3 players the Penguins wish they could have back

No matter how the season usually goes, whether a team is buying because they are contending for the Stanley Cup or if they are selling because they are nowhere close to contention and need to improve their farm system, teams will always regret getting rid of players.

For the Penguins, they have gotten rid of certain players over the years because for 16 straight years they contended for the Stanley Cup and won it three times. Players went in and out the door and some of those players, the team seriously regrets letting go with each passing season.

Who are these players? Well let's dive into that shall we?

Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal

Going back quite a bit, every Penguins fan remembers Jordan Staal. Every Penguins fan remembers the contributions he made back around the 2010s or so when he was in his prime.

He was part of the 2009 Penguins Stanley Cup winning team and rightfully so, as he played a big role in helping the team go all the way and defeat Detroit in 7 games in the Cup Final that year.

At the 2012 NHL Draft, Staal was traded to the Hurricanes and it ended his era in Pittsburgh. It was said that the Penguins offered Staal a 10-year contract before the draft and rejected it. The Penguins miss him as he is part of a stingy defensive Hurricanes team that knows how to play and defend.

Winnipeg Jets winger Brandon Tanev

This guy is also one that the Penguins seriously miss as he was a crucial part of the Penguins forechecking fourth-line for a couple years.

Him, Teddy Blueger, and Zach Aston-Reese made a killer fourth line as each of them forechecked well and understood their role, and understood where to be on the ice at all times.

Tanev will be remembered most for his playoff goal against the New York Islanders in Game 3 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round as his rebound was the game winner as the Penguins took a 2-1 series lead.

Florida Panthers winger Evan Rodrigues

Last but not least, lets talk about ERod. Penguins fans loved this guy and still do as they continue to watch him win games in the playoffs with the Florida Panthers.

It can be said and inferred that former general manager Ron Hextall regrets not resigning Rodrigues when he was a free agent. Rodrigues seems to be one of the ones that got away and rightfully so as Penguins fans still miss him today.

His goal in game 7 against the Rangers will never be forgotten and will always be legendary.