Three Penguins Most Likely to Be Traded Before Opening Night

With training camp approaching, the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ roster is beginning to take shape.

The trouble is, there are too many players and too little spots to fill.

As it stands, the Penguins currently sit just $1.05 million below the salary cap, and they have a surplus of players. Their top-six is likely set – at least, as it stands now – and it appears that the goaltending duo might be as well, even if the organization has goaltending depth to spare.

However, the Penguins have a surplus of both forwards and defensemen to round out their bottom-six and bottom-pairing. They currently have nine forwards against the cap competing for six forward positions in the bottom-six, while they have three defensemen plus three more on two-way contracts competing for three spots.

In other words: It appears likely that at least one contract is on its way out before the season begins. Yes, the Penguins can and will use waivers to their advantage, but given the context, trading a contract or two for picks and cap space makes a lot of sense.

So who is most likely to get the boot?

If Pens fans have heard one name in trade discussion boards this offseason, it has probably been Eller’s. Eller, 35, is coming off of a 15-goal, 31-point 2023-24 campaign, and the pending 2025 UFA makes $2.45 million.

He was more than serviceable as a third-line center for the Penguins last season, and he is someone any team in contention would definitely be interested in acquiring to shore up their depth. Given the Penguins’ logjam at the center position in the bottom-six – Eller, Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte, Cody Glass, and Noel Acciari are all natural centers – getting Eller’s expiring contract off the books makes a lot of sense, especially since it would, more than likely, net them some valuable draft capital. There are also younger options in the bottom-six, and Eller is one of the Penguins’ oldest players.

Don’t be surprised if Eller is not in the opening night lineup for the Penguins.

Noel Acciari

Injuries thwarted much of Acciari’s 2023-24 season, but in the games he did play, he looked a bit out-of-place at center. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has remarked that the Penguins’ center depth for the upcoming campaign will give Acciari the chance to play the wing, where he is more comfortable and where his game is more conducive to success.

However, just like Eller, the logjam of bottom-six forwards makes Acciari, 32,…