Dec 23, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (73) handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Pittsburgh Penguins Ryan Shea & Pierre-Olivier Joseph Sidelined Week-to-Week

Pittsburgh loses key defensemen Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph to injuries, leaving gaps in the lineup as they push through the season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are dealing with more injury troubles on their blue line, as defensemen Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are now sidelined week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Head coach Mike Sullivan shared the update on Shea Tuesday morning, while the team also confirmed Joseph’s condition has worsened, keeping him out for an extended period.

Shea, had been finding his rhythm in the lineup, logging a career-high 24:18 of ice time in Pittsburgh’s recent win over the Minnesota Wild. His role had expanded significantly after the 4 Nations break, earning him regular minutes after spending much of the season as a healthy scratch. Over his last eight games, he averaged over 21 minutes per night and even notched his first career two-goal game against the Rangers. His strong play recently earned him a one-year, $900K contract extension, securing his spot in Pittsburgh for another season. Unfortunately, he now joins the growing list of injured Penguins.

Penguins’ Ryan Shea, Pierre-Olivier Joseph Out Week-To-Weekhttps://t.co/0hnk0Ht5ti
— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) March 11, 2025

Joseph, on the other hand, has been struggling to make an impact since returning to Pittsburgh from the St. Louis Blues in December. In 24 games, he managed just one assist and a rough -15 rating before suffering his upper-body injury. Initially considered day-to-day, his condition has worsened, and he is expected to miss several more games. With his contract set to expire, his future with the Penguins remains uncertain.

The Penguins, already thin on defensive depth, recalled Sebastian Aho from the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to help fill the void. He will serve as an extra skater, while Ryan Graves is expected to return to the lineup against the Vegas Golden Knights. With key defenders missing, Pittsburgh will need to rely on its remaining blue-liners to step up as they continue their playoff push.

Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Pittsburgh Penguins

Ryan Shea

Anamika Shrivastava

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