Penguins GM won’t trade their 2023 first-round pick and won’t make a deal just to make a deal
Rob Rossi of The Athletic: Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall said on Sunday that he’s not interested in trading their 2023 first-round pick. Hextall said they all have to get better as a group.
“My job is to look at this team today, tomorrow, and a few years from now,” Hextall said. “If we can do something to make us better this year, I’m looking to do it. We want to make the playoffs and be as good as we can be going into April — that’s the focus.”
The Penguins don’t have much of an identity, their bottom six could use some work and their defense and goaltending hasn’t been stellar.
Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen are making $6.325 million combined and have only scored 13 goals together.
They need a third-line center, improve their defense and possibly a trustworthy goaltender if they want to be a playoff lock.
“It’s really dangerous to feel like you have to make a deal,” Hextall said Sunday. “We’re not going to make a deal to make a deal.”
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Top 20 NHL trade block big board
Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report: A look at the top 20 players that could be traded by the March 3rd NHL trade deadline.
20. Jesse Puljujarvi – Edmonton Oilers
19. Matt Dumba – Minnesota Wild
18. Shayne Gostisbehere – Arizona Coyotes
17. Luke Schenn – Vancouver Canucks
16. Sean Monahan – Montreal Canadiens
15. John Klingberg – Anahiem Ducks
14. Jake McCabe – Chicago Blackhawks
13. Ivan Barbashev – St. Louis Blues
12. Tyler Bertuzzi – Detroit Red Wings
11. James van Riemsdyk – Philadelphia Flyers
10. Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
9. Joel Edmundson – Montreal Canadiens
8. Max Domi – Chicago Blackhawks
7. Brock Boeser – Vancouver Canucks
6. Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks
5. Ryan O’Reilly – St. Louis Blues
4. Jakob Chychrun – Arizona Coyotes
3. Vladislav Gavrikov – Columbus Blue Jackets
2. Vladimir Tarasenko – St. Louis Blues
1. Timo Meier – San Jose Sharks