Pittsburgh Penguins Reportedly Looking to Make Fire Sale Ahead of Trade Deadline
The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly looking to make a fire sale ahead of the trade deadline, with key veterans on the trade block.
The Penguins have managed to bounce back after a tough season start. However, with the high level of competition in the Eastern Conference, Kyle Dubas' team is still seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a 19-21-8 record, only two points behind the New York Rangers at the fifth rank.
Dubas, the Pens' President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, never shied away from saying out loud his intentions to make major changes to his roster ahead of the trade deadline but hasn't made any blockbuster moves as of now.
A new report confirmed the five players that won't be traded: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Philip Tomasino and Owen Pickering:
"Sid, Malkin, Rust, and the two kids, Tomasino and Pickering, they're off limits for now, but everything else can be had for the right price."
Logically, everyone else could end up on the trade block. Marco d'Amico confirmed that Dubas wants to trade one of the best players in Pittsburgh: Erik Karlsson.
"That's someone they want and need to move. I think they retain salary for sure, and you know what? He can help the right team still. Maybe with the cap going up, you never know."
"Those contracts you think are unmovable aren't all that way anymore."
"Those contracts you think are unmovable aren't all that way anymore."
Dubas' goal is evident at this point and was highlighted in D'Amico's report: he wants to win for Malkin and Crosby while building for the future:
"You're going to see him move and take back term. He still wants to try and win for Sid and Geno, but he thinks he can build for the future, too."
Trading Karlsson or other key players such as Kris Letang would make a splash in the NHL. We can't wait to see what happens in Pittsburgh, and where these players would end up if they get traded.
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