With just a few weeks before the NHL Trade Deadline, teams are trying to figure out whether or not they should go after players to bolster their lineups heading into the playoffs, or sell off some big contracts in order to make room for the future.
One franchise that is stuck in proverbial purgatory is the Pittsburgh Penguins. After missing out on the playoffs in 2022-23, they are still in contention for the postseason this year, but are going to have to play very well down the stretch in order to get in.
General manager Kyle Dubas has some tough decisions to make. Jake Guentzel has been in the rumor mill for the last few weeks, though there has been no public inclination that Dubas will send the young forward anywhere, yet.
While they have the talent and experience to get into the playoffs, Pittsburgh’s inconsistency raises the question if the team should go for broke at the deadline.
As of Monday, the Penguins are seventh in the Metropolitan Division, nine points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for third, and seven behind the Detroit Red Wings, who hold the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli gives his thoughts on why the Penguins are going to be a fun team to track over next couple of weeks.
Frank Seravalli: It really revolves around Jake Guentzel and what you do there. Everyone is fascinated to know and see what happens. They’ve already traded away future assets, they traded this year’s first-round pick. It was to San Jose for Erik Karlsson. They made their big splash, their team has been mostly very average…and they don’t appear to me to be a true threat to do some damage, but gives this team the last 29 days before the deadline…to present the fullest picture possible, given what they’ve invested in this core.
You can watch the full segment, and the entire episode here…
More must-reads: