The All-Star break is over, and in less than two weeks, the trade deadline will here. What actions ought each team to be considering taking, and where does each stand? The Pittsburgh Penguins are the next team in our league tour.
It appeared as though Pittsburgh intended to try again for a lengthy postseason run when Erik Karlsson was acquired over the summer by new Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Nevertheless, things haven’t gone as planned because they currently sit outside of the postseason picture, despite having enough games remaining to quickly regain their position. Because of this, their team’s decision to acquire or sell could be made at the very last minute.
-As part of the Karlsson trade, Pittsburgh can choose to keep their first-round pick this season if it falls among the top ten and send San Jose an unprotected first-round selection in 2025.
Trade Chips
The best player the Penguins have to deal is Jake Guentzel, a winger who may be the best forward available in the next week and a half if they decide to trade. The fact that he is presently on the long-term injured reserve due to an upper-body ailment, even if he should return shortly after the minimum required absence of 10 games and 24 days, does not assist their cause. With 52 points in 50 games thus far, Guentzel leads the team in scoring and is the kind of top-line acquisition that doesn’t come around too frequently at the deadline. The 29-year-old, whose $6MM contract is about to expire, will be looking for a sizable rise on a long-term (or perhaps max-term) deal; wherever he ends up after the cutoff
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic may draw considerable interest whether they sell or buy. After spending a large portion of the previous season in the minors, the 28-year-old has had a fantastic comeback season. His 2.67 GAA,.915 SV%, and $1.5M price tag may be alluring to teams trying to enhance their backup goalie. The Penguins would have some more financial room ($615K pro-rated) if they feel comfortable having veteran Magnus Hellberg as their backup.
While there aren’t any good rental possibilities in Pittsburgh (Jeff Carter probably isn’t moving with a $3.125M price tag and a full no-move clause), there are non-rental veterans like Lars Eller and Noel Acciari who might draw some interest from buyers. They both showed they could arrive late and still make a contribution by moving before last year’s deadline and seeing some success with their new clubs. After this, Eller has one more year at $2.45M, while Acciari has two more at $2M each. These prices shouldn’t be unduly expensive for certain purchasers.
potential Samuel Poulin is someone who sticks out as a potential teams might enquire about if they end up being light buyers. The 23-year-old, who is now sidelined due to injury, is finishing up his rookie contract this season and is enjoying a fantastic season. He will be eligible for waivers the following season, so some NHL teams may be interested in giving him a look in the hopes of moving someone who may support Pittsburgh’s postseason aspirations.
Other Potential Trade Chips: F Joona Koppanen, D Chad Ruhwedel, D Dmitri Samorukov, D Ty Smith
Youth: Dubas made it clear earlier this week that he would like to see this team get younger. He’s not incorrect, given that their average age is 31.3, the oldest in the NHL. Getting younger won’t be an easy or short-term task because the core group is significantly older than the average. However, they can start by moving out a few veterans if they decide to sell, giving players like Poulin a chance, or acquiring a young player in a trade to get them onto the NHL roster. Even though it won’t make a big difference, if they want to sell, they must start someplace.
