Penguins Trade Deadline: Buyers and Sellers?

[FLPensFan]

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/ ... g/1/127242

Eklund (I know), says Pens are in on Miller?? lol He doesn't really fit into our looking to get younger mantra. He will be 32 in 2 months.

Miller would be an interesting “one last shot” addition, and Dragon & Purple Hayes would be close to a cap match.

There is no reason for the Penguins to go after Miller. If they do it will be a costly mistake. They don't need a top center, he's expensive, he's signed for three more years, they don't have what it should take to get him. Sounds like a typical Eklund rumor then.

Exactly. My friend in Vancouver asked Miller to PIT, and if Miller for Pettersson, 2025 1st and prospect would be fair? I said fair, maybe, but Dubas would/should get lynched if he brought in an almost 32 year old Miller for a 1st and a prospect. Complete opposite of what this team needs to be doing. I also think Miller to PIT is kind of stale because, bringing in a Pittsburgh boy to play here seemed to be more of a Lemieux thing. I don't think Dubas, Sullivan, or FSG give two craps about it.

[Maestro]

Miller has 8 goals and his coach just told the media something bad happens on the ice every time he’s out there. Canucks have a couple of high price extensions coming. No way in hades the Penguins are giving up a first or a top prospect for him never the less both, but in a salary dump scenario who knows. 3 years fits the end of the era seemingly.

[KG]

No sure who RG.org is. But something to read and ponder.

https://rg.org/news/hockey/report-fire- ... -the-block

[Pitts]

[Pitts]

No sure who RG.org is. But something to read and ponder.

https://rg.org/news/hockey/report-fire- ... -the-block

Looks like I posted the same thing! Sorry

[KG]

No sure who RG.org is. But something to read and ponder.

https://rg.org/news/hockey/report-fire- ... -the-block

Looks like I posted the same thing! Sorry

Your post looks nicer ! lol

[Puck-Lurker]

Yes please. Sell everything over 25 that isn't Sidney Crosby. And half of the people 25 or under are available as well.

Come shopping foolish GMs!

[thehockeyguru]

Correct me if I'm wrong but we can't retain on another contract this trade deadline.

[EndO FanEra]

Correct me if I'm wrong but we can't retain on another contract this trade deadline.

I think we can retain on one more. Petry & Smith have this season left on their retention, then they will clear at the end of the season. JJ was a buyout, so he doesn't count.

[DelPen]

Best case is the vets get traded to places they flourish and we get something good back that clears space for youth to get experience. But under Sullivan I have zero confidence this works out well.

[EndO FanEra]

1 - Stay
2 - Depends on return
3 - Go

1 - Crosby - Only if he wants out.
1 - Geno - Only if he wants out.
1 - Rust - if he wants out, or we get a great offer & he's willing to waive.
2 - Rakell - if we get a good offer
2 - Bunting - if we get a good offer
3 - Hayes - try to trade
2 - Glass - if we get a good offer
3 - Acciari - try to trade
1 - Lizotte - should keep
3 - Beauvillier - try to trade
2 - O'Conner - if we get a good offer
3 - Nieto - must go
1 - Tomasino - should keep, but I'd take a 2nd or decent prospect
2 - Puljujarvi - should keep, but I have a feeling he won't want to stay after being jerked around
3 - Karlsson - try to trade
1 - Letang - Only if he wants out.
3 - Graves - try to trade
3 - Pettersson - should trade
3 - Grzelcyk - try to trade
2 - Joseph - need depth, so should keep, but whatever
1 - Pickering - if we get a GREAT offer
3 - Jarry - try to trade
2 - Ned - if we get a good offer

I got about 9 guys going out, 7 guys staying, and 7 guys that can go or stay, depending on what we can get in return. That's a good bit of turnover, and it is needed.

[DelPen]

I don't disagree with that list except Glass, any offer would be good if we don't retain anything.

[KG]

Correct me if I'm wrong but we can't retain on another contract this trade deadline.

I think we can retain on one more. Petry & Smith have this season left on their retention, then they will clear at the end of the season. JJ was a buyout, so he doesn't count.

That's right. We can retain on 1 more contract this season.

[Puck-Lurker]

1 - Stay
2 - For a good haul
3 - Any reasonable return
4 - Any return
5 - Must go

1 - Crosby - Untouchable unless he wants to leave.
1 - Geno - Untouchable unless he wants to leave.
2 - Rust - If he can be dealt, let's go. But give me a 1st rounder. Or 2nd and a really good prospect. Slept on player with a lot of impact for any team looking to make a run.
2 - Rakell - See Rust, though I would keep one of the two. I'd look to trade one of them, for value. But they can be dealt in the future too. (Their stock is high now, though)
2 - Bunting - If we can upgrade over him, fine. But he's a nice player that adds something we otherwise lack.
4 - Hayes - if he has any value, ditch him, but no retaining.
3 - Glass - would probably keep, if resigned at 1.2M or something. Nice enough player for a bottom line and some filler roles. Can hockey, just refuses to score.
4 - Acciari - ditch this dude if at all possible, any pick.
2 - Lizotte - We probably won't get any upgrade over him and want him around. That said, someone offers a 2nd rounder or a decent prospect? I dunno, would have to be a good hockey trade and those are rare.
4 - Beauvillier - Eject. Fool's gold and someone may part with a random draft pick.
3 - O'Connor - Not so hot on DOC this year, he's worked hard, but has been all kinds of meh. You get something reasonable for him, you part ways.
5 - Nieto - As long as Sullivan is in town, Nieto needs to be out of it. For any return whatsoever, including waiving and denying he ever existed.
2 - Tomasino - should keep, but I'd take a 2nd or decent prospect (I agree)
3 - Puljujarvi - If there's some kind of deal to be had I think you trade him if you keep Sullivan
5 - Karlsson - I think this is the lynch pin that must, must, must go. May have to retain to get it done. There will be value to him at reduced cost and I will take the futures he's worth.
2 - Letang - Doubt he can be dealt, but if there's a place, I'd try to get a haul out of him. Have to be something special though.
5 - Graves - For the love of glob, let some GM bite.
4 - Pettersson - Love to keep him, we probably can't and shouldn't. Take the pick/prospect/player and run.
5 - Grzelcyk - eject, eject, eject!
3 - Joseph - Meh? Someone gives you something you need more in return, trade, but not likely?
2 - Pickering - Have to be a terrific haul that nobody will pay, so staying
5 - Jarry - eject, eject, eject!
3 - Ned - I'd try to move him, roll with Blomqvist/Larsson/Murashov for the future. Keep Jarry buried. *That* sends a signal. Have to get something for Ned though.

[EndO FanEra]

I don't disagree with that list except Glass, any offer would be good if we don't retain anything.

I can understand that. I'm pretty sure that I'm higher on him than most.

His lack of scoring this season is an issue and his contract is about twice as much as it should be.

He's an RFA at the end of the season, so I figure we can just walk away if we can't find a taker.

I don't mind if he goes elsewhere at all. He's still only 25 though, and I guess I wouldn't mind keeping him around the bottom 6. Possibly even bringing him back @ $1M for 1 year if he's willing (as a bottom 6 PK guy, not on Geno's wing).

Or, a 6th or 7th round pick in return works too.

[EndO FanEra]

1 - Stay
2 - For a good haul
3 - Any reasonable return
4 - Any return
5 - Must go

1 - Crosby - Untouchable unless he wants to leave.
1 - Geno - Untouchable unless he wants to leave.
2 - Rust - If he can be dealt, let's go. But give me a 1st rounder. Or 2nd and a really good prospect. Slept on player with a lot of impact for any team looking to make a run.
2 - Rakell - See Rust, though I would keep one of the two. I'd look to trade one of them, for value. But they can be dealt in the future too. (Their stock is high now, though)
2 - Bunting - If we can upgrade over him, fine. But he's a nice player that adds something we otherwise lack.
4 - Hayes - if he has any value, ditch him, but no retaining.
3 - Glass - would probably keep, if resigned at 1.2M or something. Nice enough player for a bottom line and some filler roles. Can hockey, just refuses to score.
4 - Acciari - ditch this dude if at all possible, any pick.
2 - Lizotte - We probably won't get any upgrade over him and want him around. That said, someone offers a 2nd rounder or a decent prospect? I dunno, would have to be a good hockey trade and those are rare.
4 - Beauvillier - Eject. Fool's gold and someone may part with a random draft pick.
3 - O'Connor - Not so hot on DOC this year, he's worked hard, but has been all kinds of meh. You get something reasonable for him, you part ways.
5 - Nieto - As long as Sullivan is in town, Nieto needs to be out of it. For any return whatsoever, including waiving and denying he ever existed.
2 - Tomasino - should keep, but I'd take a 2nd or decent prospect (I agree)
3 - Puljujarvi - If there's some kind of deal to be had I think you trade him if you keep Sullivan
5 - Karlsson - I think this is the lynch pin that must, must, must go. May have to retain to get it done. There will be value to him at reduced cost and I will take the futures he's worth.
2 - Letang - Doubt he can be dealt, but if there's a place, I'd try to get a haul out of him. Have to be something special though.
5 - Graves - For the love of glob, let some GM bite.
4 - Pettersson - Love to keep him, we probably can't and shouldn't. Take the pick/prospect/player and run.
5 - Grzelcyk - eject, eject, eject!
3 - Joseph - Meh? Someone gives you something you need more in return, trade, but not likely?
2 - Pickering - Have to be a terrific haul that nobody will pay, so staying
5 - Jarry - eject, eject, eject!
3 - Ned - I'd try to move him, roll with Blomqvist/Larsson/Murashov for the future. Keep Jarry buried. *That* sends a signal. Have to get something for Ned though.

I like your added layers, and don't think I can really disagree with your assessment.

A Karlsson move may have to wait until the offseason, but him gone opens up a lot of possibilities.

[FLPensFan]

As much as it would be fun to clean house (and I posted something similar a page or two ago), it's very unrealistic to expect more than maybe 3-4 trades at the deadline. Even if a team says they are rebuilding, I can't recall any year where a team moved 5-10 players off of their roster at the trade deadline.

Best case scenario, we move Pettersson, Rakell, and maybe DOC. I could see someone like Karlsson, Grzelcyk, Acciari, Beauvillier or Ned moved if there is market for them or a team misses out at someone and uses these guys as a fallback.

Get what you can for any UFAs to be (MP, DOC, Beauvillier, Grzelcyk). Trade a Rakell or Bunting if the right offer comes along. Trade Acciari or Ned if someone asks. Move a Jarry or Graves or Karlsson if they retain and can move them out for little added cost.

Rest of the moves may have to wait until summer.

[EndO FanEra]

As much as it would be fun to clean house (and I posted something similar a page or two ago), it's very unrealistic to expect more than maybe 3-4 trades at the deadline. Even if a team says they are rebuilding, I can't recall any year where a team moved 5-10 players off of their roster at the trade deadline.

Best case scenario, we move Pettersson, Rakell, and maybe DOC. I could see someone like Karlsson, Grzelcyk, Acciari, Beauvillier or Ned moved if there is market for them or a team misses out at someone and uses these guys as a fallback.

Get what you can for any UFAs to be (MP, DOC, Beauvillier, Grzelcyk). Trade a Rakell or Bunting if the right offer comes along. Trade Acciari or Ned if someone asks. Move a Jarry or Graves or Karlsson if they retain and can move them out for little added cost.

Rest of the moves may have to wait until summer.

Totally agree with your first sentence. That is why it's driving me nuts that Dubas hasn't been more busy. He could have made several of those smaller/easier moves by now and still be able to do 3-4 at the deadline.

Those plus 4-5 more moves in the offseason to take out the rest of the trash, and we could have a pretty different team next season (for better or worse).

Edit: Jarry was a start. Hopefully the recent chatter about Pens selling is because Dubas is stirring up talks behind the scenes, and something else is coming soon.

[Puck-Lurker]

Oh I fully realise they're only going to make a couple of moves. Somewhere between 2-5 I imagine, not 12.

Still got to do it and there are plenty of candidates available and only two players I would consider actually untouchable.

[KG]

Friedman saying that the Pens are interested in Buffalo’s young, NHL ready prospects.

What would Buffalo want from us ? They are worse than we are.

[Dynasty1970]

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/ ... g/1/127242

Eklund (I know), says Pens are in on Miller?? lol He doesn't really fit into our looking to get younger mantra. He will be 32 in 2 months.

Miller would be an interesting “one last shot” addition, and Dragon & Purple Hayes would be close to a cap match.

There is no reason for the Penguins to go after Miller. If they do it will be a costly mistake. They don't need a top center, he's expensive, he's signed for three more years, they don't have what it should take to get him. Sounds like a typical Eklund rumor then.

Exactly, this team won’t be going anywhere anytime soon but down. The team needs to unload as many players as we can to assure a top draft spot. Let the stars go play out the rest of their careers with a contender.

[Gunnerfan]

Are we really giving credence to a site called RG Media? What are we doing now, listening to some unknown curtain-jerker?

[FLPensFan]

OK, so I posted something similar on Twitter/X last night when having a discussion about Dubas and getting this team younger. Here's an "If FLPensFan was GM" scenario of what master plan I would try to pull off.

What would you think if the following series of events unfolded around the trade deadline:

1) Marcus Pettersson (50% retained), Drew O'Connor, and a 2025 3rd (MIN) to VANCOUVER for Nils Hoglander, 2025 1st (VAN), 2025 2nd (VAN)
---Vancouver doesn't have 3rd rounders in 2025 or 2026, otherwise I'd take a 3rd as the 2nd pick. Instead, we send a 3rd to get back a 2nd as part of the deal
---Seems like a high price for MP+? More reports of CBJ trying to re-sign Provorov, and Philly has said they do not want to trade Ristolainen. That severely lowers the higher end d-man pool, which should drive up Pettersson's price.

2) Rickard Rakell, Noel Acciari (cap purposes), Anthony Beauvillier (cap purposes), Ville Koivunen, 2026 2nd (STL) to BUFFALO for Dylan Cozens and Jason Zucker (50% retained)
---Buffalo is been rumored to be looking to move Cozens. He turns 24 in a few weeks. He's signed for 5 more years. This year and last year were down seasons for him....but, that 22-23 season with 31 goals and 68 points tells me the talent is there. Was it the coaching change? Is it tired of losing, which affects a lot of players? I dunno, but I'd be willing to take that risk that he can return to form.
---Zucker gives us a known player back, UFA after the season. If we are in place to push for playoffs, getting Zucker makes sense. If we are definitely out of playoffs, we can drop Zucker from the deal, and probably Beauvillier.
---Does Buffalo need Rakell? On the surface, yes, they need more consistent, veteran scoring for a reasonable price (ahem, not Jeff Skinner). If they are too far away, maybe Rakell doesn't make sense...but maybe you use Rakell to trade to another team, and use the resources gained in that trade to send to BUF.

3) Nils Hoglander, Tanner Howe, 2026 1st round pick to ANAHEIM for Trevor Zegras
--Anaheim gets a 1st, a good young NHLer and a B-level prospect for Zegras
--Zegras has his warts. He's not good defensively or doesn't put in the effort defensively. He turns 24 in March. He has back to back 23 goal, 60+ point seasons in 21-22 and 22-23. Injured and down year last year.
--Zegras has been in trade rumors for 2 years. Similar to Cozens, he's shown he can put up the numbers. Was his downtrend due to coaching change, is it tired of losing? The talent is there. Give him the rest of this season on a 3rd line, with Sully forcing him to pay attention to defense. You may never get him to be Matt Nieto, but anything you can do to improve him defensively helps.

4) Trade VAN 2025 1st and PIT 2025 1st to move into the top 5. Draft one of Hagens, McQueen, or Misa. This draft is top heavy in potential centers. Hagens, McQueen, Misa, Frondell, and Desnoyers. There's a big drop off after those guys. Make your move and get a young top 6 center. If you get Cozens to work and have something like Misa-Cozens as your 1-2 punch, that's a big part of getting back to contender quickly.

Bunting-Crosby-Rust
Zucker-Malkin-Cozens
Zegras-Hayes-Tomasino
Nieto-Lizotte-Glass

Go with this for the rest of the year. Next year, McGroarty replaces Zucker, and McGroary & Zegras can battle for 2nd line duty. In maybe a year, you bring in your top C, move Malkin to wing.

Do I think all of the above can be accomplished? No. Do I think all of the above is extremely far fetched? No. These are the types of moves and big swings that Dubas needs to take. I'd rather whiff on a 24 year old Cozens at 7.1M AAV than a 32 year old defenseman at 10M AAV. Some of the above moves may need more pieces, some may need less. Pulling all of them off would be a feat of pure magic. But, these are the types of moves I want Dubas looking for to turn this team around quickly.

[Antonio]

To me that's a lot of higher risk "ifs" beyond just the players being acquired being guaranteed performers. Players that would need to restore performance to levels based on previous years that would be dependent on things like coaching and systems are automatic hard passes for me as long as dip **** is still here. I'm tired of retaining all the time.

Seems to me that MP should be moveable without retention. I mean it's a very high price for Zegras with injury issues and with defensive warts that is guaranteed to be misused, put in the dog house and subject to a Sullivan reeducation camp. Rakell and lots more for a guy that hopefully finds his game again and needs the right coach and system? Plus a retread in Zucker? Yeah no thanks all around. The first of the three is pretty much the only one I'm open to.

[Gunnerfan]

OK, so I posted something similar on Twitter/X last night when having a discussion about Dubas and getting this team younger. Here's an "If FLPensFan was GM" scenario of what master plan I would try to pull off.

What would you think if the following series of events unfolded around the trade deadline:

1) Marcus Pettersson (50% retained), Drew O'Connor, and a 2025 3rd (MIN) to VANCOUVER for Nils Hoglander, 2025 1st (VAN), 2025 2nd (VAN)
---Vancouver doesn't have 3rd rounders in 2025 or 2026, otherwise I'd take a 3rd as the 2nd pick. Instead, we send a 3rd to get back a 2nd as part of the deal
---Seems like a high price for MP+? More reports of CBJ trying to re-sign Provorov, and Philly has said they do not want to trade Ristolainen. That severely lowers the higher end d-man pool, which should drive up Pettersson's price.

2) Rickard Rakell, Noel Acciari (cap purposes), Anthony Beauvillier (cap purposes), Ville Koivunen, 2026 2nd (STL) to BUFFALO for Dylan Cozens and Jason Zucker (50% retained)
---Buffalo is been rumored to be looking to move Cozens. He turns 24 in a few weeks. He's signed for 5 more years. This year and last year were down seasons for him....but, that 22-23 season with 31 goals and 68 points tells me the talent is there. Was it the coaching change? Is it tired of losing, which affects a lot of players? I dunno, but I'd be willing to take that risk that he can return to form.
---Zucker gives us a known player back, UFA after the season. If we are in place to push for playoffs, getting Zucker makes sense. If we are definitely out of playoffs, we can drop Zucker from the deal, and probably Beauvillier.
---Does Buffalo need Rakell? On the surface, yes, they need more consistent, veteran scoring for a reasonable price (ahem, not Jeff Skinner). If they are too far away, maybe Rakell doesn't make sense...but maybe you use Rakell to trade to another team, and use the resources gained in that trade to send to BUF.

3) Nils Hoglander, Tanner Howe, 2026 1st round pick to ANAHEIM for Trevor Zegras
--Anaheim gets a 1st, a good young NHLer and a B-level prospect for Zegras
--Zegras has his warts. He's not good defensively or doesn't put in the effort defensively. He turns 24 in March. He has back to back 23 goal, 60+ point seasons in 21-22 and 22-23. Injured and down year last year.
--Zegras has been in trade rumors for 2 years. Similar to Cozens, he's shown he can put up the numbers. Was his downtrend due to coaching change, is it tired of losing? The talent is there. Give him the rest of this season on a 3rd line, with Sully forcing him to pay attention to defense. You may never get him to be Matt Nieto, but anything you can do to improve him defensively helps.

4) Trade VAN 2025 1st and PIT 2025 1st to move into the top 5. Draft one of Hagens, McQueen, or Misa. This draft is top heavy in potential centers. Hagens, McQueen, Misa, Frondell, and Desnoyers. There's a big drop off after those guys. Make your move and get a young top 6 center. If you get Cozens to work and have something like Misa-Cozens as your 1-2 punch, that's a big part of getting back to contender quickly.

Bunting-Crosby-Rust
Zucker-Malkin-Cozens
Zegras-Hayes-Tomasino
Nieto-Lizotte-Glass

Go with this for the rest of the year. Next year, McGroarty replaces Zucker, and McGroary & Zegras can battle for 2nd line duty. In maybe a year, you bring in your top C, move Malkin to wing.

Do I think all of the above can be accomplished? No. Do I think all of the above is extremely far fetched? No. These are the types of moves and big swings that Dubas needs to take. I'd rather whiff on a 24 year old Cozens at 7.1M AAV than a 32 year old defenseman at 10M AAV. Some of the above moves may need more pieces, some may need less. Pulling all of them off would be a feat of pure magic. But, these are the types of moves I want Dubas looking for to turn this team around quickly.

I cant go there or send that much for Zegras. He is not an elite player to give that much up for him. Pretty soft player as well.