PITTSBURGH – It’s been no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins were gearing up to be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline. The team sits far out of a playoff spot, and the players aren’t meeting their expectations.
With the deadline right around the corner, the Penguins are expected to be an active team. As deadline day arrives, however, the Penguins have only made one significant move.
That move was dealing Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes for a slew of assets, but Kyle Dubas and the Penguins likely aren’t done. Who will be the next Penguins to get dealt before the deadline?
Reilly Smith
A deal involving Reilly Smith has seemed just as guaranteed as Guentzel being moved. Smith hasn’t worked out in Pittsburgh and never seemed to warm to the idea of the Penguins.
Smith has been linked to former teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, but other suitors may include the Nashville Predators. He’ll be an exciting name to follow along with all deadline day.
Alex Nedeljkovic
Not long ago, there was this idea that goaltending might drive the trade market in 2023-24. Deadline day is here, and zero goalies have been moved.
That doesn’t mean goalies won’t get dealt; in fact, Alex Nedeljkovic seems like one of the likeliest netminders to see his number called. Multiple teams need goalies, and the Penguins are blessed with outstanding depth in the position.
Tristan Jarry was considered an option for a moment, but Nedeljkovic has emerged as one of the most likely goalies to be on the move.
Lars Eller
A sleeper trade piece for the Penguins is Lars Eller. One of Dubas’ big plans is to make the Penguins a younger team. Eller is a sneaky aging veteran who turns 35 in just a few months.
Eller isn’t a bad player, either, and would certainly help any team gunning for the Stanley Cup. Eller can provide a significant boost to any team’s center depth.
Those ae the three most likely names to be traded by the Penguins before the deadline. Other faces like Rickard Rakell, P.O. Joseph, and Noel Acciari can’t be counted out as options either.
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