Team: 2018-19 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 13, 2018

Published: Jul. 13, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

While GMJR is probably done with any significant changes to the roster, these are the types of deals I would seek to get younger and better balanced.


First, we have heard the Phil Kessel trade chatter. I would look into moving him to Florida Panthers for Vincent Trochek. The Panthers indicated they wanted to make a big splash this offseason and would accomplish this by bringing in one of the highest scoring wingers in NHL. Need to give talent to get talent and I can see Pittsburgh wanting to bring a local home. Trochek can play RW this year and replace Brassard next year at center or later this year if Brassard is traded or team has injuries at center. Gives Pens right handed center for draws. I go back and forth on what draft picks would balance out trade as Kessel puts up more points but is older, costs more and may not play as complete a game as Trochek.


With cap space saved by moving Kessel, I would try to balance out the defense and upgrade its grit without sacrificing ability to move the puck. Winnipeg has a lot of potential contract issues coming up and may look to acquire similar cost controlled defensemen so can get Wheeler (UFA next year) under contract as well as RFAs and avoid potentially losing Tyler Meyers as UFA next year. Deal would be conditioned on Myers negotiating acceptable deal as well as Jacob Trouba agreeing to acceptable deal.

In exchange to Winnipeg would go Justin Shultz (2 years on his contact at same $5.5M Myers is receiving this year and Olli Marta (4 years remaining at a little over $4M per). He will cost less than Trouba and free up cap space for Winnipeg to attempt to get other UFA/RFAs under contract. Pittsburgh probably has to add 2nd round pick or 2nd this year and 3rd following year to balance out deal but stats are pretty similar for this group of defensemen (depends on if Shultz produces like he did 2 seasons ago when Letang went down).


Trade probably doesn’t happen b/c of Shultz Limited NTC. Not sure if Oilers turned him off to hockey crazy Western Canadian cities. Phil also has limited NTC but Florida has less taxes and better weather plus good team so he may sign off on move. Myers probably would want more than staying at same AAV when he could be one of top UFA D-men in market. Could add slightly since his rate is set for this year and cap should go up next year. Planning for expansion draft would need to protect 4 D (Letang- NTC, Doumolin, Trouba, Myers) and 4 Fowards (Crosby, Malkin, Trochek and probably Guentzel). Will be tough next year with Brassard, Hagelin both UFA and Guentzel RFA (probable bridge deal) but need to replace 2 top 9 players but have their $7M to do so.

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