forward spots.

At least not within the context of an Erik Karlsson trade or contract extensions for Tristan Jarry (last year) and Sidney Crosby (TBD?).

But when you step back and analyze what president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has done, it makes sense. There have been some important ingredients added.

Trading Brayden Yeager to Winnipeg for Rutger McGroarty on Thursday stands out the most, with Dubas bringing to Pittsburgh the exact player the Penguins have lacked. But it's bigger than the 20-year-old (now officially former) Michigan Wolverine.

Vanilla and largely unproductive for too much of the 2023-24 season, the Penguins suddenly have some important elements within their bottom-six: scoring depth, grit and a defensive conscience often needed to balance out Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and others.

Has Dubas done enough? We'll see. He's also been in a tough spot. However, there's good logic behind adding Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier, Blake Lizotte, Cody Glass and McGroarty.

A few of Dubas' moves also netted additional draft picks, a team-building element that cannot be overlooked. It's also interesting that four are first-round picks: Hayes 24th overall in 2010, Beauvillier 28th in 2015, Glass sixth in 2017 and McGroarty 14th in 2022.

Think they might have something to prove?

Hayes became a salary dump for the second straight year in July. Yet in 2022-23, Hayes was an All-Star with the Flyers, contributing 18 goals and a career-high 54 points in 81 games.

For a few reasons, Hayes never fit with the Blues and now finds himself in Pittsburgh around a bunch of others with Boston ties — Fenway Sports Group, coach Mike Sullivan, assistant coach David Quinn, Matt Grzelcyk and others.

Doesn't mean it will work out, but Hayes should be an on-ice upgrade over many of the randoms the Penguins used on their fourth line last season.

The same with Beauvillier, who actually wasn't bad with the Islanders. Beauvillier averaged 19 goals per season from 2017-20 and potted 18 two years ago when he was traded to Vancouver.

Last season, of course, was a hot mess for Beauvillier, who bounced between the Canucks, Blackhawks and Predators, playing poorly and never finding a role or fit. But does that mean his career is over at age 27? Likely not.

Beauvillier adds left-wing depth, something the Penguins have lacked. Hayes, same deal, though the Penguins would be smart to deploy him as their fourth-line center beneath Lars Eller on the depth chart.

Similar to Beauvillier, who's been a pesky forechecker at various points in his career, Lizotte brings an energy or nuisance element the Penguins have lacked.

Michael Bunting did this well when he arrived last season, creating space for Malkin with his puck pursuit and willingness to assert himself. Lizotte did that consistently for the Kings while also playing a defensively responsible game.

In addition to tallying 28 goals over the past three seasons, Lizotte accumulated a plus-37 rating.

"I can kind of give a heartbeat or some life to games," Lizotte said recently. "I think that's what I do well."

How many times last season, at least until their final push, did it seem like the Penguins could've really used a heartbeat?

There's similar stuff to like about Cody Glass, who endured a difficult 2023-24 season ... but also one pockmarked with understandable issues.

At first, left knee and shoulder issues kept Glass out of the lineup. It snowballed to include some mental health problems that have plagued Glass in the past.

The Penguins spare no expense when it comes to resources dedicated to such things. Many believe there's a sizable (6-3, 206) and skilled player in there somewhere, one who was not only taken very early in the draft but produced 14 goals and 35 points in 72 games in 2022-23.

Nobody expects Glass to carry the offense himself. The Penguins simply need him to blend in, maybe add some on special teams and score from time to time.

It's been a low bar to clear recently, which takes me to McGroarty, a player who could be the best of the bunch and someone who's more of a top-six type long-term.

Rutger was productive in college with the Wolverines, scoring 34 goals and accumulating 91 points over 75 games the past two seasons. He's also a physical power forward, a type the Penguins haven't really had since ... maybe Patric Hornqvist.

Hornqvist is a tough comparison, but we're talking about someone with size (6-0, 205), the desire to play physical and leadership qualities that led to McGroarty captaining Team USA at the most recent World Junior Championship.

It would've been a stretch for Yeager to impact the NHL club this season. McGroarty will almost assuredly be there on opening night.

Examine the Penguins' depth chart — beyond Crosby, Bryan Rust, Drew O'Connor, Malkin, Bunting and Rickard Rakell — and there are seemingly more attractive options, guys who can play center or wing and young players such as Sam Poulin, Vasily Ponomarev or Valtteri Puustinen challenging for time.

No, it's not Nick Bonino, Matt Cullen and Carl Hagelin. There's a reason that group won the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years. But it's worth acknowledging that Dubas has given this group a distinctive direction while smartly matching available ice time with players who have plenty to prove.

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