PITTSBURGH – The NHL trade deadline is two weeks away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are more on the verge of being sellers than buyers. While Kyle Dubas leaves it up to the team to decide what direction to go, several names may not be wearing black and gold after Marc 8.
With the Penguins likely gearing up for a sale, what players are the most likely to be dealt by the deadline?
Jake Guentzel
The most talked about a name for any trade piece across the league; Jake Guentzel is arguably the most likely Penguin to be traded by the deadline. Guentzel can fetch the most significant return of anyone on the Penguins roster and is looking to play with a competitive team. It might be a tough pill to swallow, but Guentzel doesn’t fit the Penguins’ plans.
Reilly Smith
Things haven’t worked between Reilly Smith and the Penguins. Smith’s name has appeared more frequently on trade boards in recent weeks, and ideas of reunions with either the Vegas Golden Knights or Florida Panthers.
Alex Nedeljkovic
Teams across the NHL need goalies, and Alex Nedeljkovic has put together a quality bounce-back season in 2023-24. The Penguins have one of the best goaltending duos in the NHL and a decent third-stringer in Magnus Hellberg, who could roll as a backup if the team is turning things in. Nedeljkovic has proven he may still have what it takes to be a starter in the league, and he may get that opportunity within a few weeks.
Lars Eller
Dubas made it known multiple times that the Penguins are focused on building a younger roster. The Penguins are the oldest team in the NHL, and Lars Eller is a sneaky big part of that. Eller is the fifth oldest player on the roster and will be 35 in May. Subtracting him for a youthful option helps with Dubas’ specific plan.
Noel Acciari
This one may be a long shot, but the Penguins are loaded with depth forwards. They even added one mid-game against the Montreal Canadiens when they acquired Emil Bemstrom from the Columbus Blue Jackets. With another depth forward added and Noel Acciari being over 30, his job may become obsolete.
The Penguins have two weeks to make their decisions, and if they lose to the Philadelphia Flyers before heading out West, there’s no telling who may hit the road. Dubas will have his hands full, but some more trades seem very possible very soon.
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