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After a four-game street journey that noticed the Pittsburgh Penguins go 1-3 and fail to achieve a lot, if any, floor on groups forward of them within the playoff race, first-year common supervisor and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas finds himself in a troublesome spot with the commerce deadline arising on March 8. The method the Penguins have performed this previous week ought to signify that it’s finest to be absolutely in “seller” mode on the deadline.
Road Trip Starts Well But Ends Bad
The Penguins discovered themselves having simply over a 31 p.c likelihood of getting to the playoffs after they pulled off an time beyond regulation victory within the first sport of their street journey in Vancouver in opposition to a robust Canucks crew. But issues went downhill from there.
After the win in Vancouver, the Penguins dropped the following three video games of the journey to the Seattle Kraken (2-0), Calgary Flames (4-3) and the Edmonton Oilers (6-1). The loss to the Flames was a backbreaker for the crew as they’d a 3-1 lead early within the third interval and fell aside, giving up 4 unanswered targets to lose the sport and seemingly couldn’t discover their sport in opposition to the Oilers both. The Penguins now have simply an 18.2 p.c likelihood of constructing the playoffs whereas additionally 10 factors out of the second wild card spot within the Eastern Conference as of March 3.
Penguins Have Players of Interest
The street journey went about as dangerous because it might for the crew, and it very properly might ship them into vendor mode on the deadline. The Penguins haven’t been ready to get going within the essential time of the season and have fallen a methods behind the groups that they’re chasing for a playoff spot at this level.
With a number of gamers that might have curiosity from contending groups, Dubas ought to look to promote excessive on a few of his gamers. It might come within the type of Reilly Smith, who was acquired in the offseason and has not been ready to get his offensive sport on par with the way it was with the Vegas Golden Knights, probably Alex Nedeljkovic, or the injured Jake Guentzel.
Nedeljkovic is the most probably of the 2 goalies the Penguins have to be traded. He can be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at 12 months’s finish after signing a one-year deal last offseason. He would price groups much less each in cap area and property given up. With Jarry signing a long-term extension paying him roughly $5.375 million a 12 months for 5 years with a 12-team no-trade clause (NTC), transferring him can be a more durable process. The group appears pleased with how he’s performed this season, and they’re going to seemingly hold him in a Penguins jersey.
Related: Penguins’ Best Goaltending Option Was Always Tristan Jarry
The Penguins’ greatest wildcard is Guentzel. While he’s nonetheless out with an harm, he’s reportedly gaining curiosity from a number of groups across the league, and it appears more and more seemingly that he can be elsewhere after the commerce deadline passes. The Penguins have been rumored to want two prospects in return for the soon-to-be UFA, however they might have to accept a prospect and picks until they bundle extra with Guentzel. Sending him to a contending crew advantages each the Penguins and Guentzel, because the crew will get some much-needed property for the long run, and Guentzel can compete within the playoffs whereas attempting to get himself a long-term extension.
While these three gamers have obtained probably the most consideration for probably being moved, the Penguins have loads of gamers who might draw curiosity from different groups and produce again the property wanted to assist the group down the street.
Disappointing Season for the Penguins
After Dubas’ strikes this offseason, many had hoped the Penguins might make one closing push for the playoffs with their core. However, that has not come to fruition, and many of the strikes haven’t panned out. This finds the group in a troublesome spot going ahead. With the growing old core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and now Erik Karlsson, the crew will want to take a look at what the long run will seem like when these gamers discover their method to retirement.
Figuring this out might begin with the 2024 Trade Deadline for including property and probably rebuilding the group. As a lot as they and their followers don’t essentially need to undergo a rebuild, it could be the time to achieve this.
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