It has been a quiet offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their roster remains largely unchanged, with only a few new additions to their bottom six. However, a significant question lingers as the initial rush of free agency settles: Who will play alongside Sidney Crosby?
Currently, the Penguins’ top six forwards are the same as at the end of last season. However, there is a desire to acquire another top-scoring forward to move Drew O’Connor to the bottom six.
Josh Yohe, a writer for The Athletic covering the Penguins, reported this week that the team had made an offer to two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko. However, Tarasenko signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings, leaving the Penguins with limited options to bolster their top lineup.
With the free-agent market already thin and mostly picked over just three days into July, a trade seems to be the most likely avenue for General Manager Kyle Dubas and the Penguins. Established forwards such as Patrik Laine (Columbus Blue Jackets), Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks), and Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets) have been mentioned in trade rumors and could meet the Penguins’ needs.
The challenge with acquiring these top forwards is the cost. Will Dubas, who appears to be starting a rebuild for the Penguins, be willing to part with the assets required for such a trade?
Another option might be Nicholas Robertson, a former draft pick by Dubas. Robertson, 22, is a restricted free agent coming off his best professional season, scoring 27 points (14G-13A) in 56 games. According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward requested a trade this week. Robertson could benefit from a less crowded forward group in Pittsburgh.
While the Penguins are unlikely to be contenders next season, they might still aim to add another significant player before training camp in September.
