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Last March of the Penguins

Created by: KrakenTheCode
Team: 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins
Initial Creation Date: Jun. 3, 2023
Published: Jun. 4, 2023
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
I'm not a Penguins fan, but I do like penguins. Pittsburgh's offseason is one of the more interesting ones, as they could go in a number of different directions with their roster and franchise trajectory. I decided to explore what could happen here.

The Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 years, despite healthy seasons from Crosby and Malkin. Consequently, the front office was overhauled. Right now, the Penguins have an intact, but aging core, locked up long term. The defense has some solid players but needs more to be effective, goaltending is inconsistent at best, and the forward depth needs work. Their roster was the oldest in the NHL last season. Rebuilding would be difficult due to the number of long-term contracts, and going all-in is unlikely to bear much fruit due to the lack of assets and severely hamper the team long-term anyway. With that in mind, I decided to try and keep the team competitive while making it a bit younger and maintaining as much long-term flexibility as possible.

Jake Guentzel: What the Penguins do with him will likely be the bellwether for how their future will play out. Guentzel is a very good scoring winger in his prime, and fits very well with Crosby. However, he's on an expiring contract, and his next deal will take him into his mid-30s at least. In my mind there are two options: extend him or trade him. If Pittsburgh extends him, they commit to going all-in for the next few years, at the cost of being hamstrung when the rebuild inevitably comes. If Pittsburgh trades him, it signals the beginning of a rebuild. If they don't want to commit to one path or another just yet, they could hold onto Guentzel into the season and trade him near the deadline if they can't extend him or the team falls out of contention. That's the option I went with here. Either way, this situation will be fascinating to watch.

Forwards: Pittsburgh needs forward depth in the worst way. Jason Zucker is a free agent, and a long-term commitment to yet another player in his thirties probably isn't wise for the Penguins. So he departs, replaced by Taylor Hall, another top-six forward with less term left on his deal. The bottom six was the real issue, however. Granlund never really fit with the Penguins, so he gets bought out to save salary and roster space. His cap hit is essentially split between two free agents: Ryan Donato and David Kampf. Donato is a versatile forward who can play LW or C; he's earned a pay raise and larger role, but due to Seattle's forward depth, he likely won't get those things with the Kraken. He will with the Penguins. Kampf is a reliable defensive center who Dubas brought in with the Leafs, so he may look to sign a familiar face. Lastly I had the Pens swing a trade for a defensive winger in Marcus Foligno. Perhaps this revamped third line will give more support to the top six than last year's edition did.

Defense: Pittsburgh had the oldest defense in hockey last year, and it showed. I've seen people trading POJ and/or Ty Smith, and I honestly think Pittsburgh would be best holding on to whatever youth they have. So they stick around and get full-time slots, and I paired them with two defensively responsible blue liners to help take some of the defensive pressure off them and help them develop. The new defense should be better in their own end, and is younger, if still not especially young.

Goaltending: This has been an issue for the Pens for years now. Swinging a big trade might not be the best idea for Pittsburgh given their dearth of future assets, so Jarry returns on a shorter-term deal. However, I swapped out DeSmith for Raanta to give Pittsburgh a genuine 1A/1B tandem and guard against Jarry's inconsistency.

As always, helpful feedback is welcome! I'm not too sure about the availability or trade prices for some of these guys, so any insight would be much appreciated! Cheers!
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
2$950,000
1$787,000
1$787,000
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
3$2,500,000
2$2,500,000
2$3,750,000
4$4,000,000
3$2,500,000
Trades
1.
PIT
  1. Hall, Taylor
Additional Details:
Modeled after the Bjorkstrand trade. Pittsburgh gets an arguable top-six winger for relatively cheap while Boston clears some cap room to help fill out the roster.
BOS
  1. 2024 3rd round pick (VGK)
  2. 2025 4th round pick (PIT)
2.
PIT
  1. Foligno, Marcus
Additional Details:
Minnesota is in a bit of a bind with their salary cap. Trading Foligno will give them an extra bit of flexibility to help retain their younger RFAs such as Gustavsson and Addison. Pittsburgh meanwhile adds a quality defensive winger to help reinvigorate the bottom six.
MIN
  1. 2024 4th round pick (PIT)
3.
PIT
  1. Ceci, Cody
Additional Details:
Ceci was a bit overmatched in a top pairing role, but in a second or third pairing could provide some defense for Pittsburgh, an area that was lacking last season. Edmonton gains a draft pick and helps clear salary cap space to extend their RFAs Bouchard and McLeod.
EDM
  1. 2025 3rd round pick (PIT)
4.
PIT
  1. 2024 3rd round pick (DET)
  2. 2024 5th round pick (DET)
DET
  1. DeSmith, Casey
  2. Petry, Jeff ($3,000,000 retained)
Additional Details:
Petry with $3M retained = 2024 3rd round pick
DeSmith = 2024 5th round pick

Disclaimer: these two don't have to be traded to Detroit specifically, or even together. However, Detroit may fit the bill as a team that could use a solid if aging RD and a decent if unspectacular backup goalie.
5.
PIT
    Future Considerations
    ANA
    1. Rutta, Jan
    Additional Details:
    Pittsburgh sheds Rutta's contract and cap hit without needing to attach draft picks or retain salary. Anaheim gets a stopgap RD to eat minutes while their defensive prospects develop.
    Buyouts
    Retained Salary Transactions
    DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
    2023
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the FLA
    Logo of the TOR
    2024
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the DET
    Logo of the DET
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    2025
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the PIT
    ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
    23$83,500,000$80,812,508$0$0$2,687,492
    Left WingCentreRight Wing
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $4,500,000$4,500,000
    LW, RW
    M-NTC
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $8,700,000$8,700,000
    C
    NMC
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $5,125,000$5,125,000
    RW, LW
    NMC
    UFA - 5
    Logo of the Boston Bruins
    $6,000,000$6,000,000
    LW
    M-NTC, NMC
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $6,100,000$6,100,000
    C
    NMC
    UFA - 3
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $5,000,000$5,000,000
    RW, LW
    M-NTC
    UFA - 5
    $2,500,000$2,500,000
    LW, C, RW
    UFA - 2
    $2,500,000$2,500,000
    C
    UFA - 4
    Logo of the Minnesota Wild
    $3,100,000$3,100,000
    RW, LW
    NMC
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $787,000$787,000
    C, LW
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $863,333$863,333
    C, LW
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $775,000$775,000
    RW, LW
    RFA - 1
    Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $4,025,175$4,025,175
    LD
    M-NTC
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $6,100,000$6,100,000
    RD
    NMC
    UFA - 5
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $3,750,000$3,750,000
    G
    UFA - 5
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $825,000$825,000
    LD
    RFA - 1
    $4,000,000$4,000,000
    RD
    UFA - 7
    $2,500,000$2,500,000
    G
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $950,000$950,000
    LD/RD
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
    $3,250,000$3,250,000
    RD
    UFA - 2
    ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $3,125,000$3,125,000
    RW, C
    NMC
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $800,000$800,000
    RD
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
    $787,000$787,000
    LW
    UFA - 2

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    Jun. 4, 2023 at 1:54 p.m.
    #1
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    Joined: Jul. 2022
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    Still going to be a no from Detroit, respectfully.
    Jun. 4, 2023 at 2:34 p.m.
    #2
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    Joined: Jul. 2021
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    Bruins decline
    Jun. 4, 2023 at 2:53 p.m.
    #3
    Banned
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    Joined: May 2023
    Posts: 745
    Likes: 136
    Guerin has to change his mind about not trading foligno and so far he hasn't according to a recent report. That means he values him than people did on here or do.
    Jun. 4, 2023 at 2:59 p.m.
    #4
    Oiler_fan60
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    Joined: Sep. 2022
    Posts: 669
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    Oilers accept
    Jun. 4, 2023 at 3:12 p.m.
    #5
    Future Ducks legend
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    Joined: Jun. 2022
    Posts: 9,284
    Likes: 6,046
    We'll take Rutta, but let's be clear, he is no minute muncher, he needs a sheltered role.
    Jun. 4, 2023 at 4:02 p.m.
    #6
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    Joined: Feb. 2017
    Posts: 419
    Likes: 18
    Pittsburgh paying $5 mil in contracts for players not on their roster, no thanks
    Jun. 5, 2023 at 9:28 a.m.
    #7
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    Joined: May 2022
    Posts: 3,271
    Likes: 997
    I'd rather have Petry and Rutta at around 9mil than Mayfield and Ceci at around 10.25.

    Hall could fit nice - and you're not giving up a lot to get him. I just wonder if you could get similar production on the open market for cheaper.
     
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