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NHL analyst names the three Penguins veterans who should be safe from a trade
Photo credit: Edit from PensBurgh
NHL analyst Josh Cybulski has revealed that there are only three depth veteran Penguins players who should be safe from being traded.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have shown many of the same struggles over the past few weeks that plagued them in their three recent seasons without a playoff appearance.
This year, the difference is optimism: young prospects are emerging, and the team will enter next summer with significant cap space.
NHL analyst Josh Cybulski notes that while the Penguins talked about going young this offseason, they recently added veterans at the expense of developing prospects, and the results have been underwhelming.
What Pittsburgh should begin to do with some of their veterans
Several veterans on expiring contracts don't fit into the long-term picture, and Pittsburgh should begin moving them to acquire future assets and give younger players a chance.
That doesn't mean stars like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, or Erik Karlsson should be traded.
The players identified as being trade bait
Instead, Cybulski identifies Noel Acciari, Connor Clifton, Brett Kulak, Stuart Skinner, and Anthony Mantha as the players Pittsburgh should consider moving to improve organizational depth.
Other UFAs like Matt Dumba, Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes, and Ryan Shea could also be on the market, though Heinen and Hayes currently hold little trade value.
Evgeni Malkin, Connor Dewar, and Ryan Shea remain the only untouchables on expiring contracts, according to Cybulski.
"Regardless of how they do it, the Penguins can't keep trotting out old, expensive depth players if they want to turn the corner in the rebuild. They should by no means tear down the whole roster. Still, any veteran on an expiring deal who isn't Malkin, Dewar or Shea should be moved out for future assets so the Penguins can finally find younger, hungrier, faster depth players."
- Josh Cybulski
- Josh Cybulski
He stresses that Pittsburgh doesn't need a full teardown, but any veteran on an expiring deal outside the three mentioned above should be leveraged for future assets.
The goal is to replace aging, expensive depth with younger, faster, hungrier players ready to help the team finally turn the corner in its rebuild.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 22 | 77 ANSWERS NHL analyst names the three Penguins veterans who should be safe from a trade Do you agree that these 3 players should be safe from trades? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 61 % |
| No | 30 | 39 % |
| List of polls | ||