Pittsburgh Penguins reportedly shopping pair of forwards including former first-round pick

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Cooper Godin
August 18, 2024 (5:35 PM)

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly shopping a pair of forwards including a former first-round pick. Noel Acciari and Lars Eller appear to be available via trade.

This summer, the Pittsburgh Penguins made some additions to their forward group by signing Blake Lizotte and Anthony Beauvillier, while trading for Cody Glass from the Nashville Predators last week.

In order to make room for these new additions next season, Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas will likely need to move out a player or two and in a recent article on Pittsburgh Hockey Now, Dan Kingerski reported that Lars Eller and Noel Acciari are two names that may be on the trade block.

"However, the Penguins have a couple of trade chips whose expandability has grown following the acquisitions of Kevin Hayes and Cody Glass and the signings of Anthony Beauvillier and Blake Lizotte. It would seem that Noel Acciari and Lars Eller could be dealt to acquire more draft picks and clear space for younger players, such as Vasily Ponomarev, to make the leap to the NHL" Kingerski said.

Kingerski went on to mention that Lars Eller may have more value in a trade than Noel Acciari, although the Danish forward likely will go for less than a second-round pick, which the Capitals acquired from Colorado for him back in 2023.

"Eller should have some value, though at 35 years old, it might be a little less than the 2023 NHL trade deadline when the Washington Capitals recouped a 2025 second-round pick." Kingerski said.

Eller, a native of Rodovre, Denmark, appeared in all 82 games for the Penguins last season, putting up 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists), 31 penalty minutes and was a minus-one.

As for Noel Acciari, he saw a very small increase in offensive output last season, but won't wow a team like he did during the 2019-20 season when he had 20 goals for the Florida Panthers. In 55 games for Pittsburgh in 2023-24, the 32-year-old registered seven points (four goals, three assists), ten penalty minutes and was a minus-seven.

It's certainly going to be interesting to keep an eye on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Kyle Dubas over the next month to see what he does with his logjam at the forward position. The Penguins are hoping to remain competitive during the final year of Sidney Crosby's contract and will consider all their options on the trade market to see what type of return they'll be able to get for someone like Lars Eller or Noel Acciari.

Source: Dan Kingerski/Pittsburgh Hockey Now
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