Penguins Linked to Trade Talks as Canadian Team Struggles to Extend Key Young Forward

This off-season as the Penguins head towards a rebuild, and thus far, General Manager Kyle Dubas has made it known that in trades, he's seeking young, NHL ready talent to help this franchise moving forward.

We're yet to see a deal this off-season, but in trade speculation we've heard of differing levels of interest in Mason McTavish, Marco Rossi and JJ Peterka, with no deal materializing thus far.

Now, another potential name has entered the fray, as Connor Zary's contract dispute in Calgary may make him a target to watch for Dubas and the Penguins, as he could be a cheap target with immense upside.

To this point, it's unclear if the 23-year old is going to sign a new deal this off-season, and while people in the organization are confident, this may just be the time for the Penguins to strike and land a talented young forward.

The biggest issue in Calgary is likely Zary wanting a long-term deal while the team opt for a bridge, and this dispute makes the Penguins the perfect trade partner, as they could offer a future pick for a player that may want to sign a long-term deal and represent a key piece of the future.

We've already seen Zary score some ridiculous goals in his NHL career, and with 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games a year ago, he's clearly got the potential, so if the Penguins see a middle-six centre of the future in Zary to groom behind Sidney Crosby, a trade offer may make sense here for the team.