Penguins Prepare For A Fire Sale After Failed Season
General manager Kyle Dubas took some big swings during his first offseason with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dubas added Stanley Cup winner Reilly Smith and former Norris trophy winning defenceman Erik Karlsson to the franchises' aging roster as they looked to go on another Stanley Cup run.
Fast forward the calendar to March, Pittsburgh appear to be sellers ahead of Friday's trade deadline. The Penguins sit ten points out of the final Wild Card position with a record of 27-24-8.
Pittsburgh's biggest trade chip is pending pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel. TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun reports he's "hearing there's six-plus legit suitors for Guentzel" with the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks among the interested teams. LeBrun adds Pittsburgh is "exploring all options with view to bolster the club for the future."
Guentzel has been producing at close to a point per game pace for most of his career and he has carried that performance into his contract year. He has scored 22 goals and 52 points in 50 games this season. The 29 year old carries a cap hit of $6M.
Guentzel is the top name on the list but Pittsburgh does have some interesting trade chips throughout the roster. Forward Jeff Carter is a pending UFA this summer as well as goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. Winger Reilly Smith is another name that has been floating around the rumour mil. Smith carries a $5M cap hit until the end of the 2024-25 season.
There is no doubt Pittsburgh will be active in the trade market the next few days with the emphasis on selling after a disaster season.
| POLL | ||
Which team has been the biggest disappointment this season? | ||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 84 | 29.8 % |
| New Jersey Devils | 95 | 33.7 % |
| Seattle Kraken | 14 | 5 % |
| Ottawa Senators | 89 | 31.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
