Penguins A to Z: Zach Aston-Reese has value, it's just limited

With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is looking at all 49 players currently under NHL contracts to the organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.

Zach Aston-Reese

Position: Left winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 26

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 204 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: 45 games, 15 points (nine goals, six assists)

Contract: Second year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $1 million. Pending restricted free agent this offseason.

Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent, March 14, 2017

2020-21 season: It would not be accurate to say Zach Aston-Reese’s campaign did not start off well.

That’s because it didn’t really start at all.

At least not on time.

Thanks to an offseason surgical procedure on his left shoulder in mid-August, Aston-Reese missed the first 11 games of the season while recuperating.

Once he did make his way into the lineup Feb. 11 during a 4-3 road shootout win against the New York Islanders, it was evident the Penguins were getting back a slightly improved version of Aston-Reese.

In the second period of his season debut, Aston-Reese forechecked Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson into a turnover on New York’s end boards then burrowed his way to the crease for a goal:

Freed of the limitations of a damaged shoulder he had tried to fight through for several seasons, Aston-Reese began to show the full extent of his abilities as a power forward that initially appealed to management when he was pursued out of Northeastern University in 2017.

Aston-Reese’s offense saw an obvious boost as he established a career-high for goals in a season shortened by his own malady as well as the pandemic, though it did wane as the season wore on. Only two of his goals came in the final 20 games of the campaign.

At the same time, Aston-Reese remained one of the team’s stouter defensive entities as he was reunited with regular linemates Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev. That trio was routinely deployed against the opposition’s top lines and saw plenty of defensive zone starts, at least before injuries sidelined Blueger and Tanev late in the regular season.

Additionally, Aston-Reese was one of the Penguins’ leading penalty killers, averaging 1:52 of short-handed ice time per game, third-most among the team’s forwards.

In the postseason, Aston-Reese had two points (one goal, one assist) in six games. Defensively, his line routinely drew assignments against the Islanders’ top line of Leo Komarov, Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle, helping to limit that trio one even-strength goal.

The future: The Penguins have relatively few concerns with regards to incumbent players becoming free agents this offseason. Aston-Reese, a pending restricted free agent, is one of them.

Given the league’s salary cap will remain flat at $81.5 million, it’s hard to imagine the Penguins will be willing to devote much more than the $1 million they invested in Aston-Reese for his now expiring contract.

Furthermore, with the looming expansion draft, it’s not likely the Penguins add him to their protected list, nor is it likely the Seattle Kraken will claim him.

Aston-Reese has progressed in the right direction over the past two seasons since he was teamed with Blueger and Tanev. And his momentum gained some steam this past season with a healthy shoulder.

But as a fourth liner, albeit an effective one, his value is limited.

Follow the Penguins all season long.