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Examining The Penguins’ Road Back To Competitiveness

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The Penguins have been identified as the one true seller in the NHL this summer and for good reason. They have an aging core that can no longer carry a team, depth that is underwhelming (to say the least), and have arguably been the easiest team to play against from a physical standpoint.

All of that has led general manager Kyle Dubas to pivot into a rebuild that many have forecasted for quite some time. The Penguins made the playoffs for 16 straight seasons but haven’t qualified since 2021-22 and look destined to finish near the bottom of the standings next season.

This has led many to speculate that Sidney Crosby would look to play elsewhere; however, those claims have been disputed by many outlets. For his part, Crosby has balked at these rumours, going so far as to sign a two-year extension to remain in Pittsburgh through what will likely be some painful seasons.

All of this begs the question: When will the Penguins be a competitive team again?

According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Pittsburgh has set its sights on next summer as the time to be aggressive buyers. Currently, 2026 looks like a great year to have cap space, with players like Connor McDavid and Cale Makar slated as of right now to become UFAs.

That list of free agents will likely shrink, but there could still be high-end talent under 30 available, which might help the Penguins move beyond their rebuild. As of now, Pittsburgh has over $52MM of available cap space next summer (according to PuckPedia). While this number will decrease over the year, the point remains that they can choose to be major buyers if they wish.

The more likely scenario for the Penguins is that they spend the summer of 2026 adding to their prospect pool with their eight 2026 draft picks (and any additional picks they gain over the next year) or perhaps using those picks and other assets to acquire NHL players. Dubas has made it clear that he’s targeting young, NHL-ready players, and it’s hard to see that approach changing between now and summer 2026.

Two major wild cards will determine how long it takes the Penguins to become a Stanley Cup contender again. The first is where they fall in the 2026 draft order.

If Pittsburgh performs as poorly as many expect, they could win the draft lottery and get the chance to select Gavin McKenna. NHL conspiracy theorists would surely love to dissect that scenario if it were to happen, given that Pittsburgh has had several generational players come through the city via the draft.

The chances of Pittsburgh pulling that off, of course, are nowhere close to a given. That said, there are plenty of solid alternative options with forwards Ivar Stenberg or Ryan Roobroeck.

Neither of these players would have the immediate impact of a McKenna, but they would help the Penguins keep their rebuild on track. Pittsburgh can’t count on winning a lottery to speed up their rebuild, but if they did, it would accelerate the process.

The second major wild card for the Penguins’ rebuild is what happens this summer with the veterans whose names have come up in trade rumors – forwards Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and defenceman Erik Karlsson. Rust has reportedly been a hot commodity, and if Pittsburgh can trigger a bidding war, he could bring back a return that accelerates the team’s journey back to relevance.

The Penguins have made several short-term signings already this summer, including forward Anthony Mantha, who could play in Pittsburgh’s top six should they move on from a winger like Rust. Pittsburgh also has Rakell available, and if they can negotiate a first-round pick for the 32-year-old winger, it would provide another top-tier lottery ticket to help try and draft a future star in Pittsburgh.

Rakell is a difficult trade to forecast, as he is on a bargain contract and capable of scoring 30+ goals. He could be a key piece for a team looking for a winger but missing out on impact players in free agency.

Finally, with Karlsson, the Penguins have a piece that could be very desirable if his cap hit were to fall under $7MM, and less attractive if it exceeds that. Karlsson has long been a polarizing player, but as we recently saw with defenseman Seth Jones, sometimes a player who is overpaid can be more appealing when their cap hit better aligns with their level of play.

Karlsson is no longer a $10MM player, but he can still be very impactful with less responsibility. He maintains his offensive flair, posting 50+ point seasons in both years with the Penguins, and remains excellent at zone exits and transitional play.

If Pittsburgh is willing to retain a significant portion of his cap hit, they could acquire some solid young pieces that will help push them forward in their rebuild. However, if they retain Karlsson, they might struggle to trade him for anything of value, which won’t benefit them long term.

Just like with any rebuild, the Penguins will need a lot of luck for it to go as planned. Having lottery ball luck next year, as well as succeeding with moves to shed veterans, will speed up their rebuild.

If they don’t, it could lead to a rebuild that lasts half a decade or more. As the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers have shown over the past 15 years, top-end draft picks and finishing at the bottom of the standings do not guarantee success, and even when you get lucky with some picks and trades, those players you had high hopes for can fall apart.

The truth is that no one can predict how long the Penguins’ rebuild will take. Still, much of the groundwork for a successful rebuild will be laid over the next 12 months, and the rest will depend on how well the players already in the system develop moving forward.

At this year’s draft, Pittsburgh identified a specific type of player they were seeking and went out of their designated slot for almost the entire draft to acquire players that fit their vision. That strategy went against the consensus and could backfire on Dubas, but it was a brave and gutsy approach, perhaps one of the most unorthodox displays in recent memory.

However, that is what Dubas and the Penguins will need to do if they want to become relevant sooner rather than later – think outside the box, take big chances, and trust that their pro and amateur scouting is accurate about the players they are targeting. 2026 might be the target to turn the corner on the rebuild, but it probably isn’t the year they expect to contend.

Given the time it takes for prospects to adjust to the professional game, a safer bet is for the Penguins to become playoff hopefuls in the 2027-28 season. At that point, it’s hard to say whether Crosby will still be around, but if he is, the Penguins’ young players will have perhaps the best mentor a young NHLer could ever ask for.

Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

What Do The Golden Knights Have Planned This Summer?

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The Vegas Golden Knights quietly exited the playoffs this year in the second round and didn’t make many waves around the NHL off the ice either. The traditionally flashy franchise has made a habit of making big splashes during summers and trade deadlines, but has been quiet for the last 12 months.

Vegas spent most of the past year re-signing current players to long-term deals, bringing in veteran depth players, and making a few smaller trades. It’s been very un-Vegas-like for a team that routinely acquires the most desirable players available, contrasting sharply with how they built the 2023 Stanley Cup Championship roster.

The Knights also have significant needs; they need help on the wing, preferably a winger with some speed. They are also in desperate need of a right-shot defenseman, as well as a backup goaltender, although that is a lower priority. Given all of that, it certainly feels as though something significant is brewing in Vegas, and this could be another summer where they make some major headlines.

This assumption is based solely on gut instinct and recent history, and it does not account for the complex challenges that Vegas is likely to face if it wants to make significant moves this summer. The Golden Knights have a very weak prospect pipeline and were ranked 22nd in the NHL back in January of this year when Scott Wheeler of The Athletic conducted his rankings. It also does not reflect their salary cap situation, which has them with only $5.615MM in cap space and four players to sign (as per PuckPedia).

Nor does it consider their lack of desirable draft capital, as Vegas will go without their first-round draft pick in the subsequent two NHL Entry Drafts. Therefore, their room for improvement is severely limited, and they are heading towards some leaner years soon, which suggests they will need to go all in very soon. This situation resembles those that long-time contenders have faced before. Both Pittsburgh and Chicago have exhausted their resources in pursuit of multiple Stanley Cups, as has Tampa Bay, which is nearing the end of its window and has been aggressive every year for the past five years.

The Golden Knights have been linked to top free agent forward Mitch Marner in the past, but they would face significant obstacles trying to sign him this summer. Marner earned just under $11MM last season, and it is doubtful he will take a pay cut this summer, which would remove Vegas from the conversation as currently constructed. However, Vegas has always seemed to find a way to get their man, bringing in players like Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, and Noah Hanifin through trades and acquiring Alex Pietrangelo in free agency.

At the time of those transactions, they had room or were able to create space through salary cap maneuvers. With Marner, though, it would be another level of difficulty to fit him under the cap, requiring Vegas to shed multiple contracts and then fill their roster with players making the league minimum. Vegas likes Marner; however, the numbers don’t lie, and signing him would be extremely difficult, not impossible, but very challenging. While they do need a top-six forward, the cost on Marner could prevent Vegas from getting involved.

Vegas could try trading salary cap space to make room for a Marner-type signing. Still, much of their depth is already on reasonable contracts, and they might be sacrificing value by overpaying in free agency. William Karlsson could be a candidate for a trade, as he has two more years remaining on his deal at $5.9MM per season. However, he is an original Golden Knight and has a modified no-trade clause (10-team no-trade list). Trading the 32-year-old would free up cap space but would also create a roster gap that would need to be filled with cheaper depth.

The same logic applies to trading forward Nicolas Roy. Sure, he earns $3MM annually, but his contract offers good value, and trading him would only create another hole that’s hard to fill. Roy has two years remaining on his deal and has scored over 30 points in each of the last four seasons, consistently providing Vegas with value that’s tough to replace.

All of this is to say that Marner is probably not in the cards for Vegas. I would never bet definitively against the Golden Knights, given their track record of pulling rabbits out of their hat, but this one would be their biggest trick yet. However, Vegas could still land a big name through free agency, and that player is Nikolaj Ehlers, who would be a perfect fit for what Vegas needs on the wing.

Ehlers still has good speed and high hockey IQ, which would fit in nicely with the Golden Knights’ forward group. Ehlers is likely gone from Winnipeg, but his market will be robust, which could take Vegas out of the running unless they can find a way to move out some salary.

So, how exactly could the Golden Knights move out some salary? Well, there is only one actual seller on the market right now, and that appears to be the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, you might ask, why would the Penguins take on salary from Vegas? The answer is simple: they’ve done it before on multiple occasions.

The issue for Vegas is that they don’t really have any terrible contracts on their roster, and certainly none that they would pay a team like Pittsburgh to take off their hands. Vegas could move any contract on their books if they wanted to, and might have to make that difficult decision if they’re going to make changes.

Now, looping back to Pittsburgh, the Penguins have been linked to Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague, who is an RFA and is projected to earn $2.6MM on a two-year deal this summer (per AFP Analytics). His salary isn’t included in Vegas’s salary cap projections at this point, so simply trading Hague doesn’t resolve the Golden Knights’ cap issue for next year.

However, Hague could be moved for an asset or two, which could then be used in a bigger deal. Alternatively, suppose Vegas is looking for a right-shot defenceman. In that case, they might consider Penguins veteran Erik Karlsson, who is definitely on the trade block this summer and could come relatively cheaply for the Golden Knights, with his salary retained by the Penguins.

Shayna Goldman of The Athletic recently wrote about Karlsson, loosely linking the defenseman to the Golden Knights and citing the situation surrounding Vegas defenseman Pietrangelo and his injury. It is not yet known whether the Golden Knights will place the 35-year-old on LTIR, which would significantly alter the direction of their summer spending.

All of these options are likely on the table for Vegas, which can’t be happy with its early playoff exit and needs a bit of a facelift as it nears the end of its contention window.

Photo by Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Blues’ Blueline Needs A Retooling

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The St. Louis Blues made a surprising playoff push this past season, and even more unexpectedly, they pushed the Winnipeg Jets to the very limit in the first round, ultimately losing a Game 7 in overtime after Winnipeg scored in the final second of regulation to tie the game.

It was a heartbreaking end to a season where St. Louis amazed many by putting together a performance strong enough to qualify for the postseason. The Blues achieved this despite having one of the oldest defensive units in the NHL, and many expect St. Louis to retool its defense this summer. The team made several moves last year to bring in new faces, but with Torey Krug’s career over and Nick Leddy in the final year of his contract, the Blues will probably add one or two new defensemen.

On the right side, the Blues have a decent lineup, with Colton Parayko in the top pairing. However, fellow veteran Justin Faulk likely needs to move down the lineup to the bottom pairing, which isn’t ideal given his $6.5MM cap hit for the next two seasons. Faulk’s salary has put St. Louis in a position where they must utilize him higher in the lineup than may be appropriate, considering his capabilities at 33 years of age.

While Faulk remains a decent power-play producer, he hasn’t registered an above-water Corsi or expected goals percentage since the 2019-20 season, his first in St. Louis. Last season, he recorded four goals and 28 assists in 78 games but had a 47 CF% at even strength, which was the second worst among St. Louis defenders. He’s now a third-pair defenseman, suggesting that the Blues need to find a top-four right-shot defenseman.

If that is the case, which it should be, St. Louis will need to line up behind several other teams that also require help on the right side of their defense. There will be options available for those who can play there, but many will come at a steep cost or have significant flaws in their game. Rasmus Andersson is a name that fits the former and is likely to be in play this summer (as per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet). Andersson would be a great fit with the Blues, but cap space and trade assets could pose an issue.

The Blues have just over $5MM in cap space available for next season; however, Krug’s $6.5MM salary is expected to go onto LTIR, which would open up room to accommodate Andersson’s cap hit. On the draft pick front, the Blues don’t have much to offer in this draft since they only possess their first-round pick, along with their fifth and sixth-round picks. They could explore options beyond this year or tap into their prospect pool, which is a solid group (ranked 14th in the NHL by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic). Given the demand for Andersson, it might require the Blues to part with a top prospect like defenseman Adam Jiricek or forward Dalibor Dvorský.

If the Blues want to trade for a top-four defenseman without heavily investing in their future, Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson could be an option. Karlsson’s name often comes up in discussions about right-shot defensemen, but since few are available via trade, he has to be mentioned. While he hasn’t fully fit in with the Penguins, he has still produced his signature offense, contributing little on the defensive end. Nevertheless, he might find a role under head coach Jim Montgomery in St. Louis.

Montgomery values structure and accountability – traits that aren’t exactly Karlsson’s strengths. Still, he could thrive in a modern offensive system that emphasizes controlled zone entries and exits, as well as maintaining puck possession. Montgomery has coached several players to career-best years (like David Pastrňák and Hampus Lindholm), and while it may be less likely for Karlsson, he could help the three-time Norris Trophy winner regain a higher level of play.

Now, St. Louis could also explore free agency to find a suitable fit. They only need two more roster players: a defenseman and a contract for backup netminder Joel Hofer. Even with more than $11MM in cap space, things might get tight with the next target, Aaron Ekblad. There are no guarantees that Ekblad will hit free agency, and if he does, he will be in high demand given his role in back-to-back Stanley Cups in Florida. AFP Analytics projected Ekblad to receive a seven-year contract worth $7.8MM per season. Still, that projection seems relatively low at the moment, considering the robustness of his market.

The Blues might pursue another UFA defenseman, but there’s a significant decline in quality after Ekblad. Dante Fabbro could be the best available option, with a projected four-year deal around $18MM in total, which is quite steep for a defenseman claimed off waivers just seven months ago.

Shifting to the left side, St. Louis is likely set in the top four with Philip Broberg and Cam Fowler contributing. Broberg had a breakout year last season, and Fowler showed notable improvement after being traded to the Blues. The 33-year-old was able to leverage his stretch pass and offensive instincts while minimizing some defensive mistakes that troubled his last few seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. Much of that can be credited to playing for a stronger team, but the Blues’ move to take a chance on Fowler has paid off.

The Blues could improve by finding an upgrade for Leddy. To be fair to the 34-year-old, he missed 49 games last season due to a lower-body injury, but when he played, it was clear his game had declined. Leddy still skates well enough, but he’s no longer the reliable zone exit threat he once was, as his transition game isn’t as strong as it used to be. Defensively, Leddy has never excelled, and his numbers have also fallen recently, making it hard to use him beyond bottom-pairing minutes. The Blues might find better value for the $4MM they are paying him in the final year of his contract and use the savings to strengthen the right side of their defense or upgrade other areas. Trading Leddy won’t be easy, but some teams may still be looking for a puck-moving depth defenceman after the first wave of free agency.

The other significant issue with keeping Leddy is that if the Blues plan to use Faulk on the bottom pairing, Leddy and Faulk might struggle as a duo since neither player excels defensively. This could lead to some challenging nights for the veterans, as neither skill set can effectively support the other. A free agent veteran like Brian Dumoulin, who can offer a steadier defensive game, might align better with what Faulk needs in a partner.

The Blues need some adjustments once again this year, and it’s yet to be seen whether they will make minor tweaks or undertake significant changes. Either way, it’s unlikely that the Blues are done making defensive modifications. If anything has been learned over the past 12 months, it’s that Doug Armstrong will be proactive about making changes and will utilize every tool available to improve his team.

Photo by Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Examining Potential Penguins And Sabres Trades

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Matthew Fairburn and Shayna Goldman of The Athletic wrote an article outlining 12 potential teams interested in trading for forward JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres are trying to end a 14-year playoff drought and hope to add pieces this summer, while also considering trading one of their best young players, Peterka. The Sabres urgently need veteran help to take the next step and could also benefit from a right-shot defenseman. Enter the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have several veteran players on the trading block, including a three-time Norris Trophy winner who is a right-shot defenseman.

Connecting with the Penguins is achievable, as they intend to get younger this summer and might benefit from a player like Peterka to lead their initial wave of prospects aiming to move up to the NHL next season. Pittsburgh has substantially increased its prospect pool over the past 15 months, but it has concentrated more on quantity than quality and lacks top-tier prospects. Peterka would fill that role as a top-tier player, the oldest among them, and likely act as an informal leader for the Penguins.

The Penguins have multiple draft picks over the subsequent three drafts and might send a bunch of picks to Buffalo; however, the Sabres want roster players, of which Pittsburgh has a few that could meet Buffalo’s needs. Bryan Rust is the most valuable of the Penguins’ available veterans and is probably the one Pittsburgh would prefer to trade the least. Nonetheless, his no-movement clause expires in the next week, and with three years remaining on his contract at $5.125MM per season (according to PuckPedia), he holds significant value. He would be an excellent addition for Buffalo. The 33-year-old just finished a career year with the Pens, scoring 31 goals and 34 assists in 71 games, and remains one of Pittsburgh’s key leaders. He is also a two-time Stanley Cup Champion who has scored crucial goals in important games. While Rust alone wouldn’t fetch a player like Peterka, the Penguins could consider trading Rust along with another roster player or include additional assets, such as the draft picks they have in abundance.

Another potential fit for Buffalo would be Rickard Rakell, who has three years remaining on his deal at $5MM annually (per PuckPedia). Like his teammate Rust, Rakell had a career year this past season, recording 35 goals and 35 assists in 81 games. Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list included in his deal with the Penguins, which could be an issue if the Sabres are on it. Rakell doesn’t bring the same intangible qualities as Rust and wouldn’t come close to netting the Penguins a player like Peterka. Still, when combined with several other pieces, he could be the centerpiece of a trade benefiting both teams.

The last player who could partake in a deal benefiting both teams is Erik Karlsson. The Sabres need a right-shot defender, and with limited options available, Karlsson is a potential target for them. This is the least likely scenario, considering Karlsson has a full no-movement clause and probably isn’t eager to join another team that might miss the playoffs. That said, the Sabres can offer a stronger roster (on paper) than the Penguins and have a more direct path back to contention.

Karlsson remains somewhat productive offensively, posting over 50 points in each of his two seasons with Pittsburgh. However, he carries a $10MM cap hit (per PuckPedia), and the Sabres likely won’t be eager to take on such a hefty salary for a 34-year-old defenseman who struggles defensively. That said, the Penguins have retention slots available and could absorb a significant portion of the deal to facilitate a trade.

Now, there is no chance that Karlsson brings the Penguins a player like Peterka; however, depending on the retention, it could result in them acquiring another RFA, such as forward Jack Quinn. This hypothetical would require many ’maybes’ to align, but it is just another example of how the Sabres and Penguins could find several mutually beneficial moves.

Finally, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has said he wants to get younger and find a left-side defenseman. Coincidentally, Buffalo has a player who fits both of those needs in Bowen Byram. The 24-year-old was the fourth overall pick in 2019 and possesses all the skills you’d expect in a top-pair defenseman. However, the gap between his skillset and his on-ice results has often been significant, although last season was better. However, some of his underlying numbers were not great. Byram set a career high with 38 points in 82 games, but struggled when playing alongside anyone other than Rasmus Dahlin. The Penguins don’t have a Dahlin or anyone similar, which could leave Byram exposed on the blueline – probably not advantageous for him or the team.

The Penguins and Sabres are two teams heading in different directions this summer and have been in other places for the past 15 years. While their trajectories might differ, this could be a situation where opposites attract, and perhaps even lead to a trade.

Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Examining The Sabres’ Alex Tuch Dilemma

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The Buffalo Sabres have been spinning their wheels for quite some time and appear headed for a summer that will define the franchise’s future. The team has plenty of attractive roster pieces but will need to make some significant contract decisions in the coming months regarding forward Alex Tuch, among others. Tuch is just over a year away from unrestricted free agency and can sign an extension on July 1. Buffalo will need to make a tough decision in the next few weeks about whether to sign Tuch to a lucrative extension or trade him away for what would hopefully be a sizable return.

The 29-year-old is entering the final season of a seven-year, $33.25MM contract he signed in July 2018 with the Vegas Golden Knights. He was eventually traded along with other assets for center Jack Eichel, and despite the Golden Knights winning the cup with Eichel on board, Tuch has proven to be an excellent addition for the Sabres. Tuch’s $4.75MM cap hit has represented a massive bargain for Buffalo over the last four seasons, as the Syracuse, New York native has been nearly a point-per-game player, accumulating 106 goals and 137 assists in 281 games with the Sabres. Although Tuch hasn’t been able to replicate his success from 2022-23, when he scored 36 goals and 43 assists in 74 games, he has continued to be a solid point producer, hitting 36 goals again this season along with 31 assists in 82 games.

So, what do the Sabres do with a player from Western New York who embodies the city’s culture but probably doesn’t fit the team’s timeline? Therein lies the Sabres’ difficulty with this decision, along with another complicated situation involving RFA forward JJ Peterka. The Sabres are reportedly listening to offers for Peterka and could trade him. The return would likely influence whether Tuch wants to remain a Sabres member or if the team wants to keep him. He has expressed a desire to stay, which isn’t surprising given that he grew up in the area.

Tuch will be 30 by the time he starts an extension, and if Buffalo went to seven or eight years on term, he would be in his late 30s on a high-ticket contract. Now, that’s not to say he would get such a term, but he will undoubtedly be seeking the most extended contract possible since it’s very likely that he might not sign another lucrative deal after this one.

There is no disputing Tuch’s on-ice value, leadership, or the fact that he is a fan favorite in Buffalo. However, the Sabres must ask themselves what is best for the franchise’s future. Do they want to pay top dollar for a forward on the wrong side of 30 years old? Can they get a lucrative return if they trade him this summer? And what message would they be sending their fans (and other Sabres players) if they moved on from Tuch and Peterka in the same summer?

Buffalo is uniquely positioned as a franchise, not in a good way. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2010-11 and haven’t finished higher than fifth in their division since 2011-12. The team has undergone multiple unsuccessful rebuilds, but it has finally assembled a solid core of players to build around. However, if they trade Tuch and Peterka for futures instead of roster players, veterans like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin may start to grow restless, fearing it could lead to another few seasons of losing. At the same time, they wait for the young players to develop.

Tuch is a candidate for an extension, given his performance and intangibles. Examining the Sabres’ history as an organization, it is evident that they have often prioritized culture and loyalty over results. If that pattern continues, Tuch will likely be re-signed. This situation isn’t unique to Buffalo, as it’s common for teams to extend contracts for players they know may age poorly in the latter half, understanding that Buffalo’s loyalty could lead them to retain Tuch.

On the flip side, Buffalo has yet to experience a winning season during Tuch’s time with the team, and perhaps it’s time for the Sabres to allow new leadership voices to emerge. It’s not a reflection on Tuch as a player or person, but sometimes, when an organization struggles for too long, the old guard needs to depart before a fresh culture can develop. This has occurred with many teams trying to turn a corner after a rebuild, and often, teams recognize the need to part with veteran players to make way for younger stars to step up as leaders. Edmonton did this when they moved on from Taylor Hall in 2016, and nearly 20 years ago, the Penguins followed suit by letting go of almost every veteran, effectively entrusting the team to their young stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Another factor for Buffalo to consider is that there are very few teams selling right now, which could increase their return on Tuch, as some teams will be left empty-handed after the initial scramble of unrestricted free agency. Buffalo could wait a bit after July 1 to assess the trade market and see if any moves pique their interest; if not, they could then consider an extension. There are a few wingers available, such as Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, who will be cheaper from a cap-hit perspective, but with Tuch being a few years younger, he could fetch a better haul than either of those players.

Buffalo finds itself in a tough spot with Tuch, and time is running out. If they can’t either move him or extend his contract, they risk losing him for nothing a year from now or trading him at the NHL Trade Deadline for a lesser return. Neither scenario is ideal for Buffalo, which is why they need to act promptly. The situation would be less complicated if they weren’t also trying to move Peterka, but this is the reality the Sabres are facing, and they must choose a direction.

Photo by Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Who The Penguins Should Target In Free Agency

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Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported that Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas doesn’t intend to be a big player in NHL free agency next month, which makes sense given that the Penguins are going young and probably won’t be trying to add higher-end players until next summer at the earliest as they try to piece together an assessment of where their prospects and younger roster players are at. Yohe also reported that Pittsburgh doesn’t plan to offer veteran center Evgeni Malkin a contract extension after next season, which further cements a transition to younger players for Pittsburgh.

That being said, Dubas did leave the door open to sign a few players in free agency. Yohe has speculated that Dubas will probably do something similar to last summer when the Penguins signed Anthony Beauvillier and Matt Grzelcyk to cheap one-year contracts.

If Dubas does intend to do the same thing as last year, he will be looking for similar results to last season’s one-year pacts. Beauvillier was traded to Washington for a second-round pick, and Grzelcyk set career highs in assists (39) and points (40). He was arguably the Penguins’ best left-side defenseman and will more than likely find a new home this summer as he looks for a lucrative multi-year deal. In total, Beauvillier and Grzelcyk cost the Penguins $4MM, and Dubas will be on the hunt for similar value. So, who could he target?

Up front, Dubas has talked about becoming more challenging to play against. Pittsburgh has arguably been the softest team in the NHL for quite some time and has rarely shown any pushback when games become physical.

The Penguins are also relatively slow up front, which didn’t suit former head coach Mike Sullivan’s coaching style, as he preferred to play an up-tempo game that relied on pace and relentless forecheck. They lacked the team speed to sustain that game and remain a relatively slow roster.

Dubas is looking for value deals, so he probably won’t find someone quick and heavy. Based on his own words, it’s fair to guess that he will prioritize the latter.

Anthony Mantha might be a player for the Penguins, given that he meets some of the criteria they would want in a UFA. He has a good size (6’5” and 234lbs), and some skill around the net, evidenced by his three seasons with more than 20 goals.

He will also likely have to settle for a one-year deal, given that last season, he missed most of the year due to injury and was already on a one-year prove-it contract. Mantha is 30 years old and will try to re-establish his value to get one final multi-year deal, which should make him a motivated player if the Penguins sign him.

Pittsburgh could flip him at next year’s trade deadline if he has a good year, allowing them to grab more future assets. Mantha will also be a good stopgap top-six winger for the Penguins if they opt to deal one of Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust.

Another name the Penguins could target is Kings forward Tanner Jeannot, who has just 27 points combined in his last two seasons and never lived up to the expectations placed on him when he was dealt to Tampa Bay for five draft picks. Jeannot has just 14 goals in his last 122 games and could get multi-year offers this summer, but they likely won’t come at the kind of money he is hoping for.

One team may emerge and overpay the 28-year-old, but if they don’t, it could be a good landing spot for Jeannot to play higher leverage minutes and get some time with the Penguins’ top six as well as on the power play. Jeannot could then re-establish his value for next offseason, and the door could be open for the Penguins to deal him at next year’s deadline.

Lastly, for the forwards, the Penguins could target Ottawa forward Nick Cousins, who had an injury-riddled first year with the Senators and will likely have to settle for another one-year deal. He can’t play in the Penguins’ top six, but he would add some sandpaper to their fourth line and has historically had decent underlying numbers.

Cousins played last season on a one-year $800K contract and will probably have to settle for a similar deal this summer, but should see a bump due to the increased salary cap. The Penguins could try to get Cousins on a contract identical to Beauvillier’s deal last year, which would be good value for what he brings to the team.

On the backend, the Penguins will likely target a left-side defenseman given that their left side is probably the worst in the entire NHL. Right now, Pittsburgh has Ryan Graves, Owen Pickering, Ryan Shea and Vladislav Kolyachonok on the depth charts. While Pickering looks like a promising prospect, and Shea has emerged as a bottom-pairing option, it’s a miserable picture overall.

Yohe has made the argument that Pittsburgh should target defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. While that would be an incredible get for the Penguins, it doesn’t seem plausible without a major overpay, something Dubas has said he won’t do this summer.

That being said, Ryan Lindgren could be an option if his market falls out or if the offers he receives are not to his satisfaction. Lindgren didn’t have the best season in his walk year, as he struggled with turnovers and wasn’t as assertive or physical as he had been in years prior.

He should still receive multi-year offers, which will take the Penguins out of the picture. Still, if he wanted to re-establish his value, becoming a first-pairing defenseman on the Penguins could go a long way if he were to sign there.

If Lindgren isn’t in play, there aren’t any other options for the Penguins on the left side, but they could look at a plug-and-play veteran such as Calvin de Haan. The 34-year-old is no longer the physical presence he was a decade ago with the Islanders, but he is still a capable NHL defenseman who can give you 15 minutes a night in a difficult matchup.

The Carp, Ontario native plays a low-maintenance defensive game, which is something the Penguins don’t have much of these days. The cost wouldn’t be prohibitive here as de Haan has played under one-year league minimum deals for a while now and will likely settle for the same this summer.

While this list may not excite Penguins fans, it is a reality that their team isn’t a prime destination for high-profile free agents. Perhaps next summer will be a different story, but for now, Pittsburgh is in a spot where they are looking to the future for success, but they need to ice a lineup for the here and now and won’t break the bank to do so.

Photo by Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports

Is This The Year The Ducks Finally Trade John Gibson?

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For Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, the trade rumors have persisted for years as the team has undergone a deep rebuild. Gibson was once among the NHL’s elite netminders but hasn’t been part of the upper echelon of goaltenders for the past half-decade despite being compensated like one. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native has two years left on his contract with a $6.4MM cap hit, which has long been an obstacle to finding Gibson a new home. Gibson’s name was brought up frequently before the trade deadline, but a weak market for the 31-year-old forced the Ducks to retain him, which begs the question: Will the Ducks trade Gibson this summer?

Anaheim has been out of the playoff picture since 2018 and has experienced a slow turnaround in its rebuild, which appears to be stuck. Gibson played well for the Ducks through some of the early years of the rebuild, which did little to help a team that just wasn’t very good. In recent years, Anaheim has been waiting for a second wave of its prospects to take the next step; however, that just hasn’t been the case, and general manager Pat Verbeek has started to make moves to insulate the younger players with veteran experience. Verbeek added defenseman Jacob Trouba last season and recently added forward Chris Kreider, who should provide veteran leadership to some of the younger Ducks.

These moves, coupled with Anaheim hoping to contend for a playoff spot, would lead one to believe that the Ducks keep Gibson in hopes he can turn back the clock to help the team reach the postseason once again after a seven-year absence. He was the better of their two goaltenders last season (albeit in limited action) and could be an essential piece for the team if they want to make some noise in the Western Conference.

Anaheim has what many believe is the heir apparent to Gibson in netminder Lukas Dostal, who is an RFA this summer and will be looking for a sizable raise on the $812.5K he made last season. Dostal certainly has a lot of upside and was good this season behind a weak Ducks team, registering a 14.3 goals saved above expected (as per Money Puck) and a 23-23-7 record. The issue with Dostal is that he hasn’t played meaningful hockey in the NHL, and there is no certainty he could hold up to the scrutiny if the Ducks find themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot late in the season. Gibson hasn’t played meaningful hockey in nearly a decade, but he has played some big games early in his career. If Anaheim opted to hang onto Gibson, they could let him play out his contract over the next two years before making a long-term decision on Dostal and whether he is the franchise’s goaltender of the future. Anaheim still has plenty of cap space with over $32MM available (as per Puck Pedia) and doesn’t have a financial reason to move him at this time. This could also afford them the ability to wait teams out and hope that someone panics and forces a trade that meets Anaheim’s asking price.

One other caveat with Gibson is that he has some trade protection in the form of a 10-team no-trade list, and he has some say over where he goes. Gibson has reportedly been willing to waive his no-trade in the past for specific teams, so it’s not likely to be a major hindrance, but it could come up if one of the teams interested in his services is on that no-trade list.

On the flip side of the coin, the goaltending market this summer is weak; there are no starters available in free agency and the netminders available on the trade market come with massive warts in their game and, in some cases (Philipp Grubauer), they might not even be NHL goaltenders anymore. Anaheim could likely place Gibson on the trade block, and he would instantly jump to the top of the list of available goaltenders, which could allow Anaheim to address other deficiencies in their roster while shedding Gibson’s cap hit.

Gibson has been linked in the past to the Carolina Hurricanes on several occasions, and they would hardly be the only suitor if Anaheim is serious about moving him. The Edmonton Oilers have also been rumored to have interest, and given the way goaltending has failed them in the two previous postseasons, it’s easy to understand why.

There would be no shortage of suitors given the state of the goaltending in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Columbus and Detroit, and there are not many options unless teams want to take a gamble on Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry, who is a two-time all-star but hasn’t looked like one in quite some time. Gibson comes with his question marks, but as far as goaltenders with a track record, he is the best option, even if that track record came in the last decade.

Anaheim has also faced this distraction within the team since entering a rebuild around 2020, and Gibson began voicing his frustrations with the loss shortly thereafter. He continued to voice his displeasure the following season as the team’s struggles continued, and eventually his play began to drop off behind a weak defence.  The fact that Gibson’s disillusionment goes back nearly half a decade, it’s fair to wonder if the Ducks would like to put a bad situation behind them, with the return in a trade being a secondary concern.

Lastly, Gibson was excellent in 29 games last season, and given the way the previous five years have gone as a whole, he might not ever post those types of numbers again. Gibson registered 15.3 goals saved above expected last season and won’t likely replicate that number again in Anaheim. This type of play is what has opened the door to potentially moving Gibson, and the time to sell might never be better for the Ducks and for Gibson, who would most certainly benefit from a fresh start in a new city.

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These Players Are The Best Value In The NHL

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A few weeks ago, we took a look at some of the worst-valued contracts in the NHL, and now today, we will do the opposite and look at some of the players that are giving the best value to their team in terms of performance compared to cap hit. For this, we will not utilize any players currently playing under an entry-level contract. We will only consider players playing under an agreement signed after their ELC has expired.

We begin in New Jersey with forward Stefan Noesen, who played last season under the first year of a three-year $8.25MM contract he signed as a free agent last summer. The 32-year-old journeyman did not have a perfect first year in his return to the Devils, but he did post over 20 goals for the first time in his career and was highly effective on the power play. His even-strength numbers were also good, and he set a career-high in hits with 152. Noesen played more than he ever has in an NHL jersey and was probably asked to do too much sometimes, leading to incredibly high turnover numbers (73 turnovers in 78 games). Overall, it’s not a bad return for a player making just $2.75MM per season.

Sticking in the Metropolitan Division, we move to Washington center Dylan Strome, who just completed a career year with 29 goals and 53 assists in 82 games. The 28-year-old was non-tendered by the Chicago Blackhawks in the summer of 2022, a move that has been a disaster for Chicago, given that the 2015 third-overall pick has developed into a top-six scoring center. Washington was happy to scoop up Strome on a one-year deal for $3.5MM, then extended him a short time later to a five-year, $25MM contract.

In the first two years of that deal, Strome has not missed a game and has averaged 28 goals and 46 assists while playing 17:40, which is not bad for $5MM annually. With three years left on that deal, it’s not impossible to imagine Strome replicating his production in the future, and there is an outside chance he will find another gear. Washington has Strome locked in for three more years and should be able to extract more value from him going forward.

Next up is defenseman Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes. Slavin’s game is somewhat unheralded, given that he is one of the top defensive defensemen in the NHL. Slavin was extended last July and will go into the first year of that eight-year deal in the fall. The contract is heavily loaded with signing bonuses, and the 31-year-old will carry an AAV of $6.395MM.

As good as Slavin has been defensively, his deal has a risk if the aging curve is not kind to him, which often isn’t with more defensively minded players. However, for at least next year, he will be underpaid for his elite work in Carolina’s defensive zone, and it should be a while before his game starts to slip dramatically.

Switching over to the Western Conference, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey’s contract has been of incredible value to the team. The 30-year-old just completed his fifth year of the deal, and he has been unbelievable for Winnipeg, particularly in the past three years, where he has averaged over 24 minutes of ice time per game and has garnered Norris Trophy consideration every year.

Morrissey is making just $6.25MM against the cap, and with three years left on the contract, he will likely finish his deal just as his age begins to affect his production. He has remained a solid two-way defenseman who found another level offensively; that said, his offensive production has fallen a bit in the past two seasons, but he still produces points at a much higher level than when he initially signed his eight-year extension. The contract is a steal.

Next, we begin to get into some of the more obvious candidates, and it starts with Cale Makar, who just posted a career year offensively with 30 goals and 62 assists in 80 games. Aside from being elite offensively, Makar has developed a sneaky defensive side to a game that relies on his terrific skating and positional awareness. Makar is making $9MM annually for another two seasons and will be eligible for an extension next summer. Until he signs a new deal, Makar should continue to comfortably outperform his contract, which is saying something for someone making the kind of money he is.

Remaining in the West, we look at the best player in the world. Connor McDavid was once the highest-paid player in the NHL, but will enter next season possibly as low as fifth. That shouldn’t last long, though, as McDavid is eligible to sign an extension this summer and will most likely be the top-paid player in the game again in 2026-27 when his new deal kicks in. McDavid will carry a $12.5MM cap hit into next season and should considerably outperform it, given that he has posted 100 points in every season except for his rookie season (in which he was injured for nearly half of it) and the 2019-20 season (which was shortened due to the pandemic).

McDavid remains the best in the world, and if he indeed signs in Edmonton, he will top Leon Draisaitl’s $14MM AAV. McDavid has stated publicly that his first desire is to win, which, if true, means he will likely leave money on the table. However, if it does go for a significant number, it’s not impossible to imagine him getting close to the $20MM annual figure.

Moving back to the Eastern Conference and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has registered three straight 100-point seasons and has picked up plenty of hardware along the way, including back-to-back Art Ross Trophies in the last two years. Kucherov has two years left on his contract with a cap hit of $9.5MM and should have plenty of good production left in him as he moves into his mid-30s. Kucherov’s eight-year $76MM contract has been a massive steal for Tampa Bay as Kucherov has done nothing but win cups and pick-up awards during this run.

Next, we have a pair of Hughes brothers, defenseman Quinn Hughes and forward Jack Hughes. Quinn is entering the second-to-last season of his contract, and at $ 7.85MM, he has been a massive bargain for the Vancouver Canucks. Quinn will hit free agency at 27 years old and should finally get a contract much closer to the value he is producing on the ice. In the meantime, Vancouver should continue to see incredible value from last year’s Norris Trophy winner for top defenseman in the NHL.

Vancouver could face an issue in talking extension with Hughes because he has expressed an interest in playing with his brothers, who are both currently in New Jersey. That takes us to Devils forward Jack, who, like his brother Quinn, has been outplaying his contract for quite some time. Jack has five years left on his contract and is making a tick more at $8MM annually, which should remain an excellent value for the Devils until he is a restricted free agent in 2030. Some might argue that Jack misses too many games, and it’s a fair point to bring up, but given the production on the ice the past three seasons, it’s fair to see that it is one of the best values in the NHL.

Finally, we wrap up with the most outstanding value ever in the NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby. Despite being the best player in the world for most of his 20-year run in the NHL, Crosby has never carried a cap hit higher than $8.7MM and just re-signed last fall on a two-year deal for the same number. Crosby might be turning 38 in a few months, but at this point in his career, he remains one of the most valuable in the NHL and should continue to put up points for the Penguins even if they stay in a rebuild for the entirety of his two-year deal.

Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

How The Canucks Need To Approach This Summer

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The Vancouver Canucks are fresh off one of the most tumultuous years in franchise history, which is saying something, given some of the unusual seasons the team has had over the past 20 years. The relationship between star forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller cast a black cloud over a team expected to compete for a Stanley Cup in 2024-25. Still, the Canucks ultimately missed the playoffs and have a lot of work to do this summer if they want to get back into contention. This summer will be crucial in their re-emergence and could be one that either reopens their window to win or slams it shut, forcing Vancouver to consider another potential rebuild.

At some point very soon, the Canucks are going to need to decide who the core members of this team are. Pettersson is locked up for another seven years, and it’s hard to imagine him being a trade candidate, given his play last season. This locks him in as a core member, whether or not the team wants him to be. He is indeed a candidate to bounce back; if he does, it would be welcome news for the team. Beyond Pettersson is where it starts to get murky concerning the core Canucks.

Any team in the NHL would want defenseman Quinn Hughes in their defense core, but there is a lot of speculation as to whether or not the 25-year-old wants to remain in Vancouver long-term. Hughes has two years remaining on a six-year deal and carries a cap hit of $7.85MM. He isn’t eligible for an extension until July 1, 2026, and rumors will run wild until he signs one with the Canucks or is traded.

Hughes has made it known that he would like to play with his brothers in the NHL, and Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has commented publicly on the idea of acquiring the other Hughes brothers to keep Hughes in Vancouver. One thing is for sure, the Canucks are never dull when it comes to storylines off the ice, and the Hughes story will continue until a resolution is met.

The Canucks also have a tough decision to make on goaltender Thatcher Demko, who has dealt with numerous injury issues and was limited to 23 starts last season, during which he posted a .889 SV%. Demko has one year left on his contract at $5MM and will be eligible to sign an extension this summer. It will be interesting to see if that happens, given how last season unfolded for the 29-year-old.

Vancouver will have to decide very shortly whether or not they view Demko as part of their future, or if they can rely on recently extended Kevin Lankinen as their starting goaltender going forward. The hitch with Demko is that he is just a year removed from finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting and could very well recapture his form next season, or he could continue to struggle with injuries. Either way, there is a considerable risk for Vancouver and Demko.

Besides making a call on their core, Vancouver must address the hole left by trading Miller to the New York Rangers. The Canucks acquired Filip Chytil in the trade; however, he is likely best suited for third-line duties, given the stage of his career. Vancouver’s general manager, Patrik Allvin, might be hard-pressed to find a suitable replacement given the demand for centers around the NHL, but there are options available.

In free agency, the Canucks are in a position where they could target Sam Bennett, Matt Duchene, or John Tavares. Vancouver has roughly $12.156MM under the salary cap and has 21 of 23 roster slots filled (as per PuckPedia). This means they could sign any of the players mentioned and still have money left over to fill their final roster spot. Nothing suggests that any of those players would have Vancouver at the top of their list, particularly after the past 12 months. However, financially, the Canucks have as good a shot as just about any other team.

Outside of free agency, Vancouver could look to trade for a center such as Minnesota’s Marco Rossi. The Canucks might not want to explore that option if they can help it, as it might cost them one or both of their top prospects, Jonathan Lekkerimaki or Tom Willander. Vancouver doesn’t have a great prospect pool (21st in the NHL, as per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic) and likely wouldn’t want to deplete it further if they can help it. Lesser targets such as Trevor Zegras and Mika Zibanejad might be options, but given the circus that went on in Vancouver last season, they might steer clear of those two.

The Canucks should also look to bolster the right side of their defense core to allow Tyler Myers to slot in lower in the lineup. Vancouver dealt with many injuries at the end of the season (including Myers) and could use the added depth. The Canucks have several promising young defensemen who could be solutions on the ride side in the future, but they need someone for the short term to patch them over until Willander is ready for a significant role. The free agent market doesn’t offer much help for Vancouver unless they want to go big-game hunting for Aaron Ekblad.

If the Canucks wanted to make a trade for a top-four defenseman on the right side, they could look to Pittsburgh for Erik Karlsson or Philadelphia and Rasmus Ristolainen. While those are both big names, they have massive warts to their game and might not be a good fit in a dressing room that is as fragile as the Canucks have. Right-shot defensemen are always in demand, and even those with obvious flaws generally command a premium, which could force the Canucks to look at other areas of their roster to improve.

Regardless of whether Vancouver addresses their second-line center position and the right side of their defense, they have to add scoring to the lineup. The Canucks finished 23rd in the NHL in goals last season and desperately need to add to their offense, particularly in the bottom six. There are two ways Vancouver could achieve this. The first is to add a top-six forward to the group, and they might need to do this to balance the scales and replace the potentially departing Brock Boeser. The second option would be to add some depth scoring to the bottom six.

Vancouver likely won’t be in on wingers Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers, which means they will need to look at secondary options to try to add scoring by committee. Mikael Granlund could be an interesting option, as he is an excellent passer and almost always finds a way to put up numbers. Fit could be a concern with him, but he could be a cheaper option for the top six forwards, and Vancouver could use the remaining cap space to find the bottom six forwards to fill out their depth.

Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Why The Hurricanes Can’t Get Over The Hump

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The Hurricanes have been near the top of the NHL standings for the bulk of the last decade. They’ve made several deep playoff runs during that time.

Despite being an analytically advanced and disciplined club, the team has just been unable to advance past the Eastern Conference Finals and fell once again this year in the third round of the playoffs. The Hurricanes are close and have been close for a while, but every year, something has been missing. The team hasn’t been able to put it all together.

Just what those missing links are has been hotly debated. One certainty is that a lack of elite finishing talent has been something that has eluded the Hurricanes for quite some time.

Carolina generates a heavy number of shots and scoring opportunities, but doesn’t have an elite 40-plus goal talent that can break games open on their own. The Hurricanes have brought those players into the fold, but they haven’t been able to keep them.

Last year at the trade deadline, the Canes acquired Jake Guentzel from the Penguins only to lose him after 28 games (17 regular season and 11 playoffs). This season, they traded for Mikko Rantanen in late January, only to trade him away after 13 games, after a disappointing stretch of play and lack of extension talks.

It’s not as though Carolina struggles to score as a team. They finished ninth in goals scored this season.

However, when the games tighten up in the playoffs and goals become more challenging to come by, the Hurricanes struggle to capitalize on the chances they generate. That’s never been more evident than in this year’s series against the Panthers, when they posted just 10 goals in five games.

Carolina has nearly $28.5MM in available cap space and just three roster spots to fill for next season, according to PuckPedia. That puts them in a very advantageous position if they want to go big game hunting in free agency and take a run at Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers.

The issue here is that Marner and Ehlers aren’t exactly snipers, so they might not be the right target for Carolina. However, on the RFA market, JJ Peterka of the Sabres could be available, and at age 23, he is coming off 28 and 27-goal seasons.

Another issue that has plagued Carolina is that their goaltending has been solid but unspectacular. Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov have been a formidable platoon over the last few years, but have been unable to steal a series when they’ve been deep in the playoffs.

It wouldn’t be fair to place blame on the goaltending. However, in the third round, teams need their goaltender to steal them a game or two if they hope to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s unlikely that the Hurricanes make a change next season as they have both Andersen and Kochetkov signed to deals at an affordable combined rate of $4.75MM. The old cliché that ’if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’ applies here, as it’s hard to fault the goaltending. However, Carolina shouldn’t expect their current platoon to steal them many games later in the playoffs, given that they haven’t been able to do so in the past.

In previous years, the Hurricanes have dealt with injuries to key players during the playoffs, such as Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teräväinen. This year, their stars were healthy, but they still dealt with a pair of injuries to right-shot defenseman Sean Walker and Jalen Chatfield. Rookies Scott Morrow and Alexander Nikishin had to make their postseason debuts in their absence, and the former looked especially overmatched.

The Canes have been blessed for years with an incredible amount of depth and have been able to overcome injuries to their key players. However, when a star like Svechnikov goes down, there is no way to overcome it without more high-level finishing talent.

Even championship teams can fall in the playoffs if they lose a top-six winger or top-four defenseman. Pittsburgh dealt with this on several occasions during the primes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin when they lost multiple top-end pieces.

In 2011, the Penguins were a Stanley Cup favorite until both stars went down to injury, and the Penguins fell in the first round to Tampa Bay. In 2015, it was their defense that took a beating as the Penguins lost three of their top four defensemen, and again, Pittsburgh was bounced in the first round.

However, in 2016 and 2017, Pittsburgh overcame injuries to Marc-André Fleury and Kris Letang to win back-to-back Cups, eventually dispelling the injury excuse and achieving success despite not having full use of their roster. If Carolina wants to take the next step, they will need to do the same and overcome the adversity of losing essential pieces if and when it happens.

The Penguins teams of 2016 and 2017 relied heavily on their star power to overcome the injuries and obstacles. At some point, the Hurricanes will need the same if they hope to take the next step.

You can’t fault the stars for Carolina’s losses, as Sebastian Aho has been nearly a point-a-game player in his playoff career, and Svechnikov has been good in the last two playoffs.  It comes back to the issue of not having enough firepower to help the stars that are there. Unless Carolina can add some elite scoring, as well as have their goalies steal some games in the latter stages of the playoffs, they might end up back here again next year.

Perhaps the tweak doesn’t need to be as dramatic as adding high-end forwards, but rather prioritizing the finding of players who can capitalize on the many high-danger chances they generate. The Hurricanes had just two players (who played more than 20 games) who shot over 15% last year, while a team like the lowly Sabres had five players do so.

Finding players who can capitalize on scoring opportunities won’t come easily, but there are a few players out there that Carolina could target. The aforementioned Rust and Rakell both shot north of 15%, as did Peterka.

Vancouver’s Brock Boeser is another player who has shot the lights out over the last two seasons, firing at a rate of 19.6% during 2023-24 and 17.2% this past season. Matt Duchene would be another potential target after shooting 19.7% this past year. Both are pending unrestricted free agents

The issue with targeting players who have a high shooting percentage is that there can be significant fluctuations in the numbers, and those players tend to have inflated perceived value, which can drive up the cost to acquire them. If the Hurricanes wanted to go cheaper, there are plenty of options available who can shoot with precision.

Washington’s Andrew Mangiapane is a career 14.4% shooter and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer; his value declined this past year after he posted just 28 points (14 goals and 14 assists) in 81 games. Jonathan Toews could be another target if he does indeed return. Toews hasn’t played since the 2022-23 season, but he is a career 13.8% shooter and shot 17.2% in his final season two years ago.

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