In a reunion I don’t think anyone saw coming, the Penguins have re-acquired defenseman P.O. Joseph from the St. Louis Blues.

Going back to the Gateway to the West is the well-traveled future considerations, which is sure to get any Blues fan up out of their seats.

With Marcus Pettersson now on Injured Reserve, the Penguins were in need of some extra depth to shore up their blue line. Joseph, now in his second tour with the Penguins, will serve as reinforcements on their back end.

Joseph was first acquired by the Penguins back in the summer of 2018, when the Penguins traded Phil Kessel and two other assets to Arizona in exchange for Alex Galchekyuk and Joseph.

At the time, Joseph was only a year removed from being a first round pick by the Coyotes, who were high on his abilities when they took him 23rd overall.

Joseph made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season, getting a chance to shine during a season where the Penguins’ blue line was riddled with injuries. He played 16 games that season, and fought to establish himself more in the NHL as the seasons went along.

Two years later, he would play a career high 75 games in 2022-23, putting up a career best 21 points and +8 mark.

Last season, Joseph was stuck in a depth role for the Penguins, getting into 52 games but struggled to hold down the fort in his own end. At season’s end, Joseph was a restricted free agent, but the Penguins opted not to give him a qualifying offer, allowing him to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1st.

He signed with St. Louis in the offseason, joining his brother Mathieu, who also signed with the Blues that summer. In 23 games for the Blues this season, Joseph has recorded a pair of assists and a -7 while averaging 13:06 a night.

It’s not a flashy move by any means, but it makes a lot of sense why the Penguins would do it. Getting him basically for free, Joseph is someone who knows the organization and knows the team well.

The Penguins don’t have a ton of other options within their organization. Jack St. Ivany and Sebastian Aho, two defenders with past NHL experience currently playing for their AHL team, are currently injured.

Prior to last night’s game against the LA Kings, the team had recalled defenseman Nathan Clurman from their AHL affiliate. Clurman, 26, was suddenly rocketed up the minor league depth chart due to the string of injuries at the AHL level.

So despite letting Joseph walk last summer, Kyle Dubas probably has more faith in him, who has 170 career NHL games under his belt, than Clurman, who has no NHL résumé to his name.

(Featured photo by Justin K. Aller/NHLI via Getty Images)