We interrupt your regularly scheduled Phil Kessel trade watch 2k19 to change gears and talk something new. Namely, the restricted free agents this summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Pens have three restricted free agents of note: forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Teddy Blueger to go along with defenseman Marcus Pettersson. Down the list, they also have Adam Johnson and Juuso Riikola among a couple lesser minor league impending RFA’s.
As a very basic and general reminder: in hockey the teams have control over their players until age 27, typically. So the younger players for a club are only “restricted” free agents, meaning teams can keep their rights by extending a qualifying offer.