The Pittsburgh Penguins have the space and assets to land a young talent … and maybe a big name if available?
Josh Yohe of the Athletic: (mailbag) Don’t believe the success the Pittsburgh Penguins have had this season will change their plans as this offseason may have been the time to use their extra draft picks and cap space to make additions. They would be their best shot to speed up the rebuild by acquiring some young talent.
It is possible that the Penguins may regress next season. They’ve been getting great seasons from Justin Brazeau, Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, and Parker Wotherspoon. The Penguins don’t want to lose Mantha in free agency, but because of the weak market, there will be interest in the 31-year-old. The Pens don’t want to pay more to keep him, and they don’t see giving up five years or more.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to consider trading Auston Matthews, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas would at least make that call. They have cap space and trade assets. The Leafs will ask for Ben Kindel and it’s not certain if Dubas would want to do that. I’m not sure if the Leafs would be willing to trade Matthews for Dubas’ Penguin. (Also, would Matthews waive his no-movement clause in Pittsburgh?)
He still believes this will be Evgeni Malkin’s last season in Pittsburgh.
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It’s too early to tell what kind of postseason the Florida Panthers shake up will be
Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic: Florida Panthers GM Bill said it’s too early to say what kind of moves they’ll be looking at this offseason in free agency or trade.
“It’s too early to say. But it’s also about availability, right? You can say, ‘I need three Maseratis,’ but they’re not there, there’s nothing for sale, nobody’s going to trade for you, so you’d better have a Plan B.
“I think we’re not alone. But I think it’s become an interesting thing now — a few years into this project — when you go back down your list, and you say, ‘We need this. We need that.’ Yes, OK, where are you going to get it? So it’s a never-ending puzzle. We will continue to grind and try to make sound decisions.”
If the Panthers finish in the top 10 after the draft lottery, they will keep that pick. Their 2027 first-round pick is then unprotected and goes to the Chicago Blackhawks from the Seth Jones trade, and their 2028 first-round pick is unprotected and goes to the Boston Bruins from the Brad Marchand trade.
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Zito is still waiting for UFA goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky.
“That’s something we’ll work on after the season. I’d like to keep him. I hope we can. We’ll see what happens.”
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