The Colorado Avalanche shook the hockey world on Friday when they dealt pending unrestricted free agent superstar Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in one of the biggest blockbuster trades of the cap era.
With the trade floodgates being opened, it might be the time to start keeping an eye on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Here are a few storylines to watch:
Slam the brakes on Crosby
Let’s make something very clear right off the bat: There is absolutely zero indication that Sidney Crosby is going anywhere. It doesn’t matter how many times this gets repeated by local Pittsburgh media, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, and the captain himself. People still want to get on this train.
Unless something changes — and at this point I have absolutely ZERO reason to believe it will — Sidney Crosby isn’t being traded out of Pittsburgh. He’s an untouchable as far as the #pens are concerned, plus he’s got a no-movement clause and no desire to be dealt.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 25, 2025
It might suit everyone to tune out a certain hockey personality spewing “Crosby to the Avs!” The Penguins’ captain has repeatedly expressed that he has no desire to go anywhere.
Take that at face value.
Pettersson will be in demand
Given the uncertain trade status around Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov, there’s a good chance that Marcus Pettersson will be the top defenseman available on the market.
Pettersson, 28, is a pending unrestricted free agent and is a reliable, defensively-sound top-four option for any contending team. He also has the ability to help generate offense.
His current cap hit of $4.025 million makes him a nice option for his projected role. Although his defensive metrics are a bit down this season, he is also playing for one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL.
There have been trade rumors linked to the Vancouver Canucks and his old GM, Jim Rutherford, for a while. This may be something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and Florida Panthers may also be looking to shore up their blue line for a run.
Forwards on the block
There have been a few reports – most recently from Elliotte Friedman – suggesting that the Penguins are fielding calls on forwards Drew O’Connor and Anthony Beauvillier.
With both forwards being pending-UFAs, this makes sense. Beauvillier, 27, has 11 goals on the season and has meshed well in a top-six role when called upon, while O’Connor, 26, has size and speed and is good on the forecheck despite struggling to find the back of the net this season.
Teams in the mix looking to shore up some bottom-six depth – perhaps the Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, or Calgary Flames – may be interested in their services. And each should come relatively cheap.
Grz going, going, gone?
Another Penguins defenseman drawing interest from other teams right now is defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who – at 25 points – is just one point shy of tying his career-high set with the Boston Bruins in 2022-23.
But the biggest draw to Grzelcyk is his work on the power play. A Penguins power play that was in the basement of the league last season has skyrocketed to the top-five this year – and that’s, in large part, thanks to the work of Grzelcyk, who is getting those first-unit power play minutes over the likes of generational offensive defensemen in Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang.
Grzelcyk’s manageable cap hit of $2.75 million – and his pending-UFA status – should be an attractive option for teams who aren’t looking to sell the farm yet want to receive good value for a rental offensive defenseman and power play specialist.
Florida is a team that comes to mind, as they could use a good defenseman to man their second power play unit.
Is it Swede enough?
© Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images
Dubas went on record to shut down rumors of an “everything-must-go fire sale” earlier this week. He also reiterated the organization’s desire to simultaneously compete and rebuild for the future, signaling the team’s playoff aspirations this season.
With the Penguins sitting just five points out of a playoff spot, it’s unlikely that Karlsson or fellow Swede Rickard Rakell will go anywhere before the trade deadline, barring a “too sweet, can’t-refuse” type of offer. Karlsson and sniper Rakell – who leads the team in goals and is tied for 11th in the NHL with 23 – are far too important to Pittsburgh’s playoff push to sell off without getting something of good NHL value in return.
Never say never, but these feel more like moves to, perhaps, revisit in the summer.
