The Pittsburgh Penguins have the cap space and assets to acquire younger talent … and maybe a huge name if he’s made available?
Josh Yohe of The Athletic: (mailbag) Don’t believe that the success the Pittsburgh Penguins have had this season will alter their plans as this offseason may have always been the timing to use their extra draft picks and cap space to make additions. They could be their best shot to expedite the rebuild by acquiring some more young talent.
It’s possible that Penguins could take a step backwards next season. They’ve been getting a really good season out of Justin Brazeau, Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, and Parker Wotherspoon. The Penguins don’t want to lose Mantha to free agency, but with the weak market, there will be interest in the 31-year-old. The Pens don’t want to overpay to keep him, and can’t see them offering five years or more.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to consider trading Auston Matthews, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas would have at least make that call. They do have the cap space and trade assets. The Leafs would ask for Ben Kindel and not sure if Dubas would want to do that. Not sure if the Leafs would want to trade Matthews to Dubas’ Penguins. (Also, would Matthews waive his no-movement clause come to Pittsburgh?)
Still believe that this will be Evgeni Malkin‘s last season in Pittsburgh.
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It’s too early to tell what kind of offseason moves the Florida Panthers will be looking at
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: Florida Panthers GM Bill said it’s too early to tell what kind of roster moves they’ll be looking at this offseason in free agency or in trade.
“It’s too early to tell. But it’s also about availability, right? You can say, ‘I need three Maseratis,’ but there are none out there, there’s none for sale, there’s no one that will trade you theirs, so you’d better have a Plan B.
“I think we’re not alone. But I do think it’s an interesting dynamic now — a few years on this job — where you break down your roster, and you say, ‘We need this. We need that.’ Yeah, OK, where are you going to get it? So it’s a never-ending puzzle. We’ll just continue to grind and try to make good decisions.’’
If the Panthers finish in the top 10 after the draft lottery, they’ll keep that pick. Their 2027 first-round pick then becomes unprotected and goes to the Chicago Blackhawks from the Seth Jones trade, and their 2028 first-round pick becomes unprotected and goes to the Boston Bruins from the Brad Marchand trade.
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Zito on pending UFA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
“That’s just something we’ll sort out after the season. I’d like to keep him. I hope we can. We’ll see what happens.”
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