One of the biggest needs this offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins is to add depth at the forward position, as well as another top six forward to play alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Before Jim Rutherford even had to decide how to go about acquiring more help, he got back an interesting and familiar option that potentially could do both – Pascal Dupuis.
After discovering he had a blood clot in his lung, his hockey career was believed to be over and at 35 years old it wouldn’t have been a shock if that was the last anybody saw of Dupuis on the ice.
But today the Penguins announced that indeed the right winger has been cleared to play in the upcoming season.
Pascal Dupuis Medically Cleared To Play Next Season
“The blood clot has dissolved and the doctors have recommended a blood thinner that will allow him to play,” said Rutherford in a press conference today. “It’s a big step forward for Pascal and we’re all excited for him.”
Playing alongside Crosby, Dupuis’ offensive game exploded to a tune of 45 goals in a span of 130 games across two seasons. Originally acquired as a ‘throw-in’ to the Marian Hossa trade, Dupuis has found a home in Pittsburgh and his impact was felt just as much off the ice as it was on.
“The locker-room stuff is where you really miss him – the guy on the plane and hanging out at dinners, making fun of situations where we’re not feeling as confident as we need to as a group,” said Chris Kunitz in a Sporting News article. “I think that’s the friendship part of what Duper brings to the team – the leadership group.”
But the last two seasons has been far from memorable for the now 36 year old Dupuis. Two years ago, he suffered a torn ACL and missed the rest of the season after just playing in 39 games. He scored 20 points (7 G, 13 A) during that span.
Last year he only played in 16 games he was forced out of action, where the blood clot was eventually found.
Getting Dupuis back is huge for the Penguins, even if they don’t get back the scoring ability that he had in the last healthy stretch of his career.
At this point, due to his age and recent string of injuries, you would have to be legitimately concerned about his greatest asset – his speed. But throughout his career, especially in his time in Pittsburgh, Dupuis has shown the ability to occupy whatever role it is that was asked of him. Whether it was top six scorer, or focus on defense in a checking role, he succeeded at it.
If there was any player that would be able to adapt, it would be him.
As the Penguins continue to look externally for another top six option, it would almost be a certainty that Dupuis is destined for a less role on the third line – but no matter where what will matter most for Pittsburgh is the fact he back on the ice, where he belongs.
