Team: 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 14, 2023

Published: Jun. 14, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think for the pens to have any chance of being competitive they'll need to get rid of nearly all of the Hextall / Burke deals / recent signings.

Explanation to trades:

Carter: if he decides to waive his no trade clause to go to another contender it may open up the door to other teams being interested. Sure, Carter is bad and his only good quality at this stage of his career is his ability to win face offs but if on a much more reduced role and with the appropriate support he may find some success before calling it a career. Poulin is the price for Carter to be moved but he too could also need a new change of pace. A third team comes in to retain an additional percentage from Carter's contract.

Grandlund: I do not think he is as bad as he was in Pittsburgh but he is definitely not a fit. A team like Chicago could use a spare contract for the next few years to eat up minutes and allow Bedard to grow into his own. Chicago could also flip Grandlund for more picks should he be able to find some semblance of his game of a few years back.

DeSmith / Ruuta: Same deal as Grandlund where you are trading pieces to a rebuilding team but in this trade the pens bring in an expensive back up to entice SJ to take both players.

Ullmark: While it is expected teams will bid on the service of some starters in the league Boston isn't in a position of strength when it comes to their cap. They also need to decide what they want to do with their goalies but if they are confident that Swayman is ready they can recoup assets and shed the 5 mil from Ullmarks deal. *I've seen some people put Ullmarks value aa high as the pens first and one of their "better" prospects or as low as just a third rounder. I think a future second and third is sufficient for this trade though I would lean more to the side of just one pick being enough.

Signings:

I would have loved to bring back Zucker but Barbashev is far too enticing especially since he can also play the center position. Idk if Barbashev's cup win gives him more on the open market and I'd be fine if the pens paid up to 6 mil if needed. The same goes with Domi and having him as your third line center and then adding Bunting on the left side would make for a fast and hard to play against third line. Accari is pretty much anyone who the pens like more in FA and it doesn't really matter who they bring in.

Mayfield is the only signing I wasn't sure though I think he could be a good fit with POJ and or Smith and I wanted to ensure that both of thd younger dmen I'm the pens system have a chance to play this season to see what they are capable of.

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