3 Pittsburgh Penguins Not Expected Back Next Season

The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be a fun team to watch as we get closer to the March 3 trade deadline. General manager Ron Hextall has a number of different avenues he could take as the team looks to generate cap flexibility, but also improve their roster for the stretch run. Injuries continue to mount in Pittsburgh, including to starting goaltender Tristan Jarry. Hextall is expected to address a number of areas via trade before the deadline, meanwhile these Penguins, if their not traded, aren't expected to return at all next season:

Jason Zucker

There's been some rumblings the Penguins have made Zucker available on the trade market, if though he's a pending unrestricted free agent who has bounced back this season. Zucker earns $5.5 million against the cap and his tenure in Pittsburgh has unfortunately been threaded with injuries. This season he's managed to put up 23 points in 33 games, however expect to see the Pens head in a different direction for their top six next season.

Kasperi Kapanen

If Kapanen isn't moved at the trade deadline this season, he'll be moved next summer. The team has given him every chance to succeed, playing him in multiple roles including offensively and defensively. Kapanen hasn't been able to produce consistently and expect to see Hextall shop the winger some more next summer. So far in 28 games Kapanen has produced 16 points and is in line to make $3.2 million next season.

Brian Dumoulin

This is likely Dumoulin's last season in Pittsburgh as the veteran stay-at-home defenseman has showed signs of slowing down. He's played less minutes this season than in recent years and his role has diminished considerably over the past 20 games. The 31-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent and will likely be allowed to walk on July 1.

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