Petry - A replacement for Martin or Ehrhoff?

Petry - A replacement for Martin or Ehrhoff?

This summer the Penguins defense will see a lot of work. Martin and Ehrhoff are both unattached free agents. Rob Scuderi has also been one of a few players rumoured to be available for a potential buyout after management agreed it. I don't see that happening but with the likelihood of Martin and Ehrhoff leaving the Penguins will need someone to come in a take one of those roles. As good as the prospects are we need a current top four player to give them more time so they're not rushed.

Jeff Petry is the best available defenceman in my opinion. He was previously on the Edmonton Oilers before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015 for a second round pick and a conditional fifth rounder. Petry is not an openly offensive defensive player, having not scored more than 7 goals in a season. But the Penguins have Letang who is the main point of attack with, if fit, Maatta. Pouliot is also capable of adding offence. 

Petry has an average of 0.25 P/G and a 0.06 G P/G ratio. Petry has been rumoured and involved with many proposed trades with the Penguins before when Letang was struggling. That never materialised but if the Penguins did have any interest this would be their best chance of getting him.

Petry had most of an impact against the Lightning than the Senators in the first round. All his points, 2 goals and an assist came in a 4 game span. Petry is able to handle a top four role as evidenced by his ice-time at 21:15 in the regular season and 22:16 in the playoffs

Looking at the advanced stats we see that Petry had a poor CF% at 42.79% - no doubt attributable to being on a completely terrible Oilers teams for the majority of the season. A more positive stats is his 5-on-5 SV% at .919%. Lastly, Petry was fourth on the Canadiens drawing 0.57 minor penalties per 60 minutes. On the Penguins he would have been placed 6th.

Looking at the above I think his numbers a bit hit and miss and his contract is greater than what he will really be playing like. With a low number of top end defenceman available he will likely be able to command $4.5m+. I don't think the Penguins should entertain an offer like that. He has low production, doesn't draw as many penalties as you would like and has his on ice stats point to other issues.