3 Potential Penguins Trade Targets

There exist some talented players who have not yet flourished in their current situations. Penguins fans are quick to point to players such as Daniel Sprong or Alex Nylander, who popped with a 23-game NHL run after the Penguins trade essentially dumped him on Columbus for Emil Bemstron.

Sometimes, players find better homes; sometimes, the jolt of the trade stirs emotions, and sometimes, a greater role with a different team showcases talent.

It happens.

Though for Penguins fans who are still pining over Sprong, just remember that the Penguins trade netted Marcus Pettersson. I’d say they handily won that deal. Sprong is likely headed for his sixth team in six seasons.

If the Penguins want to get younger, taking a few gambles on players who may or may not work is probably a necessity of the process.

There are a few young players who haven’t yet cracked their NHL lineups or who haven’t fit in their situation. They are the young, unhappy, or unsigned players this offseason, and one has a link directly to Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas.

2 Penguins Trade Potentials

1. Nicholas Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs

Robertson, 22, has been “on the way” for four years. He exploded on the scene by playing four playoff games with Toronto in 2019-20, the “bubble” playoffs. He earned his ice time with a great training camp that summer (recall the second training camp in June before the NHL re-started the season with the Stanley Cup tournament in the “bubble” after the COVID-19 pause).

Dubas drafted the 5-foot-9, 178-pound LW as Toronto’s first pick (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft.

He is small, lacks great skating, and has been a bubble player for Toronto ever since. He is also a natural scorer. He makes things happen with the puck as a playmaker or a finisher. However, Toronto’s top six is packed.

This was the first season he cracked the NHL lineup. In 56 games, he scored 14 goals and 27 points. However, his unhappiness over being sent down after the NHL trade deadline because of roster overcrowding made headlines.