The Penguins had a direct message for Ryan Shea during his exit interview in April.

Shea had been unable to break through with his first team, the Dallas Stars, and it was not until the age of 26 that he made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh. As his two years in Pittsburgh played out, Shea had carved out a nice, little role on the team.

But change was coming this offseason, and they wanted Shea to be prepared for it.

“They told me to have the confidence and the mind space that I shouldn’t just try to be the seventh D-man,” Shea said. “ ‘Don’t think that’s your ceiling. Go for more.’ ”

Shea had always thought he was capable of more in this league, especially after his brief stint alongside Kris Letang last winter. But hearing that from Kyle Dubas, Mike Sullivan and other Penguins brass in

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