Dec 22nd 2024
The Penguins are on a 7-3-1 in their last 11 games played and were 7-12-3 in their previous 23 games to start the year. They are currently 3 points out of a wildcard spot with 2 games in hand. Ideally the Penguins should be trying to compete while Crosby is still playing elite level hockey but we should still consider the possibility of missing the playoffs for a 3rd strait year.
The Penguins have some quality players that are expiring free agents and could get the pens a good return. During last years trade deadline, the Penguins traded Jake Guentzel which showed Dubas’ intentions in regards to expiring free agents. The Guentzel’s trade helped replenish or flat out revive the Penguins prospect pool.
Trade bait
Marcus Pettersson is the best trade bait that the Penguins have. He’s an elite defensive defenseman with a cap hit of 4 million dollars. The Penguins are already retaining salary on Jeff Petry (1.56mill) and Riley Smith (1.25mill) and so they are unable to retain any more salary for this year. This isn’t a problem considering Pettersson’s cap hit isn’t high but it would have given the Penguins a slightly better return if they could have retained 50%. Considering the trade market for defenseman currently, Pettersson could get the Pens a 1st round pick and a B level type prospect.
Update: Pettersson was traded to Vancouver View More
Trade Market for Defenseman
There have been 2 notable defenseman were traded this year in Trouba and Cam Fowler. Trouba is making 8 million per year until 2025-26 and had 6 points in 24 games for the Rangers before the trade. NY received a 4th round pick and an defenseman Vaakanainan who’s a 3rd pairing Dman. This trade was a cap dump by NY who were simply trying to shed salary.
What’s more interesting to look at is the Fowler trade. He had 4pts in 17 games with ANA who traded him to St-Louis along with a 2027 4th round pick for a 2027 2nd round pick and an ECHL player. The Ducks retained 2.5mill.
Trouba is turning 31 in Feb while Fowler just turned 33 at the start of December. Pettersson is turning 29 in May. He is in his prime with a low cap hit while also having excellent defensive statistics. If Fowler was able to fetch the ducks a 2nd round pick with a 4.5 million cap hit after retained salary. The Penguins could easily get a 1st round pick in return for Pettersson. He had a career high of 30 points last year along with an amazing +28. Currently Pettersson is on pace to break his career high in points. Considering that the Penguins only have 3 current players with a positive +/- (Rakell, Lizotte and Beauvillier) Pettersson’s -4 this year is nothing to be alarmed about. A return for Pettersson can be something a long the lines of a 1st round pick and a B type prospect. The Penguins could get greedy and ask for a conditional 3rd round pick that becomes a 2nd round pick if the team that acquired him wins the cup.
Another trade bait that the Penguins have are Anthony Beauvillier who has 8 goals in 35 games played. He has 11 points in total but with his low cap hit of 1.25mill he could easily fetch the Penguins a 2nd round pick. He is on pace for 19 goals and is known for producing in the playoffs. He had 14 points in 22 games during the 2020 playoffs and 13 points in 19 games during the 2021 playoffs. He could be a good piece to add some depth scoring for a playoff run. He’s a UFA this summer but he’s a good rental with low risk to go for.
Jesse Puljujärvi is another potential trade bait although he has not played recently because he has been a healthy scratch. He has 8 points in 21 games played while only making 800k. Sully is known to not play players he doesn’t like, perhaps what’s currently happening to Jesse Puljujärvi. It’s hard to tell what kind of return the Penguins could get for him since he’s not playing. If he played regularly I would imagine the return to be around a 3rd round pick.
Update (Jan 7th 2025): Puljujärvi was sent down by the pens in an effort to get him picked up by another team. He is back in Pittsburgh tonight and will be in the lineup against CBJ.
Matt Grzeylcyk is another player that is expected to be traded by the trade deadline. Gryz has 27 points in 52 games played a new career high. He is on pace for 42points. I expect the Pens to be able to get a 2nd round pick for him maybe even more. He is a UFA this summer and has a cap hit of 2.75mill. Teams will be looking to add players for the playoffs and Gryz is a puck moving Dman who would be perfect in a 3rd pairing role with the ability to play on the 2nd pairing. His low cap hit also increases his value.
Cody Glass is another player that has potential to be moved. An RFA at the end of the year. He is going to be 26 in April and has a cap hit of 2.5 for the year. The chances that Glass is traded are 50/50. He is still young and is an RFA meaning the Penguins are able to qualify him this offseason and avoid losing him for free. He is having a career low year shooting wise shooting only 5.6% compared to his career average of 9%. On pace for 26 points Glass is a bottom 6 player with a big frame. I don’t expect a crazy return for him but if he were to get traded he would perhaps be moved for a mid round pick.
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