It’s that time of year again, folks! The NHL trade floodgates have officially opened, and with that, rumors and movement will be abound.
And the case is no different for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Since the team is looking to compete and rebuild its prospect pool simultaneously, it’s probably safe to assume that they will be looking to move out some of their pending unrestricted free agent contracts.
So, The Hockey News – Pittsburgh Penguins site will take a look at each Penguins’ unrestricted free agent, the pros and cons to trading them, and the likelihood that they’re moved prior to the Mar. 7 trade deadline – as well as some potential landing spots.
First up: defenseman Marcus Pettersson.
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The case for a trade
Of all the Penguins’ players reportedly on the trade block, Pettersson makes the most sense. And he just might be the most coveted defenseman at the trade deadline.
With the Columbus Blue Jackets currently in wild card contention, it is no certain thing that defenseman Ivan Provorov will be available. Rasmus Ristolainen may also be available, but he has a higher cap hit and two more seasons beyond 2024-25 left on his contract.
Pettersson, 28, is a pending unrestricted free agent who makes just $4.025 million for the remainder of the season. He is a top-four defenseman who is reliable in his own zone and can help chip in on breakouts as well as in the attacking zone. He also skates fairly well for a defenseman of his size at 6-foot-5, and he uses his frame and his reach advantageously, particularly when defending the rush.
He can also score the occasional “goal-scorer’s goal”:
Of the Penguins’ trade candidates, he is both the most tradeable and the most valuable. A realistic expectation in terms of a return is a second-round pick and a mid-tier prospect or “reclamation project-type” young NHL player.
However, if he is the most coveted defenseman on the market, that could drive up the price just a little bit. In any case, he’s valuable enough to get a pretty good return, but expecting a first-round pick is an overvaluation.
The case against a trade
The left-side Pettersson is a large part of the reason why defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson – two offensively gifted and high-risk right defensemen – have been…