The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting ready to head into a busy offseason. Pittsburgh will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row, and general manager Kyle Dubas will be working hard this summer to try and prevent a fourth. The state of the franchise was not exactly great when Dubas took over in June 2023, but he has done a good job of setting the team up for the future. The Penguins have 30 picks over the next three drafts and a pretty good prospect pool. With the NCAA hockey season coming to a close, Dubas is no doubt keeping an eye on the collegiate free agent market. Here are some players Pittsburgh should be targeting. Riley Thompson, C, Ohio State Riley Thompson just finished his sophomore season at Ohio State and got himself noticed by more than a few NHL clubs. He’s a 6-foot-4, 215-pound center who scored 17 goals in 40 games this season. He has a good two-way game and he plays well off the puck. He is a dynamic player who will definitely add value to an NHL roster one day. Even if he chooses to remain a Buckeye for another season, the Penguins should keep a close eye on him. C.J. Foley, D, Dartmouth C.J. Foley is a dynamic blueliner who was eighth overall in NCAA scoring amongst defensemen this season. He also led his team in points with 30 in 33 games. He was unanimously selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s (ECAC) first-team all-conference. At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, he is a bit undersized for a defenseman, but what he lacks in size he makes up for with his skill and production. Foley is also a smooth skater with good offensive instincts. He definitely still needs some work in a few key areas, including his defensive play in front of the net. Having defensive depth is never a bad thing, so the Penguins should have him on their radar. Jack Stockfish, C, Holy Cross Jack Stockfish just completed his sophomore season at Holy Cross and gained some attention in the process. He played in 36 games this season and had 15 goals and 12 assists. He blocked 24 shots this season which was the fourth-most among forwards on his team. Jack Stockfish, Holy Cross (Photo credit: Rob Branning) Stockfish is a skilled, physical player, and at 6-foot-4, he could add scoring depth to a lineup. He is also good in the faceoff circle, winning 393 faceoffs with the Crusaders this season finishing with a 56.7 win percentage. At 22 years old, he has a bit more developing to do, however, he has the potential to turn into a special player. Dubas Preparing For the Future Dubas has been clear on his plans to make Pittsburgh a younger team from the start. That is not something that was going to happen overnight, and he has done a good job of beefing up the Penguins’ farm system. On April 1, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed forward Nolan Renwick to an amateur tryout contract. His first game with Wilkes-Barre was on April 4, and his first goal came on April 12 against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Related: Erik Karlsson Scores 200th Career Goal in Penguins Win Over Blackhawks Renwick just finished his fourth year at the University of Maine playing in 38 games and scoring nine goals for 24 points. At 24 years old, he definitely has the potential to be an important part of the Penguins’ future. In a perfect world, the Penguins will get back to being a Stanley Cup contender before Sidney Crosby retires. That is no doubt Dubas’ goal, and if he wants to make it a reality, this will be a critical offseason for Pittsburgh.